mothernaturenetwork: Here’s the theory behind detox diets: Our bodies are exposed to a variety of toxins — from air pollution to alcohol — that build up in our bodies causing bloating, fatigue and other ailments. Supposedly, detox diets cleanse us of these toxins, making us healthier. However, there’s no evidence that these diets actually work. So why are detox diets so popular? Because in addition to claims of health benefits and weight loss, they also have a star-powered following.7 celebrity detox diets Detox diets are one of my many, many nemeses. The illogic just staggers me.
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mothernaturenetwork:

Here’s the theory behind detox diets: Our bodies are exposed to a variety of toxins — from air pollution to alcohol — that build up in our bodies causing bloating, fatigue and other ailments. Supposedly, detox diets cleanse us of these toxins, making us healthier. However, there’s no evidence that these diets actually work. So why are detox diets so popular? Because in addition to claims of health benefits and weight loss, they also have a star-powered following.
7 celebrity detox diets

Detox diets are one of my many, many nemeses. The illogic just staggers me.

mothernaturenetwork: 9 habits that may do more harm than goodDiscover which ‘healthy’ actions might be having a negative impact. These are all good points, and don’t require big investments of time or money to implement. In fact they promise to simplify your routines and save you money. Don’t use hand sanitizer. Don’t use specialized, germ-killing cleaning products in your home. Don’t keep up a regimen of nutritional supplements.
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mothernaturenetwork:

9 habits that may do more harm than good
Discover which ‘healthy’ actions might be having a negative impact.

These are all good points, and don’t require big investments of time or money to implement. In fact they promise to simplify your routines and save you money. Don’t use hand sanitizer. Don’t use specialized, germ-killing cleaning products in your home. Don’t keep up a regimen of nutritional supplements.

not too big, not too small

Anne Hathaway’s been getting fit to play Catwoman. She told Harper’s Bazaar that, “I’ve always thought that skinny was the goal, but with this job I also have to be strong.”

Meanwhile, Rutina Wesley’s been slimming down to increase Tara Thornton’s (True Blood) sex appeal:

Rutina Wesley’s character on True Blood might not have any supernatural powers (that we know of), but her ripped arms are definitely a force of nature.

“When I studied at Juilliard, I did a lot of pushups and became this diesel machine,” the 32-year-actress tells Us Weekly. “I was really big and was like this is not a good look for an ingenue.”

To transform from bulky action hero to lean leading lady, Wesley stopped doing pushups and took up Pilates. And even though she likes to show off her sculpted arms in strapless dresses, all the attention on her biceps makes her uncomfortable at times. “I get so many compliments on them and I’m like, ‘I know, stop talking about my arms! I’m not muscle woman!’”

The actress also likes to wear short shorts to show off her amazing legs. “My legs are actually my favorite feature,” she reveals.

This just reemphasizes the bullshittery that surrounds women’s fitness.

geopoliticus: I’ve been fairly passionate about this message for a while now.  I’m not trying to diminish the problems of those living under the poverty line: I believe that we need to acknowledge the relative problems we face compared to others.  Those of us fortunate enough to live mildly comfortably need to do what we can to promote human solidarity and help those in need from our neighborhoods to the globe. [Bold mine].
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geopoliticus:

I’ve been fairly passionate about this message for a while now.  I’m not trying to diminish the problems of those living under the poverty line: I believe that we need to acknowledge the relative problems we face compared to others.  Those of us fortunate enough to live mildly comfortably need to do what we can to promote human solidarity and help those in need from our neighborhoods to the globe.

[Bold mine].

Family, Community, Generational Angst

I live with my parents. It’s increasingly common for people in their twenties, and even their thirties to stay at home longer, or to return to the nest after living alone. So what happens when your parents get older? I’ve had the experience of taking care of my parents, though not through old age. Caring for them was rewarding, because it really meant taking care of each other. It was also challenging.

When I was in my second year of university, and just starting to think about saving for my own place, my mother’s knee and hip problems were officially declared a disability. She was given a cane, put on the waiting list for surgery, given a modified exercise regimen and so many pills. She was in pain every day, sometimes all day.

Months later, my father was struck by a car while riding his bike to work. After the ICU there were weeks in a hospital bed, and then months of recovery at home. He was instantly retired—declared unfit to work ever again. This, I should point out here, is not quite the case. He has issues with memory and concentration, infrequent bouts of debilitating vertigo, and his temper is worse, but faced with early retirement, he pursued recovery relentlessly and eventually went back to school for a French studies degree.

With all this going down, I exchanged my job for a more flexible one, and threw myself into taking care of my family. Later, with my dad slowly recovering and increasingly independent, and my having taken over the burden of household chores from my mother, I had my second bout of major depression. After a solid year of suicidal ideation, general misanthropy and paranoia, I moved into a year of shaky recovery. I dropped out of school. I took up yoga and running and changed my diet. I did cognitive behavioural therapy and even tried giving up caffeine. It was years before I even considered going back to school. I’d left it in a mess and had lingering anxieties associated with class, matters bureaucratic and talking about my problems—probably that was the worst.

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Disability-Adjusted Life Year (DALY): Quantifying the Burden of Disease from mortality and morbidity

Because my last post mentioned Disability-Adjusted Life Years, I figured I might as well post this FAQ from the WHO, on how DALYs are calculated.

Definition

One DALY can be thought of as one lost year of “healthy” life. The sum of these DALYs across the population, or the burden of disease, can be thought of as a measurement of the gap between current health status and an ideal health situation where the entire population lives to an advanced age, free of disease and disability.

DALYs for a disease or health condition are calculated as the sum of the Years of Life Lost (YLL) due to premature mortality in the population and the Years Lost due to Disability (YLD) for incident cases of the health condition:

Calculation

DALY = YLL + YLD

The YLL basically correspond to the number of deaths multiplied by the standard life expectancy at the age at which death occurs. The basic formula for YLL (without yet including other social preferences discussed below), is the following for a given cause, age and sex:

YLL = N x L

where:

  • N = number of deaths
  • L = standard life expectancy at age of death in years

Because YLL measure the incident stream of lost years of life due to deaths, an incidence perspective is also taken for the calculation of YLD. To estimate YLD for a particular cause in a particular time period, the number of incident cases in that period is multiplied by the average duration of the disease and a weight factor that reflects the severity of the disease on a scale from 0 (perfect health) to 1 (dead). The basic formula for YLD is the following (again, without applying social preferences):

YLD = I x DW x L

where:

  • I = number of incident cases
  • DW = disability weight
  • L = average duration of the case until remission or death (years)

Source: who.int

[Trigger Warning: Discussion of depression, mental illness]

Worldwide, mental illnesses (major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcohol use, PTSD, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and panic disorder) accounted for 9.4% of the disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) in 2002. This is comparable to 9.9% for cardiovascular disease and almost twice as high as DALYs attributed to cancer (5.1%).

According to the 2002 Mental Heath and Well-being Survey, 75.5% of individuals with a mood or anxiety disorder or substance dependence in the previous 12 months, reported that the condition interfered with their lives (71.2% of men and 79.2% of women). Nearly 1 in 3 individuals (32.7%) reported that they had to reduce activities at home. One in 6 (18.4%) reported that they had “often” or sometimes” found it necessary to reduce their activities at work. This percentage does not include people who had to leave the workplace because of their mental illness.

The Human Face of Mental Health and Mental Illness in Canada (2006 Ministry report).

Also check out, Disability-Adjusted Life Years.

Source: phac-aspc.gc.ca

[Trigger warning: Discussion of depression, mental illness]

The serious stigma attached to mental illnesses is one of the most tragic realities of mental illness in Canada. Arising from superstition, belief systems and lack of knowledge, this stigma has existed throughout history and results in stereotyping, fear and discrimination. Symptoms of mental illness remain strongly connected with public fears about potential violence and with a desire for limited social interaction. Yet very few people with mental illness are violent.

Stigma also results in anger and avoidance behaviours among those with a mental illness. By forcing people to remain quiet about their mental illnesses, stigma often causes them to delay seeking health care, avoid following through with recommended treatment, and avoid sharing their concerns with family, friends, co-workers, employers, health service providers and others in the community. Stigma in the workplace has a profound impact on people with serious mental illnesses. This includes:

“… diminished employability, lack of career advancement, and poor quality of working life. People with serious mental illnesses are more likely to be unemployed or to be under-employed in inferior positions that are incommensurate with their skills or training. If they return to work following an illness, they often face hostility and reduced
responsibilities. The results may be self-stigma and increased disability.”

A high degree of stigmatization of pregnant women and mothers who are substance users, mothers who are abused by their partners, and mothers with mental illnesses is created by media and public discourse. Mothers who use substances experience greater stigma than mothers with mental illness. Stigma also has a great impact on mothers who are marginalized by poverty and racism.

Seniors with mental illness carry a double burden stemming from the stigma associated with both mental illness and old age. As a result, seniors mental health problems are under diagnosed and under treated. Stigma also affects seniors suffering from dementia, sometimes causing alienation from their familiar supports.

Addressing stigma about mental illnesses is one of the most pressing priorities for improving the mental health of Canadians. Educating the public and the media about mental illness is a first step toward reducing stigma and encouraging greater acceptance and understanding. Developing and enforcing policies that address discrimination and human rights violations provide incentives for change.

The Human Face of Mental Illness in Canada (2006 Ministry Report)

Source: phac-aspc.gc.ca