Be Well and Be Green

Episode 60: In this episode, host Angie Gust talks about red light therapy or as it is also called, photobiomodulation, or low level laser therapy. It was accidently discovered in 1967, when Endre Mester from Hungary attempted to repeat an experiment published by McGuff in Boston.  It uses low-power red light to activate the cell's energy generators – the mitochondria. Studies have found red light therapy to improve the  skin's appearance, reducing wrinkles, scars and acne. Interestingly, it has been studied in relation to brain benefits as well.  Turning to the environment, as you know, much of the news around climate change is disappointing.  But last year the U.S. had a great  accomplishment: greenhouse gas pollution fell even as the economy grew. That's the finding of a new report a by the Business Council for Sustainable Energy and BloombergNEF, which estimates that net CO2 emissions dropped 1.8% from 2022 levels while GDP rose 2.4%. The Biden Administration and its cleantech policies did that. Lisa Jacobson, president of the Business Council for Sustainable Energy said, “We know that the clean energy transition is already hard-wired into the U.S. economy, but recent federal policies have proven to be an important asset in accelerating technology deployment amid a turbulent market”. Let's support these efforts where we can. References Bourke, I. Feb 8, 2024. A leading data scientist's journey from doomism to climate hope.BBC. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20240206-hannah-ritchie-sustainability-data-spreads-hope-not-doomism Hamblin MR. Shining light on the head: Photobiomodulation for brain disorders. BBA Clin. 2016 Oct 1;6:113-124. doi: 10.1016/j.bbacli.2016.09.002. PMID: 27752476; PMCID: PMC5066074. Kanazawa, S. 2010. Why Liberals Are More Intelligent Than Conservatives. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-scientific-fundamentalist/201003/why-liberals-are-more-intelligent-conservatives Smiley, J. May 12, 2023. What is red light therapy? Verywell Health  https://www.verywellhealth.com/red-light-therapy-5217767#citation-2   The Business Council for Sustainable Energy. Feb 21, 2024. New Study shows clean energy transition thrives in 2023, boosted by federal policies. https://bcse.org/new-study-shows-clean-energy-transition-thrives-2023-boosted-federal-policies/

Episode 59: In this episode, host Angie Gust talks about vitexin. Vitexin is an antioxidant found in a number of plants like buckwheat and mung beans. It has been touted as benefiting the brain and heart and helping maintain already-healthy blood sugar levels. Vitexin has multiple health benefits supporting wellness in a variety of different ways. Turning to the environment, there is good news on renewable energy. A 2023 article suggests that solar energy has reached a pivotal tipping point, ensuring its rapid and irreversible global proliferation. Key factors driving this shift include technological advancements, cost reductions, and significant investment increases in solar energy deployment, especially in India and China.  References Bhaduri, T. Reasons to be cheerful. Jan 5, 2024. Solar pumps are empowering women farmers in India. https://reasonstobecheerful.world/solar-based-irrigation-technology-women-farmers-india/ Biden-Harris Administration Advances SunZia Southwest Transmission Project. 5/18/23 https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/biden-harris-administration-advances-sunzia-southwest-transmission-project Life Extension. 2021. What Are the Health Benefits of Vitexin? https://www.lifeextension.com/wellness/antioxidants/vitexin-health-benefits Nijsse, F.J., M.M., Mercure, JF., Ameli, N. et al. The momentum of the solar energy transition. Nat Commun 14, 6542 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-41971-7 Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Dec 14, 2023. Inflation Reduction Act spurs investment in domestic wind production. https://www.energy.gov/eere/articles/inflation-reduction-act-spurs-breakthrough-domestic-wind-production Sirur, S. Has solar energy been deployed to the point of no return? Some researchers think so. https://india.mongabay.com/2024/01/has-solar-energy-been-deployed-to-the-point-of-no-return-some-researchers-think-so/ US Government FACT SHEET: How the Inflation Reduction Act's Tax Incentives Are Ensuring All Americans Benefit from the Growth of the Clean Energy Economy. https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy1830  

Episode 58:  In this episode, host Angie Gust talks about resveratrol.  Resveratrol is a phenolic compound that plants produce in response to injury, infection, fungal attack, or ultraviolet radiation. How interesting is that? The very compounds that protect plants can also protect you.  It was first  This natural polyphenol has been detected in more than 70 plant species, and is also found in discrete amounts in red wines and various human foods. Resveratrol has been linked to lowering cancer risk. This is because resveratrol has anti-tumor properties, and it's able to inhibit cancer formation at all stages of development: initiation, promotion, and progression. It may also reduce the risk of inflammation, blood clotting, and heart disease. Turning to the environment, did you hear about the cool pilot project happening in Detroit?  It is a pilot program to install the nation's first wireless-charging public roadway for electric vehicles beneath a street. Copper inductive charging coils allow vehicles equipped with receivers to charge up their batteries while driving, idling or parking above the coils. Let's be optimistic for more innovations like this, that moves us away from fossil fuels. References Cardenas, J. Nov 29, 2023. Zahra Biabani wants Gen Z to feel hopeful about the future. The Climate Optimism author believes focusing on victories can engender more positive action. https://www.vox.com/23948906/zahra-biabani-climate-optimism-author-future-perfect-50-2023 Hickman, C. et al. 2021. Climate anxiety in children and young people and their beliefs about government responses to climate change: A global survey. The Lancet Planetary Health. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(21)00278-3/fulltext#seccestitle130 Renaud S., de Lorgeril M. Wine, alcohol, platelets, and the French paradox for coronary heart disease. Lancet. 1992;339:1523–1526. doi: 10.1016/0140-6736(92)91277-F. Russell, T. and M. Seaver. 7 Impressive Benefits of Resveratrol—the Healthy Antioxidant Found in Red Wine. Real Simple. https://www.realsimple.com/health/nutrition-diet/resveratrol-benefits Salehi B, Mishra AP, Nigam M, Sener B, Kilic M, Sharifi-Rad M, Fokou PVT, Martins N, Sharifi-Rad J. Resveratrol: A Double-Edged Sword in Health Benefits. Biomedicines. 2018 Sep 9;6(3):91. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines6030091. PMID: 30205595; PMCID: PMC6164842. Stanley, SK et al. 2021.From anger to action: Differential impacts of eco-anxiety, eco-depression, and eco-anger on climate action and wellbeing. The Journal of Climate Change and Health. Vol. 1.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667278221000018 Tabrizi R, Tamtaji OR, Lankarani KB, Akbari M, Dadgostar E, Dabbaghmanesh MH, Kolahdooz F, Shamshirian A, Momen-Heravi M, Asemi Z. The effects of resveratrol intake on weight loss: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2020;60(3):375-390. doi: 10.1080/10408398.2018.1529654. Epub 2018 Nov 13. PMID: 30421960. Williams, C. Nov 29, 2023. New technology installed beneath Detroit street can charge electric vehicles as they drive.. APNews https://apnews.com/article/wireless-roadway-electric-vehicle-charging-detroit-22fcdeabd026d81712a0c1a12b190d9a Zhu X, Wu C, Qiu S, et al. Effects of resveratrol on glucose control and insulin sensitivity in subjects with type 2 diabetes: systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutr Metab (Lond). 2017;14:60. doi:10.1186/s12986-017-0217-z

Episode 57: In this episode, host Angie Gust talks about senescent cells and fisetin.  When normal cells get too damaged (as in accumulating too much DNA damage), they could turn into cancer cells. To prevent this, these damaged cells change to where they cannot divide anymore, so in that way, they cannot become cancer cells. Rather, they became senescent cells.  A bad thing is that. these cells secrete substances that damage the healthy surrounding cells, contributing to aging.  Fisetin has been shown to be good at clearing out this senescent cells.  Now turning to the environment. The 2023 UN Climate Conference, COP28, concluded on December 13th. While some think it was an improvement over other conferences, others thought it did not go far enough and left loop holes. The deal calls for transitioning away from (not phasing out) fossil fuels  in energy systems, in a just, orderly and equitable manner ... so as to achieve net zero by 2050. There was an agreement to triple renewables and double energy efficiency by 2030. There is hope, but definitely more to be done.   References Carbon Brief. https://www.carbonbrief.org/cop28-key-outcomes-agreed-at-the-un-climate-talks-in-dubai/ Children of the Earth. https://www.childrenoftheearth.org/seigelman.htm IEA (2023), World Energy Outlook 2023, IEA, Paris https://www.iea.org/reports/world-energy-outlook-2023, License: CC BY 4.0 (report); CC BY NC SA 4.0 (Annex A) Life Extension. Feb 2021. Fisetin: A Senolytic That Extends Life.https://www.lifeextension.asia/magazine/post/fisetin-a-senolytic-that-extends-life Novos. https://novoslabs.co/causes-of-aging-senescent-cells/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAsIGrBhAAEiwAEzMlC_iEEf3Ylj76zw82sBSt2N5zk3OIqwLhsROkteGC5FQ5svuFTSkVVhoCBr8QAvD_BwE Novos. Why do we age? Cellular senescence. https://novoslabs.com/causes-of-aging-senescent-cells/ Pakalolo. Nov 16, 2023. httphttps://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/11/16/2206148/-The-World-Meteorological-Society-Climate-heating-gases-reach-record-highs://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/11/16/2206148/-The- Volcovici, V, Dickie, G, James, W. Dec 13, 2023. Nations strike deal at COP28 to transition away from fossil fuels. https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/countries-push-cop28-deal-fossil-fuels-talks-spill-into-overtime-2023-12-12/#:~:text=DUBAI%2C%20Dec%2013%20(Reuters),end%20of%20the%20oil%20age. World-Meteorological-Society-Climate-heating-gases-reach-record-high?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=trending&pm_medium=web Yousefzadeh MJ, Zhu Y, McGowan SJ, et al. Fisetin is a senotherapeutic that extends health and lifespan. EBioMedicine. 2018 Oct;36:18-28.    

Episode 56: In this episode, host Angie Gust talks about methylene blue.  It was synthesized in 1876 as a textile dye- that is strange- right? Even as early as 1891 it was investigated for its medicinal applications. It was used in the clinic as a potent antimalarial agent and as a medical staining agent. Suffice to say methylene blue is a well-established drug with a long history of use. Turning to the environment, did you hear that did you hear that Pope Francis came out in strong support of action on the climate crisis with an Apostolic Exhortation in advance of the UN climate change conference-COP28?  It came out Oct 4 and is called Ladate Deum- Praise God. He had 73 points and 44 references. Here is his last point, in part: ...If there is sincere interest in making COP28 a historic event that honours and ennobles us as human beings, then one can only hope for binding forms of energy transition that meet three conditions: that they be efficient, obligatory and readily monitored. Let's pray that COP 28 is a turning point to begin serious drawdown of GHGs. References Greve, JE and Noor D, Sept 14, 2023. Exclude fossil fuel firms from Cop28 if they only want to obstruct, says ex-UN chief. The Guardian.  https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/sep/21/un-cop28-fossil-fuel-firms-climate-action Naylor GJ, Smith AH, Connelly P. A controlled trial of methylene blue in severe depressive illness. Biol Psychiatry. 1987 May;22(5):657-9. Doi: 10.1016/0006-3223(87)90194-6. PMID: 3555627. Pope Francis. Laudate Deum of the Holy Father francis to all people of good will on the climate crisis.https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_exhortations/documents/20231004-laudate-deum.html Pope Francis. Prayer for the environment.  https://slmedia.org/blog/laudato-si-prayer-for-environment Tucker D, Lu Y, Zhang Q. From Mitochondrial Function to Neuroprotection-an Emerging Role for Methylene Blue. Mol Neurobiol. 2018 Jun;55(6):5137-5153. Doi: 10.1007/s12035-017-0712-2. Epub 2017 Aug 24. PMID: 28840449; PMCID: PMC5826781. Wallis Wells, D. https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/after-un-meeting-countries-brace-cop28-fossil-fuel-fight-2023-09-25/COP 28 Xiong, ZM., O'Donovan, M., Sun, L. et al. Anti-Aging Potentials of Methylene Blue for Human Skin Longevity. Sci Rep 7, 2475 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-02419-3    

Episode 55: In this episode, host Angie Gust talks about bentonite clay. Bentonite is a natural clay composed mainly of montmorillonite and other minerals like feldspar, calcite and quartz.  It has many therapeutic uses for the body, but let's just focus this time on its detoxification abilities; it can absorb negatively charged toxins. In addition, it is a reliable treatment for metal poisoning, like lead.  Now turning to the environment.  Did you hear about President Biden announcing in September the creation of the Climate Corps?  It is exciting! It will put thousands of young people to work serving their communities and fighting the climate crisis. The work carried out by Biden's new Climate Corps will decrease carbon emissions, enable a transition to renewable energy, build healthier and more resilient communities, and more. In the government description of the plan it says, it is a workforce training and service initiative that will ensure more young people have access to the skills-based training necessary for good-paying careers in the clean energy and climate resilience economy. References Child Connection, Apr 2021 Parenting for a Peaceful World. https://www.child-connection.com/post/parenting-for-a-peaceful-world Gore, A. Ted Talk. What the fossil fuel industry doesn't want you to know. https://www.ted.com/talks/al_gore_what_the_fossil_fuel_industry_doesn_t_want_you_to_know/transcript?campaign_id=253&emc=edit_dww_20230927&instance_id=103801&language=en&nl=david-wallace-wells®i_id=59871813&segment_id=145857&te=1&user_id=08bba71b21fae74391fd9c8bfe649569 Moosavi M. Bentonite Clay as a Natural Remedy: A Brief Review. Iran J Public Health. 2017 Sep;46(9):1176-1183. PMID: 29026782; PMCID: PMC5632318. Natural Parenting. Parenting for a Peaceful World.   https://www.naturalparenting.com.au/parenting-for-a-peaceful-world-book-review/ NPR. Jan 19, 2016 'Hidden History' Of Koch Brothers Traces Their Childhood And Political Rise. https://www.npr.org/2016/01/19/463565987/hidden-history-of-koch-brothers-traces-their-childhood-and-political-rise Wallace Wells, D. Sept 27, 2023.The climate establishment is declaring war on fossil fuels, demanding we “keep it in the ground”. The NY Times. White House fact sheet Sept 20, 2023. Biden-⁠Harris Administration Launches American Climate Corps to Train Young People in Clean Energy, Conservation, and Climate Resilience Skills, Create Good-Paying Jobs and Tackle the Climate Crisis. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/09/20/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-launches-american-climate-corps-to-train-young-people-in-clean-energy-conservation-and-climate-resilience-skills-create-go  

Episode 54: In this episode, host Angie Gust talks about ghee. Ghee comes from butter. It is produced by heating butter to remove the milk solids and water. Interestingly, it has been used in Aryvedic medicine for thousands of years.  It has several health benefits, e.g, it keeps your bones healthy, it can help with conditions like leaky gut syndrome, IBS or Crohn's disease and it can help with weight loss. In terms of weight loss, if you are a vegan, consider coconut oil. Turning to the environment, the one year anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act was celebrated in August. The  Department of Energy report on this topic released Aug 16th, said thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, by 2030 the U.S. could be generating 80% of its electricity from clean sources. We're on track to meet or exceed President Biden's goal of making half of new car sales electric in the same time frame. And, John Podesta, senior advisor to the President said, thanks to these laws, we're on a path to achieve President Biden's goal of cutting our overall carbon pollution in half by 2030.  References  Clark, L. Aug 14, 2023. Montana judge sides with youth in historic climate trial. Politico. https://www.politico.com/news/2023/08/14/montana-judge-sides-with-youth-in-climate-trial-00107668 Gongloff , M. Aug 16, 2023. Sorry, Kids, the Courts Won't Save the Planet. Bloomburg. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/energy/2023/08/16/montana-court-ruling-in-kids-climate-suit-is-only-a-small-victory/263b58ee-3c2b-11ee-aefd-40c039a855ba_story.html Lewis, T. Jan 1, 2021 The ‘Shared Psychosis' of Donald Trump and His Loyalists. Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-shared-psychosis-of-donald-trump-and-his-loyalists/  MacWilliams, MC. Sept 23, 2020. Trump Is an Authoritarian. So Are Millions of Americans https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/09/23/trump-america-authoritarianism-420681#:~:text=What%20I%20found%20is%20that,them%20on%20the%20authoritarian%20scale. Mumme K, Stonehouse W. Effects of medium-chain triglycerides on weight loss and body composition: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2015 Feb;115(2):249-263. doi: 10.1016/j.jand.2014.10.022. PMID: 25636220. Pituch A, Walkowiak J, Banaszkiewicz A. Butyric acid in functional constipation. Prz Gastroenterol. 2013;8(5):295-8. doi: 10.5114/pg.2013.38731. Epub 2013 Oct 28. PMID: 24868272; PMCID: PMC4027827. Podesta, J. Aug 7, 2023. This law may be the turning point in America's fight to save the planet. MSNBC. https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/biden-climate-inflation-reduction-act-jobs-podesta-rcna100078 Sierra Club. 100 things you can do to save the planet. https://www.sierraclub.org/toiyabe/100-things-you-can-do-save-planet Urth Pact  https://www.urthpact.com/fully-compostable-water-bottles/  Urth-Pact. Global Biodegradable Water Bottles Market to 2028: Players Include Chlorophyll Water, Choose Water, Coca-Cola, Cove, Ecologic and Kagzi Water Bottlehttps://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2023/04/13/2646515/28124/en/Global-Biodegradable-Water-Bottles-Market-to-2028-Players-Include-Chlorophyll-Water-Choose-Water-Coca-Cola-Cove-Ecologic-and-Kagzi-Water-Bottle.html US Dept of Energy. Aug 16, 2023. Investing in American energy: Significant impacts of the IRA and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law on the US Energy Economy and emissions reduction. chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2023-08/DOE%20OP%20Economy%20Wide%20Report_0.pdf          

Episode 53: In this episode, host Angie Gust talks about taurine.  You may not have heard of it- but good for you if you have! Taurine is a sulfur bearing amino acid that's present in relatively large amounts in several of our body's organs, like the heart and brain. In fact, it accounts for roughly 50-60% of the free amino acid pool in your body, which means it  does a lot.  It is mostly in meats so if you are a vegan or vegetarian it may be hard for you to get enough! But there are supplements. A new study in the prestigious journal Science found that taurine supplementation can be a key part of healthy aging. Now turning to the environment. It makes sense for all of us to focus on the effects of climate change on our children and their children. Did you know that the Save the  Children website is highlighting the climate crisis?  They note that the climate crisis magnifies inequality, poverty, and displacement and may increase the likelihood of conflict. They further state that 90% of diseases resulting from the climate crisis are likely to affect children under the age of five. And by 2050, 24 million more children are projected to be undernourished. We have to elect climate change solution leaders. References Gelles, D. July 18, 2023. Al Gore on Extreme Heat and the Fight Against Fossil Fuels. NY Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/18/climate/al-gore-on-extreme-heat-and-the-fight-against-fossil-fuels.html Guy, A. July 13, 2023. Oil and gas production https://www.dailyclimate.org/oil-and-gas-pollution-2662272450/health-impacts-from-oil-and-gas-production Peterson, B and Arasu, S. July 20, 2023. Solar panels on water canals seem like a no-brainer. So why aren't they widespread?  https://www.abqjournal.com/ap/solar-panels-on-water-canals-seem-like-a-no-brainer-so-why-arent-they-widespread/article_a7ea502e-7578-5cf6-a508-34eb72b2b522.html Save the Children.  The Climate Crisis. https://www.savethechildren.org/us/what-we-do/emergency-response/climate-change#:~:text=By%202050%2C%20a%20further%2024,increasingly%20severe%20and%20prolonged%20droughts. Sierra Club. 100 things you can do to save the planet. https://www.sierraclub.org/toiyabe/100-things-you-can-do-save-planet Singh,P. et al. 2023. Taurine deficiency as a driver of aging. VOL. 380, NO. 6649 https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abn9257  

Episode 52: In this episode, host Angie Gust talks about gel water.  Dr. Gerald Pollack, a biomedical engineering research scientist at the University of Washington, has done research on water and has discovered a “fourth phase” of water (gel water). It is said that your body absorbs it easier and quicker, leading to better hydration. Now turning to the environment. You likely know this, but the oceans have been and are currently in trouble. As discussed in a recent article, air temperatures haven't reflected the true levels of energy being trapped by greenhouse gases because most of the increased heat has been sequestered away deep in the oceans; now the temperatures are reaching record levels at the surface of the ocean, causing serious negative effects.   References Anderson. K. Mar 30, 3023. What is the UN Ocean Treaty and why is it essential? Greenly.institute. https://greenly.earth/en-us/blog/company-guide/what-is-the-un-ocean-treaty-and-why-was-it-essential?   Primarily Pure. Gel Water Is Replacing Your Recommended 8 Cups of Water Every Day. https://primallypure.com/blogs/blog/gel-water Pollack, G. The Fourth Phase of Water: Beyond Solid, Liquid and Vapor www.ebnerandsons.com. Science Moms. Thanks to America's $858 billion clean energy investment, tackling climate change is easier than ever. https://sciencemoms.com/climate-change-solutions/?gclid=CjwKCAjwkeqkBhAnEiwA5U-uM28ysCdf-ov5eJwVb2B8wLA2aPQt_B4rl3lN1_NVKFEWSlDT2kx4XxoCjRcQAvD_BwE Sumner, M. Jun 25, 2023.  Climate crisis: The biggest problem in the Atlantic is both below and above the surface. Daily Kos.  https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/6/25/2177173/-Climate-Crisis-The-biggest-problem-in-the-Atlantic-is-both-below-and-above-the-surface UN. June 19, 2023. Historic agreement adopted at the UN for conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in over two-thirds of the ocean https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/blog/2023/06/press-release-historic-agreement-adopted-at-the-un-for-conservation-and-sustainable-use-of-biodiversity-in-over-two-thirds-of-the-ocean Women's World Staff. October 1, 2020. The ‘Gel-Water Diet' Is the Weight-Loss Solution That Fights Brain Fog. https://www.womansworld.com/posts/diets/h3o2-gel-water-diet-168246  

Episode 51: In this episode, host Angie Gust talks about the benefits of ashwagandha and moringa. These are dietary supplements that could help heal ourselves and maybe even the planet. Ashwaganda is an herb and moringa is a tree.  They both have some amazing properties and can live in arid conditions so they may be good for climate change- taking in CO2 without needing much water. Turning to the environment, last May, the  United States hosted the Agriculture Innovation Mission to bring together partners to increase and accelerate investment in and support for agriculture and food systems innovation for climate action.  It highlighted opportunities for climate solutions and climate-smart agriculture and food systems innovation in the lead-up to COP28 which is in the United Arab Emirates in November this year. References Adjonyoh, Z. Mar 9, 2021. What is moringa? Everything you need to know about the superfood. Today. https://www.today.com/food/moringa-health-benefits-what-know-about-superfood-t210949 DeSouza,J Apr 20, 2023 Creating Fabric Materials out of Bacteria. Happy Eco News.https://happyeconews.com/creating-fabric-materials-out-of-bacteria/ Horn, L, Natalia Shakela, Marius K. Mutorwa, Erold Naomab, Habauka M. Kwaambwa. Moringa oleifera as a sustainable climate-smart solution to nutrition, disease prevention, and water treatment challenges: A review, Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, Volume 10, 2022, 100397, Mikulska, P et al.  Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)—Current Research on the Health-Promoting Activities: A Narrative Review. Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(4), 1057; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15041057 Raguraman, VR, Subramaniam, JR. Withania somnifera Root exrtract increases telomerase activity I the human HeLa cell line. Adv. Biosci Biotechnol 2016; 7:199-204. Sharma R, Martins N. Telomeres, DNA Damage and Ageing: Potential Leads from Ayurvedic Rasayana (Anti-Ageing) Drugs. J Clin Med. 2020 Aug 6;9(8):2544. doi: 10.3390/jcm9082544. PMID: 32781627; PMCID: PMC7465058. Sierra Club. Toiyabe Chapter. 100 things you can do to save the planet.https://www.sierraclub.org/toiyabe/100-things-you-can-do-save-planet Stohs SJ, Hartman MJ. Review of the Safety and Efficacy of Moringa oleifera. Phytother Res. 2015 Jun;29(6):796-804. doi: 10.1002/ptr.5325. Epub 2015 Mar 24. PMID: 25808883; PMCID: PMC6680322. USDA May 10, 2023 Final Day of AIM for Climate Summit Announces Groundbreaking Initiatives on the Road to COP28. https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2023/05/10/final-day-aim-climate-summit-announces-groundbreaking-initiatives      

Episode 50: In this episode, host Angie Gust talks about a new report on pesticides called "Merchants of Death". The authors, Stacy Malkan, Kendra Klein, and Anna Lappé, show that the pesticide industry has used disinformation, and a PR strategy including institutions, and often, the same individual players as that of the fossil fuel industry. In 2015, glyphosate was designated as a probable carcinogen by the WHO's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Recent science has also linked glyphosate to lower birth weights among babies, reproductive health impacts, and other serious health concerns.  Turning to a related environmental issue. Did you know insect and bird populations are declining?  They are.  You can be part of the solution by creating more habitat for birds by planting native species and not overly tidying your yard. In recent years, conservation-minded landscapers came up with new ideas on the way yards should look. Consider starting a trend and make your back or front yard a real wildlife habitat.

Episode 49: In this episode, host Angie Gust talks about the Change triangle.  Psychotherapist Hillary Jacobs Hendel says that the Change Triangle is a map and wellness tool to help you shift from a place of disconnection and/or distress back to calm, clarity, and peace of mind.  The three corners of the Change Triangle are 1) defenses, 2) inhibitory emotions like shame, guilt and anxiety and 3) cores emotions like joy, anger, and disgust. Underneath the triangle are the good emotions that she says we all want to experience: being calm, curious, connected, compassionate, confident, courageous and clear-minded. Turning to the environment, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) headline statement of its summary for policymakers in March 2023  declared that the world already has too many fossil fuels in production to limit global warming to the relatively safe level of 1.5 degrees Celsius. The global body of scientists said, “Projected CO2 emissions from existing fossil-fuel infrastructure without additional abatement would exceed the remaining carbon budget for 1.5°C.” This finding isn't new, but saying the quiet part out loud is new. Let's use the influence we have to make sure everyone knows this is a crisis and doing something to move the greenhouse gas reduction efforts forward fast is paramount. Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations, called on all countries to “massively fast-track climate efforts” and, specifically, for rich countries to hit “the fast-forward button” on commitments to reach net-zero – which means removing as much plant-heating pollution from the atmosphere as they emit." References Chang, J. 2008 The Role of Anonymity in Deindividuated Behavior: A Comparison of Deindividuation Theory and the Social Identity Model of Deindividuation Effects. Undergraduate J of Baylor University. https://www.baylor.edu/pulse/doc.php/77099.pdf Elbeshbishi, S. Mar 15, 2023. Biden approved Willow project: What to know about the move to allow drilling in Alaska. USA Today. Hendel, HJ. What is the change triangle? Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/emotion-information/201907/what-is-the-change-triangle Hendel, HJ. Defenses and the change triangle tool.   https://www.hilaryjacobshendel.com/common-ways-to-avoid-emotions Wallis-Well, D. Mar 8, 2023. Clean energy is less polarizing than you think. G.O.P. elites are simply lagging behind their states. NY Times.              

Episode 48: In this episode host Angie Gust talks about parasites. Parasites are all around us, and inhabit our digestive tract through fecal -oral transmission of contaminated food and water as well as other sources. Although experts say that parasites are unavoidable, there are ways we can reduce exposure and build our bodies' resistance towards them, for instance adding fresh ginger, oregano, cloves and thyme to our diets. Turning to the environment, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is getting into the field.  President Biden has ordered federal agencies to assure that underserved communities can actually benefit from the IRA policies. Other good news is that Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator, Michael Regan, announced $27 billion in grant funding from the Greenhouse Reduction Fund, part of the IRA. The funds are to finance projects that push forward our transition to renewable energy while addressing systemic injustices still afflicting underserved communities. Let's hope we can stay on the right path to clean and renewable energy for future generations. References Blades, M. Feb 17, 2023. Earth Matters: Biden administration announces plans on equity, renewables, environmental justice. Daily Kos. https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/2/17/2153148/-Earth-Matters-Biden-administration-announces-plans-on-equity-renewables-environmental-justice Drugmand, D. Feb 13, 2023. Big Oil's Been Secretly Validating Critics' Concerns about Carbon Capture. https://www.desmog.com/2023/02/13/exxon-shell-bp-api-concerns-carbon-capture/ Thunberg, G. 2023. The Climate Book. Penguin Press 436p. Willson, K. Sept 6, 2018. How to control parasites naturally. https://www.glowingmumma.com/blog/simple-ways-to-control-parasites  

Episode 47: In this episode, Angie Gust talks about hydrogen water (aka functional water).  In Japan, research on functional water, especially on reduced water which contains a lot of molecular hydrogen, is ongoing. The active substances in reduced water have been reported to be hydrogen, mineral nanoparticles, and mineral nanoparticle hydrides. Similar to therapeutic gas, hydrogen water has been studied in diverse patient populations and has shown positive effects on immunity and inflammation. Turning to the environment, helping solve the climate crisis requires critical thinking. Unfortunately, many people are lacking in critical thinking skills. Inoculation theory may help.  Inoculation theory is a branch of psychology that says just as exposing people to a weakened form of a virus builds up their immunity, so does exposing people to a weakened form of misinformation. Like warning people/students about politically or financially motivated attempts to spread misinformation about the environment.  Consider trying to give people you know a heads up about misinformation and see if it works.   References Broockman, D., & Kalla, J. (2022, April 1). The manifold effects of partisan media on viewers' beliefs and attitudes: A field experiment with Fox News viewers. https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/jrw26 Coile, C. Oct 2021.Sustainable Dog Food: Do Meat Substitutes & Insect-Based Diets Work? AKC. https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/insect-based-dog-foods-other-meat-substitutes-in-pet-diets/  Dunne, D. Carbon Brief. Jan 16, 2023.  Can the world halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030? https://www.carbonbrief.org/ Harper, Jan 23, 2023. Turning problem sea algae into a replacement for plastic. https://www.bbc.com/news/business-64317261 NCSI. March 2022. Why teach critical thinking about climate change? https://ncse.ngo/why-teach-critical-thinking-about-climate-change Poem for the Planet. Song by Airmate. Sanetaka Shirahata, Takeki Hamasaki, Kiichiro Teruya. 2012. Advanced research on the health benefit of reduced water. Trends in Food Science & Technology. Volume 23, Issue 2, Pages 124-131,ISSN 0924-2244. Sim M, Kim CS, Shon WJ, Lee YK, Choi EY, Shin DM. Hydrogen-rich water reduces inflammatory responses and prevents apoptosis of peripheral blood cells in healthy adults: a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial. Sci Rep. 2020;10(1):12130. Tomofuji T, Kawabata Y, Kasuyama K, Endo Y, Yoneda T, Yamane M, Azuma T, Ekuni D, Morita M. Effects of hydrogen-rich water on aging periodontal tissues in rats. Sci Rep. 2014 Jul 2;4:5534. doi: 10.1038/srep05534. PMID: 24985521; PMCID: PMC4078318. https://newrepublic.com/post/169824/important-new-years-resolution-climate Wallis Wells, D. Jan 18, 2023. Why the world's most prominent climate radicals are rebooting. The New York Times. Van der Linden, S. et al. 23 January 23, 2017. Inoculating the Public against Misinformation about Climate Change. https://doi.org/10.1002/gch2.201600008

Episode 46: In this Episode, host Angie Gust talks about 5 brain hacks suggested by neuroscientist Dr. Tara Swart.  They are 1) taking 5-10 deep breaths upon awakening, 2) visualizing your goals, 3) spending more time in nature, 4) writing a gratitude list, and 5) silencing your mind to foster creative thinking. You may already do all of these practices, but if not, perhaps consider incorporating 1 or 2 into your daily routine.  Turning to the environment, Dec 7-19 was the COP 15 UN Biodiversity Conference in Montreal Canada.  A new set of goals to guide global action through 2030 to halt and reverse nature loss was agreed upon by governments worldwide. Canada's Minister for the Environment and Climate Change, Steven Guilbeault, said, "It is truly a moment that will mark history as Paris did for climate."  Let's take some encouragement from this agreement and support all efforts to protect and increase biodiversity. References Briggs, H. COP15: Nations reach 'historic' deal to protect nature, https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-64019324 Canale, A., & Klontz, B. (2013). Hoarding Disorder: It's More Than Just an Obsession - Implications for Financial Therapists and Planners. Journal of Financial Therapy, 4 (2) 4. https://doi.org/10.4148/ 1944-9771.1053 https://www.averyassociates.co.uk/excessive-wealth-as-a-manifestation-of-hoarding/ Hurst, D. May 18, 2021. Can the love of money be an addiction?https://www.tikvahlake.com/blog/can-the-love-of-money-be-an-addiction/ Neeley, B. Oct 16, 2022. I'm a Neuroscientist, and These Are 5 Things I Do Every Day To Hack My Brain'. https://biz.crast.net/im-a-neuroscientist-and-these-are-the-5-things-i-do-every-day-to-hack-my-brain/ Paracelsus Recovery. Mar 20, 2016. Addiction to wealth and power.https://www.paracelsus-recovery.com/blog/addiction-to-wealth-and-power/ Valdez, S. Oct 2019. Mother Earth. Family Friend Poems. https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poems/nature/environment/

Episode 45:  In this episode, host Angie Gust talks about a sensory intervention you can use for anxiety or a trauma memory. First, take a slow deep breath.  Then, acknowledge five things you see around you, four things you can touch around you, three things you hear, two things you can smell and finally one thing you can taste. That should help to ground you in the moment. Turning to the environment, Oxfam, a poverty alleviation organization, published a report to coincide with COP27-again held last November. The report was about the 125 richest people in the world. The analysis showed that on average, this group is emitting 3 million tons of CO2 a year, more than a million times the average for someone in the bottom 90% of humanity.  What legacy are they leaving future generations? References Burgess, M. Nov. 17, 2022. This Plastic Packaging Alternative Can Compost in a Year. Wired. https://www.wired.com/story/wired-impact-shellworks-biodegradable-plastic/ Cosier, S. Nov 22, 2022. How Floating Wetlands Are Helping to Clean Up Urban Waters. https://e360.yale.edu/features/floating-wetlands-cities-pollution Disney, A. Nov 29, 2022. Opinion: Abigail Disney: 125 billionaires control our climate future. https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/29/opinions/billionaires-climate-crisis-abigail-disney/index.html Oxfam. Nov 2022. Carbon Billionaires. https://oxfamilibrary.openrepository.com/bitstream/handle/10546/621446/bn-carbon-billlionaires-071122-en.pdf?sequence=14 Seidelman , James. Jan 2, 2022. Republicans exploit people's biases to win elections. The Salt Lake Tribune.  https://www.sltrib.com/opinion/commentary/2021/12/31/james-seidelman-john-p/ Seymour, E. Jun 14, 2012. The Bowl of Light. Mind Body Mandala. http://mindbodymandala.com/mind-body-mandala/the-bowl-of-light/ Smith, S. Apr 10, 2018. Behavioral Health Partners. U of Rochester Medical Center. https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/behavioral-health-partners/bhp-blog/april-2018/5-4-3-2-1-coping-technique-for-anxiety.aspx Wallis Wells, D. Nov 23,2022. The world's powers are beginning to look beyond the project of decarbonization. New York Times.

Episode 44: In this episode, host Angie Gust talks about what we can do to nourish our brain. First, among foods, oily fish with their Omega-3s help build membranes around each cell in the body, including the brain cells, and can help with circulation in the brain. Oily fish, along with berries, coffee, dark chocolate, nuts and seeds, are rich in antioxidants which inhibit oxidation.  The free radical theory says that organisms age because they accumulate oxidative damage. In addition, avocados may reduce blood pressure and eggs have B vitamins and choline that may prevent cognitive decline. Other ways to help your brain are getting adequate sleep, being well hydrated, exercising and keeping at the best weight for you. Turning to the environment, at COP 27, one of the US-led initiatives is the Green Shipping Challenge, which encourages entities along the shipping supply chain to make concrete steps regarding how they will put the shipping sector on a pathway toward full decarbonization no later than 2050.  Let's be hopeful that concrete actions materialize as a result of the COP 27 conference. References Berlatsky, N. May 27, 2018. The Trump Effect: New study connects white American intolerance and support for authoritarianism. https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/trump-effect-new-study-connects-white-american-intolerance-support-authoritarianism-ncna877886 Beyond Plastics. 2021. The New Coal: Plastics and Climate Change. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5eda91260bbb7e7a4bf528d8/t/616ef29221985319611a64e0/1634661022294/REPORT_The_New-Coal_Plastics_and_Climate-Change_10-21-2021.pdf Burgess, L. Jan 2, 2020.  12 foods to boost brain function. Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324044#broccoli COP 27 Update for Business Leaders: Green Funding, Climate Technologies Top Countries' To-Do List. https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/cop-27-update-for-business-leaders-4872500/ MEE staff. Oct 21, 2022. Cop27: Greta Thunberg backs Egypt political prisoners ahead of climate summit. Middle East Eye. https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/egypt-greta-thunberg-backs-political-prisoners-cop27  Pope Francis' encyclical, Laudato Si' . A prayer for our earth. Catholic Agency for Overseas Development. Ramirez, R. Sept 27, 2022. Single-use plastic is wreaking havoc on the planet. Here's what you can do to minimize your impact. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/16/us/plastic-recycling-climate-impact-lbg/index.html Wallis-Wells, D. Nov 10, 2022. Our carbon budget is running out quickly. The NY Times.

Episode 43:  In this episode, host Angie Gust talks a little about our vibrations and our mitochondria.  Do you all remember learning about mitochondria in school?  The powerhouse of the cell?  There is a body of research focused on how to improve and increase the number of your mitochondria.  It is important to know that  mitochondria are cell organelles that are responsible not only for energy, but also for exerting a major role in the aging process and in the development of age-related diseases. This month is the UN conference of the parties #27.  It is set for November 7-18, 2022 in Sharm el-Sheikh, South Sinai, Egypt.  Over 2000 speakers are expected. The Egypt web site on the meeting states that there will be a broad interaction with various stakeholders where the voice of youth, women, civil society and indigenous people will be at the center of these discussions. They go on to say that areas will focus on the promise of innovation and clean technologies as well as the importance of water and agriculture to the climate crisis. Let's be positive that immediate actionable steps come from this conference. References COP 27 Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt 2022. https://cop27.eg/#/ Greenheart Education. https://www.greenhearted.org/restore-the-earths-former-paradise.html Metabolic Meals. June 20, 2021. 10 Ways to Boost Your Mitochondria.https://blog.mymetabolicmeals.com/mitochondria-health/#:~:text=Physical%20exercise%20is%20the%20best,keep%20up%20with%20the%20demand. Neumann, D. Sept 21, 2022. Inflation Reduction Act signals consumer-owned power will be ‘driving force' in climate fight. Beacon. https://mainebeacon.com/inflation-reduction-act-signals-consumer-owned-power-will-be-driving-force-in-climate-fight/ Nilsen, E. Sept 15, 2022. Biden administration announces plan to develop floating offshore wind turbines for West Coast. CNN Norio Okabayashi, Angelo Peronio, Magnus Paulsson, Toyoko Arai, and Franz J. Giessibl. 2018.Vibrations of a molecule in an external force field  PNAS Vol. 115 | No. 18 Lo, J. Jan 17, 2022. Egypt names foreign minister Sameh Shoukry to lead Cop27 climate talks. https://www.climatechangenews.com/2022/01/17/egypt-names-foreign-minister-sameh-shoukry-lead-cop27-climate-talks/ Stanborough, RJ. 2020. What is vibrational energy. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/vibrational-energy Vermillion, S. Sept 22, 2022. Regenerative Travel Is the Next Phase of Responsible Tourism. Outside. https://www.outsideonline.com/adventure-travel/news-analysis/regenerative-travel-is-the-next-phase-of-responsible-tourism/  

Episode 42: In this episode, host Angie Gust talks about the benefits of oil pulling. Oil pulling is a detox practice which originated in India over 3000 years ago.  The oil is ‘pulled' and forced in between all the teeth by swishing it all around the mouth.  Then you spit it out and brush. You don't swallow it.  Oil pulling is believed to help in the excretion of toxic heavy metals by saliva.  Turning to the environment, I know we are all so happy that after long last, in August, the government dedicated money -369 billion in climate and energy investments --to addressing climate change. Three major analyses done to date project a 40% reduction in American emissions, compared to a baseline of 2005 levels.  This would cut about a billion tons of carbon a year by 2030 - a little more than halfway from where we are now to where we've promised to be.  The bill is good but we are still left short of our goal.  We have to keep advocating, working, and innovating. We can get there!   References Asokan S, Emmadi P, Chamundeswari R. Effect of oil pulling on plaque induced gingivitis: a randomized, controlled, triple-blind study. Indian J Dent Res. 2009 Jan-Mar;20(1):47-51. doi: 10.4103/0970-9290.49067. PMID: 19336860. Barnet, Vern. Earth Day Prayer: In the Spirit of Indigenous Traditions. https://www.uua.org/worship/words/meditation/5590.shtml Jost, J. T., Glaser, J., Kruglanski, A. W., & Sulloway, F. J. (2003). Political conservatism as motivated social cognition. Psychological Bulletin, 129(3), 339–375. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.129.3.339 Lambert K. and Gleim, S. 10 things you can do to save the planet. April 20, 2022. https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/save-earth-top-ten.htm Pollizi, N. How to detox your body with oil pulling. https://www.thesacredscience.com/how-to-detox-your-body-with-oil-pulling/ Shanbhag VK. Oil pulling for maintaining oral hygiene - A review. J Tradit Complement Med. 2016 Jun 6;7(1):106-109. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcme.2016.05.004. PMID: 28053895; PMCID: PMC5198813. Wallace Wells, D. Aug. 17, 2022. The landscape is so different now that we can make more climate progress for less money. The New York Times. Wegemer CM, Vandell DL. Parenting, temperament, and attachment security as antecedents of political orientation: Longitudinal evidence from early childhood to age 26. Dev Psychol. 2020 Jul;56(7):1360-1371. doi: 10.1037/dev0000965. Epub 2020 May 7. PMID: 32378919; PMCID: PMC8274710.      

Episode 41: In this episode, host Angie Gust talk about the vagus nerve. It is part of a circuit that links the neck, heart, lungs, and abdomen to the brain and is critical in balancing the nervous system. Is there any way we can help the vagus nerve, especially if we have excessive worry or anxiety?  Yes. One thing is a yogic practice called Sudarshan Kriya aka SKY for short. It consists of a specific sequence of varying breathing rates separated by brief periods of normal breathing.  Consider trying it.  Now, turning to the environment. To show that people can live off 100% renewable energy, just look at Canberra, Australia. Ten years ago when the Australian Capital Territory government, which oversees Canberra, embarked on a mission to achieve the goal of 90% renewable energy by 2020, it was dismissed and said to be impossible.  But, the Australian Capital Territory reached their goal in under a decade, and the people of Canberra today have the cheapest energy bills in Australia's national energy market! Canberra is showing what can be done. References Kipp, J. Traditional and contemporary native culture. Trailtribes.org http://trailtribes.org/greatfalls/all-my-relations.htm#:~:text=%22The%20Blackfeet%20always%20pray%20to,health%2C%20and%20for%20all%20life. Noble LJ, Meruva VB, Hays SA, Rennaker RL, Kilgard MP, McIntyre CK. 2019.  Vagus nerve stimulation promotes generalization of conditioned fear extinction and reduces anxiety in rats. Brain Stimul. 12(1):9-18. doi: 10.1016/j.brs.2018.09.013. Epub 2018 Sep 21. PMID: 30287193; PMCID: PMC6301121. Opray, M. July 19, 2022. The Tiny Australian Territory That Avoided the Global Energy Crisis. Reasons to be cheerful. https://reasonstobecheerful.world/australian-capital-territory-renewables-global-energy-crisis/ Rampell, C. July 21, 2022. Texan politicians won't say this, but solar is saving their tushies right now. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/07/21/heat-energy-crisis-would-be-worse-without-solar/ Seymour, T. June 28, 2017. Everything you need to know about the vagus nerve. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318128# Weitzberg, E. and Lundberg, JON. 2002. Humming greatly increases nasal nitric oxide. https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/10.1164/rccm.200202-138BC WWF. 10 things you can do to save our planet. https://www.wwf.org.uk/thingsyoucando Zope SA, Zope RA. Sudarshan kriya yoga: Breathing for health. Int J Yoga. 2013 Jan;6(1):4-10. doi: 10.4103/0973-6131.105935. PMID: 23440614; PMCID: PMC3573542.

Episode 40: In this episode, host Angie Gust talks about our hearts. Advancing age is the primary risk factor for heart problems. The reason for this is due to the dysfunction of our arteries. What can be done? In addition to other lifestyle changes, inspiratory muscle strength training (which is breathing against a resistive load) could be considered. This helps with blood pressure and other respiratory muscles. Turning to the environment, climate change journalist, David Wallace Wells, says countries are not keeping their pledges on climate change. None of the 187 countries that signed the Paris Agreement is on track for emissions reductions in line with the 1.5 degree F target. Let's keep up the pressure and support candidates and organizations who are making solutions to climate change their top priority.   References Brunt, V. E., Howard, M. J., Francisco, M. A., Ely, B. R., & Minson, C. T. (2016). Passive heat therapy improves endothelial function, arterial stiffness and blood pressure in sedentary humans. The Journal of physiology, 594(18), 5329–5342. https://doi.org/10.1113/JP272453 David, H.P. Born unwanted: mental health costs and consequences. Am J Orthopsychiatry. 2011 Apr;81(2):184-92. doi: 10.1111/j.1939-0025.2011.01087.x. PMID: 21486260. Deem, J. June 25, 2022. Roe reversal signals a threat to the fight against climate change, experts say .Winston-Salem Journal. https://journalnow.com/news/local/roe-reversal-signals-a-threat-to-the-fight-against-climate-change-experts-say/article_de770c22-f4b1-11ec-b65a-1709c4849628.html Gallup. 2022. Pro-Choice or Pro-Life Demographic Table. https://news.gallup.com/poll/244709/pro-choice-pro-life-2018-demographic-tables.aspx Konash.D.  Dec 6 2021 Can You Do IMST Breathing Exercise Without Device? https://www.dmitrikonash.com/post/can-you-do-imst-breathing-exercise-without-device Levin, B. Sept 16, 2022. Trump reportedly called white supremacist “My people” in case it wasn't clear he's an abject racist. https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2021/09/donald-trump-white-supremacists-my-people Lewis, T. May 3, 2022. Overturning Roe v. Wade Could Have Devastating Health and Financial Impacts, Landmark Study Showed. Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/overturning-roe-v-wade-could-have-devastating-health-and-financial-impacts-landmark-study-showed/ Nowak, K. L., Rossman, M. J., Chonchol, M., & Seals, D. R. (2018). Strategies for Achieving Healthy Vascular Aging. Hypertension (Dallas, Tex. : 1979), 71(3), 389–402. https://doi.org/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.117.10439 Sword, R.K.M. and Zimbardo, P. May 31, 2022. Traveling Back in Time to Repeal Roe v. Wade. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-time-cure/202205/traveling-back-in-time-repeal-roe-v-wade Sandalic, D. Abortion Rights and the Role of Values. June 26, 2022The Dobbs ruling violates secular values.https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/tough-choices/202206/abortion-rights-and-the-role-values Wallace-Wells, D. June 22, 2022. Our world is changing, but we don't have the ability yet to fathom how. New York Times.

Episode 39:  In this episode, host Angie Gust talks about raw versus cooked whole foods.  Generally, raw foods are whole foods that haven't been either processed or cooked.  There is an upper temperature limit that defines raw. For a food to be considered raw, it shouldn't be heated above 117 degrees F.  When fruits and vegetables are cooked over this temperature, the bioavailability of certain micronutrients, including vitamins and phytochemicals, are reduced.  On the other hand, for certain types of whole foods, cooking them may enhance the bioavailability of some nutrients, for example lycopene in tomatoes.  Turning to the environment, a recent article makes a case that health professionals have a unique and essential role to play as advocates for climate solutions. The authors say first, that health professionals are well suited in terms of their knowledge, skills, credibility, and access to important audiences—including policy makers, government officials, educators, patients, and the general public—both in and out of their own community. Second, many health professionals are aware of and concerned about the health impacts of climate change and have called for integrating climate advocacy as part of their professional responsibility. We need all sectors contributing  to the climate change solutions discussion, right?

In this episode, host Angie Gust talks about the use of essential fatty acids in combatting chronic inflammation which can lead to illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer and bowel diseases to name a few. Recent research has found that essential fatty acids are converted by the body to a novel genus of lipid mediators called specialized proresolving mediators. Specialized proresolving mediators represent a portion of the omega-3 fatty acid spectrum that has a big effect on reducing inflammation during the ending phase of the immune response. Importantly, research has shown that taking aspirin helps omega-3 fatty acids combat inflammatory diseases.  Turning to the environment, in November last year the U.S. Department of Energy launched a climate program called the Better Climate Challenge. The Challenge commits to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50% within 10 years. More than 90 organizations across the U.S. have joined the challenge thus far. Consider asking your organization to join.   References Gong, Y., Lin, M., Piao, L., Li, X., Yang, F., Zhang, J., Xiao, B., Zhang, Q., Song, W. L., Yin, H., Zhu, L., Funk, C. D., & Yu, Y. 2015. Aspirin enhances protective effect of fish oil against thrombosis and injury-induced vascular remodelling. British journal of pharmacology, 172(23), 5647–5660. https://doi.org/10.1111/bph.12986 Labarre, S. Apr 21, 2020. Design leaders at Microsoft, General Mills, and PepsiCo announce ambitious plan to fight climate change.  Fast Company. https://www.fastcompany.com/90743957/design-leaders-at-microsoft-general-mills-and-pepsico-lead-ambitious-plan-to-fight-climate-change Marchant, J. 2013. How Happiness Boosts the Immune System. Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-happiness-boosts-the-immune-system/ McDermott, T. Apr 6, 2022. Tribes look to renewable energy to power jobs of the future. Investigate West. https://www.invw.org/2022/04/06/tribes-look-to-renewable-energy-to-power-jobs-of-the-future/ Norling, L. V., Ly, L., & Dalli, J. 2017. Resolving inflammation by using nutrition therapy: roles for specialized proresolving mediators. Current opinion in clinical nutrition and metabolic care, 20(2), 145–152. https://doi.org/10.1097/MCO.0000000000000353 Taylor, S. 2019. Pathocracy: When people with personality disorders gain power. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/out-the-darkness/201907/pathocracy Zawadzki, SJ, Linda Steg and Thijs Bouman. 2020. Meta-analytic evidence for a robust and positive association between individuals' pro-environmental behaviors and their subjective wellbeing. Environmental Research Letters, Volume 15, Number 12 .      

Episode 37: In this episode, host Angie Gust talks about the benefits of Indian gooseberry or amla. It is one of the most important medicinal plants in the Indian traditional medicine of Ayurveda.  It helps with many health problems, including heart disease and endothelial dysfunction. When the endothelium is dysfunctional, it causes arterial stiffening which can affect lipid levels and also blood glucose, platelet function, and blood pressure. Turning to the environment, as if it were not already critical that we focus on clean energy, it is even more critical now. Greta Thunberg's Fridays for Future organization says, “Political leaders can take the side of people or of money, greed and the fossil fuel industry.  We call on global leaders to stop financing Putin's whims, and end the import of oil, coal, and gas from Russia. We also call for the end of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in Germany — once and for all.” References Adler, B. Mar 1, 2022. Greta Thunberg's climate activist group to launch protests against Russian invasion of Ukraine. https://news.yahoo.com/greta-thunbergs-climate-activist-group-to-launch-protests-over-russian-invasion-of-ukraine-204257333.html Al Jazeera Mar 4. 2022. Moscow's 'lone climate protester' https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2022/3/4/qa-with-moscows-protester-from-climate-change-to-ukraine-war Baliga MS, Dsouza JJ. Amla (Emblica officinalis Gaertn), a wonder berry in the treatment and prevention of cancer. Eur J Cancer Prev. 2011 May;20(3):225-39. doi: 10.1097/CEJ.0b013e32834473f4. PMID: 21317655. Bartoli, L. Mar 25, 2022. Fridays For Future Is Back: The March 25 Protests. Impakter. https://impakter.com/fridays-for-future-is-back-the-march-25th-protests/ Harrod, M. Mar 2014.  Enhance endothelial function and reduce arterial stiffness.  https://www.lifeextension.com/magazine/2014/3/enhance-endothelial-function-and-reduce-arterial-stiffness IEA. Mar 8, 2022. Global CO2 emissions rebounded to their highest level in history in 2021. https://www.iea.org/news/global-co2-emissions-rebounded-to-their-highest-level-in-history-in-2021 Liu, Z., Deng, Z., Davis, S.J. et al. Monitoring global carbon emissions in 2021. Nat Rev Earth Environ (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-022-00285-w Robinson, B. Mar 17, 2022. Oregon Is Turning Sewage into an Endless Supply of Green Energy. https://reasonstobecheerful.world/oregon-water-treatment-methane-green-energy/ Simon, M Mar 16, 2022. Why You (and the Planet) Really Need a Heat Pump. https://www.wired.com/story/why-you-the-planet-need-heat-pump/  

Episode 36: In this episode, host Angie Gust talks about three  healing roots from the earth – garlic, ginger and tumeric.  Studies show they are great for our immune system, having potent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral, and antimicrobial properties. Although studies on the combined effects of these roots are scarce, adding all of these superfoods to your diet is likely a good idea. Turning to the environment, have you been noticing more talk about regenerative agriculture? Regenerative agriculture is a way to produce food with fewer environmental and social impacts. According to an article published in F1000 Research, regenerative agriculture has the potential to improve soil health, restore biodiversity, contribute to farm profitability, and reduce pollution from agrichemicals. Consider purchasing your foods from farmers practicing regenerative agriculture. References Burgo, J. Apr 15, 2014. Vladimir Putin Narcissist? https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/04/vladimir-putin-narcissist/360544/ Corn, D. 2/2022 Is It Amnesia or Hypocrisy That Fuels the GOP's Crazy Response to Putin? https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2022/02/is-it-amnesia-or-hypocrisy-that-fuels-the-gops-crazy-response-to-putin/ Frankel, J. 2015.The traumatic basis for the resurgence of right-wing politics among working Americans. Psychoanal Cult Soc 20, 359–378. https://doi.org/10.1057/pcs.2015.53 Garlic and ginger. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/garlic-and-ginger-benefits#7.-May-promote-a-healthy-immune-response Gessen, M. 2013. The Man Without a Face: The Unlikely Rise of Vladimir Putin. Penguin Publishing. Ginger History - Origin and Regional Uses of Ginger. http://www.vegetablefacts.net/vegetable-history/ginger-history/ Interesting Garlic Facts. http://www.vegetablefacts.net/vegetable-facts/garlic-facts/ Regenerative agriculture. https://heliae.com/10-regenerative-agriculture-practices/ Laber-Warren, E. Sept 1, 2012. Unconscious Reactions Separate Liberals and Conservatives. Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/calling-truce-political-wars/ Sabalones Gonzales, M. Nov 11, 2020. What Are the Psychological Profiles of Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump?https://soapboxie.com/us-politics/Psychological-profiles-The-Hubris-Syndrome-of-Vladimir-Putin-and-Donald-Trump Tierney, D. Sept 13, 2020. How Putin Got Into America's Mind. https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/09/how-putin-got-into-americas-mind/616330/ Prasad S, Aggarwal BB. 2011. Turmeric, the Golden Spice: From Traditional Medicine to Modern Medicine. In: Benzie IFF, Wachtel-Galor. S, editors. Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. 2nd ed. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press/Taylor & Francis. Chapter 13. PMID: 22593922. Robertson, IH. Mar 17, 2014. The Danger That Lurks Inside Vladimir Putin's Brain. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-winner-effect/201403/the-danger-lurks-inside-vladimir-putins-brain  

Episode 35: In this episode, host Angie Gust talks about juicing.  Juicing is a process that extracts the juices from fresh fruits and vegetables. Here we are talking about green juice, so we exclude fruit juices.  This is because fruits contain much more sugar than vegetables. Consuming too much fructose, one of the naturally occurring sugars in fruit, has been linked to high blood sugar, weight gain, and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. Drinking green juice allows concentrated nutrients to be rapidly absorbed straight into your cells. Turning to the environment, EPA administrator, Michael Regan, toured some of the 1000 hot spots of industrial toxic air pollution that ProPublica identified last November.  He said, “We're announcing actions that EPA is taking in direct response to what I saw and what I heard on the ground”.  Good news, but let's keep watching for results. References All Creation. Earth Prayers for the Great Spirit. http://www.allcreation.org/home/earth-prayers-great-spirit Bazzano, L. A., Li, T. Y., Joshipura, K. J., & Hu, F. B. (2008). Intake of fruit, vegetables, and fruit juices and risk of diabetes in women. Diabetes care, 31(7), 1311–1317. https://doi.org/10.2337/dc08-0080 Eidelson, R. Jan 30, 2017. Bait and Switch: Psychology and Trump's Voter Fraud.Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/dangerous-ideas/201701/bait-and-switch-psychology-and-trump-s-voter-fraud Farag, E., Sikkema, R. S., Vinks, T., Islam, M. M., Nour, M., Al-Romaihi, H., Al Thani, M., Atta, M., Alhajri, F. H., Al-Marri, S., AlHajri, M., Reusken, C., & Koopmans, M. (2018). Drivers of MERS-CoV Emergence in Qatar. Viruses, 11(1), 22. https://doi.org/10.3390/v11010022 Fulgoni VL 3rd, Keast DR, Bailey RL, Dwyer J. Foods, fortificants, and supplements: Where do Americans get their nutrients? J Nutr. 2011 Oct;141(10):1847-54. doi: 10.3945/jn.111.142257. Epub 2011 Aug 24. PMID: 21865568; PMCID: PMC3174857. Kim SY, Yoon S, Kwon SM, Park KS, Lee-Kim YC. Kale juice improves coronary artery disease risk factors in hypercholesterolemic men. Biomed Environ Sci. 2008 Apr;21(2):91-7. doi: 10.1016/S0895-3988(08)60012-4. PMID: 18548846. Kofman, A.,  Song L. Jan 26, 2022  EPA Takes Action to Combat Industrial Air Pollution.ProPublica. https://www.propublica.org/article/epa-takes-action-to-combat-industrial-air-pollution Mackenzie, J. S., & Jeggo, M. (2019). The One Health Approach-Why Is It So Important?. Tropical medicine and infectious disease, 4(2), 88. https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed4020088 Oaklander, M. April 23, 2015. Should you drink green juice? Time.  https://time.com/3818098/green-juice-kale-healthy/ WHO One Health. https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/one-health Zinsstag, J., Crump, L., Schelling, E., Hattendorf, J., Maidane, Y. O., Ali, K. O., Muhummed, A., Umer, A. A., Aliyi, F., Nooh, F., Abdikadir, M. I., Ali, S. M., Hartinger, S., Mäusezahl, D., de White, M., Cordon-Rosales, C., Castillo, D. A., McCracken, J., Abakar, F., Cercamondi, C., … Cissé, G. (2018). Climate change and One Health. FEMS microbiology letters, 365(11), fny085. https://doi.org/10.1093/femsle/fny085

Episode 34: In this episode, host Angie Gust talks about recognizing the benefits of seaweeds and honoring where they grow.  Seaweeds may lead the way to heal both ourselves and the earth by helping to take CO2 out of the oceans and producing O2.  It has been known for a long time, especially in Asia, that consuming seaweed is beneficial for health.  With some exceptions, seaweeds are edible. They are low in fat and calories and high in essential minerals, vitamins and protein. Turning to the environment, the passage of the infrastructure bill in November came just after the publication of a study published in the journal Science in October that showed Native Americans are disproportionately impacted by climate change, due to forced migration and the dispossession of their lands. Across the U.S., indigenous people have lost nearly 99% of their historical lands.  It is a little ironic that they are in the one of the best positions to lead the way out of the climate crisis and have started already.  References Farrell, J, et al. 2021. Effects of land dispossession and forced migration on Indigenous peoples in North America. Science. 374(6567). Hellmann, M. Nov. 19, 2021. Indigenous solutions to climate change could inform national policies. The Center for Public Integrity.https://publicintegrity.org/inside-publici/newsletters/watchdog-newsletter/indigenous-solutions-climate-change-policies/ Hima RV, and Velvizhi, M. 2020. Seaweeds and Its Health Benefits; International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications (IJSRP) 10(11) (ISSN: 2250-3153), DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.29322/IJSRP.10.11.2020.p10791 Johnson, J. 2021. Is seaweed good for you? Benefits, nutrition and all else you need to know. Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323916 Jones, N. Feb 11, 2020. How Native Tribes Are Taking the Lead on Planning for Climate Change. Yale Environment 360. https://e360.yale.edu/features/how-native-tribes-are-taking-the-lead-on-planning-for-climate-change Kadey, M. July 8, 2016. 6 Types of Seaweed Loaded with Health Benefits. Women's Health. https://www.womenshealthmag.com/food/g19997852/nutritional-benefits-of-eating-seaweed/ Meyer, R.  Dec. 15, 2021. A New Estimate of the ‘Most Effective' Way to Fight Climate Change. The Atlantic. https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2021/12/most-effective-nonprofits-fight-climate-change/621013/ Philpott, J, Bradford, M. 2007. Seaweed: Nature ' s Secret for a Long and Healthy Life ? Semantic Scolar. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Seaweed-%3A-Nature-%E2%80%99-s-Secret-for-a-Long-and-Healthy-Philpott-Bradford/3eeeca088571587f3f8c723ee90617c28d61a875 Rajapakse N, Kim SK. 2011. Nutritional and digestive health benefits of seaweed. Adv Food Nutr Res. 64:17-28. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-387669-0.00002-8. PMID: 22054935.

Episode 33: In this episode, host Angie Gust talks about the different types of salts- table salt, and the more natural salts- regular sea salt, pink Himalayan rock salt, and Celtic sea salt. Dr. Steven Lin says that It's important to differentiate between a natural salt and table salt. Table salt is mostly sodium chloride and heavily processed. Natural salts come in their complete, whole form.  He says to always choose a natural salt, and try to avoid the processed table salt variety.  Now turning to the environment, a recent article talks hopefully about the possibility of changes to address climate change may come about swiftly. It highlighted that the transition in the US from horse-drawn carriages to cars running on fossil fuels took just over a decade and suggests that the diffusion of new technologies tends to be self-accelerating. Let's be hopeful and support climate-friendly new technologies.   References Carbon sinks: How nature helps fight climate change. DW. https://www.dw.com/en/carbon-sinks-how-nature-helps-fight-climate-change/a-59835700 Enck, J. July 24, 2021. One Planet 20 companies produce 55% of the world's single use plastic waste Exxon and Dow top the list. Beyond Plastics. https://www.beyondplastics.org/news-stories/one-planet-twenty-companies-produce-fifty-five-percent-worlds-single-use-plastic-waste Hassan, A., Ali, S., Mohyuddin, A. 2016.Chemical characterization of unrefined rock salt deposits of Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Scientific and Industrial Research, 59: 126-130. Lin, S.  5 Reasons why salt is good for you according to medicine. https://www.drstevenlin.com/salt-good-for-you/ Lin, S.  The Dental Diet. The Surprising Link between Your Teeth, Real Food, and Life-Changing Natural Health. Hay House, 2018. Meredith, S. May 18, 2021. Just 20 companies are responsible for over half of ‘throwaway' plastic waste, study says. https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/18/20-companies-responsible-for-55percent-of-single-use-plastic-waste-study.html Monbiot, G.  Nov. 14, 2021. After the failure of COP 26, there's only one last hope for our survival. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/nov/14/cop26-last-hope-survival-climate-civil-disobedience Taylor RS, Ashton KE, Moxham T, Hooper L, Ebrahim S. Reduced dietary salt for the prevention of cardiovascular disease: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (Cochrane review). Am J Hypertens. 2011 Aug;24(8):843-53. doi: 10.1038/ajh.2011.115. Epub 2011 Jul 6. PMID: 21731062. The Social Justice Lab. Jul 8, 2021. Ideology May Help Explain Anti-Scientific Attitudes. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/social-justice-pacifists/202107/ideology-may-help-explain-anti-scientific-attitudes Yeung, P. Nov 23, 2021. France Is Freeing Fruit and Veg from Its Plastic Prison. Reasons to be cheerful. https://reasonstobecheerful.world/france-plastic-packaging-fruit-vegetables/  

Episode 32:  In this episode, host Angie Gust, talks about the health benefits of seeds. Seeds are the beginning of life. They are high in protein, healthy fats, and fiber as well as minerals and vitamins B1-3 and Vitamin E. She goes over 6 types of seeds that you may want to consider adding to your diet. Turning to the environment, the UN Conference of the Parties 26 (COP26) was Oct 31 to Nov 12.  This was to be a critical meeting to address the climate crisis. The outcome document, called the Glasgow Climate Pact, calls on 197 countries to report their progress towards more climate ambition next year, at COP27, which will be in Egypt.  It also firmed up the global agreement to accelerate action on climate this decade.  While some important agreements were made, it was not the big win that many of us were hoping for. References Ahmad A, Husain A, Mujeeb M, Khan SA, Najmi AK, Siddique NA, Damanhouri ZA, Anwar F. A review on therapeutic potential of Nigella sativa: A miracle herb. Asian Pac J Trop Biomed. 2013 May;3(5):337-52. doi: 10.1016/S2221-1691(13)60075-1. PMID: 23646296; PMCID: PMC3642442. Austria JA, Richard MN, Chahine MN, Edel AL, Malcolmson LJ, Dupasquier CM, Pierce GN. Bioavailability of alpha-linolenic acid in subjects after ingestion of three different forms of flaxseed. J Am Coll Nutr. 2008 Apr;27(2):214-21. doi: 10.1080/07315724.2008.10719693. PMID: 18689552. Bosson, J. K., Johnson, A. B., Niederhoffer, K., & Swann, W. B., Jr. (2006). Interpersonal chemistry through negativity: Bonding by sharing negative attitudes about others. Personal Relationships, 13(2), 135–150. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-6811.2006.00109.x Edel AL, Rodriguez-Leyva D, Maddaford TG, Caligiuri SP, Austria JA, Weighell W, Guzman R, Aliani M, Pierce GN. Dietary flaxseed independently lowers circulating cholesterol and lowers it beyond the effects of cholesterol-lowering medications alone in patients with peripheral artery disease. J Nutr. 2015 Apr;145(4):749-57. doi: 10.3945/jn.114.204594. Epub 2015 Feb 18. PMID: 25694068. Healthline. 6 Healthiest Seeds.  https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/6-healthiest-seeds#TOC_TITLE_HDR_8 Heller, C. Oct 14, 2021 Why Prince William Is Calling Out the Billionaire Space Race. https://www.eonline.com/news/1305944/why-prince-william-is-calling-out-the-billionaire-space-race Ho H, Lee AS, Jovanovski E, Jenkins AL, Desouza R, Vuksan V. Effect of whole and ground Salba seeds (Salvia Hispanica L.) on postprandial glycemia in healthy volunteers: a randomized controlled, dose-response trial. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2013 Jul;67(7):786-8. doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2013.103. House JD, Neufeld J, Leson G. Evaluating the quality of protein from hemp seed (Cannabis sativa L.) products through the use of the protein digestibility-corrected amino acid score method. J Agric Food Chem. 2010 Nov 24;58(22):11801-7. doi: 10.1021/jf102636b. Jiang R, Jacobs DR Jr, Mayer-Davis E, Szklo M, Herrington D, Jenny NS, Kronmal R, Barr RG. Nut and seed consumption and inflammatory markers in the multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis. Am J Epidemiol. 2006 Feb 1;163(3):222-31. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwj033.  Nishimura M, Ohkawara T, Sato H, Takeda H, Nishihira J. Pumpkin Seed Oil Extracted From Cucurbita maxima Improves Urinary Disorder in Human Overactive Bladder. J Tradit Complement Med. 2014 Jan;4(1):72-4. doi: 10.4103/2225-4110.124355.  Phillips KM, Ruggio DM, Ashraf-Khorassani M. Phytosterol composition of nuts and seeds commonly consumed in the United States. J Agric Food Chem. 2005 Nov 30;53(24):9436-45. doi: 10.1021/jf051505h.  Richmond K, Williams S, Mann J, Brown R, Chisholm A. Markers of cardiovascular risk in postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes are improved by the daily consumption of almonds or sunflower kernels: a feeding study. ISRN Nutr. 2012 Dec 19;2013:626414. doi: 10.5402/2013/626414.  United Nations. UN News. Nov 13, 2021.https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/11/1105792 Vuksan V, Choleva L, Jovanovski E, Jenkins AL, Au-Yeung F, Dias AG, Ho HV, Zurbau A, Duvnjak L. Comparison of flax (Linum usitatissimum) and Salba-chia (Salvia hispanica L.) seeds on postprandial glycemia and satiety in healthy individuals: a randomized, controlled, crossover study. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2017 Feb;71(2):234-238. doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2016.148.  Why People Hate: The Science Behind Why We Love to Hate. The Science of People.https://www.scienceofpeople.com/hate/ Zaineddin AK, Buck K, Vrieling A, Heinz J, Flesch-Janys D, Linseisen J, Chang-Claude J. The association between dietary lignans, phytoestrogen-rich foods, and fiber intake and postmenopausal breast cancer risk: a German case-control study. Nutr Cancer. 2012;64(5):652-65. doi: 10.1080/01635581.2012.683227.   

Episode 31: In this episode, host Angie Gust talks about our biofield or aura which is the energy field that surrounds our bodies. It acts as a magnetic field of energy--it can pick up on emotions, and even circumstances around us. Biofield science is now an emerging field of study.  There are things we can do on our own to increase our vibration or energy field like experience thankfulness and gratitude, eat more raw, organic and unprocessed foods, walk barefoot on grass or sand and more. With regard to the environment, Enbridge, a Canadian pipeline is trying to build a new pipeline, called Line 3, in Minnesota. It is a bad idea for the environment and it would violate the treaty rights of the Anishinaabe people. References 52 Easy Ways to Raise Your Vibration Fast (so you can have a happier life).https://weorganizeu.com/52-easy-ways-to-raise-your-vibration-fast-so-you-can-have-a-happier-life/ Jones, B. Sept 23.The false promise of massive tree-planting campaigns. The Guardian. https://www.vox.com/down-to-earth/22679378/tree-planting-forest-restoration-climate-solutions Lawhorn, B. April 21, 2021. Where the Green Jobs Grow. US Dept of Labor blog. https://blog.dol.gov/2021/04/21/where-the-green-jobs-grow McCue, D, Sept 12, 2021.This plant medicine teacher is reclaiming Anishinaabe names forspecies. Why that could be good for the planet. CBC Radio https://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/back-to-the-land-preserving-indigenous-language-1.6152854 Ross CL. Energy Medicine: Current Status and Future Perspectives [retracted in: Glob Adv Health Med. 2021 Apr 13;10:21649561211012196]. Glob Adv Health Med. 2019;8:2164956119831221. Published 2019 Feb 27. doi:10.1177/2164956119831221 Reclaiming Power and Place. The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. https://www.mmiwg-ffada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Final_Report_Vol_1a.pdf Rubik B, Muehsam D, Hammerschlag R, Jain S. Biofield Science and Healing: History, Terminology, and Concepts. Global Advances in Health and Medicine. January 2015. Stop the line 3 pipeline. https://www.stopline3.org/ Worthy, K. Dec 31, 2015. Dirty Little Secrets of Exxon. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-green-mind/201512/dirty-little-secrets-exxon

Episode 30: In this episode, host Angie Gust talks about Dr. Bruce Lipton's work with stem cells.  He showed that the stem cells changed with their environment. Dr. Lipton says that if you want to change your life, you have to change your perceptions.  This goes along with the research showing that people with more optimism have better health and better outcomes after surgery.  Turning to the environment, a recent UNICEF report warned that almost half the world's 2.2 billion children are already at “extremely high risk” because of climate change. Greta Thunberg and other youth climate leaders wrote in a recent article, "The fundamental goal of the adults in any society is to protect their young and do everything they can to leave a better world than the one they inherited." References Brummett BH, Helms MJ, Dahlstrom WG, Siegler IC. Prediction of all-cause mortality by the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory Optimism-Pessimism Scale scores: study of a college sample during a 40-year follow-up period. Mayo Clin Proc. 2006 Dec;81(12):1541-4. doi: 10.4065/81.12.1541. PMID: 17165632. Carrington, D. Aug 19, 2021 A billion children at ‘extreme risk' from climate impacts – Unicef.  The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/aug/20/a-billion-children-at-extreme-risk-from-climate-impacts-unicef Gustafson C. 2017. Bruce Lipton, PhD: The Jump From Cell Culture to Consciousness. Integrative medicine (Encinitas, Calif.), 16(6), 44–50. IPCC. Aug 9, 2021. Climate change widespread, rapid and intensifying. https://www.ipcc.ch/2021/08/09/ar6-wg1-20210809-pr/ Braun, S. Aug 19, 2021. Mushrooms: 4 uses that benefit the environment. Made for Minds. https://www.dw.com/en/mushrooms-4-uses-that-benefit-the-environment/a-58873874 Patel, K. Aug 19, 2021. Rain falls at the summit of Greenland Ice Sheet for first time on record. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2021/08/19/greenland-melt-august-summit-rain/?utm_campaign=Carbon%20Brief%20Daily%20Briefing&utm_content=20210820&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Revue%20Daily Plumer, B. Sept 2, 2021. New Yorkers Got Record Rain, and a Warning: Storms Are Packing More Punch The New York Times.https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/02/climate/new-york-rain-climate-change.html?utm_campaign=Carbon%20Brief%20Weekly%20Briefing&utm_content=20210903&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Revue%20Weekly Stinnett, N. Apr 22, 2021. So You're Serious About Climate Change: Vote In Your Local Elections. Cognoscenti. https://www.wbur.org/cognoscenti/2021/04/22/mayors-climate-policy-earth-day-2021-elections-nathaniel-stinnett Thunberg, G et al. Aug 19 This is the world being left to us by adults. NY Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/19/opinion/climate-un-report-greta-thunberg.html

Episode 29: In this episode, host Angie Gust talks about how we can calm our amygdalas. The amygdala is the part of our brain responsible for the experience of stress and can override the thinking part of our brains. If you'd like to try to calm your amygdala, you can try mindfulness meditation, breathing techniques, chanting, and listening to solfeggio frequencies. With regard to the environment, a new organization was recently formed called the Global Alliance for a Green New Deal and  includes lawmakers from every continent except Antarctica.  The goal of the group is to put the principles of a Green New Deal at the center of a global recovery from Covid-19. The group aims to put pressure on world governments ahead of the United Nations climate talks, COP 26, set to take place in Glasgow, Scotland, this November. References Akimoto, K., Ailing Hu, Takuji Yamaguchi, Hiroyuki Kobayashi. Effect of 528 Hz Music on the Endocrine System and Autonomic Nervous System 2018. Health, 2018, 10, 1159-1170 Aronoff, K. Jul 19, 2021.A New Global Group of 21 Lawmakers Will Pressure Countries on Climate Change. New Republic. https://newrepublic.com/article/162999/ilhan-omar-global-green-new-deal Doll A, Hölzel BK, Mulej Bratec S, Boucard CC, Xie X, Wohlschläger AM, Sorg C. Mindful attention to breath regulates emotions via increased amygdala-prefrontal cortex connectivity. Neuroimage. 2016 Jul 1;134:305-313. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2016.03.041. Epub 2016 Mar 24. PMID: 27033686 Gao, J. et al. Emotional Schema to Counterbalance Fear: A Multi-Modal Functional and Structural MRI Study. Front. Behav. Neurosci., 24 November 2020. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2020.548856  Gotink RA, Meijboom R, Vernooij MW, Smits M, Hunink MG. 8-week Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction induces brain changes similar to traditional long-term meditation practice - A systematic review. Brain Cogn. 2016 Oct;108:32-41. doi: 10.1016/j.bandc.2016.07.001.  Jerath, R et al. 2015.Self-Regulation of Breathing as a Primary Treatment for Anxiety. Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback 40(2) Kalyani BG, Venkatasubramanian G, Arasappa R, et al. Neurohemodynamic correlates of 'OM' chanting: A pilot functional magnetic resonance imaging study. Int J Yoga. 2011;4(1):3-6. doi:10.4103/0973-6131.7817     McGaugh JL The amygdala modulates the consolidation of memories of emotionally arousing experiences. Annu Rev Neurosci. 2004;27:1-28. Neuron. 2005 Oct 20;48(2):175-87. Contributions of the amygdala to emotion processing: from animal models to human behavior. Phelps EA(1), LeDoux JE. Relax Melodies.The Science Behind Solfeggio Frequencies. https://www.relaxmelodies.com/blog/science-behind-solfeggio-frequencies/ Reynolds-Tylus, T.Psychological Reactance and Persuasive Health Communication: A Review of the Literature. Front. Commun., 31 October 2019. Toplin. RB. Dec 20,2020. The Psychology of Election Denial. Columbian College of Arts &Sciences. https://historynewsnetwork.org/article/178552

In this episode, host Angie Gust talks about sulphoraphane which is an antioxidant found in cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, brussel sprouts, kale, and cauliflower. Why should we want to injest more sulforphane?  Because it is anti-inflammatory, it aids liver function, it reduces cancer, protects our brain and heart and it is an antimicrobial.  With regard to the climate, the “intersessional” meeting of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change held in May and June was not a huge success.  There needs to be more pledges towards the $100bn to aid climate vulnerable countries.  Professor Peter Singer, an ethicist, says, "If we are not acting (to address climate change), we are endangering everyone who is alive now and also future generations." References Abukhabta S. et al. 2021.Sulforaphane-enriched extracts from glucoraphanin-rich broccoli exert antimicrobial activity against gut pathogens in vitro and innovative cooking methods increase in vivo intestinal delivery of sulforaphane. European Journal of Nutrition volume 60:1263–1276. Carbon Brief. Jun 18, 2021. UN climate talks: Key outcomes from the June 2021 virtual conference.https://www.carbonbrief.org/un-climate-talks-key-outcomes-from-the-june-2021-virtual-conference?utm_campaign=Carbon%20Brief%20Weekly%20Briefing&utm_content=20210618&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Revue%20Weekly Corrick, Feb 15, 2012. A Green Power House Rises in Cellulose Valley: How the Flathead Valley is Helping zFund its Own New EnergyEconomy, Sci Tech. https://www.regenitech.com/ Meyer, R. June 16, 2021. How the U.S. Made Progress on Climate Change Without Ever Passing a Bill. The Atlantic. https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2021/06/climate-change-green-vortex-america/619228/ Rowlatt, J. 20 Sept 2019. Climate change action: We can't all be Greta, but your choices have a ripple effect. BBC. https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-49756280  

Episode 27: In this episode, host Angie Gust, talks about some amazing aspects of mushrooms.  In addition to being able to break down plastics and other pollutants, many mushrooms are good for your health.  Some of the edible mushrooms with health benefits are Lion's Mane, Reishi, Chaga, Cordyseps, and Turkey Tail.  In terms of the environment, in May, the International Energy Agency (IEA) published its first-ever detailed blueprint for reaching net-zero emissions by 2050, which it said was “compatible” with the 1.5C limit. They said, “Beyond projects already committed as of 2021, there are no new oil and gas fields approved for development in our [NZE] pathway, and no new coal mines or mine extensions are required.”  Post-pandemic plans aimed at a greener recovery have been moving forward in several European countries, with Germany and France applying for funds under an EU scheme.  References Jones, ST. Feb 23, 2021. Plastic industry's fake tears. Medium. https://medium.com/center-for-biological-diversity/plastic-industrys-fake-tears-2d45c2e0c4cb Liu J, Raine A, Venables PH, Mednick SA. Malnutrition at age 3 years and externalizing behavior problems at ages 8, 11, and 17 years. Am J Psychiatry. 2004 Nov;161(11):2005-13. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.161.11.2005. PMID: 15514400; PMCID: PMC1570126 MacFarlane, S. May 27, 2021. Climate Ruling Could Force Big Change at Shell. The Wall Street Journal. https://www.wsj.com/articles/climate-ruling-could-force-big-change-at-shell-11622131737?mod=hp_lead_pos7 Mathews, CM. May 26, 2021. Activist Wins Exxon Board Seats After Questioning Oil Giant's Climate Strategy. The Wall Street Journal. https://www.wsj.com/articles/activist-wins-exxon-board-seats-after-questioning-oil-giants-climate-strategy-11622050087?mod=hp_lead_pos1&mod=article_inline Ozdemir, D. Apr 14, 2021. Could Plastic-Eating Mushrooms Solve Humanity's Plastic Problem? https://interestingengineering.com/could-plastic-eating-mushrooms-solve-humanitys-plastic-problem Park, K. Mushrooms can save the world. We are Wildness. https://wearewildness.com/mushrooms-can-save-world/#:~:text=Here's%20a%20great%20quote%20from,understand%20the%20language%20of%20Nature The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Medicinal Mushrooms. Jan 21, 2020. Natural Force. https://naturalforce.com/blogs/nutrition/medicinal-mushrooms UN Climate Change. Apr 30, 2021. Urgent Climate Action Is Needed to Safeguard the World's Oceans https://unfccc.int/news/urgent-climate-action-is-needed-to-safeguard-the-world-s-oceans Williams, J. May 29, 2021. As protected bike lanes arrive in New Orleans, cyclists happy, some other residents not so much. Nola. https://www.nola.com/news/politics/article_aa133616-bfc1-11eb-8cb4-930c9c00f9b7.html

Episode 26: In this episode, host Angie Gust, discusses Dr. Michael Greger's 2015 book, "How not to Die". He says “Our diet is the No. 1 cause of premature death and disability.” Dr. Greger centers his recommendations around a daily dozen checklist of all the things he tries to fit into his daily diet and routine.  As for the environment, at President Biden's Earth Day Summit in April, he told the gathering of leaders that, "Nations that work together to invest in a cleaner economy will reap the rewards for their citizens". The summit was the first in a list of meetings of world leaders - including the G7 and G20 - leading up to the annual UN climate talks- COP 26- in November in Glasgow Scotland. References Blue Zones. How Not to Die: 9 Questions for Michael Greger, MD. https://www.bluezones.com/2015/12/how-not-to-die-9-questions-for-michael-greger-md/ Brooks, M. Feb 12, 2021 Why Do We Love to Hate? Hate is often considered to be a negative emotion. So why are we drawn to it? Psychol Today.https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/04/1089942 Fitzgerald, E. and Colopy, M. Sept 6, 2019.Trump's EPA Said This Bee-Killing Insecticide Is Safe, Now Beekeepers Are Suing. https://earthjustice.org/news/press/2019/pesticide-sulfoxaflor-beekeepers-sue-trump-epa?gclid=Cj0KCQjw38-DBhDpARIsADJ3kjmPtroG-SVSmE_3-oAYRqntOwJjNhRe2QYKdTW83GrmMUkwnRFewDsaAv12EALw_wcB Greger, M. and Stone, G. 2015. How Not to Die: Discover the Foods Scientifically Proven to Prevent and Reverse Disease. New York: Flatiron Books. Huff, E. Mar 27, 2013. People who eat processed junk food are angry, irritable, say scientists. Natural News. https://www.naturalnews.com/039655_pr ocessed_food_irritability_research.html Kimbrough, L. April 13. JPMorgan Chase expanding deforestation policies under shareholder pressure. Mongabay. https://news.mongabay.com/2021/04/jpmorgan-chase-expanding-deforestation-policies-under-shareholder-pressure/ Orlich, M. J., Singh, P. N., Sabaté, J., Jaceldo-Siegl, K., Fan, J., Knutsen, S., Beeson, W. L., & Fraser, G. E. (2013). Vegetarian dietary patterns and mortality in Adventist Health Study 2. JAMA internal medicine, 173(13), 1230–1238. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.6473 Sinclair, HC. Feb 23, 2021 How Do People Breed Hate? https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/unpacking-social-relations/202102/how-do-people-breed-hate Singh PN, Sabaté J, Fraser GE. Does low meat consumption increase life expectancy in humans? Am J Clin Nutr. 2003 Sep;78(3 Suppl):526S-532S. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/78.3.526S. PMID: 12936945 Volcovic, V, Mason, J, and Gardner, T. Apr 23, 2021. Biden's climate summit zeroes in on technology to help fight global warming. https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/bidens-climate-summit-zeroes-technology-help-fight-global-warming-2021-04-23/.      

Episode 25: In this episode, Angie Gust, talks about how spices and herbs have been in use for centuries both for culinary and medicinal purposes. Spices not only enhance the flavor of food, but they can also protect us from acute and chronic diseases. Research has shown that spices are antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumorigenic, anticarcinogenic, and have glucose- and cholesterol-lowering activities as well as properties that affect cognition and mood.  Turning to the environment, in February, UN Secretary General Antonio Gueterrez said to the UN Environment Assembly, that human well-being will be improved by prioritizing nature-based solutions. He said that by the UN Biodiversity Conference in Kunming, China, on 17-30 May 2021, nations must show how they will reverse species and ecosystem loss with concrete targets and plans for implementation. References Barr RA. Nov 17, 2019. Fake news grabs our attention, appeals to our emotions and produces false memories.The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/fake-news-grabs-our-attention-produces-false-memories-and-appeals-to-our-emotions-124842 Cadsby, C. B., Du, N., & Song, F. (2016). In-group favoritism and moral decision-making. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 128, 59-71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2016.05.008 Cikanavicius, D. 6 toxic arguing techniques used by narcissists and manipulators. Psych Central. https://psychcentral.com/blog/psychology-self/2018/08/narcissist-arguing#1 Jiang TA. Health Benefits of Culinary Herbs and Spices. J AOAC Int. 2019 Mar 1;102(2):395-411. doi: 10.5740/jaoacint.18-0418. Epub 2019 Jan 16. PMID: 30651162. Jost, J. T., Glaser, J., Kruglanski, A. W., & Sulloway, F. J. (2003). Political conservatism as motivated social cognition. Psychological Bulletin, 129(3), 339–375. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.129.3.339 McManamy, J. 2012. The Smart Idiot Effect: Why You Can't Reason With Republicans. Knowledge is Necessity. http://knowledgeisnecessity.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-smart-idiot-effect-why-you-cant.html Murphy G, Loftus EF, Grady RH, Levine LJ, Greene CM. False Memories for Fake News During Ireland’s Abortion Referendum. Psychological Science. 2019;30(10):1449-1459. doi:10.1177/0956797619864887 Mooney, C. The Republican Brain: The Science of Why They Deny Scienceand Reality. John Wiley and Sons, NJ, 2012. Pattee, E. Mar 11, 2021.Meet the Climate Change Activists of Tittok. Wired.. https://www.wired.com/story/climate-change-tiktok-science-communication/ UN News. Feb 22, 2021. 2021: Critical year to ‘reset our relationship with nature’ – UN chief . https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/02/1085382 Williamson, O. Logical Fallacies Master List. U Texas El Paso. http://utminers.utep.edu/omwilliamson/ENGL1311/fallacies.htm  

In this episode, the host, Angie Gust, talks about the effects of the pandemic on our mental health.  She relates that the CDC notes that stress can cause, for instance, feelings of fear, sadness, and worry, changes in appetite and energy, and difficulty sleeping.  They suggest taking breaks from watching the news, and focus on self-care in addition to engaging in activities you enjoy and connecting with people you trust to share your feelings. With regard to the environment, in his new book “Food Fix”, Dr. Mark Hyman says that the greatest challenges we face today all trace back to the food we eat. For instance, ultra-processed and sugar-filled foods are responsible for the huge increase in diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, and they kill around 50 million people each year, disproportionately affecting lower income people. Another challenge related to food is harmful farming habits. Soils are the biggest CO2 absorber we have, and when we over-farm, we release more CO2 than all the fossil fuel companies combined.  References Barber, N. Jan 13, 2021. Why Conservatives Love Authority and Hate Government. A cozy relationship between Capitol police and rioters shows this contradiction. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-human-beast/202101/why-conservatives-love-authority-and-hate-government Bronson W. et al. Oct 2017. Natural climate solutions. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 114 (44) 11645-11650; DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1710465114 CDC. Coping with stress Jan 22, 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/managing-stress-anxiety.html Cherry, Kendra. “The Dunning-Kruger Effect.” Verywell Mind, 14 June 2019. Chief Seattle’s Letter to All. http://www.csun.edu/~vcpsy00h/seattle.htm Grandoni, D. Dec 3, 2020. The Energy 202: Young people want to do something about climate change. Biden may have an answer. Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/12/03/energy-202-young-people-want-do-something-about-climate-change-biden-may-have-an-answer/ Hyman, M. 2020. Food Fix. How to Save Our Health, Our Economy, Our Communities, and Our Planet--One Bite at a Time. Little Brown and Company. Johns Hopkins. Psychological first aid. https://www.coursera.org/learn/psychological-first-aid McEnry, T. Mar 18, 2011. The World's 15 Biggest Landowners. https://www.businessinsider.com/worlds-biggest-landowners-2011-3#3-pope-benedict-13 News 18. Greta Thunberg's 'Fridays for Future' Releases Video Mocking Govt's Spend on Mars. https://www.news18.com/news/buzz/greta-thunbergs-fridays-for-future-releases-video-mocking-govts-spend-on-mars-exploration-3448556.html Ritchie, H. Nov 6, 2019. Our World in Data. Food production is responsible for one-quarter of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. https://ourworldindata.org/food-ghg-emissions Rowley, Jun 30, 2020. Food Fix. Four Minute Books. https://fourminutebooks.com/food-fix-summary/ Santos, L. The Science of Well-being. https://www.coursera.org/learn/the-science-of-well-being The Editors. Feb 1, 2021. A Step to Ease the Pandemic Mental Health Crisis. Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-step-to-ease-the-pandemic-mental-health-crisis/ Walia, A. Feb 14, 2021. Scientists Show How Gratitude Literally Alters The Human Heart & Molecular Structure Of The Brain. https://www.collective-evolution.com/2019/02/14/scientists-show-how-gratitude-literally-alters-the-human-heart-molecular-structure-of-the-brain/?utm_medium=email&_hsmi=111262879&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--uuGm-sDofdlrYhFJpl5qWZcuvWEYZhrzXMyH7b8SCyyR26fxjdBRXdmrub1jHuKchri_GC2buDDkgq7JFuwF_7xDJug&utm_content=111262879&utm_source=hs_email

In this episode, host Angie Gust, talks about the potential of ivermectin as a treatment for coronavirus.  A small trial found that among those who had mild or moderate coronavirus disease, those who absorbed a higher concentration of ivermectin had a better viral elimination. If ivermectin is not available to you and you want to try something similar, you can consider taking humic or fulvic acid. Humic acid, like ivermectin, has many antiviral properties and fulvic acid can help create a stronger immune system. Regarding the environment, in his excellent book, "A Life on Our Planet", David Attenborough talks about all of the changes that have occurred on our planet during his 95 year lifetime. His says the key to our and our planet's survival is increasing biodiversity.  In just his one lifetime, the percentage of wilderness has declined drastically, from 66% to 35%.     References Attenborough, D. A life on our planet. My witness statement and a vision for the future. Grand Central Publishing NY, 2020. Atkin, E. Jan 16, 2021. Corporations need to treat climate deniers like Trumps election deniers. MSNBC. https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/corporations-need-treat-climate-deniers-trump-s-election-deniers-n1254428 Atkin, E, Dec 7, 2020. Six corporations that talk green but spend dirty. Heated. https://heated.world/p/six-corporations-that-talk-green Caly L, Druce JD, Catton MG, Jans DA, Wagstaff KM. The FDA-approved drug ivermectin inhibits the replication of SARS-CoV-2 in vitro. Antiviral Res. 2020;178:104787. doi:10.1016/j.antiviral.2020.104787 Crump A, Ōmura S. Ivermectin, 'wonder drug' from Japan: the human use perspective. Proc Jpn Acad Ser B Phys Biol Sci. 2011;87(2):13-28. doi:10.2183/pjab.87.13 Henricks, T. Jan 17, 2021. Why did Trump supporters storm the capitol? https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/the-pathways-experience/202101/why-did-trump-supporters-storm-the-capitol Latson, J. Nov 2020 The Mind of a Conspiracy Theorist. Why are so many people drawn to conspiracies in times of crisis?https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/articles/202011/the-mind-conspiracy-theorist Mindfood. Sept 22, 2020. David Attenborough lays out 7 actions to save the world.  https://www.mindfood.com/article/david-attenboroughs-7-actions-to-save-the-world/ Peters, A. 7 ways the circular economy will grow in 2021. Fast Company. https://www.fastcompany.com/90593584/7-ways-the-circular-economy-will-grow-in-2021 Rodrigues, Maga E. Oct 20, 2020. Latin America’s embrace of an unproven COVID treatment is hindering drug trials. Nature. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02958-2 Schnitzer M. Binding of humic substances by soil mineral colloids. In Interactions of soil minerals with natural organics and microbes. SSSA Special Publication 1986;17:77-101. Sharun K, et al. Ivermectin, a new candidate therapeutic against SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19. Ann Clin Microbiol Antimicrob. 2020 doi: 10.1186/s12941-020-00368-w.  Sudhakaran, S. Jun 2, 2020.Doughnut model of economics in post-covid world https://government.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/doughnut-model-of-economics-in-post-covid-world/76148898

In this episode, Angie Gust talks about some information regarding the coronavirus vaccine that CDC wants you to know. For instance, all safety data is reviewed before the vaccine is recommended, the safety of the vaccine will continue to be monitored, fever is a side effect, and side effects are a sign the vaccine is working.  Regarding the environment, last December former vice President Al Gore talked about how important it is to use the COVID-19 recovery money to advance climate and equity goals. A recent paper in the journal Science calculated that if 10 percent of the $12 trillion already committed to economic recovery were invested in clean energy and energy efficiency, the world could be on a path to meeting the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement. References Andrijevic, M, Schleussner, CF, Gidden, MJ, McCollum, DL, Rogelj, J. Oct 16, 2020. COVID-19 recovery funds dwarf clean energy investment needs. Science Vol. 370, Issue 6514, pp. 298-300. CDC. Nov 2, 2020. Answering patient's questions about COVID-19 vaccination. Vaccines & Immunizations. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/hcp/answering-questions.html Democracy Now. Dec 21, 2020. Longtime Head of EPA’s Environmental Justice Program: Biden’s Climate Picks Show Power of Movements https://www.democracynow.org/2020/12/21/mustafa_santiago_ali_biden_climate_crisis Gore, A. Dec 12, 2020. Where I find hope. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/12/opinion/sunday/biden-climate-change-al-gore.html Navaro, J. 2020. When the narcissist fails. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/spycatcher/202007/when-the-narcissist-fails Peters, A. Dec 18, 2020. This grocery delivery service doesn’t deliver you any plastic. Fast Company. https://www.fastcompany.com/90587734/this-grocery-delivery-service-doesnt-deliver-you-any-plastic Pope Francis 12/21/2020 Note on the morality of using some anti-Covid-19 vaccines. https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20201221_nota-vaccini-anticovid_en.html Seltzer, LF. 2011.  Narcissism: Why It's So Rampant in Politics. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/evolution-the-self/201112/narcissism-why-its-so-rampant-in-politics Stinson, F. S., Dawson, D. A., Goldstein, R. B., Chou, S. P., Huang, B., Smith, S. M., Ruan, W. J., Pulay, A. J., Saha, T. D., Pickering, R. P., & Grant, B. F. 2008. Prevalence, correlates, disability, and comorbidity of DSM-IV narcissistic personality disorder: results from the wave 2 national epidemiologic survey on alcohol and related conditions. The Journal of clinical psychiatry, 69(7), 1033–1045. https://doi.org/10.4088/jcp.v69n0701 Vaknin, S. December 29, 2008. The Professions of the Narcissist, HealthyPlace. Retrieved on 2020, December 31 from https://www.healthyplace.com/personality-disorders/malignant-self-love/the-professions-of-the-narcissist Yale School of the Environment. Dec 17, 2020. Overview: Transforming Land and Sea for a More Sustainable World. Yale Environment 360. 12/17 https://e360.yale.edu/features/overview-transforming-land-and-sea-for-a-more-sustainable-world      

Episode 21: In this episode, host, Angie Gust, talks about a letter to the editor of the journal, Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology. The authors of the letter propose that, based on previous data, that hydrogen peroxide, because it is an antiseptic agent, could play a pivotal role in reducing the hospitalization rate and complications from COVID-19. They say that the overall progression of the infection from the upper to the lower respiratory tract can be reduced by oral and nasal washing performed immediately after the onset of the first symptoms and the presumptive diagnosis of COVID-19. In good news about the environment, the International Energy Agency Renewables April 2020 report concludes that, while other fuels have struggled due to COVID-19 this year, the market for renewables has proved “more resilient than previously thought”.  They say that wind and solar capacity will double over the next five years globally and, as a result, exceed that of both gas and coal. Good news indeed!   References Caruso, A. A., Del Prete, A., Lazzarino, A. I., Capaldi, R., & Grumetto, L. 2020. Might hydrogen peroxide reduce the hospitalization rate and complications of SARS-CoV-2 infection?. Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, 41(11), 1360–1361. https://doi.org/10.1017/ice.2020.170 Eilperin, J and Linskey, A. Nov 11, 2020. How Biden Aims To Amp Up The Government’s Fight Against Climate Change. The Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2020/11/11/biden-climate-change/ International Energy Agency. 2020. Global Energy Review. https://www.iea.org/reports/global-energy-review-2020 Jacobson, R. Nov 24, 2020.The new wave of fishless fish is here. Outside Online. https://www.outsideonline.com/2419099/plant-based-fish-seafood-good-catch Jost, JT et al. 2003. Political Conservatism as Motivated Social Cognition.  Psychological Bulletin 129: 339-75. Liu L, Wei Q, Nishiura K, et al. 2016. Spatiotemporal interplay of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus and respiratory mucosal cells drives viral dissemination in rhesus macaques. Mucosal Immunol. 9:1089–1101.  Mosbrucker, K. Nov 25, 2020. There's a solar farm movement coming to Louisiana; here's where these facilities are headed.The Advocate. https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/business/article_9eeb461c-1a0c-11eb-95ca-13b90f61f289.html Stalder D 2020. Dissonance and Political Hypocrisy. A pandemic of self-protection and self-presentation. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/bias-fundamentals/202010/dissonance-and-political-hypocrisy Sullivan, K. Nov 11, 2020. Here are 10 climate executive actions Biden says he will take on day one. CNN https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/11/politics/climate-executive-actions-joe-biden/index.html Urbain, I. 2019. The Outlaw Ocean: Journeys Across the Last Untamed Frontier. NY Alford A. Knopf.    

Episode 20: In this episode the host, Angie Gust, talks about a recent scientific publication that had Deepak Chopra as one of the co-authors. It speaks to how important it is for us, not just now during a pandemic, but on a regular basis, to make the 12 dimensions of wellness part of our lives. The authors concluded that "certain meditation, yoga asana (postures), and pranayama (breathing) practices may possibly be an effective adjunctive means of treating and/or preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection". Turning to the environment, President-elect and Vice-President elect Kamala Harris have a plan for climate change.  They intend for the US to become the world’s clean energy superpower.  They say we can export our clean-energy technology across the globe and create high-quality, middle-class jobs here at home.  References Alkhatib A. Antiviral Functional Foods and Exercise Lifestyle Prevention of Coronavirus. Nutrients. 2020 Aug 28;12(9):E2633. doi: 10.3390/nu12092633. PMID: 32872374. Climate Reality Project. 2019. Climate denial machine: How fossil fuel industry blocks climate action. https://climaterealityproject.org/blog/climate-denial-machine-how-fossil-fuel-industry-blocks-climate-action Barber, N. 2012.  Why Liberal Hearts Bleed and Conservatives Don't.  Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/the-human-beast/201210/why-liberal-hearts-bleed-and-conservatives-dont?page=3 Barber, N. 2011. Conservatives Big on Fear, Brain Study Finds. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-human-beast/201104/conservatives-big-fear-brain-study-finds Bushell W, Castle R, Williams MA, Brouwer KC, Tanzi RE, Chopra D, Mills PJ. Meditation and Yoga Practices as Potential Adjunctive Treatment of SARS-CoV-2 Infection and COVID-19: A Brief Overview of Key Subjects. J Altern Complement Med. 2020 Jul;26(7):547-556. doi: 10.1089/acm.2020.0177. Epub 2020 Jun 22. PMID: 32579021 Hall, S. 2015 Exxon Knew about Climate Change almost 40 years ago. Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/exxon-knew-about-climate-change-almost-40-years-ago/ Lally, P. et al. 2010. How are habits formed: Modelling habit formation in the real worly. European Journal of Social Psychology Eur. J. Soc. Psychol. 40, 998–1009 (2010) Lavelle, M. 2019. Former Exxon Scientists Tell Congress of Oil Giant's Climate Research Before Exxon Turned to Denial. Inside Climate News. https://insideclimatenews.org/news/23102019/exxon-scientists-climate-research-testify-congess-denial Ludden, D. 2015.  Are Conservatives More Anti-Science Than Liberals? Politics and motivated cognition. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/talking-apes/201608/are-conservatives-more-anti-science-liberals McKibben, B. Oct 2020. The most important global forecast that you never heard of. https://www.newyorker.com/news/annals-of-a-warming-planet/the-most-important-global-forecast-that-youve-never-heard-of Newlight Technologies' AirCarbon Material has been certified carbon negative by the Carbon Trust. Sept. 2020. Financial Times. https://markets.ft.com/data/announce/detail?dockey=600-202009250920PR_NEWS_USPRX____NY37016-1 Supran, G and Oreskes, N.2020. ExxonMobil misled the public about the climate crisis. Now they're trying to silence critics. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/oct/16/exxonmobil-misled-the-public-about-the-climate-crisis-now-theyre-trying-to-silence-critics van Eeden, C.; Khan, L.; Osman, M.S.; Cohen Tervaert, J.W. Natural Killer Cell Dysfunction and Its Role in COVID-19. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21, 6351  

In this podcast, host Angie Gust discusses the importance of diet and exercise in defending ourselves against the coronavirus.  Consumer Reports analyzed 5 years’ worth of data from the Dept. of Agriculture on pesticides on fruits and vegetables and recommended choosing organic whenever possible for yourself and for others. Another study showed that moderate-intensity exercise may contribute to increased immune protection in all populations. Compound extreme weather events are becoming more common as a result of global warming.  References Borenstein, S. Sept 20, 2020.Climate change magnified weather extremes with parts of US on fire while others are under water.https://www.dailypress.com/nation-world/ct-nw-climate-change-extreme-weather-20200920-jqk6slivlrchhb5uzxhxxr4ugy-story.html Consumer Reports 2020. Stop Eating Pesticides. October 2020. Cr.org/pesticideratings1020 Eskenazi B, Marks AR, Bradman A, et al. Organophosphate pesticide exposure and neurodevelopment in young Mexican-American children. Environ Health Perspect. 2007;115(5):792-798. doi:10.1289/ehp.9828 Leandro CG, Ferreira E Silva WT, Lima-Silva AE. Covid-19 and Exercise-Induced Immunomodulation. Neuroimmunomodulation. 2020;27(1):75-78. doi:10.1159/000508951 Mostafalou S, Abdollahi M. Pesticides and human chronic diseases: evidences, mechanisms, and perspectives. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2013;268(2):157-177. doi:10.1016/j.taap.2013.01.025 Rahmati-Ahmadabad S, Hosseini F. Exercise against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19): Does workout intensity matter? (A mini review of some indirect evidence related to obesity). Obes Med. 2020;19:100245. doi:10.1016/j.obmed.2020.100245 The Japan Times. China unveils plan to reduce single-use plastic by 2025. Jan 2020. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/01/20/business/china-unveils-plan-reduce-single-use-plastic-2025/ Walker, C. Sept 9, 2020 California's wildfires show how climate change is making forced evacuations and power shut-offs the norm. CNN https://edition.cnn.com/2020/09/09/us/california-wildfires-climate-change/  

Episode 18: In this episode the host, Angie Gust, talks about a recent review article in the journal Nutrients that talks about the need for an optimal immune response in combatting the virus. The authors say that an optimal immune response depends on an adequate diet and nutrition in order to keep infection at bay. Thus, this article is confirming what we have talked about in earlier podcasts. Turning to the environment, while there has not been a lot of attention on the climate crisis lately, there has been some attention given to it in some of the stimulus packages related to the pandemic.  Let’s keep an eye on that and let's reach out to others to discuss your and their plans to vote.     References Carleton, T et al. Valuing the Global Mortality Consequences of Climate Change Accounting for Adaptation Costs and Benefits (Aug. 3, 2020). National Bureau of Economics Working Paper No. 27599, Available at NBER: http://www.nber.org/papers/w27599 Climate Impact Lab. Aug 3, 2020. Global death rate from rising temperatures projected to surpass the current death rate of all infectious diseases combined. http://www.impactlab.org/news-insights/global-death-rate-from-rising-temperatures/ Gewin, V. 2020. Perennial Vegetables Are a Solution in the Fight Against Hunger and Climate Change. Civil Eats. https://civileats.com/2020/08/19/perennial-vegetables-are-a-solution-in-the-fight-against-hunger-and-climate-change/ Iddir, M., et al. 2020. Strengthening the Immune System and Reducing Inflammation and Oxidative Stress through Diet and Nutrition: Considerations during the COVID-19 Crisis. Nutrients. 12(6): 1562. Mace, W. 2020. Police violence in the United States. A Global Perspective. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/campus-confidential-coping-college/202008/police-violence-in-the-united-states Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Obesity Update 2017.  https://www.oecd.org/health/obesity-update.htm Peters, A. 2020. Seventh Generation’s new line gets rid of all its plastic packaging. Fast Company.    https://www.fastcompany.com/90540660/seventh-generations-new-line-gets-rid-of-all-its-plastic-packaging                                 Rahim, Z. 2020. A new anti-obesity coronavirus campaign is a nightmare for eating disorder sufferers. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/13/health/uk-coronavirus-eating-disorders-weight-intl-gbr-wellness/index.html Ralph, L. (2020). To Protect and to Serve: Global Lessons in Police Reform, Foreign Affairs. https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/united-states/2020-07-30/police-reform-global-lessons Toensmeier E, Ferguson R, Mehra M (2020) Perennial vegetables: A neglected resource for biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and nutrition. PLoS ONE 15(7): e0234611. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0234611 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Advancing Sustainable Materials Management: 2015 Fact Sheet , July 2018. https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2018-07/documents/2015_smm_msw_factsheet_07242018_fnl_508_002.pdf Wallace-Wells, D. 2020. Life after warming. What Climate Alarm Has Already Achieved. Intelligencer. https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/08/what-climate-alarm-has-already-achieved.html    

In this episode, the host Angie Gust, talks about the important role of nutrition in susceptibility to the coronavirus.  A recent article reported that the Western Diet activates the innate immune system and impairs adaptive immunity.  This then leads to inflammation and causes your body to have weakened defenses against viruses like the coronavirus. It is so important to, if you don’t already eat healthy foods, to make it a top priority.  Turning to the environment, in July, presidential nominee, Joe Biden, came out with his Unity Task Force recommendations which will make historic investments in a green economy. References Andrew, S. July 21, 2020. Greta Thunberg will donate $114,000 to fight the coronavirus in the Brazilian Amazon. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/21/world/greta-thunberg-donate-covid-amazon-trnd/index.html Bradner, E. and Mucha, S. July 14, 2020. Biden proposes $2 trillion for clean energy projects, calls for end to power plant emissions by 2035. https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/14/politics/joe-biden-clean-energy-plan/index.html Butler, MJ, Barrientos, RM. 2020. The impact of nutrition on COVID-19 susceptibility and long-term consequences. 87:53-54.doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2020.04.040. Epub 2020 Apr 18. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7165103/ CDC. COVID 19.  Considerations for schools. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/schools.html Obama White House. Fact Sheet: The Economic Challenge Posed by Declining Pollinator Populations Jun 20, 2014 Obama White House.  https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2014/06/20/fact-sheet-economic-challenge-posed-declining-pollinator-populationsr  

In this Episode, Angie Gust offers a resource from Life Extension at www.age-reversal-covid.net. It provides information about potential therapies to discuss with your physician if you contract the coronavirus and have serious enough symptoms that you cannot manage them at home. In addition, given all that has happened in the last many months with the murders of George Floyd and others and the ensuing worldwide protests, she highlights an article on racism that posits it is a symptom of psychological ill-health; it indicates a lack of psychological integration, self-esteem and inner security. Let’s work together toward an anti-racist climate movement, so we heal ourselves, one another, and our planet. References Faloon, W. Age reversal network. Critical COVID-19 info.  www.age-reversal-covid.net Ramiriez R. Jun 25, 2020. ‘Put up or shut up’: New York forges ahead with statewide environmental justice measures. https://grist.org/justice/put-up-or-shut-up-new-york-forges-ahead-with-statewide-environmental-justice-measures/ Taylor, S. Jan 19, 2018. Racism is a sign of a lack of psychological maturity and integration. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/out-the-darkness/201801/the-psychology-racism The Growing Climate Solutions Act. https://www.braun.senate.gov/sites/default/files/2020-06/Growing%20Climate%20Solutions%20Act%20One%20Pager.pdf Union of Concerned Scientists. Food and farms.  https://www.ucsusa.org/food Valinsky, J. June 19, 2020. Vatican calls on Catholics to divest from fossil fuels. CNN Business https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/19/business/vatican-fossil-fuel-ban/index.html

Episode 15: In this episode, Angie Gust goes over information from nutrition experts in relation to the coronavirus. One such expert, Dr. T. Colin Campbell posed the question, "Does a whole food, plant-based diet – known to prevent, and even reverse a broad range of chronic degenerative diseases – act in a similar way to minimize viral diseases?” Based on his studies with the hepatitis B virus, he says that a whole food plant based diet might offer an important path to fight the coronavirus pandemic. The important UN climate meeting, COP 26, that was supposed to convene this November, will take place between Nov 1 and 12, 2021.   References Akhtar, A.  Our Symphony With Animals ~ On Health, Empathy & Our Shared Destiny With Animals. Pegasus Books, NY, 2019. Borenstein, S. May 19, 2020. World carbon pollution falls 17% during pandemic peak. US News and World Report. https://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2020-05-19/study-world-carbon-pollution-falls-17-during-pandemic-peak Campbell, TC. Apr 27, 2020.The Path to Recovery through Nutrition: Our Most Important Defense Against COVID-19. https://plantpurecommunities.org/the-path-to-recovery/ Campbell, T. C., Chen, J., Liu, C., Li, J. & Parpia, B. Non-association of aflatoxin with primary liver cancer in a cross-sectional ecologic survey in the People’s Republic of China. Cancer Res. 50, 6882-6893 (1990). Campbell, T. C., and Howard Jacobson. Whole: Rethinking the Science of Nutrition. BenBella Books. 2014. Campbell, T. C. & Campbell, T. M. I. The China Study, startling implications for diet, weight loss and long-term health. pp. 184-187, 2006. Campbell, T. C., Chen, J., Liu, C., Li, J. & Parpia, B. Non-association of aflatoxin with primary liver cancer in a cross-sectional ecologic survey in the People’s Republic of China. Cancer Res. 50, 6882-6893 (1990). Campbell, T. C. Nutrition renaissance and public health policy. J. Nutr. Biology 3(1), 124-138 (2017). J Nutr Biol. 2017;3(1):124-138. doi:10.1080/01635581.2017.1339094 (2017). Campbell, T. C. The China Study: The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted and the Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss and Long-Term Health. 2016. Print. CDC. 2020. COVID-19 Forecasts. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/covid-data/forecasting-us.html#anchor_1587397564229 Chen, J., Campbell, T. C., Li, B. & Peto, R. Diet, life-style and mortality in mainland China and Taiwan. A study of the characteristics of 85 Chinese counties. (Harvard University, 1998). Chen, J., Campbell, T. C., Li, B. & Peto, R. Diet, life-style and mortality in mainland China and Taiwan. A study of the characteristics of 85 Chinese counties. (Harvard University, 1998). Ferris, D. May 14, 2020. How lockdowns boost renewables and harm coal. , E&E News reporter Energywire. https://www.eenews.net/stories/1063130269 Hickman, M. 2009. Study claims meat creates half of all greenhouse gases. Independent. https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/study-claims-meat-creates-half-of-all-greenhouse-gases-1812909.html Goodland, R and Anhang, J. 2009. Livestock and climate change: What is the key actors in climate change are...cows, pigs and chickens? World Watch. https://awellfedworld.org/wp-content/uploads/Livestock-Climate-Change-Anhang-Goodland.pdf Le Quéré, C., Jackson, R.B., Jones, M.W. et al. Temporary reduction in daily global CO2 emissions during the COVID-19 forced confinement. Nat. Clim. Chang. (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-020-0797-x Pollan, M.  June, 2020. “The Sickness in Our Food Supply”. The New York Review of Books. https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2020/06/11/covid-19-sickness-food-supply/ Rowling, M.Vulnerable nations say delayed summit should not mean delayed climate actionThomson Reuters Foundation. https://news.trust.org/item/20200529132518-m7487/?utm_campaign=trending&utm_medium=trendingWebWidget&utm_source=detailPage&utm_content=link2 Shikha G. et al. Hospitalization rates and characteristics of patients hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed coronavirus disease 2019, COVID-NET, 14 States, March 1–30, 2020,” Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Vol. 69, No. 15 (April 17, 2020).  Singhal, T. A Review of Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19). Indian J Pediatr. 2020 Apr;87(4):281-286. doi: 10.1007/s12098-020-03263-6. Epub 2020 Mar 13. Slisco, A. 5/7/2020. Elizabeth Warren and Cory Booker Join Forces on Bill to Ban Most Factory Farming by 2040. Newsweek. https://www.newsweek.com/elizabeth-warren-cory-booker-join-forces-bill-ban-most-factory-farming-2040-1502699 Woodend, D. May 15, 2020. Are we ready to “Meat the Future?”TheTyee.ca. https://thetyee.ca/Culture/2020/05/15/Ready-Meat-Future/ Xiaomin Luo et al. Prognostic Value of C-Reactive Protein in Patients with COVID-19,” medRxiv, March 23, 2020. The study has not yet been peer-reviewed.   

Episode 14: In this episode, the host, Angie Gust, goes over some of the same information from Life Extension on upper respiratory tract infections as last time as well as using the 2nd dimension of wellness- controlled breathing- if infected with the coronavirus. William Faloon, one of the founders of Life Extension Foundation, emphasizes this key message-- Don't Wait for Full-Blown Illness to Manifest before you initiate self-care. With regard to controlled breathing, it has been recommended by some physicians to help clear the lungs of mucous if you have coronavirus.  Turning to the environment, the next UN Climate Change meeting,  Cop26, that was scheduled for November this year, has been pushed back to next year. However, there was a 2 day virtual climate meeting on April 27 and 28, called the Petersburg Climate Dialogue, among 30 nations, co-chaired by Germany and Britain, where policy makers underscored that spending to rebuild the economy after the COVID 19 shutdowns should not restart growth built on the old fossil fuel platform.   References Birch, J. 4/24/2020. Does deep breathing help coronavirus patients with symptoms? Huffpost https://www.huffpost.com/entry/deep-breathing-coronavirus-patients-symptoms_l_5ea1e2f0c5b6d13e4f73c856 Environmental Voter Project https://www.environmentalvoter.org/ Faloon, W. 2013. What to do if flu symptoms develop in you?https://blog.lifeextension.com/2013/01/how-to-beat-flu-symptoms.html Gonzalez, G, Sandhaus, S, Dosik, J, Roberts, A. 2019 novel coronavirus. Life Extension. Accessed 2 April 2020. https://www.lifeextension.com/protocols/infections/2019-novel-coronavirus-sars-cov2-covid-1Protective Measures Marshall, S. 1998. Zinc gluconate and the common cold. Review of randomized controlled trials. Can Fam Physician 44:1037-42. Munshi, S. 2020. How to Breath better Part 1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZaAQnCw-3w Prasad, AS, Fitzgerald, HT, Bao, B, Beck, FW, Chandrasekar, PH. 2000. Duration of symptoms and plasma cytokine levels in patients with the common cold treated with zinc acetate. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Ann Intern Med 133:245-52. Ramaswamy, D. April 28, 2020. Coronavirus treatment: Health experts recommend deep breathing exercises. International Business Times. https://www.ibtimes.com/coronavirus-treatment-health-experts-recommend-deep-breathing-exercises-2966171 Ridge, T. April 22, 2020. My fellow conservatives are out of touch on the environment. The Atlantic. https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/04/environment-gop-out-touch/610333/ Rowling, M. April 27, 2020. Environment ministers seek fair, green coronavirus recovery. Thomson Reuters Foundation. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-climate-change-trf-idUSKCN2292WL Saner, E. April 9, 2020. Do breathing exercises really work? UK doctors on how to protect against coronavirus – and manage symptoms. The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/apr/08/from-vitamin-c-to-breathing-exercises-doctors-on-what-you-should-really-do-for-your-health-right-now      

Episode 13: In this episode, the host, Angie Gust, talks about the suggestions from Life Extension as to how to care for yourself if you have symptoms of the coronavirus. In addition to the basics that CDC and others have offered to reduce your risk of contracting COVID-19 (social distancing, avoid travel, wash your hands, strengthen immunity, disinfect surfaces), they also offer integrative approaches, for instance, taking zinc lozenges every 2 waking hours for no more than 3 consecutive days. She also notes that Jamie Margolin, the co-founder of Zero Hour, a youth climate action group, notes the irony of how quickly the world has been able to mobilize and respond to slow the spread of the coronavirus.  She wonders where is that rapid response for the climate crisis? Clearly, political leaders are able to make changes quickly if they are motivated. References Barone, V. April 8, 2020. Pope Francis says coronavirus could be ‘nature’s response’ to climate change. New York Post. Accessed 10 April, 2020 https://nypost.com/2020/04/08/pope-says-coronavirus-could-be-a-reaction-to-climate-change/ Fallon, M. Jan 13, 2020. Youth Climate Groups, Allies and Mothers’ Voices Demand Tangible Action and Time Bound Changes from Larry Fink in Advance of His Annual Letter. Common Dreams. Accessed 12 April, 2020 https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2020/01/13/youth-climate-groups-allies-and-mothers-voices-demand-tangible-action-and-time Gonzalez, G, Sandhaus, S, Dosik, J, Roberts, A. 2019 novel coronavirus. Life Extension.  https://www.lifeextension.com/protocols/infections/2019-novel-coronavirus-sars-cov2-covid-1Protective Measures Margolin, J. Coronavirus Shows Us Rapid Global Response To Climate Change Is Possible.  Teen Vogue. Accessed 6 April, 2020  https://www.teenvogue.com/story/coronavirus-response-climate-crisis?link_id=1&can_id=1bde563b14829e1f8b8d78be29ffd3c1&source=email-stay-healthy&email_referrer=email_756403&email_subject=stay-healthy Merideth, S. Mar 20, 2020. This is a yes-we-can moment’: What the coronavirus response means for climate action. CNBC.  Accessed 6 April, 2020. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/20/coronavirus-what-the-global-response-means-for-the-climate-crisis.html Ortiz, D.A. Nov 4, 2018.  10 simple ways to act on climate change. BBC Future. Accessed 4 April 2020. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20181102-what-can-i-do-about-climate-change Pontin, J. Jun 16, 2018. The 19th century crank who tried to tell us about the microbiome. Wired. Accessed 15 April 2020. https://www.wired.com/story/the-19th-century-crank-who-tried-to-tell-us-about-the-microbiome/ Salk. Oct. 13, 2015. Janelle Ayres receives Young Faculty Award from DARPA. Salk News. Accessed 12 April 2020. https://www.salk.edu/news-release/janelle-ayres-receives-young-faculty-award-from-darpa/ Servan-Schrieber, D. Nov 17, 2011. A doctor’s quest to heal his own cancer with food. Accessed 1 April, 2020.https://www.prevention.com/food-nutrition/healthy-eating/a20437054/one-doctors-personal-food-cures-for-cancer/ Sorkin, A.R. Feb 24, 2020. BlackRock C.E.O. Larry Fink: Climate Crisis Will Reshape Finance.The New York Times. Accessed 14 April, 2020. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/14/business/dealbook/larry-fink-blackrock-climate-change.html Wyns, A. Apr 13, 2020. How our responses to climate change and the coronavirus are linked. University of San Diego. Accessed 15 April 2020. https://www.sandiego.edu/news/detail.php?_focus=76113.

Episode 12: In this episode the host, Angie Gust, concludes discussion of John Travis’s 12 dimensions of wellness with transcendence. A transcendent experience is one that takes you out of yourself and makes you believe in the meaning of your life or a larger existence. Transcendence can be experienced along a range of intensities. From feeling lost in music or someone’s voice to transformative as in feeling connected to the universe. In terms of the environment and climate change, Angie discusses the importance of the upcoming UN Conference of the Parties 26, Nov 9-19, in Glasgow Scotland. A recent UN report states that global greenhouse gas emissions must fall by 7.6% each year between 2020 and 2030, or else the world will miss the opportunity to get on track towards the limiting the temperature increase to 1.5°C of the Paris Agreement.

Episode 11: In this episode the host, Angie Gust, continues discussing John Travis’s 12 dimensions of wellness, focusing on the 11th dimension, life meaning. The idea of a meaning filled life intersects with several of the other dimensions of wellness  --feeling, thinking, communicating, sensing, to name a few and at its root are these fundamental questions: "Who am I?" "Why am I here?" "Where am I going?" "What do I want?" "What contribution do I want to make during my time here?"  As we don’t want to wait until the late stages of our life to contemplate this issue, it might be good to consciously set aside time to reflect on what a meaningful life might look like for us. In terms of the environment, Angie discusses the large impact plastic is having on climate change.   References Bruggers, J. Jan 24, 2020 Booming Plastics Industry Faces Backlash as Data About Environmental Harm Grows. Accessed 1 February 2020 https://insideclimatenews.org/news/16012020/plastics-marine-oceans-climate-change-oil-gas-carbon-emissions Buettner, D. (2012). The blue zones: 9 lessons for living longer from the people who've lived the longest (2nd ed.). Washington, D.C.: National Geographic. Center for International Environmental Law. Plastic and Climate: The hidden costs of a plastic planet. Accessed 4 February 2020 https://www.ciel.org/plasticandclimate/ Goodreads. Mother Teresa quotes.  Accessed 29 January 2018 https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/1139478-people-are-often-unreasonable-irrational-and-self-centered-forgive-them-anyway Seventh Day Adventists.  Living a healthful life.  Accessed 1 February 2019 https://www.adventist.org/en/vitality/health/ Travis, J. W., & Ryan, R. S. (1988). The wellness workbook. Berkeley, Calif: Ten Speed Press.   UN News. Accessed 2 February 2020  https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/01/1055871 UN News. UN chief outlines solutions to defeat ‘four horsemen’ threatening our global future. Accessed 2 February 2020 https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/01/1055791 UN News Jan22,2020 Geopolitical tensions. The climate crisis. Global mistrust. The dark side of technology Accessed 2 February 2020   https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/01/1055791    

Episode 10:  In this episode, the host, Angie Gust, continues discussing John Travis’s 12 dimensions of wellness as a way to improve your own personal health and wellness - this episode focuses on intimacy. Intimacy is sharing ourselves, the good and the bad, and being accepted. To be truly well and happy, one needs intimate relationships.  Being intimate means being vulnerable, letting our guard down.  If we stay guarded we will always be alone. In terms of the environment, Angie talks about journalist Kevin Drum’s article that calls for investment in R&D for renewable energy to combat the climate crisis equal to the financial resources that were dedicated to fighting WWII.