A Boost To Mental Health

Most of the time, we only focus on our physical health. We focus on the way our body works (or not works when we are sick) and the physical signs and symptoms we feel when our immune defenses go down. Many of us fail to see that our mental health needs as much attention and care as our physical body does. There are various stresses that put a strain on our mental health that can make us lose our focus and become anxious or depressed if we are unable to cope with the problems we are facing. Many times other people discredit what and how you feel because they don’t give importance to human emotions and state of mental health as much as they do about physiological health.

Whether you are young or old, there are mental issues that you would face throughout your lifetime. Sometimes, a simple insecurity can cause you to become anxious and depressed over time. And with the way the world is going nowadays, people are becoming more disconnected without good help, even if technology has bridged the distance between nations and people can connect with virtually anyone on the planet through social networks. Isolation is always one thing that messes up people’s mind. On top of that, there is bullying. There’s a new platform now, though, where people are bullied on the web and they feel even more helpless that makes them more depressed than ever.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration on Aging, the most common mental health concerns of older adults are anxiety, severe cognitive impairment and depression. In fact, adults over the age of 65 have the highest rate of suicide in the United States, with depression being the most prevalent risk factor.

For many Americans, struggling with a mental illness is an issue that can be very challenging to deal with, especially with the costs associated with therapy sessions, and the stress that can come with finding a recommended professional. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), one in five Americans experiences mental illness every year, with nearly 60 percent of not receiving mental health services in the past year, and 50 percent not doing so because of cost, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

However, there are various local resources for aging adults available within the greater Houston area, many of which can come at little to no cost.

(Via: http://www.chron.com/news/article/Houston-area-organizations-offer-mental-health-12276418.php)

Your mental health will likely deteriorate as you age. Most people consider it as a normal part of aging. However, it should not be the case. Depression is depression regardless of how old you are. Unfortunately, older people fail to receive treatment because what they go through is perceived as something normal and should not warrant medical attention. It’s sad, though, that they have to suffer deep inside when depression is actually but normal and also easily treatable. With all the changes happening to an older person’s life not only with their bodies but their living arrangements, it is easy for them to feel lost and anxious most of the time. Yet, it is not an excuse to allow them to suffer in silence when something can be done about their condition.

Further, mental health services may be underutilized by older patients as they may be in denial, may not have adequate insurance coverage, or their other physical chronic conditions may take precedence during a primary care visit, leaving their mental health unchecked.

"I think that time is an issue for practitioners," says Eric Weakly, chief of state and community programs for the western branch of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, a division of the Department of Health and Human Services.

"If you're coming and you only have maybe 15 minutes, and you have a person who has multiple chronic conditions – they may be presented with cardiac conditions or diabetes or other things – of the list of conditions, depression, anxiety or another mental illness may not be first on the list when they're doing their screens," Weakly, a social worker, continues.

(Via: https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/articles/2017-10-11/older-adults-struggle-to-get-adequate-mental-health-care)

The problem why older people often get depressed is because they don’t have access to mental health care. They usually suffer from a lot of other medical conditions but they are rarely assessed or get treated for their mental health issues. Getting older is not entirely a bad thing as it is a gift to be able to celebrate your birthday every single year. Yet, misconceptions and the poor geriatric mental health care facilities, policies, and practices have made it difficult for older adults to age gracefully. Suicide becomes a common thing as some geriatric people are unable to cope with all the changes they are going through and just simply want to put an end to their suffering. Organizations are doing something now about this and extends help to ensure that the mental health of older adults are not overlooked and they get the support they need whenever the need arises.

The following article A Boost To Mental Health is courtesy of TheChurchReport.com

source https://www.thechurchreport.com/a-boost-to-mental-health/

Will You Stop Eating Meat?

For the longest time, humans have been known to be omnivores. It means we eat both plant and meat-based food. Our natural anatomy supports this diet as evidenced by the way our teeth are made up. We have teeth for tearing, chewing, and grinding whatever we put inside our mouths. But as our intellect improved and we became the modern humans that we are today, there are other factors that must be taken into consideration when it comes to eating. Religion and giving value to the life of animals are just among those things that change a person’s diet. There are certain religions that do not allow the eating of pork like Islam, for instance. Now, vegans and vegetarians are strong advocates of avoiding meat products and a growing number of people are supporting this now.

Now, are these causes enough to urge you to give up meat altogether? We need meat in our diet for various reasons. There are certain nutrients that are only found in meat that promotes good health. If you entirely give up eating meat, you might miss out on these nutrients and develop a nutrient-deficiency and get sick over time. Yet, it is also worth noting the arguments of people who support the life of animals and advocate for a different way of life starting with the food you eat. After all, millions of animals are bred and killed for the purpose of feeding humans, in general.

The experience changed 15-year-old Runkle, inspiring him to start Mercy for Animals, a nonprofit fighting to protect farmed animals around the world. Nearly two decades later, MFA has worked to reduce their suffering through corporate lobbying and legislation, and Runkle continues to speak out against animal cruelty from factory farms to classrooms and courtrooms. His goals are twofold: to convince fast-food giants that animals are more important than their bottom line and to encourage the world to stop eating meat.

Runkle’s advocacy training began when he volunteered for PETA, protesting to save animals of all kinds. When he started MFA, he chose to focus on farm animals for one major reason: “Of all the animals that are mistreated at the hands of humans, well over 90 percent are used for food,” Runkle says.

(Via: http://www.ozy.com/rising-stars/the-animal-rights-advocate-reenvisioning-the-future-of-food/81240)

Not everyone is thrilled at the thought of giving up that huge chunk of meat that makes a world of difference to their meals each day. Yet advocates point out that there are other food alternatives where you can get the same nutrients you get from animals from healthier food options like tofu. Although not as palatable as meat, they do serve its purpose of nourishing your body without having to eat any animal that died just for the sheer purpose of satiating your hunger. Animal factory farms do not necessarily have the best conditions for animals and it’s what these advocates want to put a stop to.

Sevilla pointed out the forms of cruelty animals such as cows, pigs, and chickens endure inside slaughterhouses: "filthy" cages and enclosures, un-anesthetized surgical procedures, and their eventual slaughter.

"They just experience such (a) horrible life and that's what we end up eating, it's not good, it's not good for our body and it's not good for the planet," Sevilla said.

Sevilla added that going vegan — where one eliminates animal meat and byproducts such as eggs, milk, and honey from his or her diet — was "very simple."

It's so simple, in fact, that even those with little budget will find this alternative diet "penny-wise," or rather "peso-wise."

"A kilo of vegetables is always cheaper than a kilo of beef or a kilo of pork. So it's really not fair to say that vegan food is expensive, or more expensive than a meat diet, than any meat," Sevilla said.

(Via: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/lifestyle/healthandwellness/628147/animal-rights-activists-dress-up-as-clowns-to-promote-veganism/story/)

Aside from the mere thought of eating another live being, there are more reasons why people switch from eating a typical diet to one that is devoid of mean and perhaps as well as its by-products. In some parts of the world, slaughterhouses or places where cows or pigs are butchered are often filthy and definitely unsanitary. The animals die mercilessly under these inhumane conditions. The filth may also be contributory to why people get sick or acquire food-borne diseases.

Whether some of the reasons cited are enough to stop you from taking that big bite of meat done just the way you like it, it’s up to you. Nobody can really force you to live differently if you don’t want to do so. It’s enough that you are aware of your actions and made the conscious choice to do as you wish.

Will You Stop Eating Meat? was first published on TheChurchReport.com

source https://www.thechurchreport.com/will-you-stop-eating-meat/

Are You Ready For A Cannabis-Infused Beverage?

The market is full of a wide variety of drinks that suit every taste buds. From child-friendly beverages to strictly for adults only, you can get a sip of your favorite drink no matter the occasion. But there will be likely more reasons for you to indulge in more drinking once this new cannabis-infused drink becomes available to the public. We all know how popular cannabis has become over the years as more US states and countries outside America legalize the use of cannabis (mostly medical but some are recreational) and as such, has introduced countless products that are made of marijuana in more ways than you can imagine.

Fittingly, the market for water pipes (bongs in the vernacular of the smoker) has grown markedly, attempting to capitalize on a wide variety of new both legal and medical smokers. Sales are growing quickly, says Marcia Ralston of ThickAssGlass.com, an online headshop which offers these glass pipes in a variety of shapes and sizes. This page shows their collection.

Drinking Your Flowers

Meanwhile recently, the owner of the beer company, Corona, known as Constellation Brands ties up with the Canadian Cannabis seller, Canopy Growth Corp. to give a new kick to old-fashioned alcohol. The sales of alcoholic drinks have gradually gone down but the demand for cannabis is just picking up. It can offer a whole new world of possibilities for both companies to not only boost sales but offer a new way of getting your cannabis fix that is something many people are accustomed to. Loyal cannabis users are growing in numbers each year and it is one market worth investing in early on to reap the most (financial) rewards.

Alcohol giant Constellation Brands is making a foray into marijuana, a precedent-setting move for an industry that has mostly stayed on the sidelines during the cannabis boom.

Constellation will pay about $191 million (C$245 million) for a 9.9 percent stake in Canopy Growth Corp., a Canadian seller of medicinal-marijuana products. The deal kicked off the biggest rally in nearly a year for Canopy, which trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the ticker WEED.

The legalization of marijuana in Canada and a growing number of U.S. states is opening up a huge potential market — just as demand for alcohol is slowing. Still, pot remains prohibited at the U.S. federal level, meaning American companies have to tread carefully.

(Via: http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-constellation-canopy-medicinal-marijuana-20171030-story.html)

They may have limitations, though, as marijuana is not legal in all places especially in America, so the companies have to do their research first and only market this new line of beverage to places that not only have a positive reception and a demand for cannabis-infused drinks but where it is also safe to do business that is related to weed. So, they would likely be focusing on the Canadian market first and take it from there. Unlike other companies that only join in on the bandwagon when the market is almost saturated with competition, this two decided to start the trend and take the associated risks as well.

However, Constellation may soon sell the marijuana drink product in Canada, where legalization of edible and drinkable cannabis products is expected by 2019.

The move comes amid signs that suggest some consumers are reducing alcohol usage in favor of cannabis.

“We believe alcohol could be under pressure for the next decade,” Cowen analysts led by Viven Azer wrote in an April note. “Consumer survey work suggests [about] 80% of consumers reduce their alcohol consumption with cannabis in the mix.”

(Via: http://fortune.com/2017/10/30/constellation-brands-cannabis-canopy-growth/)

Expect to have that sip of beer with a kick of marijuana in it in the coming years as preparations are now underway. Alcoholic drinks sell on their own most of the time and with the added kick cannabis offers those who are curious to find out what it’s like to drink alcohol that is infused with cannabis, sales may even go up and establish an entirely new market of its own. Constellation can see the big picture now and is willing to bet their 200-million in this entirely new concept. This new beverage will likely be marketed as a recreational cannabis fix rather than for medical use given the nature of the business but we can expect to hear more news about unconventional ways of getting marijuana as the world opens up more and more about it each day.

The following article Are You Ready For A Cannabis-Infused Beverage? was originally published to The Church Report Blog

source https://www.thechurchreport.com/are-you-ready-for-a-cannabis-infused-beverage/