The Grand Rapids Symphony will perform “The Snowman” on Jan. 4. (Supplied)
The Grand Rapids Symphony will perform “The Snowman” at 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 4, at DeVos Performance Hall.
“The Snowman” wordlessly tells the story of a boy who who builds a snowman who comes to life and leads him on a wide-eyed and wondrous adventure to meet Father Christmas.
Led by Associate Conductor John Varineau, the Grand Rapids Symphony will perform the magical score by Howard Blake as the snowman and his young friend adventure through darkened woods, over rolling mountains, and above quiet ocean waves in the film that garnered an Academy Award nomination in 1982.
Besides “The Snowman,” the program also features the Grand Rapids Symphony performing such wintery melodies as the “Winter Train Ride” from Prokofiev’s Winter Bonfire Suite and the “Winter” Concerto from Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons.
Violinist Paola Dara, of Grandville, who formerly served as concertmaster of the Grand Rapids Youth Symphony, will return as soloist in the concerto movement from The Four Seasons.
Tickets for “The Snowman” are $15 adults, $5 children, available by calling the GRS ticket office at 616-454-9451, ext. 4. Phone orders will be charged a $3 per ticket handling fee ($18 maximum per order). There are no fees for tickets purchased in person at the GRS ticket office at 300 Ottawa Ave. NW, Suite 100, (located across the street from Calder Plaza). Ticket office hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Kick off the New Year with Concerts Under the Starsat the Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) featuring the sounds of synth-pop music with How to Live Together on Thursday, Jan.16.
“We’re thrilled to kick off the Concerts Under the Stars series with How to Live Together,” said Kate Kocienski, Vice President of Marketing & PR for the Public Museum. “Each concert, held in our Chaffee Planetarium, will generate a highly immersive experience for attendees, showcasing an immense amount of diverse musical and visual artistry.”
How to Live Together is composed of Grand Rapids residents Jesse Kaczmarczyk and Steffanie Rosalez. The pair utilize digital and analog synthesis to compose their synth-pop songs. The duo sample lighthearted Nintendo blips while creating dark analog sounds, which became an ongoing parallel for their own relationship and their relationship to the world around them. Using the limitless world of synthesizers, they examine the joy and dysfunction of being an interracial couple in the current cultural landscape of race, politics and social norms.
In a June 2019 Local Spins article, Jesse Kaczmarczyk said “We play it all live with many synths on stage including modular synths and Nintendos. We also bridge groups of songs together with improvised mini-tracks for a more seamless performance. Our music can be fun and upbeat with heavy and meaningful lyrics.”
Concerts Under the Stars will begin at 7:30 p.m., with Museum doors opening at 6:30 p.m. At each concert, performers will play two sets with a short intermission in between.
The video component of the show will be provided by Grand Rapids native Nate Eizenga. Eizenga, a video artist who has been participating in the Concerts Under theStars series since 2017, focuses on accompanying his intricate visuals with live musical performances. By using controllers intended for digital music production to create, mix and manipulate video in real time, he crafts a visual experience that connects the line between artistic spontaneity and musical synchronicity.
Refreshments, beer and other beverages will be available for purchase. Tickets are $12 for GRPM members and $17 for the public. Tickets are currently on sale and available at grpm.org, by calling 616-929-1700 or at the Museum’s front desk.
The 2020 Concerts Under the Stars series will continue on Feb. 6 with rock and roll sets performed by Coffin Problem, Feb. 27 with the smooth sounds of Indie rock from Seth Beck and will conclude on March 19 with a unique mix of surf, pop rock by Hollywood Makeout.
The annual January Series concert will be by the 5 Browns, on Jan. 16. The 5 Browns — Ryan, Melody, Gregory, Deondra and Desirae — all attended New York’s Juilliard School. (Supplied)
WKTV Staff ken@wktv.org
The January Series, according to the series’ Calvin University website, “cultivates deep thought and conversations about important issues of the day in order to inspire cultural renewal and make us better global citizens in God’s world.”
It is also a safe space to engage in religious thought and debate on topics originating from America and around the globe. Including a discussion on creation vs. evolution, and reports on religious freedoms in China, the Middle East, as well as here at home in America.
This year from Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020, through Tuesday, Jan. 28, the free-admission, 15-day annual lecture series will be held on the campus of Calvin University, and is also available via closed-circuit broadcast at more than 60 remote sites — in more than 50 cities throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe — or online for live audio streaming.
According to the university, the 2020 edition of the January Series features New York Times best-selling authors, Billboard-topping musicians, and a 41-year veteran of the White House press corps, and it includes issues ranging from poverty and hunger, the global water crisis, immigration, mass incarceration, to big data’s inequality and threat to democracy.
Najla Kassab’s lecture, “The Reformed Church in the Middle East: Hopes and Challenges”, will be Jan. 28. (Supplied)
Among the religious-themed lecturers, discussion titles and dates are: Todd Charles Wood and Darrel R. Falk, “Moving Beyond Label to a Christian Dialogue about Creation and Evolution”, Jan. 9; Bob (Xiqiu) Fu, “When Caesar Demands to be God: Religious Freedom in China”, Jan. 17; Karen Gonzalez, “The God Who Sees: Immigrants, the Bible, and the Journey to belong, Jan. 27; and Najla Kassab, “The Reformed Church in the Middle East: Hopes and Challenges”, Jan. 28.
Notable names, religious openness
A few of the more notable names in the lineup include Ann Compton, a television reporter who covered seven presidents; Mitch Albom, an author, columnist, radio host, and philanthropist whose books have sold over 39 million copies and been translated into more than 45 languages; and Jonathan Haidt, a social psychologist at NYU whose last two books were New York Times best-sellers.
Jonathan Haidt’s lecture, “The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas are setting up a Generation for Failure”, will be Jan. 13. Albom’s lecture, on Jan. 21, will be “A Little Girl, an Earthquake, and the Making of a Family. Compton’s lecture, on Jan. 22, will be “Up Close and Very Personal: My 41 years in the Whit House Press Corps”.
“Gaining knowledge is the first step to making a difference,” Kristi Potter, the director of the January Series. “If we don’t know about these topics, then we don’t know how we can actually make a difference.”
Potter says this work starts with listening, even to those with whom we may disagree, such as evolution.
“We have the opportunity to hear from two respected scientists who hold opposing viewpoints on the topic of origins,” she said. “One is a six-day creationist, the other a theistic evolutionist, and both feel strongly about their views. Both actually feel the other person’s view is harming the church. … And yet, the two have learned to talk to rather than past one another, using respectful dialogue with the understanding that they are both Christians.”
While Potter says the series will dig deep into some of the complex issues facing the world today, it will also highlight the great progress being made in some of these areas. One talk will be Johan Norberg’s, “Progress: 10 Reasons to Look Forward to the Future”, on Thursday, Jan. 24.
“It’s not all doom and gloom, positive things are happening,” she said.
Cathy O’Neil’s lecture, “Weapons of Math Destruction: How Big Data Increases Inequity and Threatens Democracy”, will be Jan.14. (Supplied)
Among the other lecturers, discussion titles and dates are: Longtime Calvin volleyball coach Amber Warners, “The Fierce Humility of Winning”, Jan. 8; Sandra Postel, “The Virtuous Cycle of Water and Prosperity, Jan. 10; Cathy O’Neil, “Weapons of Math Destruction: How Big Data Increases Inequity and Threatens Democracy”, Jan.14; Deborah and James Fallows, “Our Towns: A 100,000 mile Journey into the Heart of America”, Jan. 15; Alice Marie Johnson, “After Life: My Journey From Incarceration to Freedom”, Jan. 20; and Jeremy Everett, “Solving America’s Hunger Crisis”, Jan. 23.
The concert by the 5 Browns will be Jan. 16. The 5 Browns — Ryan, Melody, Gregory, Deondra and Desirae — all attended New York’s Juilliard School. In fact, they became the first family of five siblings ever accepted simultaneously. The piano playing quintet have released three CDs that each went to #1 on Billboard Magazine’s Classical Album Chart. The New York Post has proclaimed: “One family, five pianos and 50 fingers add up to the biggest classical music sensation in years.”
The series runs from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday through Friday in the Covenant Fine Arts Center on Calvin’s campus. No tickets required for the day or one evening events (but they do fill up quickly, so do not be late).
A typical workout doesn’t give you license to eat whatever you want.
Even a full hour of vigorous skiing burns just 600 calories—less than the amount in a super-sized fast food sandwich. That’s why it’s important to think of exercise as just one part of a shape-up plan.
Exercise works the cardiovascular system and builds muscle, but it takes calorie restriction to also lose weight. Small diet tweaks that you can make when you’re building a healthier body through exercise will maximize your efforts.
Here’s what you need to know about nutrition when you work out regularly.
You don’t need to fuel up like a marathon runner, but give your body some nourishment about two hours before every workout to make exercise more effective. Have a small meal with healthy carbs and protein and some fat. If eating two hours in advance doesn’t work with your schedule, aim for a small snack about an hour before your workout.
It’s also important to eat a small meal with carbs and protein within two hours after your workout to give your body the nutrients it needs.
Keep in mind that “calories in and calories out” is a balancing act that varies from person to person.
So whether you’re trying to lose weight or maintain, keep a journal that records the amount of calories you get from food as well as the amount of calories burned off during workouts to see if your intake needs to be adjusted up or down.
Beware of so-called training supplements. These products aren’t regulated and their claims may not have any science behind them.
If you’re getting a good amount of whole foods in your diet—that is, unprocessed and unpackaged foods—you shouldn’t need any of these aids.
Finally, it can’t be stated often enough: Drink water as needed before, during and after exercise to stay hydrated, especially in hot and humid conditions.
Many people have heard the term “hospice” without really understanding exactly what it is or what hospice care provides. Those who don’t understand the term have probably never had a reason to think about it, and most don’t think about it until they are in a situation that requires it.
But, hospice care is something everyone should understand because you never know when a family member may require hospice services. But, before we answer, ‘what is hospice care?’ It’s important to point out that there are a lot of misconceptions about hospice. So, let’s start by talking about what Hospice care is NOT.
Hospice is NOT:
Just a place or facility
Whether you desire the full-time care of a Hospice facility or the convenience of a team of caregivers in the comfort of your home or in an assisted living community, hospice care offers flexibility.
Just for cancer patients
A long-standing myth, hospice provides end of life care to those with a wide range of end of life conditions such as kidney failure, heart failure, and advanced dementia or Alzheimer’s.
Just for the patient
Many hospice services provide not only medical care for the patient but grief counseling and after death assistance for the family.
Permanent
Hospice is not a permanent choice. Anyone in hospice care may choose to leave and receive curative treatments at any time.
So, what is hospice care?
Hospice is medical care geared toward maintaining and improving quality of life for an individual whose illness or condition is likely incurable. Hospice is offered as an option when all curative measures have been exhausted and the life prognosis is six months or less.
Hospice IS:
Well-rounded care
Hospice care doesn’t just focus on one aspect of end-of-life care, like pain management. Pain management is part of it, but hospice professionals look at the whole life of the patient. They want to make them comfortable, help them engage in life as much as possible and help ease their minds and hearts. To do that, they provide not only medical care but emotional care as well.
A team of caregivers
Hospice isn’t just a single individual. To provide proper, end of life care, a team of professionals works together to administer medications, provide support, give physical therapy, and provide all the services that account for a fulfilled life, all the way to the end.
Respite care
Even those individuals who have vowed to care for their sick loved one sometimes need a break. In order to provide the best care possible, they need to be able to step away from time to time and leave their loved one in the care of someone they trust. Many hospice providers offer respite care so, even if you haven’t turned to a facility for full-time hospice help, you can still get the help you need when you need it.
Affordable
Many insurance plans cover a portion of the expense for Hospice care but for those that don’t, it is “covered by Medicare (through the Medicare Hospice Benefit), Medicaid (in most states), and The Veteran’s Health Administration,” according to the American Hospice Foundation’s website.
While different programs may offer different benefits, you can find a list of the services most Hospice Care Services provide on the the Hospice Foundation of America’s website. You should be sure to ask any facility or service you are considering what exactly they provide.
Bullied teens are more likely to develop mental health problems—and people with mental health problems are also more likely to become bullies, researchers report.
Even though many studies have shown that being bullied can leave mental scars, “no studies to date” have tested the notion that mental health issues might also help drive bullying, explained study author Marine Azevedo Da Silva. She’s a postdoctoral researcher in Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, in New York City.
For the study, the researchers analyzed data from 13,200 U.S. youth, aged 12 to 17, and found that:
79% said they’d never bullied others
11% said they’d bullied others over a year ago
10% said they’d bullied others in the past year
16% said they’d bullied others over a month ago
5% said they’d bullied others in the past month
Youth who said they’d been bullies were more likely to have a moderate to high rate of mental health problems than those who said they hadn’t bullied others.
The study also found that teens with moderate to high rates of mental health problems were more likely to bully others, compared to those without such issues.
In other words, the link between mental health issues and bullying “is likely to be bidirectional,” Azevedo Da Silva said in a school news release.
According to study senior author Dr. Silvia Martins, the findings suggest that efforts to stem bullying “should consider how to take into account and handle negative feelings and mental health problems” of young perpetrators.
Martins directs the Substance Abuse Epidemiology Unit at Mailman.
It’s estimated that between 18% and 31% of U.S. youth are involved in bullying, the researchers noted.
The study was published recently in the Journal of Adolescent Health.
The quest for health and fitness can be a difficult challenge with the hectic pace of busy schedules and the bustle of the holidays.
It seems that New Year’s Day offers us all a fresh new outlook and opportunity to start the year with optimism and hope to improve our lives.
Health and fitness is a journey that requires dedication and commitment.
There is no easy quick fix, patch, pill, cleanse or detox that will replace optimal nutrition and exercise.
Sometimes we can get side-tracked by injury, self-doubt, medical issues and a host of things, which complicate and derail our health goals. It is important to never give up and always continue to fight the good fight for your health. You are worth it!
Jan. 1 is a great time to start by making a resolution to strive for health.
Here’s how:
1. Schedule your annual
A physical exam with your primary care physician or provider should be first on your list. Make sure you are up-to-date on your screening labs, preventive cancer screenings and immunizations.
If you are starting an exercise regime or have weight-loss goals, this is an excellent time to discuss your options with your doctor and create a plan that will hold you accountable at future follow-up appointments.
2. Strive for 60 minutes of exercise a day
This could be broken up into smaller bits of time throughout the day. For example, you could take the stairs at work or park farther from an entrance.
3. Find a workout partner to hold you accountable
You are much less likely to let another person down. You can keep each other on track virtually through text messages or agree to meet in person to walk or exercise.
4. Add exercise to your schedule, and hold firm
Exercise either before work or on your way home from work. It is much easier to either get it done before the day starts or before you get home.
5. Prep your work-out items the night before
If you are an early morning exerciser, get all set well in advance of the alarm going off.
Sometimes sleeping in your exercise clothes might be the trick until you get into the habit of rising early. Set your shoes out, have your water bottle filled and things ready to go.
6. Get at least eight hours of sleep
Studies have shown that adequate sleep reduces stress hormones and will help with weight loss and overall health.
7. Drink enough water
Stay hydrated. This means 64 ounces for an average size adult. (Sorry, caffeinated beverages don’t count.)
8. Cut screen time
Decrease the amount of time spent in front of screens (TV, computer, tablet, phone) and move as much as possible.
Consider walking on your lunch break or taking a 10-minute walk around the house instead of checking social media posts.
9. Fill up on fruits and veggies
Make half your plate fruits and vegetables at all meals. This is an easy way to increase the amount of healthy foods without taking the time to measure anything.
10. Know the stats
Research shows it takes 21 days to make a habit. If you fall off the wagon, climb back on. The ride is much more enjoyable when you are doing positive things for your health.
Commit to just the day in front of you and make it great. Pretty soon, you might have an entire compilation of days that could add up to a new, healthier you.
“There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.”
— The eternal optimist
Hope is a roof over your head
The 3:11 Youth Housing Program is for youth ages 18 to 24, to transition from homelessness to stability. They focus on that age range because it’s when people are entering adulthood. It now consists of eight rehabbed duplex-style homes in Grand Rapids, each with room for three to four youths and a mentor or mentor couple. More info here.
Still time
David Wiesner (American, b. 1956), Art & Max, 2010. (Supplied)
If you haven’t taken your kids to the Grand Rapids Art Museum yet during winter break, you’re still in luck. The GRAM will waive admission fees for visitors age 17 and under through Jan. 5.
Grieving the loss of a loved one?
The holidays can often serve as a stumbling block on the journey from grief to healing. The topic of grief is not often something anyone wants to talk about, especially at a time of year that, for most, is a time of great joy and happiness. Here are some tips on how to cope.
Fun fact:
It’s nothing new
Mesopotamia (modern day Iraq) began the concept of celebrating the new year in 2000 BC. Back then, people observed new year in mid-March, around the time of the vernal equinox. See? We’re not so special.
Senior Kuwann Crawford wasn’t looking to live an extravagant lifestyle on his firefighter’s salary, but he found himself feeling flummoxed when discovering that being able to pay the bills meant living with his parents.
“This is very stressful,” he said, looking for ways to cover the cost of housing, transportation, food, furniture, technology and clothes, before even thinking about having anything left for entertainment or charity.
Kuwann was participating in a simulated budgeting session using an app called Bite of Reality 2 in East Kentwood High School teacher Amy Broekhuizen’s personal finance course.
His challenge: create a budget on an income of $1,864 a month (the amount left after deductions from a $2,500 monthly income). He and his classmates chose professions with varying salaries and visited 10 stations with options for how to spend their money. An Audi Q7? A used Ford Focus? Restaurants every night? Cooking at Home? High-tech electronics? A modest Internet package?
Kuwann at first chose to live in a studio apartment for $640 month, drive a used Honda Civic for $459 per month in total transportation costs, and eat at home for $360 a month. He soon found he couldn’t stretch his income to pay for everything else.
“I’m in debt!” he said, after figuring in clothing costs. “I feel like I’m seeing how hard it is to be an adult and realizing all these responsibilities.”
Kuwann circled through the stations twice, begrudgingly agreeing to live with his parents and switch to a used Ford Focus to cut costs. “Figuring out how to manage the money is stressing me out.”
After more finagling, he ended up with $109 at the end of the month, 30 percent of which he put into savings and 70 percent toward the credit card debt the game had assigned him.
Senior Chase Montague found out he needed a ‘side hustle’ to make ends meet. Senior Kuwann Crawford had to readjust his budget several times. (School News Network)
Lessons In Money Management
Ben Harman, a relationship development manager with Arbor Financial Credit Union, offered the simulation as a cornerstone of several sessions he’s led in the class on financial literacy. He said many students don’t know how to buy a car or even what a credit report is, and East Kentwood is unique in offering a personal finance class. The Kalamazoo-based credit union has partnered with other high schools as well.
“The reason it’s important to reach these young people is they haven’t really had a chance to make a ruckus of their credit reports or bank accounts; they probably don’t have many bills,” he said, adding that if he can protect one of them from being taken advantage of losing money he considers himself successful.
East Kentwood’s semester-long personal finance class can be taken as an elective or for a math credit. Topics include taxes, checking and savings, credit cards, loans, credit reports, investing, insurance and budgeting.
Senior Kuwann Crawford works to balance his budget. (School News Network)
“The big takeaway is for them to really understand that a lot of the financial decisions they make now are ones that need to be continued throughout life,” Broekhuizen said. “They don’t have to have that instant gratification of buying it now and getting into debt… You need to get into the habit of saving so you can make those large purchases without going into debt.”
During the simulation, senior Morgan Arnold had a bit more money to work with than Kuwann, with her $4,100 lawyer’s take-home income. She had the most left over in the class — $1,400 — at the end of the month. “You don’t need to buy a new car to have a nice car,” was one of her tips. “Prioritizing is the biggest thing.”
Senior Chase Montague, however, learned he would need to take on a “side hustle” blogging to live on his journalist’s salary, $1,700 a month after deductions, wasn’t cutting it.
Senior Deivi Martinez also struggled, deciding against becoming an actor after trying to cover expenses on a $2,100-a-month income. “I couldn’t afford a nice car and a decent apartment,” he said. Instead, he wants to be an electrician.
For more stories on local schools, visit the School News Network website, schoolnewsnetwork.org.
Homeless, with Homework: A new School News Network series on homelessness in schools and its connection to housing. As costs rise and the rental market has low availability, nearly 2,500 students in Kent ISD public schools are facing homelessness. These stories look into what’s led to the issue and how it impacts students. For more on the series, click here.
Eight years ago, Ja-Quari Moore-Bass was crashing at friends’ places because he had no permanent home. He knew several other teenagers also facing homelessness.
“Most of my classmates were couch-surfing,” said Moore-Bass, who was a student at Crossroads Alternative High School in Kentwood. He had also attended an alternative school in Kelloggsville. “They were staying at their neighbor’s house, a distant relative’s house. They weren’t living at home with parents.”
He drew the attention of Lauren and Jon VanKeulen, youth group leaders with CityLife Church in Grand Rapids, who dropped him off at the place where he was crashing.
They asked Moore-Bass if they could help in any way, and the answer turned out to be a broad one.
“The three of us found time over the next series of weeks to talk about the overarching issue,” he said. Many young adults needed a roof over their heads paired with guidance for navigating everything from budgeting to gaining employment.
“It’s more than just me,” he explained.
Moore-Bass and several others in situations similar to his own met with the VanKeulens. “We all came together to talk about things we felt we needed, as well as things we felt people didn’t understand about our situations.”
Ja-Quari Moore-Bass was a homeless youth. He co-founded 3:11 Youth Housing
Building Trust, Dispelling Misconceptions
The group started to create a blueprint for a youth housing program. The most concrete need was shelter, but other needs were more nuanced and complex.
“Overall, we needed a place to stay that did not have a large amount of restrictions, but had a guideline,” Moore-Bass said. They needed mentorship in finding and keeping jobs and maintaining and building relationships.
But that required understanding. “Some of us just need to talk to someone we know isn’t thinking the worst of us,” he said. “Oftentimes people assume you and your parents are fighting and you ran away; you are on drugs or have been drinking; you have a violent history or you chose the situation, which is not the case in most situations.”
Moore-Bass, for one, was finishing up high school credits when he became homeless. He was 19 and his mother was moving out of state, and he chose not to join her.
After she left, he soon ran out of money and found himself couch surfing. “From there it just continued. I didn’t have anything, a phone, address, nothing. Getting a job was the biggest thing, but I couldn’t get a job without an address or phone.”
He knew many homeless youth faced the same problems. Issues surrounding homelessness snowball and many youth lacked support.
A Blueprint Created With Youth
The3:11 Youth Housing Program took shape, opening its first house in 2013. Moore-Bass was one of the first residents. Having a stable living arrangement made it possible to find a job, which he did in the first week of living there.
The program was serving needs in a unique way because it was based on what youth indicated they needed most, Moore-Bass said.
“WE ARE IN A SPOT WHERE PEOPLE ARE REALISTICALLY SPENDING 80 TO 90 PERCENT ON HOUSING. WE SEE THE CRISIS OF HOMELESSNESS CONTINUING TO GROW, ESPECIALLY FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES.”
– Lauren VanKeulen, co-founder of 3:11
The program is for youth ages 18 to 24, to transition from homelessness to stability. They focus on that age range because it’s when people are entering adulthood. It now consists of eight rehabbed duplex-style homes in Grand Rapids, each with room for three to four youths and a mentor or mentor couple.
“Eighteen is when you first get out of foster care. It’s when you are acknowledged as an adult and the outside world expects you to know everything: the square root of pi, how to apply for a grant, how to do everything on your own — you’re an adult. Just get the job done. OK, who was supposed to teach me any of those things?” he asked.
Youth pay $250 per month in rent; $50 is saved toward their first month’s rent and security deposit when they move out, $50 pays for utilities, and $150 helps defray the costs of operating the homes. They receive at least the first month free, as they work to stabilize, find employment and get on their feet.
A mentor lives in each property, providing guidance and support. Moore-Bass also served as a mentor.
“We have housed 47 people since we started, 23 youth along with six children,” said Lauren VerHeulen, co-founder and co-executive director of the program. She added that there is no time limit on how long a person can stay. Many have aged out of the foster care system.
3:11 Youth Housing houses young adults ages 18-24 and provides mentorship
Demand is High
Moore-Bass, now a board member for 3:11, said he is seeing more demand than there are rooms available. “The problem is consistently growing and currently there isn’t enough money for available property for us to fix the issue.”
Skyrocketing rental prices have left people with no options, said Lauren VanKeulen, who sits on the steering council for the Grand Rapids Area Coalition to End Homelessness and the executive committee of the Continuum of Care.
“Homelessness in general is on the rise. The crisis of affordable housing is significant. In Grand Rapids, where you once could afford a one-bedroom on minimum wage and maybe make it work, it’s entirely impossible now,” she said. “It creates real problems for any kind of affordability in trying to maintain your life.”
“EIGHTEEN IS WHEN YOU FIRST GET OUT OF FOSTER CARE. IT’S WHEN YOU ARE ACKNOWLEDGED AS AN ADULT AND THE OUTSIDE WORLD EXPECTS YOU TO KNOW EVERYTHING: THE SQUARE ROOT OF PI, HOW TO APPLY FOR A GRANT, HOW TO DO EVERYTHING ON YOUR OWN.”
– Ja-Quari Moore Bass, co-founder of 3:11 Youth Housing
The general rule of thumb is that one shouldn’t spend more than 30 percent of their income on housing. “We are in a spot where people are realistically spending 80 to 90 percent on housing,” she said. “We see the crisis of homelessness continuing to grow, especially for youth and families.”
Moore, who now works at the retail store Hot Topic and at a pizza restaurant, lives in a Wyoming apartment with roommates. He graduated from Crossroads in 2012 and attended GRCC for a while, but going to school full time made it difficult to pay the bills, he said. He plans to go back to college and eventually study psychology or psychiatry.
Through 3:11 Youth Housing, Moore has seen people get on their feet, getting jobs, promotions, raises, driver’s licenses and cars. He’s seen them move out to new apartments and buy homes.
“It’s an amazing experience to be a part of the growth of other people… just seeing people achieve things that they didn’t think were possible … achieve things that hadn’t crossed their minds before. It’s amazing.”
For stories about local schools, visit the School News Network website, schoolnewsnetwork.org.
“Baby boomers are a lot more willing to embrace hearing aids than their elders were,” said Debbie Youngsma, AuD, CCC-A, an audiologist with Spectrum Health Medical Group. “They are into their smartphones. They are into all that technology. And hearing aids are smart.” (Chris Clark, Spectrum Health Beat)
There long has been a big gap between the number of people with hearing loss and those willing to wear a hearing aid.
But tech-savvy baby boomers just might be the ones to narrow that gap.
“Baby boomers are a lot more willing to embrace hearing aids than their elders were,” said Debbie Youngsma, AuD, CCC-A, an audiologist with Spectrum Health Medical Group. “They are into their smartphones. They are into all that technology. And hearing aids are smart.”
The number of people with hearing loss is growing as rapidly as hair is graying in the baby boomer population.
According to a recent federal report, 17 percent of Americans—1 in 6—say they have trouble hearing. Not surprisingly, the number increases with age. Forty-three percent of those over 70 report hearing loss.
Those self-reported numbers likely don’t capture the full picture, Youngsma said.
People don’t always recognize when they have trouble hearing. Why? The loss may occur too gradually to notice. They may have never had their hearing checked. Or they could be in denial.
“Less than 21 percent of those with hearing impairment are wearing hearing aids,” she said.
Those who do get hearing aids wait an average of seven to 10 years to seek help. That’s a lot of missed conversations.
Accepting the technology can mean a big difference socially and emotionally, Youngsma said.
“Untreated hearing loss usually results in isolation and withdrawal from social situations,” she said. “They can get depressed, frustrated and lonely.”
“Obviously, the earlier you get (hearing aids), the easier it’s going to be to adjust and get back into the world of hearing.”
Tired of saying, ‘What?’
Rochelle Morris, 52, said she didn’t realize how much she missed before she got hearing aids two years ago.
She traces problems with her left ear to a car accident in 2004, when the air bag deployed and slammed into the left side of her head.
She started noticing problems hearing about five years ago. She often asked co-workers or family members to repeat something. She missed the punchlines of jokes.
“I felt myself not doing things because I didn’t want to say, ‘What?’ or ‘Say that again,’” she said.
Morris resisted the idea of wearing hearing aids—until she saw how small and unobtrusive they are.
“I pictured an old person and was really kind of embarrassed about it,” she said. “I didn’t need to be, because you don’t even notice it.”
Within a couple of days, she embraced the technology.
Youngsma said she is encouraged to see the stigma waning, particularly among the young baby boomers.
Many are still in the workforce, and communication is crucial to performing their jobs. They also are more likely than their elders to see a hearing aid as just one more technological device—to add to their tablet, laptop, smartphone, Kindle, FitBit or Apple Watch.
“You can act like you’re texting while you’re changing what the hearing aids are doing,” she said.
For Morris, hearings aids opened up a world of sounds she had missed—from the wind blowing through the trees to conversations with her husband, Brian, and their children, Anna and RC.
And when she could hear better, her balance improved.
Causes of hearing loss
Injuries, like the one Morris sustained, are one of several causes of hearing loss, Youngsma said. Others include aging, ear infections, cancer treatments and exposure to noise—either cumulative or one loud burst.
And remember when your parents would tell you to turn down your music? Well, they were on to something. Going to loud concerts, or listening to loud music with ear buds, can take a toll on your hearing.
Impacted ear wax also can cause temporary problems with hearing.
“Hearing loss is the third most common complaint, following hypertension and arthritis, in older adults,” Youngsma said.
Proper dental care is an essential part of aging healthfully. As we grow older, our oral health has an even bigger impact on our overall well-being than in past years, so maintaining a dental hygiene routine is important.
While brushing and flossing routines remain central, some additional steps are important for seniors’ dental health. People with dementia, severe arthritis, or mobility struggles need assistance with this crucial habit, so make sure your aging loved ones have the help they need. With these things in mind, you can prevent future problems and ensure the best oral health possible.
Tips for improving senior dental care during aging
See your dentist at least every six months. Routine cleanings help prevent decay and cavities, and also allow your dentist to detect gum disease in the early, reversible stages.
Let your dentist know of any health conditions or new medications that may lead to oral problems. Tell them right away if you ever experience increased sensitivity.
Quit smoking. In addition to the risk of lung cancer, smoking can lead to gum disease, tooth decay, and tooth loss.
Brush twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride-containing toothpaste, and floss once a day.
If you wear dentures, remember to clean them daily. Remove them for at least four hours a day, preferably at night.
Eat whole foods and avoid sugar. Processed, high-sugar foods do not support oral health in any way, but teeth and gums thrive on a high-fiber diet.
Medical conditions connected to oral health
Many of the health problems that concern seniors are linked to oral health. A strong dental hygiene routine doesn’t just support your teeth and gums; here are a few of the ways excellent dental care is connected to overall health:
Cardiovascular disease
Oral health is closely connected with our heart health. Periodontitis allows bacteria below the gum line, contributing to the spread of toxins through our body. Studies have found that severe periodontal disease is associated with higher risks of stroke and double the risk of fatal heart disease, and in some cases, tooth infections can cause infection in the heart’s lining or valves. In the absence of gum disease, fewer bacteria are present in the cardiovascular system. While researchers don’t fully understand the connection between oral and heart conditions, it’s clear that good dental hygiene supports the cardiovascular system.
Pneumonia and respiratory problems
Poor oral health can contribute to pneumonia. In fact, some studies have shown a higher mortality rate in pneumonia patients who also have more gum problems. When bacteria from the mouth is inhaled into the lungs, an infection may occur in the respiratory system and existing medical conditions can become much worse. Regular brushing and cleaning helps remove dangerous oral bacteria and helps prevent internal infection.
Diabetes
Oral health is essential for people with diabetes. Gum disease inhibits the use of insulin, and high blood sugar leads to gum infections. People whose glucose is poorly managed suffer from gum disease much more often than those whose glucose is well-controlled, so stay mindful of your blood glucose levels.
These are just a few of the ways doctors and scientists have demonstrated the essential role played by our oral health. With education and energy put toward dental hygiene, you or your aging loved ones can enjoy a healthier, more comfortable daily life.
It’s intuitive that acne causes depression, but a massive new study out of England shows just how devastating acne can weigh on people’s psyches.
Researchers, following nearly 2 million men and women in England over a 15-year period, found a 63 percent increase in clinical depression in the first year people had acne compared to those without acne.
Most people were younger than 19 at the start of the study, but they ranged in age from 7 to 50.
“This is not surprising,” said Adele Cadieux, PsyD, a pediatric psychologist with Spectrum Health Helen Devos Children’s Hospital. “Unfortunately acne begins when kids are much more focused on their physical appearance” than other qualities.
Acne is mostly unavoidable: About 85 percent of people will experience a breakout at some point, making it the most common skin condition in the U.S., according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Women are more likely to get acne, and more likely to suffer depression because of it.
There are ways, however, to reduce children and teens’ risk of suffering depression after an outbreak.
Recognize the signs
Acne is a skin condition in which hair follicles become plugged with oil and dead skin cells. This can cause whiteheads, blackheads or pimples on the face, forehead, back, chest and shoulders.
Many people think of acne as a relatively benign condition, but the study shows otherwise, researchers said.
“For these patients with acne, it is more than a skin blemish—it can impose significant mental health concerns and should be taken seriously,” Dr. Isabelle Vallerand, the lead researcher, noted in a statement.
Parents concerned about their children should look for possible signs of depression.
“If (kids) mention they might not want to go social or extracurricular activities, or their child’s behavior or grades start changing, or they seem more withdrawn,” those could be signs the child is struggling with something, Dr. Cadieux said.
“Whether the child identifies whether any of this is related to acne or not, it’s important to take that next step of trying to evaluate what’s contributing to these changes.”
The best way to find out answers: Ask questions, Dr. Cadieux said.
If kids seem reluctant to talk to their parents, take them to a pediatrician or encourage a special teacher, coach or religious figure to talk with them, she said. Sometimes children are more likely to open up to non-family members than they would a parent.
‘You’re on a stage and being judged’
An effective way to gird children and teenagers against depression is to focus on qualities other than physical appearance.
“One of the things that is really important for kids is to focus on aspects of their life that are going well,” Dr. Cadieux said. “Families can be very important in providing some of that feedback, whether it’s their personal qualities, their skills, really anything other than focusing on physical appearance.”
Fostering those other skills and qualities—getting them into music classes, sports leagues, coding or theater camps, depending on their interests—can also help them form an identity around those qualities rather than their physical appearance, doctors said.
If those efforts don’t work, counseling is an option.
The increase in risk of depression is the worst in the first year of acne, and lasts for five years, the study showed. Although still high, the increased risk of depression decreases each year after the first year of diagnosis.
After five years, the increased risk disappears, even if the acne persists. This also isn’t surprising, Dr. Cadieux said.
“As you get older, your maturity level changes,” she said. “In adolescence, you’re so focused on physical appearance, as if you’re on stage and being judged.
“But as you transition into adulthood, you begin to recognize your skills, abilities and successes—you can build your self-esteem on these and not focus as much on physical appearance. These can help reduce the risk of depression.”
By Chia-Hui Neilly, NP-C, Barry Community Health Center
Type 2 diabetes is a condition where the body is unable to maintain normal levels of blood glucose using a hormone known as insulin. Currently, more than 100 million people in the U.S. are diabetic or pre-diabetic. If this trend continues, almost 1 in every 3 people will have this condition (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017). Moreover, diabetic and pre-diabetic patients are more prone to heart attacks, strokes, and other health problems than other individuals.
1. What are the risk factors for type 2 diabetes?
Overweight and obesity: The more fatty tissue, the higher chance for type 2 diabetes
Inactivity: Inadequate physical activity leads to weight gain that causes type 2 diabetes.
Smoking: Smokers are susceptible to type 2 diabetes, and non-smokers are more immune to heart disease, stroke, and other illnesses
A family history of diabetes is associated with a high risk of type 2 diabetes.
Pregnancy-onset diabetes (gestational diabetes) increases risk of type 2 diabetes and pre-diabetes.
Polycystic ovary syndrome, characterized by an erratic menstrual cycle, obesity, and excess hair growth, is also a risk factor for type 2 diabetes.
What is the first step to preventing diabetes?
Always observe for type 2 diabetes symptoms, which include: increased thirst and hunger, frequent urination, fatigue, headaches, and blurred vision.
What are the best strategies to prevent type 2 diabetes?
You may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes by doing the following:
Lose excess weight by balancing food intake and physical exercise. A 5% to 10% reduction in weight significantly lowers the risk of type 2 diabetes and substantially improves one’s health status.
Stay active for at least 30 minutes daily to prevent excess weight gain and reduce fatty tissues. A relatively high-paced walk with no extra gymnastics per day is an adequate physical activity to maintain a healthy body.
Avoid sedentary behaviors such as physical inactivity, continuous watching of television, and prolonged sitting sessions.
Adopt health-conscious diets and behaviors to avoid being overweight and to counteract other food-related risk factors for type 2 diabetes. To achieve this goal, one needs well-balanced meals that contain the following items.
A variety of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
Protein from diverse sources, including seafood, white lean meat, poultry, eggs, legumes, nuts, seeds, and soy products
Fat-free or low-fat dairy products, namely milk, yogurt and cheese, and soy milk
Nut-based oils such as olives and avocados
What other dietary measures are effective to prevent type 2 diabetes?
Limit daily consumption of meat, sweets, and refined grains.
Avoid sweetened drinks such as soda and juice.
Maintain the recommended portion sizes in every meal by filling the plate with ¼ grains, ¼ protein, ½ fruits. Additionally, consume six to eight glasses of water daily.
Always consume a high-fiber diet to enhance digestion, facilitate weight management, and control blood sugars.
Limit the amount of alcohol to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease. The recommended daily liquor intake for men is two drinks, but women should ingest half that amount.
Are there tests for type 2 diabetes?
Three different tests for type 2 diabetes are available. However, your primary care provider will determine whether one test is adequate to confirm an individual’s diabetic status.
Please feel free to contact us for any questions, comments, or concerns. Importantly, discuss with your primary care provider about testing for type 2 diabetes.
By Colleen Cullison Pine Rest Christian Metal Health Services
A new exhibit titled, “Zen and Human Relationships,” by local artist Stone Peng, opens at the Leep Art Gallery on Jan. 9 at the Postma Center on the Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services campus in Grand Rapids.
Born in Taiwan, taking photos since the early 1980’s, Stone Peng is a self-taught photographer. Peng has lived in Michigan for more than 30 years. He is a Grand Rapids-based national and international award winning photographer.
“Through photos I try to express a message of peace and calm. Every landscape has its own life and meaning, depending on the viewer’s mood. I try to catch that emotional feeling at specific moments in landscapes, using the Chinese philosophy of life and the aesthetic principles ‘less is more’ and ‘empty is full’ in creating my images,” says Peng. “Using primarily white tones in the background lends a simplicity and ethereal purity to a subject that gives you a calm, peaceful, infinitely deep and immeasurable feeling. The empty space offers the viewer a chance to focus on what it really takes to find balance in life and capture a little piece of it for our self.”
Tranquility, simplicity and beauty are the essence of Peng’s photos. His work has been presented in numerous publications throughout the United States. Peng’s photos are in public and private collections throughout West Michigan, the United States and beyond. He has won numerous awards over the years as well.
The Pine Rest Leep Art Gallery exhibit will be on display at the Postma Center located at 300 68th Street, SE., from Jan. 9 to April 6. The Leep Art Gallery is open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. and is free and open to the public. For more information, please call 616-222-4530 or go to www.pinerest.org/leep-art-gallery.
Not into college football bowl games on New Years Eve? Want to catch some great music concerts? WKTV will replay its entire 2019 Kentwood Summer Concert Series to ring in the New Year.
Starting at 5 p.m. and running until after midnight, WKTV Community Media’s Community cable channel will rebroadcast six concerts leading off with That Beatle’s Thing and ending with Hannah & The Gravetones.
WKTV broadcasts on Wyoming and Kentwood cable channels. Comcast cable, Channel 25 is the Community Channel, where sports events and other community events are shown. WKTV can also be found on AT&T U-verse 99.
For complete schedules of programs on WKTV channels, see our Weekly On-air Schedule. The concerts are also available on-demand at WKTVLive.org.
Mark Contreras and Jamie Hendricks stand in the nurse station at HQ. The two nurse practitioners dedicate part of their work week to provide care for HQ members. Photo Credit: Valerie Wojciechowski
Grand Valley State University teamed with area nonprofits to officially launch a health initiative on Dec. 12 in an effort to interrupt the cycle of youth homelessness.
Shandra Steininger, co-founder and executive director of HQ called the Comprehensive Health Initiative (CHI) a hub of resources housed at HQ, a drop-in center for teens and young adults who are experiencing unstable housing or homelessness. She said CHI will provide hundreds of youth with access to primary health care, health system navigation, holistic therapy and substance abuse intervention.
The core partners with HQ are 3:11 Youth Housing, which provides housing to youth experiencing homelessness; GVSU Family Health Center, operated by the Kirkhof College of Nursing; the Wisdom Center, which provides counseling services; and Health Net of West Michigan, which provides health system navigation services.
CHI received grant funding in excess of $400,000 over three years from the Steelcase Foundation, Michigan Health Endowment Fund, Herman Miller Cares, Frey Foundation and Mars Hills Bible Church.
During the launch event at HQ, 320 State St. SE, Steininger said as state and federal funding for nonprofits has decreased over the years, it became clear a one-stop shop of providers for homeless youth was needed. She drew in partners who would dedicate time at HQ to build relationships with teens and young adults and provide assistance.
“We still have youth who think sleeping outside at night is their best option, so we used a model of building a resource hub with providers who would build intentional relationships with our members,” Steininger said.
Mark Contreras, nurse practitioner at the GVSU Family Health Center, is one of two providers who have regular hours at HQ. The Family Health Center, 72 Sheldon Blvd. SE, serves the GVSU community and many adults who live in the city’s Heartside district.
“We’ve learned from caring for this marginalized population that navigating the health care system for them is complex,” Contreras said. “They can’t purchase a prescription that’s $200 or go across town for a referral if they don’t have a car.”
The FHC nurse practitioners employ the same relationship-building techniques at HQ that they use with patients at the Sheldon Street center.
“I’m a big advocate that if we’re asking a patient questions, we better be able to do something about it,” he said. “If I ask an HQ member if they have insurance and they don’t know, I can say, ‘Let me introduce you to my friend at Health Net who can help.'”
Steininger is confident assisting HQ members with mental and physical health care needs plays a key role in helping them find stable housing. She said 40 percent of adults who are homeless first experienced homelessness as a teen or youth.
GFIA Airport Board and Officials cut the ribbon today to officially open the airport apron after its two-year reconstruction project. (Photo from the Gerald R. Ford International Airport.)
Just before the Christmas holiday, the Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GFIA) announced the completion its $30 million apron reconstruction project after almost two years of construction.
The project repaired the terminal apron – the area where aircraft are parked, unloaded or loaded, de-iced, and refueled. The construction was completed in seven phases over the course of two years to allow for adequate gate space for air carriers.
“We had over 195,000 cubic yards of excavation on this project – that’s enough to fill 60 Olympic sized swimming pools,” said GFIA President and CEO Tory Richardson. “We are also proud of the fact that 99-percent of the materials removed from airport property during this project were reused or recycled, and we did this construction with minimal impacts to our passengers.”
The project removed aging concrete pavement and replaced it with 153,000 square yards of new concrete for future airport development and aircraft loadings. The amount of concrete placed equates to a nearly 250-mile stretch of four-foot wide, four-inch thick sidewalk – enough to walk from GFIA to the Mackinac Bridge.
In addition to the apron repair, GFIA installed all new LED lighting in the apron area to reduce energy usage. Upgraded stormwater drainage system and underground utilities were also complete to accommodate for future airport development.
The $30 million project received most of its support through federal funding.
“We had tremendous support at the federal level through Senator Stabenow and Senator Peters along with Representatives Amash, Huizenga, Moolenaar, and State Senator Peter MacGregor,” said GFIA Board Chair Dan Koorndyk. “Those delegates continue to support our airport as we look at future projects and we are thankful for their efforts.”
For high school math students, calculation errors are an opportunity to grow and to learn. But if you’re a Barbie or Ken doll in teacher James Rex’s classroom at Godwin Heights High School, such errors could be detrimental to your head.
Ken dangles from the balcony. (School News Network)
Recently, students in Rex’s statistics class applied what they had learned to determine the length of a rubber-band “bungee” cord needed to drop a doll off of the gym’s balcony.
A good jump would bring a doll within 70 centimeters of the floor. A jump above the 90 centimeter mark or one that resulted in a head bump for Barbie or Ken would cost students extra points. The stakes were high, as Rex promised a pizza party if the average score stayed below 70 centimeters.
“We spent three weeks doing the math to get to this point,” said 12th grader Teara Morris, who worked with classmates Jessica Wise and Carlos Arroyo to calculate how many rubber bands it would take to get their doll, “Kenny G”, close to the floor without hurting his head. Teara said the math could be confusing but between the three of them, they figured it out.
Jessica said it took a step-wise process involving a response, explanatory variable, scatter plot, finding a correlation on a website, then figuring out if the bungee falls in a quadratic or linear fashion to prepare Kenny G for the jump.
For more stories on area schools, visit the School News Network at schoolnewsnetwork.org.
Above left, Z’Khariah Brown, Tears Morris, and Jessica Wise do a test drop before the big jump. Above right, Deven Fox and Holden Wells prepare to send Barbie on a bungee jump.
Older women, beware: New research warns that drinking a lot of diet sodas or artificially sweetened fruit juices may increase your risk for stroke.
In a study that tracked nearly 82,000 postmenopausal women, those who drank two or more diet drinks per day saw their overall stroke risk rise by 23 percent, compared with those who consumed diet drinks less than once a week.
Blocked arteries were often the main culprit, with heavy diet drink consumption linked to a 31 percent greater risk for an ischemic stroke, which is triggered by a clot, the study findings showed.
Study author Yasmin Mossavar-Rahmani acknowledged that an “association does not imply causation.” But she stressed that the findings held up even after taking into account the nutritional value of each participant’s overall diet.
So, “we can’t assume these diet drinks are harmless, particularly when consumed at high levels,” Mossavar-Rahmani said.
“The take-home message is that these findings give us pause,” she added. “We need to do more research on why we are seeing these associations. What are the scientific mechanisms? Is there something about the artificial sweeteners, for example, that affect the bacteria in the gut and lead to health issues?”
Mossavar-Rahmani is an associate professor in the department of epidemiology and population health’s division of health promotion and nutrition research at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, in New York City.
The study authors pointed out that the American Heart Association has recently underscored the lack of sufficient research into the cardiovascular impact of diet sodas. Until more work is done, the AHA says the jury remains out on whether artificially sweetened beverages do or do not hasten heart disease.
Women in the latest study were between 50 and 79 when they first enrolled in the Women’s Health Initiative trial between 1993 and 1998.
Investigators tracked the general health of all the enrollees for an average of nearly 12 years. During that time—at the three-year mark—all the women were asked to indicate how frequently they consumed diet sodas and diet fruit drinks over a three-month period.
The researchers did not take note of which brands of artificially sweetened drinks the women drank and so did not know which artificial sweeteners were being consumed.
That said, nearly two-thirds of the women consumed diet sodas or drinks very infrequently, meaning less than once a week or never. Only about 5 percent were found to be “heavy” consumers of artificially sweetened drinks.
After taking into consideration a variety of stroke risk factors—including blood pressure status, smoking history and age—the study team concluded that heavy consumption of diet drinks did appear to be tied to cardiovascular risks in a number of ways.
For example, those women who drank two or more diet beverages a day saw their overall risk for developing heart disease increase by 29 percent. They were also 16 percent more likely to die prematurely from any cause.
Certain groups fared even worse: Among obese women and black women with no history of heart disease or diabetes, a diet drink habit pushed clot-driven stroke risk up by roughly twofold and fourfold, respectively, the researchers reported.
Whether or not the findings would apply to either men or younger women remains unclear, the study authors noted.
The findings were published online recently in the journal Stroke.
Lona Sandon is program director of the department of clinical nutrition at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.
She agreed that more research is needed to further explore a possible diet drink-heart disease connection. But for now Sandon offered simple advice: diet or regular, sodas offer no nutritional value other than calories.
“If they replace other drinks, such as milk and 100 percent fruit or vegetable drinks, then these women miss out on valuable nutrition for protecting the heart and vascular system,” Sandon warned.
“The nutrition you are missing because you are drinking artificially sweetened beverages instead may be the real problem,” she said.
A group representing the artificial sweetener industry offered another caveat about the findings — that many women who drink diet drinks are already struggling with weight issues.
“It is likely study subjects were already at a greater health risk and chose low-calorie sweetened beverages to manage their calorie and sugar intake as these products are proven safe and beneficial for those managing their weight and blood glucose levels,” said Robert Rankin, president of the Calorie Control Council.
“The contribution of reverse causality, meaning that individuals already at a greater risk of stroke and cardiovascular events chose low-calorie sweetened beverages, is very likely the cause of the associations presented by these researchers,” the council added in a statement.
LowellArts recently announced twelve concerts for the 2020 Gallery Concert Series, where guests can listen to music while enjoying the exhibition that is on display.
Concerts include: The Ryne Experience on Jan. 10; Edye Evans Hyde and Mike Hyde on Jan. 19; Lowell High School Fusion Rock Orchestra on Jan. 24 & 25; Roger MacNaughton and Friends on Feb. 9; Josh Rose and the Founding Fathers on Feb. 15; Chain of Lakes on Feb. 29; Blue Water Ramblers on March 7; Delilah DeWylde on March 14; Hayes Griffin and Nate Roberts on March 21; Political Lizard on March 28; and The Willeys on April 4. The concerts are sponsored by Chimera Design with additional support from Local Spins and New Union Brewery.
The Ryne Experience is a solo/collaboration project from Lowell and West Michigan, led by front man and songwriter Ryne Clarke (formally of the Preservers). The Experience verses in styles of folk, rock, alternative, punk, funk, jam, and comedy. Tickets are $10 in advance / $12 at the door. A ticket to the show gets you a copy of their new album, “Funky Town”.
Edye Evans Hyde & Mike Hyde – Jan. 19 at 4pm
Edye and Mike are a Grand Rapids married musical couple that specialize in jazz standards and light pop covers. Tickets are $10 in advance / $12 at the door.
Lowell High School Fusion Rock Orchestra – Jan. 24 & 25 at 7pm
Lowell High School Fusion Rock Orchestra
Fusion Rock Orchestra is a student-led ensemble that has a style to entertain all audiences, from Motown to Metallica and Moondance to Mozart. Tickets are $10 in advance / $12 at the door.
Roger MacNaughton and Friends – Feb. 9 at 4pm
Roger MacNaughton and Friends
Join Roger and Friends for an afternoon of Songs & Memories from Mackinac Island, music composed by Roger during an Artist-in-Residence in the summer of 2019. Tickets are $14 in advance / $16 at the door.
Josh Rose and the Founding Fathers – Feb. 15 at 7pm
Josh Rose and the Founding Fathers
Josh Rose and the Founding Fathers offer music that resonates and melds with the listener long after the last note fades. Tickets are $10 in advance / $12 at the door.
Chain of Lakes – Feb. 29 at 7pm
Chain of Lakes
This Grand Rapids quintet features singer songwriter Kyle Rasche, great vocal harmonies, and performs a blend of Americana songwriting and energetic folk/rock. Tickets are $10 in advance / $12 at the door.
Blue Water Ramblers – March 7 at 7pm
Blue Water Ramblers
The Blue Water Ramblers write and perform contemporary folk songs of love and life. Their intricate arrangements for guitar, bass, banjo and pedal steel support close harmonies and dynamic deliveries with a distinct bluegrass and old country vibe. Tickets are $10 in advance / $12 at the door.
Delilah DeWylde – March 14 at 7pm
Delilah DeWylde
Whether boppin’ to a rockabilly classic or performing one of her great originals, Delilah puts on a show that is not to be missed! Tickets are $12 in advance / $14 at the door.
Hayes Griffin and Nate Roberts – March 21 at 7pm
Hayes Griffin & Nate Roberts
Guitarist Hayes Griffin and mandolinist Nate Roberts are leading the charge in West Michigan’s progressive acoustic music scene. Tickets are $12 in advance / $14 at the door.
Political Lizard – March 28 at 7pm
Political Lizard
Political Lizard musical endeavor seeks to combine musically mature composition with quaint, but intense lyrical sketches that can pierce the vulnerable part of your soul. Tickets are $12 in advance / $14 at the door.
The Willeys – April 4 at 7pm
The Willeys is a folk rock band playing original songs and unusual eclectic covers with a Celtic/Americana edge. Tickets are $12 in advance / $14 at the door.
About LowellArts
LowellArts connects artists and audiences through the visual and performing arts. Located on Main Street in downtown Lowell, LowellArts is a vibrant arts organization that has served the greater Lowell community since 1977. Annual programming includes: rotating gallery exhibitions, art and theater classes, house concerts, community theater, the Showboat Sizzlin’ Summer Concert Series (featuring free evening concerts every Thursday June through August by the Flat River), and the Fallasburg Arts Festival (a two-day juried art fair with 100+ artists, live music, and craft demonstrations held at Fallasburg Park).
Student Council reps (from left) Jonathan Jimenez, Lily Cano and Autumn Smith discuss the holiday share book project with teacher Carrie Zeigler (School News Network)
Southeast Kelloggsville Elementary had never had a Student Council, but that changed this year, thanks in large part to the efforts of fourth grade teacher Carrie Zeigler.
The school, which serves fourth and fifth grade students, now has a 12-person Student Council, one representative for each of Southeast’s classes. Zeigler said the council began as a way to give a different kind of enrichment opportunity to motivated students who are ready to be challenged, and it also worked well with what she and her colleagues are trying to do educationally.
“Since we cover government in the fourth grade social studies curriculum, it seemed like a good fit,” she said.
After a short campaign season that saw students either giving speeches or making posters to garner votes, elections were held in November, once students got to know each other a little better and they had completed the government unit.
The campaign process, students said, was a little nerve-racking, but now that they’ve been elected, they’re enjoying the work and the opportunity to make a difference in their school.
Fifth grader Autumn Smith gave a speech as part of her election campaign, something she admitted was pretty terrifying. Fourth grader Jonathan Jimenez made a poster telling classmates what he hoped to do if elected, and fellow fourth grader Lily Cano went old-school and talked to most of her classmates one-to-one as she highlighted her goals if elected.
And while the trio took different tacks in seeking election, Autumn, Jonathan and Lily all had similar reactions upon hearing they had won.
Said Jonathan: “It felt good but also a little bit scary. You’re like ‘Oh my gosh, it’s so good’ and then you’re like ‘Wait, oh …’”
At this, Lily and Autumn both smiled and nodded.
“I was happy too,” said Lily, “but also a little nervous.” Added Autumn: “I felt that way too.”
Now that the work has begun, the three, and the other nine students who were elected, are eager to make good on their campaign promises and give back to a school they say has given so much to them.
Student Council meets twice a month for 20 minutes on Tuesdays during recess. Reps are required to attend meetings, present information to their classmates, and lead activities and fundraisers.
The first Southeast Kelloggsville Elementary student council: Back row (from left): Carrie Zeigler, Karla Chavez, Lilyana Cano, Specioza Irangunda, Marley Eller, Briseida Pernal, Jonathon Jimenez, Brittany Dietz. Front row (from left): Khloe Vandergeld, Sherlyn Alvarado, Cindy Echeverria, Autumn Smith, Ivan Pineda, Iyanna Kilgo. Courtesy of Southeast Kelloggsville Elementary (courtesy photo)
First Project
The theme for the council this school year is “Bigger Than Me.”
“We will explore what that means throughout the course of the year, how we can be of service and make responsible decisions for our classes, school and community,” Zeigler said. “Since this is a brand-new adventure for us, the council will spend a lot of time determining our role within the school and what needs there are that we can address. We will promote respect, responsibility and looking beyond ourselves to recognize the needs of others.”
The council’s first project will be what Zeigler calls a holiday share book. “Each class will complete one (book),” she said, “filled with memories, stories, jokes, well wishes and thanks for our service men and women overseas.”
The students will manage the project and work with their teacher on when and where to work on the books. When they are done, Zeigler will work with two organizations – Hugs for Our Soldiers and Support Our Troops – which will send the projects overseas.
The new council also is planning to visit and work with local charities, and will sponsor several special days or events throughout the year to raise funds for the council and the school.
For more on area schools, visit the School News Network website, schoolnewsnetwork.org.
Being a caregiver for a loved one is a job most people are happy to take on. They want to take care of the person who, in many cases, took care of them. And while caregiving has its rewards, it’s also a 24/7 job. Caregivers are on call at all hours of the day, especially if they are the primary caregiver. This constant responsibility and added emotional and physical strain can cause something called caregiver stress. When caring for a loved one, you are less likely to care for yourself, give yourself much-needed breaks, or keep yourself healthy.
In many cases, those keeping others from becoming even more ill, end up in the hospital themselves. To stay strong for your family and avoid the ails caused by caregiver stress, remember these self-care ideas.
Ask for and accept help
If you’re caring for a family member, ask another family member to step in once in awhile. Even if they just come by to read while you sit with a cup of coffee, this small break can refresh your body and mind. Or ask a neighbor to stop by for an hour while you go grocery shopping. Even though you are the primary caregiver, you don’t have to shoulder the responsibility on your own.
The chance to talk to someone who understands what you are going through can lift a huge weight off your shoulders. Only another caregiver will understand that while you love your family member, you may sometimes get frustrated with them, and then feel guilty about it. Find a safe space where you can express these feelings with people who are probably feeling the same things. It’s also a place where you can brainstorm solutions to the problems you face every day and find the resources you need to face those problems head on.
Stay active
You can combat fatigue, depression, and insomnia by staying active. Even if it’s just a 20-minute walk every day or jogging in place in front of the TV, any movement helps. Try Yoga in the morning before your loved one wakes up or a simple stretching routine every night before bed. It doesn’t have to be intense; it just needs to get you moving. Though, if you do have the option to get out the house (remember when we said to ask for help?) getting outside can play a large role in staying happy and healthy.
Stay social
While it’s tempting to spend almost all your time with your loved one, chatting, watching TV, reading or playing games, it’s also detrimental to your health to cut off other connections. When we don’t socialize, ailments like depression and loneliness are quick to set in. Maintain your social life as much as possible by asking neighbors or other family to step into the caregiver role once in awhile. Make daily phone calls to friends and family and share updates and stories with your loved one. If they have a hard time getting out, they will enjoy hearing your stories and being involved in your life.
Overall, the best advice for caregivers is to take care of yourself, too. Eat right, drink water, get plenty of sleep, and see your doctor regularly. You won’t be any help to your loved one if you wear yourself down!
Researchers likely have a ways to go before they’ve perfected a cat vaccine that alleviates allergic reactions in humans. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)
“This is an interesting concept,” said Theodore Kelbel, MD, section chief of allergy and immunology at Spectrum Health. “However, there is much to be studied before this will translate to regular practice.”
The vaccine would be administered to cats in three doses over nine weeks, with some cats getting a booster shot six months later, Dr. Kelbel said. The injections would be administered in the cat’s hind legs. It can be given to any cat at any age, but a booster shot may be necessary. Consequently, the effect on the feline protein may not be immediate.
Purr-fect solution?
In theory, humans would benefit because the cats would only need the three shots and a booster.
People who require allergy shots, on the other hand, typically get them on a more continuing basis.
Dr. Kelbel said individuals usually receive weekly shots for a few months, returning to a physician each month for a shot over a three- to five-year period. They also require booster shots if a cat lives in the house.
Allergy shots for humans have been around for decades and they work reasonably well, Dr. Kelbel said.
Researchers have plenty of testing to do on the cat vaccine, Dr. Kelbel said. They need exposure studies in which immunized cats would come into contact with humans who have known allergies to the felines.
They also need to conduct long-term studies, he said.
If a cat is still producing the protein in smaller amounts, it could build up over time and eventually affect humans again.
Other companies continue to research new medications or shots for people, which could improve the currently available treatments. But “the research is still very, very early,” Dr. Kelbel said.
From a common sense standpoint, there remains a leading solution for a person allergic to cats: Avoid contact with the animal.
That is, until researchers fine-tune their vaccine.
“I think it will be a few years, at minimum, before they can tell us (the vaccine) will be clinically beneficial for cat allergy patients,” Dr. Kelbel said.
Many of my patients come to see me about symptoms and health issues they are experiencing, but I make it a point to help them recognize when they are at risk for something they don’t yet have.
This is especially true if they have increased risk factors for specific diseases or various health problems. There are changes they can make to help prevent these issues.
One of my patients, who I’ll call Judy, was faced with some life-changing decisions she needed to make, so we sat down and talked about what was happening in her life.
Judy’s mom had recently been diagnosed with end-stage endometrial cancer, and Judy wanted to know how she could shape her own future to be different from her mom’s. We first looked at Judy’s current health and how she was handling perimenopause.
For the most part, she was taking her perimenopausal symptoms in stride, but she struggled with weight gain (especially around her middle) and she was a smoker. She was afraid to quit smoking, fearing that she would gain even more weight.
As with all of my menopause patients, we discussed what she wanted her Picture of Self to look like at a specific point in her future and what she had planned to help her achieve her goals.
Before we discussed the changes Judy could make, we talked about some of the well-defined risk factors of endometrial cancer that she can control.
Excess estrogen increases the risk of endometrial cancer because it induces the lining of the uterus (endometrium) to grow. When this growth occurs unchecked, there is a risk of abnormal or cancerous development. Progesterone acts as a natural balance by stabilizing the endometrium and keeping it from growing out of control.
Excess estrogen can occur for two reasons: the levels can increase naturally during perimenopause, or there may be too much “unopposed” estrogen if you take estrogen-containing medications without balancing them with progesterone.
Low-dose combination oral contraceptives and appropriate doses of hormone therapy can help prevent endometrial cancer by controlling the level of circulating hormones and thus the growth of the lining of the uterus. Progesterone-releasing IUDs also help control the growth of the endometrium and decrease the likelihood of abnormal growth.
Finally, Judy and I discussed some lifestyle habits that can make a significant impact on her risk of developing endometrial cancer.
Smoking increases the risk of developing many cancers—another great reason to quit! Weight loss can help to decrease the risk, because estrogen, like many hormones, is stored long-term in body fat. Therefore, decreasing the body fat reduces the excess estrogen in your body. Other healthy changes you can make include increasing your physical activity, and eating a diet low in saturated fats and high in ruits and vegetables.
After talking with Judy, she was much more optimistic about her future. She has a clear understanding of her specific risk factors, specifically her smoking and central obesity. She has also regained a sense of control, and by making healthy choices, she is continuing to work toward her goals.
As it was mentioned in part one of this series about the importance and value of informal family caregiving, caregivers often experience depression as well as physical health challenges. In a Family Caregiver Alliance 2006 report, Caregiver Assessment: Voices and Views from the Field Caring, it says that caring for persons with dementia can impact a person’s immune system for up to three years after their caregiving experience ends, increasing their chances of developing a chronic illness themselves.
In the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP 2009 report, Caregiving in the U.S., it states that 17 percent of caregivers feel their health in general has gotten worse as a result of their caregiving responsibilities. The report also says that studies have found that 23 percent of family caregivers who have been providing care for five years or more report their health is fair or poor.
Michigan State University Extension says that caregivers need to make their own care their first priority. It isn’t possible to be an effective caregiver for others without taking responsibility to keep their own well-being in mind. But, because of the constant demands of family caregiving, it is often difficult to include self-care in the daily list of responsibilities.
It is important to keep self-care simple. Stick with the basics. According to the National Center of Caregiving at the San Francisco-based Family Caregiver Alliance, it is vital to focus on the following basic self-care practices:
Learn and use stress-reduction techniques.
Attend to your own healthcare needs.
Get proper rest and nutrition.
Exercise regularly.
Take time off without feeling guilty.
Participate in pleasant, nurturing activities.
Seek and accept the support of others.
Seek supportive counseling when you need it, or talk to a trusted counselor or friend.
Identify and acknowledge your feelings.
Change the negative ways you view situations.
Set goals.
All of these activities are easier to accomplish with the support of family, friends and community resources. Reaching out to others to gather support for your family caregiving efforts can mean the difference between the normal caregiver burden and disastrous caregiver burnout. Contact your local MSU Extension office, your county commission on aging or the regional Area Agency on Aging to locate community resources to support your valiant efforts at family caregiving and self-care.
“In these days of difficulty, we Americans everywhere must and shall choose the path of social justice …, the path of faith, the path of hope, and the path of love toward our fellow man.”
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Supporting parole reentry
In Focus talks with Todd Cioffi, an associate professor at Calvin College, and director of Calvin Prison Initiative. This five-year program results in a bachelor of arts degree from Calvin College, but it is much more than simply an educational effort. Go here for the story and YouTube link.
Working on poverty in Kent Co.
WKTV Journal In Focus talks with Susan Cervantes, the Director of the Kent County Community Action program which, according to its 2018 annual report, served more than 7,000 individuals including more than 3,800 families, and also handled more than 42,000 information and referral calls. Go here for the story and YouTube video link.
Helping homeless LGBTQ-plus youth
WKTV Journal In Focus talked to two members of Grand Rapids HQ, a drop-in center for youth ages 14-24 in housing crisis, including but not limited to LGBTQ-plus youth. Go here for the story and YouTube video link.
Facts to Give Hope:
$30 billion and $75 billion
The National Retail Federation (NRF) placed holiday spending in 2018 at nearly $30 billion. Foundation giving in 2018 increased to $75.86 billion. Source.
The digital age we live in today is fast-paced and full of constantly changing technology. This can be intimidating to aging adults who may fear they can’t understand new devices. However, combined, seniors and technology can be a powerful tool.
Modern devices connect us with loved ones, keep us in touch with medical professionals, and help us stay safe. If your loved one is nervous about getting started, here are a few easy ways to explore technology for seniors.
1. Use Technology to Connect
Today’s technology offers powerful ways to connect with our family and friends. For seniors who may not be as mobile as they once were, this is a huge benefit. There are many ways to use the digital world to stay social:
Help your loved one set up a social media account to see the latest photos and updates from grandchildren or long-distance relatives.
Use Skype or other video-chatting services to stay in touch when distance or health prevents face-to-face visits.
If your elderly family members can’t attend gatherings, upload family videos to YouTube and share privately.
2. Find Community Resources
The first step to understanding the digital world is mastering basic computer skills. For those of us who didn’t grow up with modern technology, this can be quite a challenge! If you need assistance or ideas for helping your aging loved one become comfortable with computers, research what resources are available in your area.
Many senior living community centers offer technology education. Local libraries, schools, and junior colleges have computer facilities and may offer classes or tutoring programs to the general public. Another great resource is your local Area Agency on Aging, a free service offered by the U.S. Administration on Aging.
3. Start Learning and Creating from Home
As we age, we may find that active pastimes are simply too demanding for our current health. Additionally, the living spaces in most retirement communities may not allow space for large projects. However, the digital revolution has made a huge range of new creative and educational activities possible from the comfort of our own homes.
Many people have always wanted to learn another language, but never had the time; some have a novel inside them just waiting to be written. Perhaps your loved one would enjoy blogging on a favorite topic and connecting with others who share their interests. Technology makes all these things possible! Check out resources like the National Novel Writing Month and Khan Academy for inspiration.
4. How to Get Started
No matter our age or lifestyle, trying new habits can be intimidating. Some seniors are ready and excited to get started with new technology, while some may be very overwhelmed.
Focus on small steps and loving communication.
Forming a new habit takes at least two months, so remember that this change in your loved one’s lifestyle probably won’t happen all at once.
To help keep your loved one from becoming even more overwhelmed, start with bite-sized projects.
Even a few small changes can make a huge difference! Just one email or social media account is enough to increase contact with family and friends.
These are just a few of the ways modern technology can enhance senior living for aging adults! With a few simple steps to introduce your loved one to the digital world, you can help them enjoy a happier, safer, and more convenient lifestyle. No matter where we are in life, the digital world is an exciting place to learn and explore.
Patricia Osorio (left) and twin sister Johanna Osorio enjoy some downtime between classes on the Grand Valley main campus (cr. Sarah Anderson/University Communications/GVSU)
Grand Valley State University freshmen Odalis Johanna Osorio, who goes by Johanna, and her identical twin sister, Odalis Patricia Osorio, who goes by Patricia, do nothing the easy way.
Consider their time at Wyoming High School, from which they graduated this past spring.
Already as freshmen they’d decided to push themselves and signed up for Honors English.
“My mom didn’t even know,” recalls Patricia, “and I can remember her asking ‘Why are you guys studying so hard?’”
Johanna continues the story for Patricia — a not uncommon occurrence for the pair, who also often answer questions in unison.
“We wanted to take on that challenge,” says Johanna. “It was hard, but we made it through.”
“I was scared every day in that class,” Patricia adds with a laugh.
“But we gained so much knowledge and skills,” concludes Johanna. “We learned how to study; we learned how to be students.”
Patricia Osorio (left) and twin sister Johanna Osorio pause prior to an afternoon lab on the Grand Valley State University main campus (cr. Sarah Anderson/University Communications/GVSU)
First Generation Students
The twins have taken that knowledge, and much else learned during their high school days, to their university experience at GVSU, where they are part of a pre-dental program with a goal of one day opening their own dental practice. They already have a name picked out: Osorio Dental. And though they know the road ahead of them will be difficult, they are determined to succeed.
This semester the first-generation college students are taking four classes each, and two of those classes are chemistry and biology, each of which also has a lab.
“It’s harder than we expected,” says Johanna. “It’s going to be a big challenge, but we’ll get there.”
One thing that is making life a little easier for the pair is financial aid. They’ve received assistance from GVSU and were awarded scholarships from the Grand Rapids Community Foundation, based on their grades, activities and a short personal essay. Each received a foundation award of $1,000 from the Josephine Ringold Scholarship fund, which has given approximately $600,000 to students in the Grand Rapids area since it was established in 1991.
“We are still paying a lot since it’s two of us,” says Johanna. “We are very grateful for getting any financial assistance because it does help, no matter how much.”
Patricia Osorio (left) and twin sister Johanna Osorio enjoy some downtime between classes on the Grand Valley State University main campus (cr. Sarah Anderson/University Communications/GVSU)
Hot Chocolate in French
They’re also grateful to teachers at Wyoming High School, who not only made an impact on them during their time there but have stayed in touch now that they’re at GVSU.
The twins took French all through high school to push themselves and get out of their comfort zones. Fluent in Spanish, thanks to family ties to both Honduras and Mexico, they knew taking Spanish would have been easy. But French would present a challenge, and the twins were resolute in their belief that surmounting challenges was the best way to use high school as a launching pad for college.
They found a bonus in Wood, whom they call Madame Wood.
“She was a big influence on us, and she’s stayed in touch with us and given us advice,” says Patricia. “We had her class in the morning, and she had this little machine where you could make hot chocolate. It made us feel comfortable.”
‘IT’S HARDER THAN WE EXPECTED. IT’S GOING TO BE A BIG CHALLENGE, BUT WE’LL GET THERE.’ — JOHANNA OSORIO ON UNIVERSITY LIFE
Jonathan Bushen was another mentor and guide for the twins, and he too has stayed in contact with them.
“He motivated us to go to university,” says Johanna. “Just the other day he texted, and he was like ‘Have you joined any clubs yet?’”
Patricia laughs. “We told him ‘yes’ because we joined the Latino Student Union, and we’d just been at a meeting!”
Patricia Osorio (left) and twin sister Johanna Osorio catch up on a reading assignment at a scenic spot on the Grand Valley State University main campus (cr. Sarah Anderson/University Communications/GVSU)
Drive + Compassion = Success
Bushen, who teaches business, technology and video production, says Johanna and Patricia are two of the most gracious and kind students he has taught at Wyoming High School. “Their drive for success along with compassion for others are some of their many great qualities,” he says. “As their business teacher for three years, I watched them develop into young women who have a passionate heart for others, along with determination for individual success, and it wasn’t hard to see that they would be successful in college, and beyond. I am fortunate to know them and to have just had a small piece in their journey.”
In addition to supportive former teachers, the twins also have support from family — not just their mom and step dad but also numerous aunts and uncles and cousins — encouraging and pushing them to succeed. In turn, they have a deep desire to model success for others in their family, including a 3-year-old brother and a number of school-aged cousins.
“At Wyoming, when you graduate you get cords that you wear for all of the clubs and activities you’ve been part of,” says Patricia. “For Honors Society, for Key Club (a group that coordinates volunteer activities), for class committees. I remember my cousin looked at us wearing them and said ‘I want those.’ And I said: ‘Girl, you have to earn them.’”
Earning it. For the Osorio twins, there’s no other way.
For more on area schools, visit the School News Network website, schoolnewsnetwork.org.
Studies have found associations between artificially sweetened beverages and increased risk of stroke and heart disease. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)
The health risks of sugary drinks, from juice to soda, are well known.
They can lead to overweight and diabetes, stroke and other problems in the brain, including poorer memory and smaller brain volume.
But diet sodas aren’t the answer.
A number of studies have found an association between artificially sweetened beverages and an increased risk of stroke, heart disease, heart attack and other heart-related deaths in women.
The most recent was published earlier this year in the journal Stroke, with researchers suggesting that, even without identifying a specific cause and effect, people should seriously consider the potentially harmful effects of artificially sweetened drinks.
And there’s more.
Researchers at the Boston University School of Medicine followed 4,000 people of both sexes over 10 years.
Using MRI tests, they linked just one artificially sweetened soda a day to brain changes that can lead to dementia, as well as the type of stroke caused by a blockage in a blood vessel.
These risks were triple those of people who don’t drink diet sodas.
It didn’t seem to matter which common artificial sweetener—saccharin, aspartame or sucralose—was consumed.
While some people see diet soda as a way of weaning off regular soda, it may be healthier in the long run to skip this type of transition.
If you like soda’s carbonation more than the better option of water, flavor plain seltzer with a squeeze of your favorite citrus fruit, a few crushed berries or both.
For variety, try freshly grated ginger, chopped mint or a teaspoon of vanilla. Also consider replacing soda with a glass of milk—you’ll get important protein and a shot of calcium in the bargain.
The holidays are notorious for overindulgence, whether it’s from eating too much at the family dinner table or from having too much rich and sugary food that isn’t healthy for us. But what can you do over the holidays to avoid packing on the pounds when healthy options aren’t as readily available?
Thankfully, there are plenty of tips and tricks you can use to avoid overeating and making poor health choices during big family feasts, while still enjoying your favorite foods. Take a look through this list of helpful ideas that you can use to make better decisions this holiday season, and celebrate without the stomachache.
1. Watch what you drink
The beverages we consume during the holidays is an often unexpected source of carbs and calories. Sweet drinks and alcohol can have unhealthy ingredients, and when we don’t stop to consider what we are drinking, we can find ourselves shaking our heads in shock at the scale next year.
To help avoid overindulging with unhealthy drinks, make sure you are consuming plenty of water throughout the day. Not only will this help you quench your thirst, but drinking a glass of water before a meal can also help you feel full and calm your cravings before dessert is brought out.
2. Stop snacking
Eating healthy, full meals is the best way to avoid gaining weight over the holidays, so don’t skip out on breakfast and lunch in favor of unhealthy snacks! Not only are snacks typically high in fats and sugar, but they fill us up before we have a chance to eat our veggies during dinner.
If you are going to snack, try going to healthier foods like cut vegetables, fruits, or other foods that provide additional health benefits like boosting energy levels and building endurance.
3. Stay active
Staying active in winter isn’t always the easiest task, but it’s important to do what you can to combat additional calories with exercise. Even something as simple as taking a walk after your meal can go a long way in keeping your overall health in check over the holiday season. Just be sure to watch out for ice!
4. Find healthy options
Make sure that there are plenty of healthy options on the table, like salads and other vegetable side dishes. If you are hosting dinner, ensure that you provide the options your family and friends need to have a balanced meal. If you are visiting someone else, call ahead and see what the menu is, or offer to help out the host by bringing your own healthy dishes to share.
5. Fill up on vegetables
When filling up your plate with food, try and keep a ratio of 50% vegetables, 25% meats, and 25% starches. This will help you get the servings of veggies you need while still enjoying the other items on the table. A helpful hint: more color on a plate often means a healthier meal!
6. Pick the best spot
Having the best seat at the table doesn’t just mean more elbow room! If you aren’t seated right in front of the buffet table, you can avoid some of the cravings for second and third (and fourth) helpings. Staring at the available options during dinner can make it difficult to stick to one serving, so don’t sit yourself in the way of temptation!
7. Take your time
Don’t rush to stuff yourself just because holiday food tastes good! Things will be just as delicious if you take your time and savor each bite. Slowing down while eating helps you to fill up naturally, rather than still feeling hungry even though you’ve already overeaten.
In the same vein, don’t rush to get up and have additional helpings of food before you’ve finished the entire plate, including all your veggies and healthier items. This will help you stick to just one serving of each of your favorite foods, which will be more than enough when you take your time enjoying them!
8. Stop when you are full
The biggest favor you can do for yourself this holiday season is to stop eating once you are full. When eating foods we enjoy, most of us want to push ourselves past our limits, which leaves us aching and uncomfortable. By listening to our bodies and putting down the fork once we’ve had enough, we can save ourselves the discomfort and enjoy a much healthier holiday. Remember that leftovers are always an option!
Holidays are always a wonderful time for family and friends to gather together and enjoy each other’s company. As a part of that tradition, we often indulge in delicious meals, but it’s important to keep our health in mind. That doesn’t mean we can’t eat our dinner favorites, but following these tips can help us avoid feeling too full on unhealthy foods, so we can experience the absolute best that the holiday season has to offer.
Whole-grain breads provide immunity-boosting nutrients and dietary fiber that can help improve cholesterol levels and lower the risk of heart disease. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)
There may be no dietary staple more in need of a public relations makeover than bread.
Concerns over carbs, sodium and gluten sometime overshadow what can be a simple, tasty way to add important vitamins and minerals as well as fiber to daily meals.
But some breads are better for you than others.
Whole-grain breads are good sources of nutrients that help maintain a healthy immune system. They also provide dietary fiber that can help improve cholesterol levels and lower the risk of heart disease, stroke, obesity and Type 2 diabetes.
Refined grains, on the other hand, can lead to a surplus of sugar in the bloodstream, which in turn becomes stored in the body as fat.
And refined-grain breads—which have a finer texture and a longer shelf life than whole-grain breads, but lack most of the nutrients—turn up often in everyday foods. White bread is an obvious example, but French bread, bagels and pizza crust commonly contain refined grains as well.
White bread “looks pretty much like plain sugar, really, just simple carbohydrates,” said Marie-Pierre St-Onge, an associate professor of nutritional medicine at Columbia University in New York. “Not the complex carbohydrates that we find in whole grains.”
Fad diets may warn against bread’s calories and carbohydrates, but both are necessary components of a daily diet. Complex carbohydrates provide energy for longer periods of time than simple carbohydrates, like those found in white bread.
“I always find it comical when I see low-carbohydrate bread, because you know, it’s all carbohydrates,” St-Onge said. “If there are concerns about bread, it’s probably more about what you put between those two slices than the slices themselves.”
A slice of whole-grain wheat bread typically contains 70 calories, compared with 77 calories in a slice of white bread. Whole-grain bread has more dietary fiber than white bread (2 grams compared to 0.8 grams) and white bread has 1.64 grams of sugar while whole-grain bread has none.
Whole-grain bread can come in a variety of forms, with a variety of other healthy ingredients.
“You can be very creative with the types of bread that you consume,” St-Onge said. “Having different breads that are whole grain can be a way to make your sandwiches more interesting. You can include flaxseed, rye, oats, walnuts, hazelnuts. Those are good for your heart.”
Whole grains are typically low in sodium, but salt may be added during processing of certain types of bread.
“Bread must have sodium. It needs it,” St-Onge said. “You have to stop the yeast at some point, and you need to have salt to do that for preservation purposes. But I would not consider that to be a reason not to consume bread.”
Bread also contains gluten, a protein that is found in wheat, barley and rye. People who have celiac disease are unable to tolerate gluten and others may have a sensitivity to gluten that causes symptoms such as nausea or abdominal pain.
Gluten-free bread may be an option, St-Onge said, but only if it is truly necessary.
“The gluten craze is something to be wary about,” she said. “Baked gluten-free foods often do not have optimal nutrient value.”
The safest way to make sure your bread is healthy, St-Onge said, is to make it yourself.
“It’s easy; you can use a bread machine or a no-knead recipe where you don’t even have to knead it,” she said. “You can control the flour that you put in. There are no additives.”
Some people trying to limit the carbs and calories of bread may opt for tortillas or lettuce wraps, St-Onge said, but there are dietary implications to be considered.
“A leaf of lettuce will have a couple of calories, where a slice of bread will have 100-something calories. But will you have the same amount of vitamins and minerals in a leaf of lettuce that you will get in a slice of bread? No,” she said.
“Have your regular sandwich and add in leaves of lettuce. Make it crunchy. Make it fresh. And then your sandwich is heftier, it’s bulkier, it’s bigger. It’s more satisfying.”
Take a trip down memory lane as you go through 2020 with the Wyoming Historical Commission’s 2020 Calendar.
Featuring pictures of iconic landmarks of the City of Wyoming, the calendar is now available at Marge’s Donut Den, 1751 28th St. SW, and Springrove Variety, 815 36th St. SW.
The calendar also will be available at the History Room at the KDL Wyoming Branch, 3350 Michael Ave. SW, on Saturday, Dec. 21, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There also will be special pricing on the commission’s two history books, “Wilderness to Wyoming” and “The City of Wyoming: A History.”
The Grand Rapids Art Museum will waive admission fees for visitors age 17 and under from Dec. 21 through Jan. 5.
Families can explore GRAM’s current exhibitions including “David Wiesner & The Art of Wordless Storytelling”; Michigan Artist Series “Billy Mayer: The Shape of Things”, and the permanent collection galleries on Level III.
Additionally, the Museum will be offering an extended Drop-in Studio schedule from Thursday, Dec. 26, through Saturday, Dec. 28, from 1 – 4 p.m. Visitors of all ages can participate in these free hands-on workshops, crafting festive graham cracker houses to take home.
For more information on programming over break, contact Visitor Services at 616-831-1000 or info@artmuseumgr.org.
