by Nicolas Hulscher, MPH, The Focal Points: Epidemiologist Nicolas Hulscher on Ask Dr. Drew by Nicolas Hulscher, MPH Yesterday on Ask Dr. Drew, I laid out how two of the most urgent public health crises of our time—the twin epidemics of autism and turbo cancers—are converging. Both stem from the same core issue: vaccines. TRUTH LIVES on at https://sgtreport.tv/ […]

Released 17 years after The Replacements broke up and sold for pocket change, the album was a perfect metaphor for Paul Westerberg’s chaotic, brilliant career

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Cold plunges have become a staple in many wellness routines. From viral TikToks to health retreats, everyone seems to be diving into icy tubs for muscle recovery, mental clarity, and stress relief. But a growing number of experts are urging women to approach the trend with a bit more caution. Recently, acupuncturist Katie Pedrick went viral for her Instagram video proclaiming, “Cold plunges are not great for women.” Her reasoning? A study she cited found no major benefits for women as well as a few surprising drawbacks, including elevated cortisol levels. “Our bodies are not the same,” Pedrick emphasized, “and wellness advice needs to reflect that.” So, is this a case of misapplied data, or a genuinely important difference that’s been overlooked? Here’s what the latest science, women’s health experts, and sports medicine doctors say. What happens in a woman’s body during a cold plunge The initial shock of a cold plunge is real. Submerging yourself in water at or below 59°F triggers a stress response in anyone, no matter the gender. Your heart rate spikes, blood vessels constrict, and adrenaline floods your system. “You might start to breathe faster or gasp suddenly,” explains Ron Clijsen, PhD, head of research at the Rehabilitation and Exercise Science Laboratory (RESlab). “This triggers your body’s stress response, releasing chemicals that cause your heart to beat faster and your blood pressure to rise.” Vanessa Wellauer, co-author on the study Pedrick referenced, adds that this vasoconstriction helps your body preserve core temperature but it’s also what makes the experience feel so intense. Then, thermogenesis kicks in. “The body starts to produce its own heat by shivering and activating brown fat tissue,” says Michael Swartzon, MD, a sports medicine physician at Baptist Health Orthopedic Care. And yes, stress hormones spike. Cortisol and catecholamines go up temporarily, activating your immune system and energy reserves. So, what’s different for women? The physiological response to cold plunges is similar in men and women, but there are some key differences. “Women have more body fat, which acts as insulation, but they also tend to have a more intense sensitivity to cold,” says Sherry Ross, MD, a women’s health expert. “This means they might feel discomfort sooner and more sharply than men.” Hormonal shifts also play a role. After ovulation, women’s baseline core body temperature rises. “This may affect cold tolerance and shivering threshold,” Dr. Clijsen says. Dr. Stacy Sims, an exercise physiologist, points out that extremely cold plunges may provoke a stronger stress response in women. So much so that it may send the body into a protective “shutdown” mode. She suggests 55°F as a more comfortable temperature for most women. The study behind the buzz Let’s be clear: the study that sparked this viral moment didn’t claim that cold plunges are harmful to women. What it found was that cold water immersion didn’t offer the same recovery benefits for women as seen in men. “The absence of objective benefits does not imply that cold water immersion is harmful,” Dr. Clijsen emphasizes. “That’s a very different question—one our study wasn’t designed to answer.” So why the alarm bells? Likely because many wellness trends are based on studies that primarily include men. When women are finally studied, the results often challenge one-size-fits-all assumptions. When cold plunges might not be a great idea While cold plunges aren’t necessarily “bad” for women, there are situations when they should be avoided: If you have heart disease, poor circulation, or are pregnant If you’re extremely sensitive to cold or prone to anxiety If the plunge leaves you feeling stressed, rather than energized “Short-term cortisol spikes aren’t harmful in a healthy person,” Dr. Swartzon says, “but if you’re already under a lot of stress, it may not feel good.” Dr. Ross adds that the risks like elevated heart rate or hypothermia could outweigh benefits like muscle recovery or mood boosts for some women. So, should women stop cold plunging? Not necessarily. Like most wellness practices, it depends on your body. If cold plunges leave you feeling refreshed, and you’re otherwise healthy, there’s no strong reason to stop. “If you enjoy them, ease in gradually,” Dr. Swartzon advises. “Start with shorter durations or higher temperatures and work your way down.” You may want to time your plunges around your menstrual cycle, avoid extremes during high-stress weeks, and track how your body responds over time. As always, check in with your physician if you have underlying health concerns. Bottom line  Cold plunges aren’t inherently harmful for women, but they’re not a cure-all either. Tune into your body, stay informed, and don’t be afraid to warm up your approach if the cold just isn’t working for you.  The post Should women rethink cold plunges? What science says about gender, stress, and ice baths first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM After years of negotiations and national approvals, a landmark World Trade Organization (WTO) agreement aimed at reducing overfishing officially took effect on September 15. The deal requires countries to scale back subsidies that encourage unsustainable fishing practices, with the goal of protecting dwindling marine life and promoting global food security. The WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies marks a first on multiple fronts: it is the organization’s first treaty centered on environmental protection and the first broad, binding multilateral pact dedicated to safeguarding the world’s oceans. Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who has long championed the effort, called the agreement a critical step toward “ensuring sustainability of wildlife in the world’s seas and oceans.” Building global momentum The pact cleared its final hurdle when Brazil, Kenya, Tonga, and Vietnam formally adopted it, bringing the total number of supporting countries to 112; That’s just over the two-thirds threshold required from WTO’s 166 members. Major powers including China, the United States, and the European Union are on board, though key players such as India and Indonesia remain holdouts. The Pew Charitable Trust highlighted the agreement’s impact on the estimated 22 billion dollars in annual subsidies that fuel overfishing worldwide. Under the deal, a portion of those funds will be restricted, and a dedicated “fish fund” will help developing nations implement the changes. What the agreement covers (and what it doesn’t) For now, the rules apply to subsidies tied to illegal fishing and already overfished stocks. A second, unfinished phase would go further by curbing subsidies that lead to overcapacity in industrial fishing fleets, such as funds that support the construction of new vessels. The economic stakes are high. As experts note, the more ships global fleets can build, the cheaper and more attractive large-scale fishing becomes. This encourages a dynamic that threatens to drive fish stocks to collapse. Advocates hope that early progress on the first phase will generate momentum for the second. Why overfishing matters now Ocean conservation groups stress that the urgency could not be greater. One such organization, Oceana, points out that fish populations were already declining more than a generation ago, and today “the situation is even more dire,” with an estimated 38 percent of global stocks overfished. Rashid Sumaila, an Oceana board member and head of the Fisheries Economics Research Unit at the University of British Columbia, emphasized the human cost: “Without fish, it’s game over for the hundreds of millions of people who depend on the ocean.” Sumaila also cautioned that while the agreement is historic, it is not sufficient on its own. “The first phase won’t stop the billions in subsidies that fuel overfishing and overcapacity,” he said. “But it does create a foundation that must be built on further.” A foundation for the future The WTO’s fisheries agreement represents a fragile but hopeful step in tackling one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time. For conservationists, policymakers, and coastal communities, the measure is not an endpoint but a beginning. A beginning that underscores how international cooperation can still make waves in protecting shared resources.The post World Trade Organization launches first global agreement to curb overfishing first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

If you should die today, or tomorrow, or next week, do you know where you will spend eternity? If not, you can settle your eternal destination right now by receiving Jesus’ gift of Salvation, received through His death on the cross and resurrection from the grave.

[View Article at Source]How did we get to this terrible point? The post The Normalization of Assassination appeared first on The American Conservative.