Worm wars

              
1.Intestinal worms are a massive health problem in low- and middle-income countries, afflicting up to a quarter of the world's population.

2.Over the past 20 years, many organizations have pushed large-scale "deworming" initiatives, which often involve giving every child in a school deworming pills on a regular basis.

3.These programs — largely inspired by an influential study that ran in the late '90s in Kenya — were thought to not only treat children, but also improve their school performance and overall health. In other words, very inexpensive pills seemed to be"one of the most potent anti-poverty interventions of our time."

4.Researchers have been calling these promises into question. Most recently, a group of epidemiologists in London replicated and re-analyzed the results of that Kenya trial, and uncovered a number of flaws and exaggerations.

5.They aren't alone; for years, other research groups have been wondering whether mass deworming schemes are really the panacea some make them out to be. The high-stakes argument over their effectiveness has been dubbed the "worm wars."

6.And the worm wars aren't over. Many folks who work in development are pushing back on the latest debunking, saying the analysis was unfair.

Deworming schemes have been called one of the most important health interventions ever

Worms are terrible for human health. These parasitic bugs usually live in people's stomachs and intestines, stealing away nutrients from food and leaving their hosts weak, malnourished, even cognitively impaired. Left untreated, worms can cause organ damage and internal bleeding, and bring on other diseases. It's not surprising that people with worms — an estimated quarter of the world's population — may find going to school or working difficult.


Deworming schoolchildren with effective and inexpensive drug treatments has been called one of the most important health interventions ever. The World Health Organization, the Gates Foundation, and the World Bank all back large-scale deworming initiatives.

Biggest health lie of our time: Stress is bad for you

Biggest health lie of our time

In a June 2013 Ted talk, Kelly McGonigal, Ph.D, a health psychologist at Stanford University, told her listeners that stress is not the health problem we've believed it to be for more than 30 years. Rather, the danger lies in our perception that stress is harmful to our health. McGonigal's presentation, "How to Make Stress Your Friend," highlights three studies that show it's not stress that's the problem, but our anxiety over stress that's the killer.

Stress kills only when we believe it's harmful

The first study comes out of the University of Wisconsin. Researchers followed 30,000 adult Americans for 8 years. What the researchers found was fascinating. While people who had a lot of stress had a 43% higher risk of dying, this was true only if they believed that stress was detrimental to their heath. Those adults who had a lot of stress and didn't see stress as harmful did not have a higher risk of dying! As it turns out, it's anxiety over stress, not stress itself, that kills 20,000 Americans every year.

What happens when we see stress as helpful?

A Harvard study of psychosocial stressors found that when participants viewed stress as something that could help them cope with life, their physical response to the situation actually changed. Rather than their blood vessels constricting, as might be expected during times of stress, those participants who were told that the stressor was instead helping them had full, round, and relaxed blood vessels rather than constricted ones. Their physical response looked similar to what respondents would be expected to experience during moments of joy.

The stress hormone that actually makes you feel good

McGonigal says that when oxytocin is released as part of a stress response, it motivates us to seek support from others."Your stress response has a built-in mechanism for stress reliance — and that mechanism is human connection." McGonigal suggests when we look for social support in times of stress those connections boost our oxytocin levels.

Helping and serving others mitigates our risk of stress and death

While many faiths have long touted the spiritual benefit of helping others, it turns out that there's a physical benefit as well. A third study from the University of Buffalo that followed about 1,000 Americans found that stressful life experiences increased the risk of death by 30 percent — except in those cases where people spent time caring for others. Those folks had a 0 percent increase in their risk of death during stressful life experiences.

McGonigal concludes by advising: "Chasing meaning is better for your health than trying to avoid discomfort. Go after what creates meaning in your life, and then trust yourself to manage the stress that follows."

Readjusting your thinking about stress can literally save your life. When you find yourself under stress, think about how those events can motivate you to face life's challenges. Remember to connect with others rather than hibernating solo, and don't forget that helping others really does get your mind off of your own problems.

5 Surprising Healthy Foods You Can Throw On The Grill

Celebrating the Fourth of July is often associated with unhealthy snacks, sandwiches and deep fried anything. So how do grillers find an alternative to this caloric ritual? Throw a few nontraditional options in the mix.
We've gathered up 10 surprisingly healthy foods you can grill up this holiday weekend, effectively helping you avoid the grease and guilt that comes with overindulging while you salute the red, white and blue. From strawberries to asparagus, you may just find your new favorite summer dish -- no heartburn required. Take a look at the suggestions below, eat up, then sit back and enjoy the pop of the fireworks.

1.Lettuce

We typically think of salad as the cold counterpart to a warm, grilled meal, but turns out that lettuce can go right on the grates with the rest of your dinner. Slice romaine hearts in half and drizzle with olive oil, suggests registered dietician Heather Bauer, founder of Bestowed.com. Then sprinkle salt and pepper over the lettuce and drizzle vinegar on all sides. "Grill the romaine until it's slightly charred and flip them over for about three minutes," she says.
With very few calories per serving, romaine is a rich source of vitamins A, K and C.

2.Watermelon

Grilling up watermelon slices can add a smoky flavor that intensifies the sweetness of this summer staple, Bauer says. She recommends cutting the fruit into slices, sprinkling on some salt and adding to the grill.
Watermelon is a great source of the antioxidant lycopene, which gives the fruit its signature color (it's also found in red tomatoes). Research has identified lycopene as a possible fighter against heart disease, Bauer explains, and there's also evidence that lycopene could prevent certain kinds of cancer, according to Physicians Committee.

3.Pizza

Registered dietician Dawn Jackson Blatner, author of The Flexitarian Diet, recommends her personal "Farmer's Market Pizza" recipe for the grill.
Here's how to make it: start off with whole wheat pizza dough purchased from the store or local pizza shop. Roll it out with a rolling pin on a nonstick baking mat and then put the raw dough directly on the grill -- "Make sure [the] grill is hot otherwise the dough will stick," she cautions --until it comes off easily and has grill marks. Then take it off the grill with tongs, add toppings to the grilled side and put it back on the other side to cook.
Possible toppings include any leafy greens (like arugula, kale, watercress or even dandelion greens from your backyard), shaved asparagus, thin zucchini or yellow squash, basil, sliced tomatoes and a little bit of ricotta or parmesan cheese -- let the farmer's market guide you.

4.Mango

Here's a healthy barbecue twist: instead of traditional toppings, grill up a mango to top your burger, suggests Blatner.
Mangoes are a real superfruit, with tons of vitamins and minerals, she says. One sliced-up cup is a solid source of dietary fiber, vitamin B6 and vitamins A and C.

5.Grapes


Throwing some skewers on the grill? Consider adding grapes between pieces of chicken or shrimp, Blatner recommends. Grapes have no fat or cholesterol and "virtually no sodium," she says. Plus they pack a powerful punch of vitamins C and K.

7 simple health hacks for your busy schedule

• Seven days of changes to your routine may seem difficult, but these little switches easily fit into your daily schedule. Try starting with one fix a day, then continuing that habit all through the week. By the end of seven days, you'll have picked up seven healthy changes to your routine. Keep things up for a few weeks to make it a habit and maybe tackle a new set of challenges
  
  
  
  

• Monday Mentality

  Having positive thoughts can work wonders on your health. Research has shown that being optimistic boosts your immunity and increases your ability to cope with stress. Do yourself a favor and try thinking positively this week as you try the other 6 little fixes.

• Take Ten Tuesday

  Break up your afternoon routine by giving yourself 10, whether it's 10 minutes or 10 reps. Try sneaking in 10 jumping jacks while running around. Instead of sitting at your desk, answer a co-worker's email in person or take ten minutes to walk (not drive) to lunch.

• Wet n' Wild Wednesday

  Make Wednesdays a bit wild by drinking more water. Don't believe me? As it turns out dehydration has some unexpected symptoms (like bad breath and cravings). Sipping more water can clear your afternoon of breath mints and vending machine trips; leaving more time to liven up your day. You never know, this free time could make room for that afternoon salsa dancing class ­— or more "me time."
  Having trouble making the switch from sugary drinks to water? Mix things up by sipping a tall glass of infused water. Just add cucumbers and mint or find other combinations you love. Anything to make Wednesdays not so "middle of the week," right?

• Thursday Tutorials

  Though this little trick won't give you more than 24 hours in a day, it will probably feel like you've stashed away some extra time. We all know the benefits of exercise, but it can be tough to make time in your schedule or pocketbook for a class. But taking the time to get yourself to the gym isn't necessary if you YouTube your workout. There are tons of free tutorials you can stream right there in your living room.
  Along with eliminating all travel time, having a video workout allows you to try something new without feeling intimidated in a class full of experts. You can also pause your sun salutation for emergencies or break up the video into segments to fit in with your crazy schedule.

• Ferment your Friday

  Amp up your mental health with something fermented. Not only are probiotics good for regulating the millions of bacteria living inside of you, studies report some mental health bonuses from fermented foods. Research shows that those who regularly eat foods like yogurt, kimchi, kefir and kombucha reported experiencing less social anxiety than those who didn't. Conquering your fear of public speaking never tasted so good.

• Saturday Snacking

  This seven-item list is about making little changes, not drastic life-altering changes. Snacking is a great way to make little adjustments for a healthier you. Try taking things a step at a time; eliminate artificial sweeteners for a week, or dip vegetables into hummus instead of a mayonnaise-based dip. For something sweeter, try freezing a fruit-filled smoothie into popsicle molds instead of having ice cream.
  You don't have to give up your snacking habit, but snacking on fruit instead of candy or roasted chickpeas instead of chips will make your snacks more than just empty calories.

• Sunday Side-up

  Salads are a no-brainer for a veggie filled lunch or dinner. But are you really getting everything you can out of your salad? Maximize nutrients by adding an egg. Researchers have found that eating a cooked egg with raw, colorful vegetables (found in your salad) helps your body absorb more of the nutrients found in the greens.
  But be careful: Don't counteract your healthy week by overdoing it on the salad dressing. Try using the oozy yolk of a poached egg as a faux dressing. Not only will it amp up your nutrient level it also adds more protein to your meal.
  Can seven days make a difference in the quality of your life? Absolutely! By focusing on one day at a time, you are one week away from a richer, fuller life.