New research shows small lifestyle changes are linked to differences in teen mental health over time

Scarlett Smout, University of Sydney; Katrina Champion, University of Sydney, and Lauren Gardner, University of Sydney

Judging by recent headlines and policy ideas, you might think screen time is the only lifestyle behaviour influencing teen wellbeing.

But with young people struggling to deal with mounting mental health issues, it’s crucial we don’t get tunnel vision and instead remember all the lifestyle levers that can play a role.

Our research, published today, tracked Australian high school students from 71 schools across New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia. Over time, improvements in sleep, fruit and vegetable intake, and exercise were associated with small but significant improvements in mental health.

The reverse was also true when it came to unhealthy behaviours like screen time, junk food, alcohol use and tobacco.

A comprehensive look at adolescent lifestyles

Our new study of more than 4,400 Australian high school students looks at a suite of lifestyle behaviours: sleep, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, sedentary (inactive) recreational screen time, fruit and vegetable intake, consumption of junk food and sugary drinks, alcohol use and smoking.

Firstly, we asked year 7 (students aged 12–13) to report their levels of these lifestyle behaviours and to rate their psychological distress (a general indicator of mental ill-health) using a well-known measurement scale.

Then we examined how changes in each of the lifestyle behaviours between year 7 and year 10 (age 15–16) were linked to psychological distress levels in year 10. Importantly, we accounted for the level of psychological distress participants reported in year 7, as well as their lifestyle behaviours in year 7. This means we can see the average benefits associated with behaviour change, no matter where people started out.

Our research showed increases over time in healthy behaviours were associated with lower psychological distress. Conversely, increases in health risk behaviours were associated with higher psychological distress.

How much makes a difference?

On average, when looking at the change between year 7 and 10, every one-hour increase in sleep per night was linked to a 9% reduction in psychological distress.

Each added day of 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per week was linked to a 3% reduction in psychological distress. Each added daily serve of fruit or vegetables was linked to 4% lower psychological distress.

By contrast, each added hour of screen time was linked to a 2% increase in psychological distress, as was each unit increase in junk food or sugary drinks.

Because drinking alcohol and smoking are less common in early adolescence, we only looked at whether they had or hadn’t drank alcohol or smoked in the past six months. We saw that switching from not drinking in year 7 to drinking in year 10 was associated with a 17% increase in psychological distress. Switching from not smoking to smoking was linked to a 36% increase in psychological distress.

It’s important to note our study can’t definitively say lifestyle behaviour change caused the change in distress. The study also can’t account for changes in a student’s circumstances such as in their home life or relationships. With the baseline survey done in 2019 and the year 10 survey done in 2022, there was also the potential impact of COVID.

But our longitudinal design (tracking the same subjects over an extended period) and the way we structured the analysis does help illustrate the relationship over time.

Our study didn’t measure vaping, but evidence shows that, like smoking, it has clear links with adolescent mental health.

What does this mean for teens and parents?

National guidelines for these behaviours set out aspirational targets based on optimum health goals. But movement guidelines and dietary guidelines might seem out of reach for many teens. Indeed, most participants in our study were not meeting guidelines for physical activity, sleep, screen time, and vegetable consumption in year 10.

What our research shows is that a healthy lifestyle change doesn’t have to be all or nothing.

Even relatively small changes – getting an extra hour of sleep each night, eating one extra serve of fruit or vegetables each day, cutting out one hour of screen time, or adding an extra day of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per week – are linked to improvements in mental health. And stacking changes in multiple areas is likely to stand you in even better stead.

Parents can play a major role in shaping lifestyle behaviours (even into the teenage years!). Expense and time can be barriers, but anything parents can do within their means is a step in the right direction.

For example, modelling healthy social media use, making affordable changes to your grocery shop to improve nutritional content, or even introducing set bedtimes. And parents can gather information so young people can make positive choices around alcohol, tobacco and other substance use including vaping.

The bigger picture

Lifestyle changes can support better adolescent mental health, but they’re only one piece of the puzzle. We can’t place the burden of addressing the youth mental health crisis solely on teen lifestyles. There is plenty to be done at a school, community, and policy level to create a society that supports youth mental health.

Young people who are struggling with their mental health may need professional support, which parents and carers can support them to access. Teenagers or young people can also contact ReachOut or Kids Helpline directly for resources and support.

Scarlett Smout, PhD Candidate (under examination) and Research Associate at The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health & Substance Use and Australia's Mental Health Think Tank, University of Sydney; Katrina Champion, Senior Research Fellow & Sydney Horizon Fellow, The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use and School of Public Health, University of Sydney, and Lauren Gardner, Senior Research Fellow & Program Lead of School-Based Health Interventions, University of Sydney

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Read More........→March 05, 2026

Fun ways to make your grandparents feel special

New Delhi, (IANSlife) Grandparents hold a special place in our hearts as the guiding stars who illuminate our journey through life's highs and lows. Yet, in the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, we can unintentionally let precious moments with them slip away.

Spending quality bonding time with grandparents can create lasting memories and strengthen family connections. It is always helpful to be patient, mindful, and attentive when spending time with the grandparents, as it may take a little extra effort to accommodate their pace and preferences. The key is to create an atmosphere of love, respect, and connection during your time together. And what better way to celebrate this special day than by gathering together or spending a cozy day indoors? There's nothing quite like the joy of sharing stories and laughter over a game!

Storytelling and Reminiscing: Sit down with your grandparents and ask them to share stories from their past. This can be a great way to learn about their life experiences, family history, and the world from the lens of their youth. It will take you back in time and help you visualize a different world from the one you see today! Ask for their opinion about the changed world and listen to them share their perspectives and feelings. You can also share your own stories, fostering a sense of connection across generations.

Engage in creative activities: Cooking or baking can be a wonderful way to bond. Ask your grandparents to teach you a family recipe or share their culinary skills with you. Not only will you create delicious meals or treats, but you can also learn about the secret ingredients they use to make lip-smacking dishes. You will also have fun working together in the kitchen! Activities like painting, knitting, or crafting can also be picked up based on your and your grandparent's shared interests. Many grandparents have artistic talents that they would love to share, as nothing gives them the utmost joy than watching their own grandchildren inculcate their techniques and strokes. Above all, working on a project together can be both enjoyable and educational!Games and Puzzles: Playing board games, card games, or working on puzzles together is entertaining and mentally stimulating. You can choose games like Monopoly Super E-Banking, Monopoly Deal Card Game, and Wordle that cater to various skill levels and preferences, ensuring everyone can participate. Such games foster a sense of connection with one another and create trust. You experience the unrivaled satisfaction of engaging in laughter with your loved ones. It encourages familial ties and creates a safe space for emotional expression while playing alongside the elders of the family.Fun ways to make your grandparents feel special | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

Read More........→March 05, 2026

What does your musical taste say about your personality and lifestyle?

Adrian North, Curtin University

Abba - Knowing me, knowing you.

I’m quite used to receiving abuse concerning the content of this column, but in contrast my previous post (about why fans of heavy metal shouldn’t have been banned from a pub) seems to have caused some interest in what one can infer from somebody’s musical taste about their personality and lifestyle.

The simple answer is an awful lot! In 2010 I surveyed 36,518 people about their liking for 104 musical styles and their personality. Self-esteem was highest among fans of blues, funk, jazz, classical music, opera, and rap, but lowest among fans of heavy metal, indie, and punk.

The most creative fans were those who liked jazz, classical music, opera, and indie, whereas lower creativity was linked to liking for easy listening and chart pop. The hardest-working fans were those who liked country and pop, whereas those who regarded themselves as relatively lazy tended to like funk and indie.

The most sociable and outgoing fans were those who liked funk, country, rap, and dance music, whereas more reserved people tended to like classical music and heavy metal. The gentlest people in my sample liked opera, easy listening, and heavy metal, whereas the most headstrong tended to prefer dance music, indie, and punk. The most nervous fans were those who liked chart pop, whereas those who were most at ease with themselves preferred blues, funk, jazz, classical music, and heavy metal.

Links between musical taste and people’s more general lifestyles are also manifold and wide-ranging. Factors concerning money, education, employment and health tended to show that those who like high art music are wealthier, better educated, and in higher status jobs. Fans of jazz, opera and classical music in particular seem to lead blessed lives with the highest income, and greater access to financial resources (e.g. several bank accounts, credits cards, and owning shares in companies).

This greater wealth means they also spend more on food than others, and prefer to drink wine. As an academic, I might also add that this wealth is probably because they were more likely to have a Masters degree or PhD; and it is interesting that they are also more likely to give something back to the community by doing voluntary work.

But income and education can’t explain all the differences between the lifestyles of fans of different styles. Fans of opera and jazz were more likely than most to vote for right-wing political parties, but this conservatism was shared with country music fans. Similarly, despite their typically right-wing voting habits, fans of classical music and opera were among the most likely to favour development of green energy sources, whereas fans of hip hop and R&B, despite their radical counter-culture stereotype, were happiest with the fossil fuel status quo.

What is also interesting about these findings is the extent of overlap between those who like musical styles that are, on the surface, very different. Country and classical music fans overlap considerably in everything but their income, in reflection of a shared conservative worldview; and opera and heavy metal fans also united on more than just their love of dramatic music, as they share similarly creative and gentle personalities.

So someone’s musical taste does tell you a lot about them, but as these examples show, many of the stereotypes of the fans are nothing more than that. Moreover, the gross differences between fans that do exist in terms of, for example, income and conservatism, express themselves in some very specific ways in everyday attitudes and behaviour.

Adrian North, Head of School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Curtin University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Read More........→March 01, 2026

We can change our brain and its ability to cope with disease with simple lifestyle choices

Yen Ying Lim, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health

This is part of our series on Changing the Brain, about what’s happening in our brain in various mental states and how we can change it for the better and worse. You can read the other articles here.

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Our life expectancy has increased dramatically over the past several decades, with advances in medical research, nutrition and health care seeing us live well into our 80s. But this longer life expectancy has also come at a cost, as the longer we live, the more likely we are to develop neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia.

Despite the lack of treatments for these diseases, there’s now a growing body of research to suggest there are a range of lifestyle changes we can adopt to help enhance our brain function. And even prevent brain disease.

Exercise

The effects of physical activity, particularly aerobic exercise, on brain health have been well studied. There’s now evidence to suggest engaging in physical activity can improve brain health through a phenomenon called neuroplasticity. This is where brain cells can more easily respond to disease or injury.

Physical activity can induce a cascade of biological processes that improve function of brain regions responsible for memory, and things such as decision making.

In particular, going for a run or bike ride (as opposed to only strength exercises such as weight training) have been shown to increase levels of “brain-derived neurotrophic factor”, a protein central to the growth and survival of brain cells. Brain imaging studies are also starting to confirm exercise training can result in a bigger hippocampus (the brain region responsible for memory) and improvements in memory.

Just as protein shakes may help muscles grow after exercise, the brain-derived neurotrophic factor may help to strengthen and generate brain cells. This in turn can increase the brain’s ability to cope with injury or disease.

Exercise strengthens our brains as well as our muscles. Kyle Kranz/Unsplash

Meditation

Over the past decade, there’s been an explosion of interest in meditation and mindfulness as a treatment of mental health disorders, particularly depression and anxiety.

Some studies have suggested long-term engagement in meditation is associated with physiological brain changes (such as larger brain volumes and higher brain activity).

But the extent to which meditation is associated with better memory, or with long-term protection against brain diseases, remains to be determined.

Hypnosis

Hypnosis is one of the oldest forms of psychotherapy. It is typically used as an adjunct treatment for pain, and a range of anxiety disorders, including post-traumatic stress. Recent studies show that during hypnosis, changes in brain activity are detected in brain regions that govern attention and emotional control.

One small study (18 patients) suggested hypnosis substantially improved the quality of life of dementia patients after 12 months, with patients experiencing higher levels of concentration and motivation. But this result is very preliminary, and requires independent replication with larger numbers of patients.

It’s likely hypnosis plays an important role in reducing stress and anxiety, which may in turn improve focus, attention and wellbeing in general.

So what works?

The challenge with studying the effects of lifestyle changes on brain health, particularly over a long period of time, is the large degree of overlap across all lifestyle factors. For example, engaging in physical activity will be related to better sleep and less stress – which also improve our memory and thinking function.

Similarly, better sleep is related to improved mood. It may make people feel more motivated to exercise, which may also lead to better memory and thinking function.

The extent to which we can truly determine the contribution of each lifestyle factor (sleep, physical activity, diet, social engagement) to our brain health remains limited.

But a wide range of lifestyle factors that are highly modifiable such as physical inactivity, obesity, chronic stress and high blood pressure can have far-reaching effects on our brain health. After all, it is mid-life high blood pressure, obesity and physical inactivity that can increase our risk of dementia in later life.

Recently, a large study of 21,000 American adults aged over 65 suggested the prevalence of dementia fell significantly from 11.6% to 8.8% (nearly a 25% reduction) over 12 years (from 2000 to 2012). The researchers suggested this decrease in prevalence may be due to increases in education and better control of risk factors for high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

This provides some hope that we can, to a certain extent, take charge of our brain health through engagement in a wide range of beneficial activities that seek to improve mental function, improve heart health, or reduce stress.

It’s never too early to start investing in the health of our brains, particularly when these lifestyle changes are easily implemented, and readily accessible to most of us.

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If you are interested in being a part of a study on brain health in middle-aged Australians, please join us at the Healthy Brain Project.

Yen Ying Lim, Research Fellow, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Read More........→February 26, 2026

Milind Soman's mother does skipping every day even at 86

(Photo : IANS/milindrunning/insta)

Mumbai, (IANS) Just like her fitness enthusiast son, Milind Soman's mother also loves to stay on top of her fitness game even at the age of 86.

Milind took to his official Instagram handle and dropped a video of himself and her mother skipping on the balcony amidst a cloud-filled, beautiful backdrop.

In the next clip, Milind is replaced by his better half, Ankita Konwar, while Milind's mother keeps going strong.

Sharing the inspiring clip on social media, the 'Emergency' actor wrote, "Family skipping time... Aai is now 86, and skipping is something she does every day, apart from yoga and other movements. Long life, health and happiness to all !!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Back in July, Milind and Ankita successfully completed the triathlon challenge in Kolhapur, which included a 3.8km swim in the Rajaram lake, along with 180km cycling, and a 10 km run.

The 59-year-old actor dropped a few videos and photos of the couple riding the bicycle.

The post further showed Milind and Ankita posing by the lake and running on the road in the dark.

"Superfabulous weekend in Kolhapur, the triathlon capital of India, with @ankita_earthy cycling her first 180km with me, that too after a 3.8km swim in Rajaram lake...also did a 10km run post that to cool down super support from @vaibhavbelgaonkar and his fantastic team we will be back !!!!," Milind wrote, spilling his experience of the triathlon.

Before this, Milind performed a 30-second pull-up while enjoying the Mumbai rains.

The '16 December' actor took to his IG and shared a video of himself performing a slow 30-second push-up on what seemed to be a bar in the park."30seconds up, 30seconds down...sometimes, just one is enough! Getting over a bit of jet lag, great to feel the Mumbai rain again .. thank you for your patience @ankita_earthy," he captioned the motivational clip. Milind Soman's mother does skipping every day even at 86 | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

Read More........→February 20, 2026

More education leads to a healthier lifestyle

Jinhu Li, The University of Melbourne

It is recognised that healthy habits account for large differences in health outcomes. Unhealthy behaviour has been cited as the main predictor of premature and preventable disease.

But this raises an important, policy-related question. Why do some people invest more in a healthy lifestyle than others?

Health economists argue that better educated people are more likely to choose healthier lifestyles. This is in part because future returns for healthy behaviour (in terms of both health and lifetime earnings) are higher for the better educated, thus leading them to invest more in a healthy lifestyle.

People of higher educational background are on average less likely to smoke, abuse alcohol, and will exercise more, eat healthier foods, and have more frequent health checks than the average population.

This can be explained by a variety of different reasons. For instance, students with healthier lifestyles may be more efficient in acquiring knowledge so they tend to perform well in their education. One could also imagine that people who value future consumptions more than current consumption will stay in school for longer, work more at younger ages and invest more in positive health-related behaviours.

New research in the area

Most of the existing evidence cannot truly separate the true effect of education itself on health habits from other confounding factors as mentioned above.

My colleague and I have recently conducted research to address this important question. We used an econometric technique to empirically identify the causal effect of education on a range of health behaviours among Australian adults aged 22 to 65. We rely on school reforms in Australia on minimum compulsory school-leaving age as a natural experiment to identify this causal relationship.

This research shows that among Australians, there is a sizable effect of staying an additional year in school on later health habits, including diet, exercise, and the decision to engage in risky health behaviours.

Results also show that the positive effect of staying an additional year in school on health behaviours is larger for Australian women than for Australian men. Interestingly, previous studies from UK and Germany have found the opposite, that is that the health benefits from staying an additional year in school are larger for men than for women in these two countries.

Does context matter?

While we found a positive effect of education on health among Australians, previous studies from other countries indicate this is not necessarily true in different countries.

Studies in Denmark and South Korea found similar evidence as ours, but no such evidence has been found in the US, the UK and Germany. This might be a reflection of the differences in the education and health care systems, or an interaction between these two systems, across different countries.

Not only the context of the residing country but also the context in terms of early-life family circumstances may moderate the causal effect of education on health behaviours. Our study demonstrates that the magnitude of the education effect is larger for people from a poorer background when they were about 14 years old.

Potential mechanisms

There are many theories to why more education will lead to better health behaviours. We provide evidence that one of the reasons is because more education raises the individual’s conscientiousness levels and the perceived sense of control over one’s life, which in turn contributes to adopting healthier lifestyles.

The intuition is that individual with different education levels may differ in their psychological capacity to make behaviour changes. This echoes some psychological theories which claim that in order to adopt certain behaviour or change certain lifestyles, individuals need to be “ready” to change and feel able to do so.

This new finding may also explain why in previous studies other important individual attributes such as cognition function and knowledge can only explain some, but not all, of the causal effect of education on health behaviours.

Policy implications

The direct implication of these findings is that an increase in spending on education can lead to the overall improvement of the nation’s health. This provides a way of saving money for our health system, given that preventable diseases are often directly related to health habits.

While we have found an important effect of education on later health behaviours for people who were directly affected by changes in the compulsory schooling laws in Australia, we have also demonstrated that there is a considerable difference in the education effect across different groups of individuals.

Future research – especially qualitative research – should come back to investigate how different predetermined characteristics and early home environments can moderate the causal effect of education on health behaviours.

Given that an additional year of schooling also caused a change in psychological traits that are known to govern healthy behaviour, there is scope for later policy interventions to try to improve personality traits that are related to healthy habits.

Jinhu Li, Research Fellow, The University of Melbourne

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Read More........→February 19, 2026

Hairstyle Tips

Makeup Spot: Hairstyle can make or break the image of someone, even if you have more hair in the world, indecent style to make bland, boring and even washed away. Hairstyles and hair cuts, get younger nerdy, rugged or masculine, intelligent and attractive. You can make all of the hot time with the fingers curled your hair look. Use generate a little styling cream to damp hair into waves and have your hair to air dry. If your hair is stubborn, you can choose to paint in order to tame them. Hair cuts for young people, although all the time and the changing tastes of the generation, always tends a haircut fashion that is difficult to copy for older people and seem to be still high. The funky teen hair always seems just as he was taken off the runway. Enriched did capture with rich colors, elegant hairstyle teenage much entirely to an era of style. Top hairstyles among young people today are more in vogue than ever, and cover a wide range of lengths, shapes and textures. Haircuts teen was not reduced. In fact, many young people are now considered the drainage of the shorter hair boy. But one thing is all the time, the short teen hair style is always a fashionable hairstyle. Each color requires fashionable hairstyle and the same goes for haircuts among teenagers. Adding color can be as simple as a few highlights or low points, or it may appear as dramatic changes

such as dark colors for the Gothic look.  Hair Care Tips  * Try your hair and iron the least likely to dry. Reasons heat damage to the hair to keep, so that in mind when applying heat. * Hair care products distributed between the fingers and hands, also for the division. Do not be afraid to comb and brush and use anything but your fingers to ask as a styling product. * Long hair is beautiful, but that does not mean he has to get started. Attempted use of black hair bundle of links for an easy solution for facial hair. * One of the most effective methods to deal with cowlicks edge to try drying the bangs forward with a vent or round brush so that the weighted tip. * For hair that is thin up trying to blow-dry later, a body wash and condition and the occupied combing of hair from front to back. Use mousse or a light hair spray to keep the style in place. * Spray an oil or lacquer to prevent frizz and add shine. Source: Makeup Spot

Read More........→December 06, 2025

How to host a meal if one of your guests has an eating disorder or is anxious around food

Kathleen de Boer, Swinburne University of Technology; Courtney P. McLean, Monash University, and Inge Gnatt, Swinburne University of Technology

As the festive season approaches, perhaps you’re thinking of hosting friends and family.

You know at least one person who’ll attend who becomes anxious around food and another with an eating disorder.

So, how to host and make sure everyone feels comfortable and supported?

Perhaps you’ve already hosted someone with food anxiety or an eating disorder without even knowing.

First, some definitions

Food anxiety refers to fear or anxiety in response to eating food. This could relate to certain textures and smells, or fear of choking or vomiting. These fears and anxieties can be intense and are associated with mental health conditions, including avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder.

For others, anxiety about food might be based on fear of the impact food could have on their body shape and size. This kind of food anxiety is closely associated with diagnosable eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.

Eating disorders are among the most rapidly increasing mental health diagnoses in the world, and can be present at any shape or size. These disorders involve negative thoughts about one’s weight, shape and eating. Behaviours people can experience include skipping meals, or feeling like they can’t stop eating.

Eating disorders can have significant impacts on someone’s life, including withdrawing from social circles and hobbies. They’re associated with high mortality rates.

Just because someone experiences some food anxiety, it does not mean they have a mental health diagnosis. It’s also important to consider how this anxiety impacts their life and the level of distress it causes them.

Hiding is common

It’s likely you’ve shared a meal with someone who has an eating disorder, who might be in recovery, or has anxiety around food. A lot of the time, you may not be able to tell, and they might try to hide it because of shame or guilt.

Your nephew at last week’s family barbecue might have binge eating disorder. The cousin who you caught up with for dinner might have a fear of choking and only eats soft foods.

You might not have noticed as people tend to be skilled at hiding their food anxiety. Some common strategies include avoiding shared mealtimes, only choosing certain foods, or saying they have already eaten and aren’t hungry.

So, if you’ll likely share a meal with someone with food anxiety or an eating disorder in the future, how can you host compassionately?

Is it worth adjusting the menu?

Unless someone has made specific requests, it is OK to roll on as usual. It can be helpful to invite guests to bring anything that meets their specific needs. Having variety and allowing people to serve themselves may also reduce food anxiety.

The goal of this meal is not to solve someone’s food anxiety, but to create a safe eating environment for all.

What not to say

At mealtimes, it might be common to comment on the amount or type of food someone is eating, or the way they eat it.

This “food talk” might be comments such as, “why are you only eating potatoes?” These comments can draw unwanted attention to someone’s food choices, increasing food anxiety.

Then there are comments on people’s bodies, shapes and sizes. Or sometimes people comment on the need to diet or skip meals after eating.

For example, people might say “that was so much food, you won’t need dinner tonight”.

While some of these comments may not be intended to hurt, these attitudes often perpetuate harmful messages about what we should and should not eat, how much we should eat, and even how we should look.

These comments can even contribute to body dissatisfaction, a key risk factor in developing eating disorders. Negative food and body talk can also contribute to increased anxiety.

Even commenting on your own eating and body can be a problem. For instance saying, “I need to skip dinner to make up for eating all this” might hurt the people you’re sharing a meal with, particularly if they have an eating disorder. This is because it reinforces and normalises food restriction.

A good rule of thumb is to avoid commenting on people’s food and bodies. And that goes for complimenting someone’s body.

What to say instead

As a guest or a host, you can contribute to developing a safe culture around food for everyone. This includes replying to unsolicited food or body comments, whether aimed at you or someone else.

Sometimes replying can be tricky for the person with a food anxiety or eating disorder, so you can also speak up even when the comment isn’t directed at you.

You can say:

• Would it be OK if we didn’t chat about my/their food/weight/body at the moment?
• I’m working hard to focus less on my body at the moment. Let’s talk about something else.
• I find it uncomfortable when you mention my/my friend’s weight/body/eating.
• I hear what you’re saying, but let’s steer clear from discussing my/their appearance/weight/eating.

Some of these suggestions might sound awkward, so offer them gently and personalise however you need.

Why this is important

Ultimately, setting boundaries with family and friends helps create more balance and compassion in how we talk about food and bodies. This can challenge some of the outdated and harmful messages that have become normalised.

Sharing mealtimes are important opportunities to connect with loved ones. Let’s make these experiences safe and inclusive.

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If this article raised any concerns for you or someone you know, contact the Butterfly Foundation on 1800 33 4673.

Kathleen de Boer, Clinical Psychologist, Lecturer in Clinical Psychology, Swinburne University of Technology; Courtney P. McLean, Research Fellow, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, and Inge Gnatt, Psychologist, Lecturer in Psychology, Swinburne University of Technology

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Read More........→December 03, 2025

5 heartwarming gestures for your best friend

New Delhi, (IANSlife) Friendship is a bond that knows no limits, and as Friendship Day approaches, it's time to commemorate the particular bond we share with our closest buddies. Social media has become a vital part of our lives in this digital age, and it provides a perfect platform for us to express our love and appreciation for our best friends. Whether you're physically separated or only a few feet apart, social media can help you make your closest buddy feel particularly special on this happy occasion.

Moj creator Sushil Brahmbhatt shares a sincere guide with five social media actions that will certainly make your BFF smile. Let's get started and spread the love with these heartfelt and imaginative ideas!

The Nostalgic Flashback: Craft a touching post/video celebrating your cherished moments together, inviting your BFF to embark on a nostalgic journey down memory lane, honoring the beautiful path of your friendship. Share it on social media, accompanied by a heartfelt caption that weaves the tale of your bond. Let these precious images and memories serve as a gentle reminder of the incredible adventures, laughter, and unwavering support you've shared throughout the years. This heartfelt gesture is certain to touch their soul, evoking a lovely sense of reminiscence and appreciation.

Personalised Video Message: Create a video message for your best buddy expressing your thoughts and emotions with a touch of humor. Tell them how much they mean to you and how thankful you are to have them in your life. Share some embarrassing stories, or inside jokes, or even organize a virtual toast to your relationship. Posting this video on your social media profile will not only make your BFF feel treasured, but it will also demonstrate the depth of your friendship to others.

A Friendship Playlist: Create a playlist of songs that represent your friendship or have a common meaning. These might be music that reminds you of each other, tunes you've danced to together, or melodies that have helped you through difficult times. Share the playlist on social media, and don't forget to explain why each song is meaningful to you. Your BFF will appreciate the thought and effort that went into this musical gesture.

Virtual Celebration: If physical distance stops you from meeting your best friend on Friendship Day, organise a virtual get-together. Plan a group video conference with mutual friends and participate in fun activities together. You can play online games, watch a movie, or simply chat and catch up with your friends. Take screenshots of the virtual meeting and post them on social media with a caption on how distance will never dim the brightness of true friendship.

Appreciation Post: Spend some time publicly appreciating your best friend by making a sincere post on your social media site. Express your emotions and explain why your best friend is the most amazing person in your life. Mention what sets them apart, how they've made a difference, and how they offer joy to your life. This public display of affection and adoration will not only make your BFF feel special, but it will also motivate others to cherish their friendships.Friendship Day is all about acknowledging the incredible bond you share with your best friend and showing them just how much they mean to you. With these five awesome social media gestures, you can brighten your BFF's day and make this Friendship Day an unforgettable celebration of your beautiful friendship. Let the world witness the power of true friendship and join in on the joyous festivities. 5 heartwarming gestures for your best friend | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

Read More........→November 12, 2025

Hope Is the Most Impactful Emotion in Determining Long-Term Economic, Social Outcomes

Photo by Carl Hunley Jr on Unsplash

Is hope just “a thing with feathers” as Dickenson wrote, or is it Aristotle’s “waking dream?”

Or instead. is it “a promise we live” rather than a “promise we give” as Amanda Gorman wrote in 2021.

According to new research examining the impact of hope as a positive emotion on long-term economic and social outcomes, it’s very much the Gorman definition.

That research presents evidence that not only is hope the least-studied dimension of positive emotional wellbeing, but that it’s also likely the most consequential in terms of long-term outcomes—beyond things like happiness or security.

Individuals in an Australian cohort of 25,000 randomly-sampled people that were more hopeful had on average improved wellbeing, education, economic, and employment outcomes measures years later, both better perceived health and objective measures of health, and were less likely to be lonely.

Hope in the researchers’ paper was also associated with higher resilience, the ability to adapt, and a robust internal locus of control. Hopeful individuals were also less likely to be influenced by negative life events and adapted more quickly and completely after these events.

Perhaps contrary to others’ definitions, the study authors defined hope as having a “strong grounding in individual agency.”

“Hope is not just a belief that things will get better (i.e., optimism), but the determination to make them better, which reflects agency and determination,” they wrote in their introduction. “The distinction between tragic optimists and hopeful pessimists is another way to think of this.”

Their data was pulled from the Household, Income and Labor Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey, which began collecting self-completed questionnaires in addition to face-to-face interviews with members of the Australian public over the age of 15 in 2001.

The data used in the study goes as far back as 2007, and includes the years 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2021. The measurements of hope were simply the reverse measurements for one of the survey questions on psychological distress which read, “In the past 4 weeks, how often have you felt hopeless?”

69% of respondents said “all of the time” over the last 4 weeks, and 18% said “most of the time.”

Not only did they enjoy more positive outcomes in health, education, and economic undertakings than those who were less hopeful on average, but that moving from less hopeful to more hopeful was correlated with improved attainment in these dimensions.

Moving from hopeless to hopeful correlated to better life outcomes credit – Mahdi Dastmard

Moving, for example, from totally hopeless to totally hopeful resulted in a 4% higher probability of achieving a bachelor’s degree in the next 2 years and a 2% lower probability of being unemployed in future years.

In the health realm, higher levels of hope were linked to a lower probability of being obese in the next 2 years, to reductions in smoking levels, and even to a lower likelihood of having a serious illness or injury. Hopeful people were more likely to have more friends, and less likely to be both lonely and being incarcerated in future years.

One caveat with the data follows the tendency typified by the famous “healthy user bias” in nutrition and fitness literature, where data can appear more impactful than it may actually be because of the way that people who are likely to make a choice regarding their health (for example, choosing to exercise thrice a week) are more likely to make further choices in regards to their health than those who avoid making any such choices.

Essentially, there was a 1.5% greater chance that previous survey respondents would undergo follow-up surveys if they were more hopeful, skewing the data slightly towards the hopeful over the hopeless.

The authors claim it’s the first large-scale analysis showing the links between hope and a range of long-term life outcomes.“We believe that better understanding the drivers of hope and its consequences can ultimately inform the ability of both individuals and of public policy to improve people’s lives,” the authors wrote in their conclusion. Hope Is the Most Impactful Emotion in Determining Long-Term Economic, Social Outcomes

Read More........→November 04, 2025

A healthier heart can protect your brain too. 5 lifestyle changes to prevent dementia

Alexandra Wade, University of South Australia; Ashleigh E. Smith, University of South Australia, and Maddison Mellow, University of South Australia

When we think of dementia, we often fear a loss of control. But the reassuring news is up to 40% of dementias can be prevented or delayed if we change our health habits.

Nearly half a million Australians are living with dementia. Without a cure, this number is expected to reach 1.1 million by 2058.

Dementia shares key risk factors with cardiovascular (of the heart and blood vessels) disease, including high blood pressure, high blood sugar, being overweight and smoking. Inflammation and oxidative stress (where protective antioxidants are losing their fight with damaging free radicals) follow. This damages blood vessels and reduces the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain.

Without enough oxygen, brain cells can’t function effectively, and eventually die. Reduced blood flow also leaves the brain vulnerable to the plaques and tangles seen in forms of dementia.

But by changing our habits, we can both improve heart health and reduce the risk of dementia. Here are five lifestyle changes we can make now.

1. Eat 2–3 serves of oily fish each week

Oily fish, like salmon, sardines and mackerel are rich in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Omega-3’s have anti-inflammatory effects and have been shown to significantly reduce blood pressure.

Omega-3s are also needed to support the structure and function of our brain cells and are “essential nutrients”. This means we need to get them from our diet. This is especially true as we age, because reductions in omega-3 intake have been linked to faster rates of cognitive decline.

2. Eat plant foods with every meal

Plant foods – like leafy greens, extra virgin olive oil, blueberries, nuts and pulses - contain a range of vitamins and minerals, including polyphenols, flavonoids, carotenoids, vitamin C and vitamin E. These micronutrients have both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects that protect and improve our blood vessel functioning.

Diets high in plant foods, like the Mediterranean diet, have been shown to improve blood pressure, glucose regulation and body composition, and have also been linked to lower rates of cognitive decline, better markers of brain health and lower risk of dementia.

3. Eat less processed food

On the other hand, saturated fats, refined carbohydrates and red and processed meats are believed to trigger inflammatory pathways and highly processed foods have been linked to hypertension, type 2 diabetes and obesity.

Eating more of these foods means we’re also likely to miss out on the benefits of other foods. Whole grains (like whole oats, rye, buckwheat and barley) provide fibre, vitamin B, E, magnesium and phytonutrients which have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Refined grains (like white bread, rice and pasta) are highly processed, meaning many of these beneficial nutrients are removed.

4. Get physical and make it fun

Physical activity can reduce inflammation and blood pressure, while improving blood vessel functioning. This helps the body deliver more oxygen to the brain, improving memory and other cognitive functions affected by dementia.

Guidelines suggest adults should engage in physical activity on most days, break up long bouts of inactivity (like watching TV) and incorporate some resistance exercises.

The key to forming long-term exercise habits is choosing physical activities you enjoy and making small, gradual increases in activity. Any movement that raises the heart rate can be classified as physical activity, including gardening, walking and even household chores.

5. Quit smoking

Smokers are 60% more likely to develop dementia than non-smokers. This is because smoking increases inflammation and oxidative stress that harm the structure and function of our blood vessels.

Quitting smoking can begin to reverse these effects. In fact, former smokers have a significantly lower risk of cognitive decline and dementia compared to current smokers, similar to that of people who have never smoked.

Is it too late?

It’s never too early, or too late, to begin making these changes.

Obesity and high blood pressure in midlife are key predictors of dementia risk, while diabetes, physical inactivity and smoking are stronger predictors later in life. Regular physical activity earlier in life can reduce blood pressure and decrease your risk of diabetes. Like giving up smoking, changes at any stage of life can reduce inflammation and change your dementia risk.

Little by little

It can be overwhelming to change your whole diet, start a new exercise program and quit smoking all at once. But even small changes can lead to significant improvements in health. Start by making manageable swaps, like:

• use extra virgin olive oil in place of butter, margarine and other cooking oils
• swap one serve of processed food, like chips, white bread, or commercial biscuits, for a handful of nuts
• swap one serve of meat each week for one serve of oily fish
• swap five minutes of sedentary time for five minutes of walking and slowly increase each day.

Alexandra Wade, Research associate, University of South Australia; Ashleigh E. Smith, Associate professor - Healthy ageing, University of South Australia, and Maddison Mellow, PhD candidate, University of South Australia

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Read More........→October 01, 2025

Japanese Woman Offers to Hold New Mother’s Baby so Exhausted Travelers Can Finish Their Meal

credit – Maggie Boynton, retrieved from TikTok

The Japanese have an unjustly-bestowed-upon reputation for being cold and distant, and one new American mother who’s gone viral on TikTok discovered just how wrong that stereotype can be.

While out at a restaurant with her husband, Maggie Boynton was approached by a matronly Japanese waitress who offered to hold their fussy newborn daughter so that a couple could eat in peace.

“I was pretty shocked,” Boynton shared with People Magazine. “I don’t think I’ve ever had a stranger offer to hold my baby before. At first, I hesitated—like, should I let her? But she seemed so genuine and sweet. You just have that intuition when someone truly wants to help.”

While nothing in general was going wrong per se, Boynton, who shared the video of the waitress cradling their daughter on TikTok to the tune of 2 million views, said that flying across so many time zones is already quite the drain—as is looking after a newborn, and the two together had worn her out.

“Even just 10 minutes for us to enjoy our meal was all I needed,” to recover, she wrote in a caption on the TikTok video.

On a practical note, chopsticks are not ideal eating utensils if there’s an infant squirming around in your arms.

@maggieeboynton

Can’t explain how much this truly meant to me.♬ What Was I Made For? (Epilogue) [Instrumental Version] - Mark Ronson & Andrew Wyatt

“It’s crazy how much you take for granted—just being able to eat without worrying about spilling on your baby or juggling everything at once. That small gesture felt like such a weight off my shoulders,” Boynton felt.

Maggie Boynton and her husband with their daughter in front of Mount Fuji – credit Maggie Boynton, retrieved from TikTok

Japan in general was very baby-friendly, and from nursing areas in various public places to bassinets on board the flight, the whole trip was very accommodating to the couple and their little sprout.

Boynton suggests going to Japan at any possible opportunity, and said the fact that they were traveling with a newborn was no problem.“Keep calm and know that no one else is thinking about your baby being fussy as much as you are. Your baby feeds off your energy, so staying grounded can make such a difference,” she said. Japanese Woman Offers to Hold New Mother’s Baby so Exhausted Travelers Can Finish Their Meal – (WATCH)

Read More........→September 24, 2025

Dozens of Disabled Californians Sail for the First Time to Experience the Weightlessness of the Water

Credit photographer Larry Rosa – at Challenged Athletes Foundation event

Physical limitations were off-limits for a blessed and windy day in Sacramento, California.

Dozens of people with various disabilities came down to the Lake Washington Sailing Club to experience the weightlessness of the water.

They used boats that were specifically designed not to tip over, and special rigging for the sails was on hand for those with hands to take control of their surroundings in a unique and new way.

The event was put on by the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF), which ensured every participant was accompanied by a sailing pro.

“We have people that sail with no upper arm or leg movement sail with a control, motor control like a wheelchair, that they hook onto their chin,” Jim Tweet, a member of the sailing club who partook in the day’s events.

A polio survivor named Diane Ngo was one of over a dozen who experienced sailing for the first time.

Her attitude was straightforward: bring it on.

“Anything that challenges me to go beyond my comfort zone is why I’m here,” Ngo told CBS News Sacramento. She found that just being on the water and feeling the ability to move around was “exciting.”

“CAF is awesome, it changed my life,” said Minh Nguyen, a participant at the sailing clinic.The event was open to all ages and the youngest participant was just 11. Dozens of Disabled Californians Sail for the First Time to Experience the Weightlessness of the Water

Read More........→August 04, 2025

Love is good for health

By Cena, Although it sounds funny or weird, studies and experiments have demonstrated a closerelationship between health and love. It has been shown that the bonds offriendship, love and affection, enhance health and happiness. Some of the benefits of love on health are: improving attention, motivation and memory. There is a significant reduction in anxiety, stress and depression. Strengthens the immune system, dispels wrinkles and low levels of hypertension. Here are some findings that relate to health and love: 

• (1) Strengthens the immune system. Biochemical reactions experienced by the body of a person when being in love help improve health and help to "strengthen the immune system," according to experts. With love our quality of life is better and tend to get sick less, and that negative feelings are outweighed by the positive and our body works better. 
• (2) Influences on the rapid recovery. We have seen that sick people who have someone to love them and watch for them, have a faster recovery than patients who have no affection from anyone. (3) Improves quality of life. We are more likely to get sick and depressed when we have problems and we are alone. However, the love we prolong life. Being loved makes problems feel lighter with the support of others.  
• (4) Energy and stress. According to experts, the emotional well it feels like to be able to give love and helping others makes people feel more energy and fighting stress. 
• (5) A feeling of great comfort. From the endocrinological point of view, love brings change for the better. As Jesus says Dr. Rocca, Ricardo Palma Clinic, "the first thing you are beta releases endorphins that trigger when you're in love, and are responsible for the feeling of great comfort.  (6) Love rejuvenates. "The hormones, the nervous system and skin, forming a narrow triangle, so the separation of estrogen in women improves hair, nails, skin," says Sandro Tucto dermatologist. 
• (7) Fewer doctor visits. Another study found that couples who have spent more time together, make fewer doctor visits. The psychiatrist Enrique Galli said that "stable relationships get colds less than singles, while elderly couples suffer less pain than the lonely elderly. This is due to segregation of hormones that allow for greater resistance to pain. " 
• (8) Making love, health benefits. Keeping sexually active and safe, influences our physical and emotional state is very important to our overall health. It is scientifically proven that people who frequently make love, get sick less and are happier. The list of health benefits that are attributed to sex as therapeutic activity include: well-being, improves self-esteem, makes you look younger, is a natural pain reliever, improves interpersonal relationships, reduces snoring, strengthens immune system, increases energy, relieves symptoms of depression, anxiety and psychosomatic disorders. So now you know, since love helps heal, self-medication is recommended a good dose of love every day to live healthy and happy. Source: Forum Human Health, Image: flickr.com

Read More........→July 24, 2025

Physical Activity and Sedentary Lifestyle Have Greater Impact on Lifespan Than Our Genes

Shakespeare once wrote “The fault, dear Brutus, lies not in our stars, but in ourselves.”

Concurring with the Bard, a recent paper in the journal Human Kinetics shows that the ratio between physical activity and sedentary activity has a greater impact on lifespan and healthspan than our genetic makeup.

The study was conducted with 5,446 older women who were separated into three groups relative to what was termed their genetic risk factor, or GRS, which was measured by a small selection of single-nucleotide polymorphisms that are well-known to affect longevity.

The authors point out that a sort of layman’s understanding of genetics and their importance in human health and well-being is a poor marker for the truth.

They cite studies which show that genes related to physical fitness had no bearing on the normal association between physical activity and coronary artery disease, and another that showed relationships between physical activity and cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s were not influenced by a person’s APOE-4 status—APOE-4 being a genetic mutation that is known to be commonly present in Alzheimer’s patients.

Perhaps with the advent of gene-modification technology like CRISPR, and the greatly reduced cost of doing genetic analysis along with the extension of this technology to the general population for familial history through products like 23 and Me or Prometheus, more people are spending more time focusing on their genes as a kind of Magic 8 Ball.

It’s not uncommon to hear people blame “bad genes” for any combination or number of health disruptions, but evidence is beginning to show that, as Shakespeare wrote, the fault is in ourselves, not our stars.

The study in older women boasts “a large, diverse, and well-characterized cohort of older women across the United States with long-term follow-up,” as the authors describe it.

They found conclusively that “among older women, higher accelerometer-measured light [physical activity] was associated with lower risk of mortality, and higher accelerometer-measured [sedintary behavior] was associated with a higher risk of mortality during an average follow-up of 6.1 years,” and that “findings were consistent across categories of a GRS for longevity.”The authors then highlighted the necessity for communicating the importance of physical activity to older women. Physical Activity and Sedentary Lifestyle Have Greater Impact on Lifespan Than Our Genes

Read More........→July 24, 2025

Beard Styles for men

Beard can also change the appearance of face look. It increases your personality and makes you different from others. As many boys watch some other to have bearded and they try to adapt the same. But it is not necessary that a beard suits to one will also suit to you. Beard shape depends on the face’s shape. There are so many different type of beard that you can choose and apply to your face. The trim beard is in fashion and liked by many women. A man looks matured by keeping trimmed beard. Goatee beard is also popular. It is also called as French cut beard. This beard gives a unique identity to your personality. It makes you unique from rest. It is the best option to hide wrinkles on your chin. Handle Bar Moustache: This style is adopted by the guys whose have commanding personalities. Most of the army officers can be seen in this style. The wrestlers also keep such types of moustache. This type of moustache helps them to increase the confidence level. So, keeping beard is not a sign of rough personality these days. Go to a reputed salon and consult your barber and enjoy keeping the beard that suits to your face. Tips to maintain a beard: (1) The first thing when you are planning to keep a beard, it should be very clear that what the appearance you want for your face. See yourself in the mirror with keeping the idea to grow a beard. The beard should be according to your face shape. Before keeping a beard make sure that the beard will suit to your face or not.(2) If you are planning to keep a beard, stop shaving. I know, it is very easy to say, but difficult in practice. If you allow yourself to stop shave and let the beard to grow in full grace, it will help you to lot in selection of style. (3) Re-examine your face after weeks and weeks. Two weeks are more than enough. The disassembled beard on face can lost your face appearance in the beginning, but keep patience. Once you have full beard, then consult to beard parlor and go for proper style. (4) When you will re-examine your face, you can find the areas where hair grows more and best. These can be in the form of chest hair or sparse cheek growth. Re-examination of face will help to recognize the strengths and shape of hair. (5) Now there is time to give a shape to beard. Now you can go to the reputed beard parlor and consult with him that what type of beard will be suited to your face. It all depends upon your cheek growth, face shape, chin shape and also on mustache. (6) After selecting a style, allow the beard to grow with open mind. Thus by choosing the above mentioned tips, you can fulfill the dream to grow and maintain a beard, which make your appearance attractive. Source: Medley News, Image: flickr.com

Read More........→July 21, 2025

How to be Beautifil

In the world of beauty, it is important to let you know so that you stand above your feasible "competition". This is where smart beauty come in handy. This will help people to remember what lead to more customers or more candidates. Follow these tips to help you. Out from the rest Avoid commercial "body butter", the chemicals, dyes and additives. All natural walnut oil or peanut oil make great moisturizing body all-over. They are very cheap and are fragrance-free. If you want flavor, you can use the essential oil of your choice. After the bath, slather walnut or peanut oil on consuming. Wrap yourself in an old bathrobe and relax with a good book or a movie during treatment takes moisture in. Be a part of your beauty bag honey. Honey has many benefits for your skin and some of them have to eat like you. You can add honey to your current skin routine by using it with sugar to exfoliate the skin. Add your honey cream increases moisture retention. If you add honey to your shampoo, your hair is soft and shiny.Rub Vaseline on your cuticles once a week. To ensure that your nails will grow faster because it feeds your nails. It will also help keep your nails and cuticles look healthier. They are the results after the first time you try to see this as they almost immediately your nails look better. Try using an eye pencil instead of liquid eyeliner if you can. Eye pencils give less dramatic, while liquid eyeliner can. If you use liquid eyeliner, make sure that your cover down to remove one hand while. Their application with the other hand It is important that you buy a special remover if you use waterproof make-up. It is water resistant, it is more difficult to remove than normal make-up and requires more than water. Always remove your makeup before, so that the pores are blocked to bed. Her eyebrows are waxed professionally or trimmed. Eyebrows are often overlooked, but they can shape the face like nothing else. Flip through magazines and find eyebrow shapes that you think will suit you, and give them a professional so they have an idea of ​​what you are looking for. You will find that your eyebrows look more clean and your face looks even more impressive. To soothe skin inflammation rose and lavender are excellent ways to calm these areas. It may be a lotion or cream and can be used in any area of ​​the body. There are a number of products in the form of an organic and many have not been tested on animals. Instead of the fake eyelashes that may fall during the day, use an eyelash curler. An eyelash curler to curl your lashes up and away from your eyes, your eyes so that they appear larger. Make sure before the curlers, or you must submit a new application. Use a little Vaseline on an old toothbrush to brush on the lips. To do this, every day, and you will see a big improvement in the way your lips look and feel for themselves. Your lipstick will continue steady and your lips are much softer than they were. They are very happy with the results. When you fight an itchy scalp, itchy and flaky, you can yogurt to remove flakes and keep your scalp itch-free. Just a simple Greek yogurt or milk products massaged into your scalp, then let stand for 15 minutes. Once you flush, you will notice less flakes and itching. If you need to add extra oil on your T-zone, you can use blotters quickly give your face a dull appearance. These leaves often come in small packages, pocket-sized, many offered with rice or powder-free option. Packages are very cheap and can be plugged into your purse or drawer. Wipes in the same place you keep holding your makeup. Beauty experts rely on the removal wipes for quick fixes, if something goes wrong while applying makeup. You can quickly fix like a pro with minimal effort or investment. Make removal wipes part of your beauty routine. If you have an important appointment, special care with your perfume. Keep the scent light and airy so as not to overwhelm. You should put a small amount behind the ears and on the wrists. This will ensure that you feel great when you hug and shake hands at the meeting. Now do not you feel better after reading all this stuff? It was to read a lot of information, but at least now you know what to do and where to start your beauty regimen. In addition, you can always return to the above list of tips if you forget. Source: Makeup Spot, Image: flickr.com

Read More........→July 15, 2025

California Developer Builds First Neighborhood Where All the Homes Are Resistant to Wildfires

Dixon Trail wildfire-resistant neighborhood in CA – KB Homes

One of the nation’s largest homebuilders have created a community of entirely wildfire-resilient homes to help reduce homebuyers’ risks of loss if another Palisades or Dixie fire comes roaring by.

With nothing flammable on the exterior or the roofs and curated desert foliage around the gardens and lawns, the homes aren’t necessarily fireproof, but the design of the entire community was informed by identifying and eliminating the most common causes of homes catching fire.

Available now, and with some already off the market, KB Homes estimates their price at around $1 million, a price consistent with disaster-proof housing around the country.

The Eaton and Palisades fires struck with little warning and launched embers across highways and valleys setting multiple communities ablaze. The rising risk of wildfires in the rural areas of Southern California comes with rising insurance premiums, which result in rising rents, higher mortgages, etc.

In many cases, private insurers are declining to issue new policies for homes in areas at a high-risk for wildfires.

KB Home’s Dixon Trail community in Escondido, California is designed to the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety’s (IBHS) highest level of protection against direct flame contact, radiant heat, and embers, which helps to meaningfully reduce the likelihood of wildfire spread.

The Dixon Trail community will have 64 beautifully designed homes upon completion. It will receive a provisional neighborhood-level designation based on its design, confirming that the community has implemented preventative measures to reduce the likelihood of initial ignitions from an approaching wildfire, protect against embers that could spark spot fires, and slow fire spread if ignitions occur.

Research shows that these measures at the community level are key in preventing wildfires from becoming catastrophic. As a model of wildfire resiliency, Dixon Trail has incorporated research-backed mitigation actions into the design of its homesites, including the installation of Class A fire-rated roofs, noncombustible gutters, upgraded windows and doors, and ember and flame-resistant vents as well as the creation of a five-foot noncombustible buffer around structures.

At the neighborhood level, wildfire risk is reduced by separating almost all structures by more than 10 feet and decreasing potential fuels through the use of fire-resistant materials, like all-metal fence systems.

“With fire becoming an increasingly common threat in the West, it’s crucial to reconsider how we construct communities in fire-prone regions,” said IBHS CEO Roy Wright. “KB Home is at the forefront, implementing our research-driven wildfire mitigation strategies for both the parcel and neighborhood levels at Dixon Trail.”

Already set within a wind corridor, Dixon Trail is actually in a high-risk area for wildfires, particularly for wind-blown embers coming off the wooded slopes all around the community.Previously, GNN has reported on storm and hurricane-proof housing on and along the Gulf Coast, including durable, three-story homes with a community-level flood control system, and Deltec’s cylindrical houses mounted on stilts, which allow winds to pass around and under the structure without smashing into it. California Developer Builds First Neighborhood Where All the Homes Are Resistant to Wildfires

Read More........→June 24, 2025