Grabbing a mask on the way out the door and a thorough hand-wash upon returning home, or perhaps more commonly staying home and meeting virtually for work and fun are just a few of the new habits picked up during the pandemic, and experts say some might stick around even after restrictions lift. The COVID-19 pandemic forced many people to change their habits, something that is usually very difficult for people to do. “If you want to adopt a new…
Having a Strong Life Purpose Eases Loneliness of Covid-19 Isolation, Study Finds Those Who Felt Their Life Was Guided by Meaningful Values or Goals Were More Willing to Engage in Covid-19 Protective Behaviors Summary: Why can some people weather the stress of social isolation better than others, and what implications does this have for their health? New research found that people who felt a strong sense of purpose in life were less lonely during the COVID-19 pandemic. Why can some…
Diets rich in two nutrients harm immune cells in the gut, putting people at high risk of intestinal infections. A diet rich in fat and sugar damages particular immune cells named Paneth cells that produce antimicrobial molecules keeping inflammation and microbes under control. Highly specialised Paneth cells are located in the small intestine where nutrients from food are absorbed and sent to the bloodstream. Western diets are high in processed foods and fat and sugar, which cause Paneth cells to…
We would – of course – like any encounter with mental illness to be as brief as possible and, most importantly, to be isolated and singular. But the reality is that for many of us, the illness will threaten to return for visits throughout our lives. It will be a condition to which we will be permanently susceptible. So the challenge isn’t to learn to survive only a one-off crisis; it’s to set in place a framework that can help…