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It is always said that you should not skip your breakfast as it can cause health problems like obesity or weight gain. However, it is a myth. There are many other myths about eating breakfast that we have busted. Find out below.

You must have heard that skipping your breakfast is not good for your health. As your stomach is empty for a long time before breakfast, so the first meal of the day should be the heaviest. At that moment, the sugar level in your body is also extremely low for being in the fasted state. So, breakfast should always be heaviest of all the three prime meals of a day. Researches also say that having a proper breakfast helps you to lose your weight. It provides you with all the important nutrients which are lacking due to the fasting period.

On the other hand, it is said that skipping breakfast is highly unhealthy because we are keeping our stomach empty for a longer period. And this also makes us eat more during lunch which directly contributes in weight gain. But are they really genuine? Is it really too bad to skip breakfast? Well, some advanced studies have started to question about this pattern. And they have also researched about breakfast and the effects of skipping it. Lets find out.

Effects of Skipping Breakfast: Is it bad for our health?

Breakfast eaters are healthier

It is often said that people who eat timely breakfast are healthier than others. But a recent study said that it is an observational study as it has been observed some people who eat breakfast regularly on a particular time. But its not rational to say that it's because of the breakfast. They must be living a healthy lifestyle. For example, they tend to workout regularly, dont smoke or drink that much and eat healthy, etc. And one should also add nutritious and fibre rich foods in the breakfast for staying healthy. These all together contribute in a persons health, not the breakfast alone. So, the bottom line is you need to maintain an overall healthy lifestyle. And it doesnt have anything to do with only the breakfast.

Does breakfast improve metabolism?

People believe that having healthy breakfast can boost their metabolism, which is a myth. There is no connection between breakfast and metabolism as metabolism depends a lot on the total amount of food that we consume throughout the day. Studies have shown that people who eat and skip breakfast burn the equal amount of calories.

Does skipping breakfast cause weight gain?

There is no evidence of it. Its natural to eat more during lunch if you have skipped your breakfast as it makes you more hungry and so you try to adjust it in your lunch. But the study shows, eating more at lunch cannot compensate for your breakfast. On the other hand, skipping breakfast can actually reduce your calorie intake on a day as you are removing an entire meal from your diet plan every day.

This has been experimented on overweight and obese people. Some of them have taken breakfast and some skipped it. There was no difference in their weight after the study was over. So, we really cannot rely on this point that having breakfast aids in weight loss.

Does skipping breakfast have any health benefits?

We are not allowed to eat breakfast in many intermittent fasting diet methods. This type of diet has shown to be effectively reducing calorie intake, aiding in weight loss and increasing body metabolism. But this fasting diet doesnt suit everyone. Some people get benefited with it, while others may experience headache, sugar fall, etc. So, talk to your dietician before starting the intermittent diet.

Breakfast can be optional

There are lot of myths associated with breakfast. But skipping it cannot make you gain weight overnight. And it is also not connected to increased metabolism rate. Breakfast is optional. But if you feel hungry in the morning and like to have something, then you can definitely eat some protein-rich foods like boiled eggs. The only thing is staying on an empty stomach for a long time may form gas which can cause acid. So, be careful about that.

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Breakfast Myths Busted: Skipping the first meal DOES NOT affect our health - PINKVILLA

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Apr 23rd, 2020 | Filed under Diet Effectively

Tyson Foods in Waterloo has announced they're closing their Waterloo pork processing plant indefinitely. The closure comes a day after KCRG reported the Black Hawk County Board of Health issued a proclamation asking Governor Kim Reynolds and Tyson Foods to close the Waterloo plant due to a COVID-19 outbreak.

In a morning statement, Tyson Fresh Meats Group President Steve Stouffer said,

Protecting our team members is our top priority and the reason weve implemented numerous safety measures during this challenging and unprecedented time. Despite our continued efforts to keep our people safe while fulfilling our critical role of feeding American families, the combination of worker absenteeism, COVID-19 cases and community concerns has resulted in our decision to stop production. The closure has significant ramifications beyond our company, since the plant is part of a larger supply chain that includes hundreds of independent farmers, truckers, distributors and customers, including grocers. It means the loss of a vital market outlet for farmers and further contributes to the disruption of the nations pork supply.

According to KWWL, Tyson Foods will continue to pay workers while the Waterloo plant is shut down. Tysonwill ask all of the approximate 2,800 people who work at the Waterloo facility to report to the plant to be tested for the virus.The first indicator of when the plant could reopen will be the results of those tests. Those are scheduled to happen later this week.

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Apr 23rd, 2020 | Filed under Diet Effectively

The egg industry is currently dealing with its fair share of challenges. With EU production outstripping consumption and prices being squeezed, producers are looking for more ways to improve the efficiency of their business.

Egg number and shell quality are always important measures but with many looking to increase the laying cycle of their birds and regular discussions surrounding reaching 500 eggs per bird, the role of layer gut health in production has never been more pertinent.

The laying hen can naturally continue to produce eggs for many years. However, her peak production will naturally decline with age. Photo: Shutterstock

Egg production for the laying hen is a taxing process in terms of energy expenditure and stress. Creating an egg is a biologically complex process. Initially, the yolk is released from the ovary and passes through the infundibulum, where the outer vitelline membrane is added. While in the magnum, the albumen is secreted. This then passes into the isthmus where the precursors to shell membranes are added. The shell gland is where the egg spends most of its time. This is the point where the shell is formed; consisting of the mammillae, the palisade layer and the transitional vertical crystal layer. The cuticle, a proteinaceous antimicrobial layer, is then added prior to oviposition. The eggshell is mainly composed of calcium carbonate (CaCo3) and protein, and offers the most protection.

It is necessary to define what precisely is meant by eggshell quality. Generally, a good quality shell is considered to be one that does not crack easily and, as a result, will reduce the number of seconds. However, increasing shell thickness does not necessarily improve quality; it is the structure of the shell that is crucial. Many enzymes and minerals are involved in the creation of the shell structure the mineral requirement of the bird is met through dietary supplementation. These are then digested, depending on structure, and absorbed in the small intestine via receptor-mediated uptake. If the bio-availability of the minerals in the diet and, hence, the concentration of minerals in the gut lumen is not optimum, then the bird will not have the correct amount of minerals present to create her egg.

Organic chelated minerals

One method for ensuring optimum bio-availability is to use organic chelated minerals in the diet. Multiple studies have shown their benefits on performance and shell quality.

Calciums imact on shell quality

Calcium is a crucial mineral component of the eggshell, being the cation of CaCo3. It is often presumed that increasing the amount of calcium in the diet will automatically lead to stronger shells. However, there is a very fine balance to be considered. Calcium, when dissolved in the gastrointestinal system, can interact with other minerals, reducing their absorption. This in turn can have a direct impact on other structural components of the egg, diminishing quality.

Creating an egg is a biologically complex process that needs a healthy hen with a healthy gut. Illustration: Alltech

In order for the hen to uptake her minerals effectively, she must have a healthy gut. Between 5080% of the immune system functions in some way through the gut. Such a high immune presence means that it is simple for defences to respond to both actual challenges and things that perhaps should not be eliciting a response.

Extra mucous means less mineral absorbion

Immune response in the gut generally takes the form of inflammation which produces additional mucous layers. Mucous provides an extra barrier for the minerals to pass through before being absorbed. This means that if an inflammatory response is underway, it is unlikely that the bird will receive its full mineral requirement, impacting eggshell structure and thus strength and quality.

Immuse response triggers

Many factors can trigger the immune system, such as mycotoxins, new diets and high levels of potentially pathogenic bacteria, known as dysbacteriosis. Having a balanced microbiome (the microbial population in the gut), will go a long way towards preventing dysbacteriosis and in many studies has been shown to aid in modulating the immune system, reducing the impact on absorption.

Gut Health Special:Managing gut health is very complex with many parameters to consider. This special issue covering monogastrics and ruminants highlights specie-specific topics.

Microbiome is development

In a natural setting the microbiome is developed from the mother as the chick is raised in the nest. Our modern production systems mean that this does not happen and so the creation and maintenance of the microbiome needs to be taken into account in management practices. Many producers have been successful in improving gut health and the microbiome through the implementation of Alltechs Seed, Feed, Weed programme to manage the composition of the intestinal microbial community. This involves accelerating the evolution of the microbial community to a steady state and then maintaining the status quo. By seeding the gut with favourable organisms, feeding the favourable organisms and weeding out the unfavourable organisms, this will help to improve shell quality.

Calcium impact on gut health

Overly elevated levels of calcium can also significantly impact gut health. In an aqueous solution, calcium becomes alkaline and so can neutralise the acids produced in the proventriculus and gizzard. These acids are the first step in protein digestion and if this is impaired, protein can pass into the small intestine. Bacteria in the intestine are then able to use this as a substrate for fermentation. Dysbiosis and associated issues can then occur.

The laying hen can naturally continue to produce eggs for many years. However, her peak production will naturally decline with age. Genetic advances in recent years have allowed birds to produce nearly one egg per day, from week 18 to week 75. But, due to the push for large eggs which come at end of lay, this period is now being extended to 80 or more weeks in some cases. As the laying period is lengthened this will put more stress on the bird, as she must create a metabolically rich egg while also maintaining her body weight and dealing with any additional challenges from the environment that may impact the immune system.

It is worth noting that if the energy requirements of the bird are not being met, at a certain point her body will shut down the reproductive system that was producing the eggs in favour of supporting her body weight and providing energy for vital bodily systems. Maintaining and promoting gut health in flocks increases villi height, reduces villi:crypt ratio and improves tight junctions between cells. Consequently, as already discussed, certain gut health supplements can help support immune function and also promote factors such as villi development. Villi with improved height will have more surface area and, therefore, can absorb more nutrients to sustain the hen for longer laying cycles. Improving tight junctions will prevent bacteria from becoming translocated into the bloodstream. This is a common issue in stressed birds and can lead to a multitude of problems in the worst case, diseases like Colisepticemia. Disease and minor inflammation in the gut caused by dysbacteriosis will cause energy expenditure on powering the immune system which will prevent the hen from converting that energy into eggs.

As previously noted, producers are coming under pressure. They are looking for ways to help their birds to continue to lay more, ideally from less. Improving the gut health of birds in lay will enable them to absorb a greater proportion of their feed, meaning that less is going to waste in the faeces. Quality food will help layers to produce quality eggs, but the best results come with good gut health. If the bird is not able to absorb the necessary nutrients, her egg production will suffer. Studies have looked at the impact improved gut health has had on laying rate, with benefits seen in laying intensity, egg weight and feed conversion.

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The greatest ally in egg production - Poultry World

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Apr 23rd, 2020 | Filed under Diet Effectively

By Dr C Hemavathi

Mysuru, April 23:- Nature has blessed mankind with abundant medicinal herbs which provide timely and adequate remedies to several health disorders. The medicinal herbs enable the people to boost their immunity in times of health crisis like novel coronavirus. The people are required to know the new concepts of quarantine and self-isolation while trying to make use of medicinal herbs which boost immunities. It is necessary to understand the correlation among medicinal herbs, immune system and COVID-19 in the present times.

Immune system

When a pathogen breaches the bodys barriers, the immune system churns out a variety of immune molecules to fight it off. The infected cells make the ultimate sacrifice and invite their own destruction by displaying distress signals for T-cells, which swiftly detect and kill them. T-cells are cytotoxic powerful serial killers that can recognise peptide fragments of virus displayed on the infected cell surface. They release a payload of toxic enzymes that kill the infected cell in a kiss of death. This strategic martyrdom is organised by the immune system to deprive the virus of its replication factories. It also leads to the reduction of viral load in the patient. It takes several days for antiviral T-cells to expand and generate the antibodies.

Vaccination alone does not guarantee immunity. Natural immunity happens only after the recovery from the actual disease. The microorganism usually passes through many of the bodys natural immune defence systems in the nose, throat, lungs, digestive tract and lymph tissue before it reaches the bloodstream. The immune system remains sound when people are healthy. They are able to fight off infections faster and better. The immune system becomes weaker and more susceptible to fighting off infection in the absence of sound health. People focus on a Mediterranean style of eating, which contains a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats, found in foods such as fatty fish, nuts and olive oil. This eating pattern is high in nutrients such as vitamin C, zinc and other antioxidants. They help to reduce inflammation and fight infection. Adults between the ages of 65 and 79 who followed a Mediterranean type of diet, along with taking a daily 400 IU vitamin D supplement for a year, showed a marginal increase in disease-fighting cells such as T cells. It is important to limit meat, especially processed and fried foods which are more inflammatory.

Medicinal Herbs and Immune System

Scientists have focused on preventive measures and explored health remedies. Ayurveda experts have emphasised that medicinal herbs such as Kutki, Emblica, Tinosporacordifolia, Amla, Giloy, Shilajit, Garlic, Basil, Turmeric, Ginger, Ashwagandha, Neem, etc., are helpful in strengthening the immune system to fight against the deadly virus. Chawanprash also enhances immunity and prevents the spread of the virus. Strong immunity is necessary to fight any kind of foreign body or disease. Coronavirus primarily affects the lungs and the respiratory system. Chawanprash also enhances the immunity of the lungs and the respiratory system. The Ayurvedic herbs are helpful in building immunity and preventing the infection.

Kutki is widely used in Ayurvedic and Unani traditional medicine systems in India since the rhizomes are valued for their effectiveness as an antibiotic. The rhizome of a plant is also used in the treatment of high blood pressure, intestinal pain, eye disease, gastritis, bile disease, sore throats, blood and lung fever.

Emblica is a well-known herb in the Ayurveda. It is used to treat disorders of the liver and upper respiratory tract, chronic diarrhoea and scorpion sting. Emblica exhibits strong antioxidant activity. It is one of the most important plants in the traditional Ayurveda medical system for immune-modulatory, anti-inflammatory, antiulcer, hepatic protective and anticancer actions.

Guduchi is used for diabetes, high cholesterol, allergic rhinitis (hay fever), upset stomach, gout, lymphoma and other cancers, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), hepatitis, peptic ulcer disease (PUD), fever, gonorrhoea, syphilis, and to boost the immune system.

Basil is duly recognised as a holy herb in Indian mythology. The practical significance comes from the actual health applications of the herb which is recommended as first aid in the treatment of respiratory, digestive and skin diseases. The highly promising immune modulator, cytoprotective and anticancer agent in the treatment of diseases are also explored.

Garlic also helps fight cold and flu. It reduces the chances of illness and facilitates early recovery from diseases. Regularly eating garlic may help prevent the common cold or the flu. Garlic can also substantially reduce the severity of symptoms of illness and expedites the recovery. Garlic contains compounds that help the immune system fight against the germs which is called allicin, the main active ingredient in garlic. Allicin contains sulfur, which gives garlic its distinctive smell and taste which is unstable boost the disease-fighting response of some types of white blood cells in the body when they encounter viruses, which cause the common cold or flu.

Turmericis a flowering plant filled with Curcumin, vitamin C, magnesium and potassium. It is used to treat some forms of cancer. It is known as a preventive mechanism in times of disease (and viruses). It can be used as a spice. It can be cultivated during humid with warm weather and significant rain conditions.

Gingercontains anti-inflammatory, anti-emetic, and antispasmodic properties which are obtained largely from its rhizome. It is known for native treatment during pain like arthritis and indigestion. It lowers blood pressure, blood sugar and prevents infection with the use of fresh root for best results.

Ashwagandha(Indian Ginseng) is well known for increasing the immune system through a substantial rise in energy and longevity in times of health crisis. The roots of the plant are turned into powder and used for cardiovascular problems, high cholesterol and stress management. The roots are also used for making tea which has medicinal value.

The historical legacy of the medicinal plants which are known for boosting the immune system during illness or health crisis requires a proper understanding by the doctors and uses. However, conscious efforts need to be made to properly identify, recognise and position medicinal plants in the design and implementation of these strategies. The core approaches surveillance, outbreak investigations and immunisation are fundamental to the prevention of communicable diseases.

Conclusion

There are certain ways to boost the immune system such as active life, physical exercise, healthy diet, stress-free life, relaxation and sound sleep which resist infections faster and better. The immune system needs proper rest to function effectively. Sound sleep reboots the immune system. There is no magic herb which can automatically prevent a cold, flu or other viruses. A moderate daily dose of vitamin D offers protection to the human body. Practically, the medicinal herbs play a supplementary role in developing the immune system and fighting the viruses including COVID-19 which has assumed alarming proportions in the present times.

(Dr C Hemavathi is Associate Professor and Head, Department of Botany, Government First Grade College for Women, Vijaynagar 4th Stage, Mysuru)

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Medicinal herbs, immune system and COVID-19 - citytoday

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Apr 23rd, 2020 | Filed under Diet Effectively

April 22, 2020, marks the completion of 50 years since the first Earth Day was celebrated in 1970, which kick-started the modern environmental movement to demonstrate support for nature. The planets largest civic event, this international day calls for a unified opposition against environmental ignorance and demands better, healthier ways forward for our planet.

This year, the theme for Earth Day is climate action. The vast array of issues caused by climate change, and the action that can be taken to slow it down, have been identified as the most pressing topics of discussion for the 50th anniversary.

For successful climate action, the world needs to collectively change its current ways, and make large-level functional and policy changes to reduce global emissions. However, small-scale actions cannot be ignored either. By altering everyday habits and modifying day-to-day behaviour, everyone can take significant, much-needed individual action towards mitigating climate change.

At present, a majority of the global population remains indoors due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. While at home, there are several things people can do to reduce their personal carbon footprint (the amount of greenhouse gases they emit), effectively lessening their contribution to global warming and climate change.

This Earth Day, we bring you four things one can do to contribute towards climate action right at home:

1. Avoid and replace plastic

File photo: Rampant usage of banned plastic bags in a vegetable market in Aurangabad, Maharashtra

The report Plastic & Climate, published last year, estimated that on a global level, the production and incineration of plastic would pump out more than 85 crore tonnes of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere in 2019. And by 2050, those emissions could rise to 280 crore tonnes!

These statistics clearly indicate just how big a contributor plastic is to climate change, and why it is absolutely crucial to avoid it as much as possibleespecially single-use plastic items and products that come in similar plastic packaging. In addition to several other environmental problems that plastics pose, their contribution to growing emissions makes them the primary target in the battle against climate change.

While plastic is literally everywhere, multiple alternatives to plastic do exist. In fact, it is possible to replace almost all the every-day plastic objects at your home with alternatives made of stainless steel, glass, cloth, wood, pottery & ceramics, paper, cardboard, fibre, etc. For more details on these alternatives, check out our comprehensive list here.

However, it is important to note that this replacement of plastic with its alternatives needs to be a smart and gradual process. Replacing and throwing away durable plastic items, which could have ideally been used for months and years, would simply be counterproductive. Remember, the whole point is to avoid sending plastic to landfills.

2. Compost your waste

Representational image

Speaking of landfills, did you know that all waste that gets there doesnt necessarily have to? Typically, all of our waste gets to these dumping grounds, where it just sits, decomposes, and produces methanea greenhouse gas thats 28 times more potent than carbon dioxide.

However, it is possible to drastically reduce this emission by using a smarter and healthier way to dispose of our own waste: composting.

Instead of throwing our food waste outboth wet and dryit can be composted indoors, in composting containers. A plethora of information and tutorials as to how this can be done exist on the internet.

The composting process, in a matter of weeks, can transform our waste materials into rich, organic manure, known as humus, which can be used as a natural fertilizer to grow plants, flowers, and vegetables.

Moreover, apart from reducing methane emissions, composting also offers you the benefit of saving money and resources, improves the quality of your soil, extends the life of landfills, and reduces the strain on waste-management officials.

3. Modify your diet

Vegetables for sale at a market

Yes, thats right! You can literally reduce your carbon footprint by watching what you eatall you need to do is reduce your consumption of meat and dairy products.

According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the livestock that provides us with meat, milk, and eggs is collectively responsible for almost 15% of global greenhouse gas emissions. The greenhouse gases they produce mainly include methane, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide. Replacing meat and dairy consumption, with plant-based food can effectively reduce the overall emissions caused by this industry.

Moreover, eating locally grown, fresh food can also reduce transportation and storage related emissions drastically.

4. Conserve electricity

A kid hangs wet clothes to dry in the heat

The generation of electricity through the combustion of fossil fuels is among the biggest sources of carbon dioxide emission around the world. Therefore, if enough people start using electricity wisely at their respective homes, it is possible to lower the overall demand and effectively lower fossil fuel emissions.

For starters, the most basic way to reduce electricity consumption is to use electrical appliances and devices only when necessary, and switch them off when not in use.

On the other hand, the best way to conserve electricity (and save money!) is to harness the power of nature instead of using electrical devices whenever possible. These methods can be smart and innovative, ranging from keeping windows open instead of using air conditioners for ventilation, to using the Suns heat instead of a dryer to dry your clothes. Alternative devices that function on solar and wind energy are also ideal.

When appliance use is unavoidable, it is best to use electricity-efficient devices that demand the least amount of power to functionsomething that can be determined via the power-saving rating labels on these appliances. The less electricity you consume, the smaller your electrical and carbon footprint will be.

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Earth Day 2020: Four Ways to Fight Climate Change From Your Home - The Weather Channel

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Apr 23rd, 2020 | Filed under Diet Effectively

It is important to recognize our bodies as a complex system of systems, each influencing the other in a dynamic orchestration which cannot be described as anything but divine.

When aware of how systems interplay with each other, we can feel empowered to make choices that create a more robust overall system, and realize that this confers improved immunity, a relaxed nervous system, optimized digestion, and more.

There is an especially dynamic interplay between the immune and nervous systems. A successful innate immune response is pivotal in maintaining the delicate balance between health and disease; an insufficient response results in infection, whereas an excessive response results in prolonged inflammation and tissue damage. Alterations in the state and function of the nervous system influence the immune response. The nervous system regulates innate immune responses through the release of neurotransmitters, neuropeptides and neurohormones.

The immune system and the nervous system maintain extensive communication with nerves from both the sympathetic (fight, flight or freeze) and the parasympathetic (rest, digest and heal) nervous systems to lymph tissue and organs all over the body. Neurotransmitters regulate immune function while the immune system modulates brain behavior. The same molecules that modulate the T cells of the immune system also facilitate development of neuronal connections.

From fever to stress, the influence of one system on the other has evolved in an intricate manner to help sense danger and to mount an appropriate adaptive response. Over recent decades, reasonable evidence has emerged that these brain-to-immune interactions are highly modulated by psychological factors which influence immunity and immune system-mediated disease.

One choice that we make multiple times a day what we eat has a very significant impact on every system in the body. Understanding how nutrition can influence your system can be positively motivating to make healthier choices because now you understand the why.

When we are faced with fear and anxiety, we often feel helpless that we have the power to do anything about it. This couldnt be farther from the truth. What you eat has be scientifically proven to improve your bodys response to stress, which will in turn positively impact immunity. Heres what to focus on:

Omega-3s: Proven to lower overall cortisol levels and balance inflammation. Omega-3s and turmeric: Elevate brain-derived neurotrophic factor which helps increase brain plasticity, helps the synapses to fire more effectively, protects neurons helping to repair and maintain neural circuits important for learning and memory Vitamin C: Reduces physical reactivity to stress and lowers basal cortisol over time. Important co-factor in stress response.Magnesium: Decreases excess levels of cortisol and adaptation to physical stress. In people struggling with insomnia, research has shown it can decrease overall cortisol burden and improve sleep.B vitamins: Help with adaptation to stress. They are co-factors in entire stress response and neurotransmitter production. B vitamins enhance nerve cell communication and protect nerves. They are involved in production of energy, synthesis of steroid hormones (like cortisol) and normal function of adrenal glands.Trace minerals: Important co-factors in the nervous system and essential to production of neurotransmitters, especially copper.Reservatrol: Found in red wine, berries, and grapes and highly protective not just of the brain, but the heart and kidneys too. Assists mitochondrial function (the literal powerhouse of your cells) by improving neuron function and reducing oxidative stress. Just as dietary experts now emphasize eating patterns over single nutrients, its not that one diet works better for the nervous system and others for the rest of the body. But rather, a well-balanced approach including not overeating is the key to optimal health for all of your systems.

Nicola Dehlinger is a naturopathic doctor at Pura Vida Natural Healthcare in Durango. She can be reached at 426-1684 or http://www.puravidahealthcare.com.

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Apr 23rd, 2020 | Filed under Diet Effectively

For a few years now, scientists at Washington University have been working on techniques to turn stem cells into pancreatic beta cells as a way of addressing insulin shortages in diabetics. After some promising recent strides, the team is now reporting another exciting breakthrough, combining this technique with the CRISPR gene-editing tool to reverse the disease in mice.

The pancreas contains what are known as beta cells, which secrete insulin as a way of tempering spikes in blood-sugar levels. But in those with diabetes, these beta cells either die off or dont function as they should, which means sufferers have to rely on diet and or regular insulin injections to manage their blood-sugar levels instead.

One of the ways scientists are working to replenish these stocks of pancreatic beta cells is by making them out of human stem cells, which are versatile, blank slate-like cells that can mature into almost any type of cell in the human body. The Washington University team has operated at the vanguard of this technology with a number of key breakthroughs, most recently with a cell implantation technique that functionally cured mice with diabetes.

The researchers are continuing to press ahead in search of new and improved methods, and this led them to the CRISPR gene-editing system, which itself has shown real promise as a tool to treat diabetes. The hope was that CRISPR could be used to correct genetic defects leading to diabetes, combining with the stem cell therapy to produce even more effective results.

As a proof of concept, the scientists took skin cells from a patient with a rare genetic type of diabetes called Wolfram syndrome, which develops during childhood and typically involves multiple insulin injections each day. These skin cells were converted into induced pluripotent stem cells, which were in turn converted into insulin-secreting beta cells. But as an additional step, CRISPR was used to correct a genetic mutation that causes Wolfram syndrome.

These edited beta cells were then pitted against non-edited beta cells from the same batch in test tube experiments and in mice with a severe type of diabetes. The edited cells proved more efficient at secreting insulin and when implanted under the skin in mice, reportedly caused the diabetes to quickly disappear. The rodents that received the unedited beta cells remained diabetic.

This is the first time CRISPR has been used to fix a patients diabetes-causing genetic defect and successfully reverse diabetes, said co-senior investigator Jeffrey R. Millman. For this study, we used cells from a patient with Wolfram syndrome because, conceptually, we knew it would be easier to correct a defect caused by a single gene. But we see this as a stepping stone toward applying gene therapy to a broader population of patients with diabetes.

The researchers are now continuing to work on improving the beta cell production technique, which in the future could involve cells taken form the blood or even urine, rather than the skin. They believe that further down the track this therapy could prove useful in treating both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, by correcting mutations that arise from genetic and environmental factors, and possibly be used to treat other conditions, as well.

We basically were able to use these cells to cure the problem, making normal beta cells by correcting this mutation, said co-senior investigator Fumihiko Urano. Its a proof of concept demonstrating that correcting gene defects that cause or contribute to diabetes in this case, in the Wolfram syndrome gene we can make beta cells that more effectively control blood sugar. Its also possible that by correcting the genetic defects in these cells, we may correct other problems Wolfram syndrome patients experience, such as visual impairment and neurodegeneration.

The research was published in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

Source: Washington University

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Apr 23rd, 2020 | Filed under Diet Effectively

This years Earth Day (April 22) falls during what has been repeatedly referred to as an unprecedented time in history.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the entire world, with global economies thrown into uncertainty and businesses forced to slow down or halt operations completely.

However, it would appear that the coronavirus outbreak has had some unexpected environmental benefits, with reports of reduced pollution levels and emissions as a result of decreased traffic and industrial waste.

Bdaily reached out to the business community to ask what it feels should be firms main priorities for sustainability in 2020 and beyond.

Kai Feller, CEO and founder of Bark.com

Its the 50th anniversary of Earth Day and its now more important than ever to ask ourselves as small business owners, what is our impact on the environment?

Furthermore, what is its impact on us? With the COVID-19 outbreak being the global priority its easy to forget about other pressing issues, however, climate change is still impacting us and businesses across the world need to have this matter front-of-mind.

Physical distancing has forced organisations of all sizes to adapt to remote and virtual ways of working - weve seen a spike in requests for web designers as more and more businesses make the journey from offline to online.

Entrepreneurs are now more geographically dispersed than ever, increasingly setting up their own businesses from rural areas.

This global migration to digital has created a significant drop in the amount of people commuting and travelling for business, its opened up a lot of opportunity to demonstrate how we effectively manage remote/virtual working.

Weve proven that we can work in a more eco-friendly way and showcased how quickly we can cut down our carbon footprint when push comes to shove. If theres one thing that businesses should take from this otherwise disruptive situation - it is the ability to work more sustainably and help prevent climate change.

Grace Regan, founder of SpiceBox

I started SpiceBox because I wanted to help make a positive impact on the world, therefore sustainability through the core of the business. This starts with our food, which is 100 per cent vegan.

A vegan diet can reduce a persons carbon footprint by up to 73 per cent so there are serious environmental benefits to eating more plants! At SpiceBox, we dont intend to turn anyone vegan, but rather show people how delicious plant-based food can be and encourage them to eat a few more vegan meals a week. Spices are a great way to get the most out of vegetables!

I am also conscious that veganism isnt a silver bullet. The use of pesticides and fertilizers in industrial agriculture is a huge environmental problem. This is why weve committed to making 50 per cent of the SpiceBox plate organic. We are well on our way to achieving this.

The restaurant industry produces a lot of waste, from food, to clingfilm, to takeaway packaging. Producing all these materials creates harmful emissions and so we need to ensure we extend the life cycle of these materials as much as possible.

We therefore recycle 75 per cent of all our waste and send nothing to landfill (what cant be recycled is burnt for energy). Its our goal to get this up to 80 per cent this year and a personal dream of mine to become a fully circular curry house!

In short, I dont think you can have a business in 2020 without taking responsibility for its impact on the environment. Business can be a huge force for good and can play a significant role in helping reverse the climate crisis, as long as consumers, investors and leaders keep applying the pressure!

David Craig, CEO of Refinitiv

The pandemic is clearly providing humanity with a reset moment: a stark reminder about our fragility as a species and a sharp lesson about what happens when we mess with nature.

It is also a moment when the old rules about the role of the state no longer apply. We can therefore attack the twin challenges of COVID-19 and climate change simultaneously, not sequentially.

After all, when again will we be at a moment when governments are injecting such unprecedented sums into the economy just as the world needs up to $7 trillion a year of renewable investments to hit 2030 development and climate targets.

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Apr 23rd, 2020 | Filed under Diet Effectively

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Wartime language is creeping into the waypeople talk about the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, with the response sometimesdescribed as a war on disease and Donald Trump remarking that heconsiders himself a wartimepresident. This is not just rhetoric, as it invites a significant changein how governments handle the issue. Like almost all other countries, Japan is affectedby the pandemic, and while Tokyo (understandably) does not invoke warfighting languageto frame its efforts against the disease, it has still taken some extraordinarysteps to face the challenges posed by the virus including deploying the SelfDefense Forces (SDF) as one of the primary responders for the outbreak. Japanhas used its military vessels for global health missions for the past decade,and the COVID-19 response has presented an opportunity to display thiscapability to the public. It may even pave the way for the SDF to acquire itsown hospital ship, a goal that has been so far blocked by budgetary issues andpublic ambivalence.

Japans first incident of COVID-19infection was detected on January 14, and the Ministry of Defense (MOD) becameinvolved in supporting the Ministry of Health (MHLW) just two weeks later. OnJanuary 31, Defense Minister Kono Taro announced the deployment ofthe SDF to respond to COVID-19, with the Private-Finance-Initiative (PFI) ship Hakuo being ordered to serve astemporary accommodation for returnees of chartered flights from Wuhan. PFI is agovernment structure in which private companies manage facilities on behalf ofthe public on-demand; in this case, the MOD utilized a privately-owned ship, theHakuo, for public usage, namely accommodatingreturnees from the virus-stricken region. Upon their return to Japan, however, passengerswere sent to regular hotels rather than to the Hakuo for their quarantine stay, with 40 SDF personnel being sentto several hotels to assist the needs of returnees. Since February 6,however, following the MODs decision to send SDF assistance for the stricken Diamond Princess cruise ship, Hakuo was used both as accommodation andas an operational base for the SDF. This included 5 SDF doctors and 40 SDFpersonnel who were sent to care for 61 infected patients on board, where theyran tests on suspected patients, conducted health checkups, provided food and water,and transferred infected patients to hospitals for further treatment.

By February10, the total number of infected patients from the Diamond Princess had risen to 135. Following this surge, MODdecided to increase the number of SDF personnel deployed to assist the ship. Inaddition to 5 doctors already working on the cruise liner, 3 pharmacists were deployedalong with 62 personnel on-board and 69 on the ground to assist in the COVID-19response. Notably, pharmacists were sent to the cruise ship to assist the needsof healthy passengers due to the prolonged quarantine period, many passengersran out of their everyday medications, so SDF doctors and pharmacistsprescribed medication to ensure healthy passengers remained healthy. In otherwords, the SDF responded to this public health crisis not only by responding toinfected patients but also by preventing healthy passengers from becoming ill. Atthe peak, around 240 SDF personnel per day were deployedto assist the COVID-19 response, and the SDF completed its mission on the Diamond Princess on March 3.

Though it may be a surprise that the SDF hasacted as a primary driver in Japans COVID-19 response, the SDF has in factbeen involved in health-related missions for over a decade. Generally, the SDFis much better known for its disaster relief efforts than for its work onglobal health, with the most prominent example of this being the Great EastJapan earthquake in 2011 after which the SDF provided basic human needs (food,water, housing) and hygiene care (bathrooms and showers) to the affected.

Since 2007, Tokyo has been a part of anon-combat joint military exercise called Pacific Partnership,where the participating militaries provide medical assistance across the AsiaPacific region. Through this mission, Japan has developed experience ineffectively providing medical assistance through the SDF. These missions havearguably also taught Japan the enormous potential of what hospital ships can do not only responding to global health crises, but also allowing the forceswhich operate them to win hearts and minds among affected populations.

Reflecting on the constant challenge posedby disasters and on lessons learned from the Pacific Partnership, JapansCabinet Office established a committee in 2011 to explore the possibility of operatinga hospital ship in the near future. The committee published a reportsummarizing its considerations in 2013, wherein they implicitly discouraged thegovernment from operating a hospital ship due to budgetary concerns. Thecommittee instead suggested using the PFI ships, which they considered to be a morecost-effective option than building one from scratch.

In November 2014, following the report bythe Cabinet Office, a simulated hospital ship exercisewas conducted using the aforementioned PFI ship Hakuo. Since then, Hakuo hasbeen called into action several times, including responding to the Kumamoto earthquake in2016, the Hiroshimaflooding in 2018, and the Hokkaidoearthquake in 2018. However, the COVID-19 response was the first time the shipwas used in a disease-related setting.

Even so, the COVID-19 response was framedas a disaster relief mission rather than a disease response because existinglaw does not provide for deployment of the SDF domestically for diseaseresponse. Japans SDF can only do what the law explicitly allows them to do, effectivelyeliminating the idea of easier to ask for forgiveness than to getpermission. If the SDF wishes to expand its remit to include new kinds ofresponse, they must justify its applicability under the current law or seek a changeto that law. When the urgency of action counts, as it does in the COVID-19crisis, there isnt time to seek an amendment to the law; their actions canonly be justified under existing frameworks.

Given that the Cabinet Office committeereport was published in 2013, however, there should have been more than enough timefor the Diet to make the necessary provisions to clarify the legal rules onhospital ships and the role the SDF can play in a public health crisis like thecurrent one. So, why didnt they do so? This was arguably a deliberatedecision. Framing the SDFs involvement in medical crisis response as a part ofits broader and well-appreciated disaster relief operations, rather than as anentirely new function of the SDF, may help mitigate the negative connotations whichsurround any expansion of Japans military capabilities. Given Japans imperiallegacy, such expansion is often perceived with skepticism both domestically andinternationally and as well as providing for assistance in health crises, hospitalships also have the potential to support soldiers at the frontlines. Japansimperial navy had 30 such hospital ships to complement its fightingcapabilities during the Pacific War. In that sense, placing the SDFs globalhealth operations under the umbrella of disaster relief could give theimpression that the hospital ship is not something that has the potential to beused in a coercive manner. Moreover, not changing the law allows the governmentto introduce changes while avoiding political controversy. Through the SDFsstrong commitment to the COVID-19 response, however, the discussion has moved afew steps forward; on March 5, a cross-partisan coalition group, including theincumbent majority LDP, petitionedthe cabinet to secure a hospital ship by 2023.

Meanwhile, in Latin America, the United States and China have been competing with each other to win hearts and minds by sending their hospital ships and providing medical assistance. The hospital ship is now becoming an essential tool of great power competition. It is as yet unclear how the debate on the hospital ship and SDFs involvement in health will change, but if Japan wants to be a Proactive Contributor to Peace as Prime Minister Abe argues, and if it wants to compete with the United States and China on the same playing field, Japan must better articulate the laws surrounding the SDFs involvement in global health.

Hisashi Kato

Hisashi Kato is a PhD student at the University of Tokyo's Graduate School of Public Policy (GraSPP) where he focuses on comparative analysis of the U.S., Chinese, and Japanese military involvement in global health and how it shapes geopolitics. He earned his BA in politics from Gakushuin University and an MA in Public Policy from GraSPP where he was also a visiting student at the University of California San Diego's School of Global Policy & Strategy. His expertise is the global health diplomacy of Japan, and the latest work on this topic, "Japan's Health Diplomacy: Projecting Soft Power in the Era of Global Health," can be found in the journal Global Health Governance.

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The Self Defense Forces and Japan's COVID-19 Response - Tokyo Review

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Apr 21st, 2020 | Filed under Diet Effectively

Nobody cares about new movies right now. Theyre going straight to streaming, and no one cares. Name one new release aside from Pixars Onward. Name one new movie anybodys actually seen.

With the death of cinema and the movie theater experience on the horizon, its time to revisit some modern classics to remind us of when people actually enjoyed going to see movies. And in this time of massive upheaval, lets turn back the clock to the year 2000. Y2K and the prospect of a New Millenium led to a very mixed feeling entering the new century/decade, but that didnt stop it from being one of the best years for cinema.

Memento

Before The Dark Knight Trilogy, The Prestige, Inception, and Interstellar, Christopher Nolan burst onto the scene with his sophomore effort Memento, which despite its far more limited budget and smaller scale is still his best and most innovative film.

Based on a short story by Jonathan Nolanthe directors brother and frequent creative partnerthe mind-bending thriller follows Leonard Shelby, a man plagued by a rare condition: anterograde amnesia. Leonard knows who he is, what he was doing before his accident, and what hes afterthe home invader who raped and murdered his wife and gave him the head injury which caused his condition. But Leonard cant form new memories. He has resorted to obsessively documenting his steps, tattooing important information to his body, and photographing every important person he meets to ensure they are who they say they are. As Leonard attempts to track down his wifes attacker and get vengeance, it becomes increasingly clear things are not what they appearand Leonards sense of himself, even prior to his accident, is not so concrete.

Nolans film is profoundly brilliant. It is most famous for its structure, being told in two sets of sequences: a series of black-and-white scenes which play sequentially, and the main story color sequences which play in reverse order, with each black-and-white scene serving as a bookend. Both sets of sequences build towards a separate series of paradigm-shifting reveals, and this structure is more than just a gimmick: it allows an audience to really be in Leonards shoes, to experience the world and the unraveling mystery as he doesin 10-15 minutes increments without context for what has transpired before. Its a mystery told in reverse, being reconstructed from end to beginning (or is it the middle?thats for you to parse out yourselves) like a detective might have to.

Guy Pearce absolutely disappears into Leonard Shelby. Pearce is always terrific, but he embodies this character as both erratic and fidgety yet somehow highly organized and efficient. Its a highly unique performance, befitting a highly unique character. Leonard is a likable protagonist, a real underdog. Hes pitiable and tragic and the viewer wants to see him succeed in his mission. But theres something a bit mysterious about Leonard; hints thats theres something just off about him. Hes hiding somethingmaybe even from himself. Why are his clothes ill-fitting? Why does he have that badly bleached and amateurish haircut? These arent just fashion choices he made. He cant even notice changes in fashion trends. So why the bizarre and disheveled appearance? Even easy-to-miss details in the way this character presents himself can clue the audience into something deeper and darker beneath the surface.

Carrie-Anne Moss and Joe Pantalianoboth fresh off The Matrixare great in their supporting roles as well. Some Nolan regulars such as Mark Boone Junior and Larry Holden have small appearances. Stephen Tobolowsky, an immensely prolific and talented character actor, has a role thats imperative to understanding the movie, as Sammy Jankis. Watch out for him and for that name. Dont worry, it comes up quite a bit. But pay close attention when it does.

Memento is a marvel in every way. On a technical levelthe amount of continuity that had to be maintained via costuming, makeup and hair, time of day when shooting, editing, etc. to make this concept work and be digestible to a mainstream audience is astoundingand on a storytelling level. Not to mention on a more existentialist level beyond the film: are our memories trustworthy? Are they a fabrication? Can we convince ourselves to rewrite our own history? All of these are questions raised by the narrative, and they are as unsettling and disorienting as the movie itself. This movie also provides endless fodder for theories as to the story beyond what an audience gets to see, and is immaculately detailedit is plot hole proof. Every single moment or detail has an in-universe logical explanation for viewers who are highly attentive. And this film demands re-viewings to pick up every breadcrumb Nolan has left for his audience.

No facet of this film is weak. And this is only Nolans second feature. Its incredible and one can only hope he returns to a more grounded thriller approach like this in the future. Memento is the perfect blend of a high concept filmnow Nolans trademarkcombined with a gritty and remarkably naturalistic presentation and affect.

Requiem for a Dream

Gonna sound like a broken record here. This is another entry from a director whos had a killer track record sinceBlack Swan, The Fountain, The Wrestler, and mother!and its another sophomore feature that happens to be the directors best movie. Darren Aronofskys adaptation of Hubert Selby Jr.s mostlyand unfortunatelyforgotten novel, Requiem for a Dream is a great example of a film thats hard to love and even harder to sit through.

The films editing and use of music is highly innovative. Dubbed the hip hop montage technique, each montage in the film is set to a rhythmic beat with each montage going faster and faster as a viewers eyes get adjusted to the effect. Each cutmostly comprised of extreme close-upsis accompanied by an extreme and amplified sound effect, which themselves become a sort of music. The bass sound accompanying the dilating of pupils of our drug addict characters, the metallic and shrill swipe of a razor cutting up lines, the snorting of those lines, the bubbling of heroin on a hot spoon each of these are played in a specific order to create a strange beat out of the everyday sounds, while juxtaposing them with images of hardcore drug abuse.

Not to mention, the increasing speed of these montages of drug preparation and use puts us in the shoes of the characters; what does shooting heroin feel like? The montages start as jarring and almost seductive with its style, before becoming mundane and comfortable, and finally they come and go in the blink of an eyelike the diminishing effects of heroin and other drugs over time, and the slow descent from rebellious youth and a sexy, rockstar lifestyle into decay and self-abuse.

But the style of Requiem is not its only strong suit. Ellen Burstyns performance of our lead Harrys mother is pathetic, haunting, horrifying, and tragic, and shouldve won her the Oscar. Hers is perhaps the most infamous arc of the film, and her scenes take the film from a drug drama into the realm of surrealist psychological horror.

Speaking of character arcs, its probably best to clarify the plot of this film. Requiem examines the lives of four interconnected people in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn. Harry, his girlfriend Marion, and his best friend Tyroneall three being heroin junkies with big dreams of successand Harrys mother Sara, a lonely widower who has a bad diet and sedentary life in her quaint apartment, who also has a dream: to appear on a daytime talk show she regularly indulges in. That dream appears to be coming true when a random cold-caller, claiming to be from the show, says Sara has been selected from a lottery to be on the show. Sara wants to fit into the red dress she wore to Harrys high school graduation, but cant fit. Her doctor begins prescribing diet pillsi.e. speedwarning her not to increase her dosage. She doesnt heed that warning.

All of these characters are dragged down by their addictions and eventually their mindless and impossible pursuit of their goals crumble around them as their minds and bodies spiral into a violent free fall.

Requiem for a Dream has one of the most uncomfortable aesthetics in all of cinema. Every facetmusic, sound design, cinematography, the performancesare designed to induce a sense of nausea and create an oppressive and nightmarish atmosphere. Whereas most films focus on creating a seamlessness to their techniquessuch as the maxim Good editing should be unnoticeablein order to ensure maximum engagement by the viewer, wherein they forget they are watching a film at all, Aronaofsky rejects this. Like Martin Scorsese and Spike Lee before him, Aronofsky wants his audience to know they are watching a film. Only instead of basking in the beauty of the cinematic form like Scorsese, or creating a passionate fury and chaotic energy of rebelliousness like Lee, Aronofskys modernist approach to film is concerned with assaulting the senses. To overwhelm and brutalize the audience until, by the end, a viewer is emotionally gutted and left in despair.

Requiem for a Dream is a masterpiece in every sense of the word. Immaculately constructed, it uses techniques unique to film to place a viewer in the shoes of its damaged characters and gets them to feel like the characterswhen theyre nauseous or paranoid, the camerawork recreates that effect for the audience. As in the scene where Marlon Wayansin one of his best and most surprising performances as Tyrone, and another example of a guy known for low-brow comedies absolutely nailing a dramatic rolescreams desperately for help while Harryplayed by Jared Letoshrieks about his infected arm, and both are going through heroin withdrawals. The camera shakes viciously, the men are sweaty and spittle dribbles from their mouths as they talk, the camera is uncomfortably close to their faces, theres a sharp feedback sound that blares out along with the screamsits viscerally upsetting and brutalizing to a viewer.

Aronofskys film is profoundly successful precisely because it isnt a PSA. Aronofsky has stated he had no interest in directing a hyper-stylized DARE special. He used the story of drug abuse to analyze the self-destructive tendencies which lurk within us all, and the impossibility of many of us to achieve our dreams. In the eyes of Aronofskyat least when he made this filmthe American Dream is a toxic lie, and the pursuit of it is a path to a profoundly isolated existence, unimaginable pain and ultimate failure.

Also, viewers may recognize the iconic and haunting ending song Lux Aeterna, composed by the underrated Clint Mansell, which was much more popular than the film itself and made its way into a number of blockbuster trailers, notably for Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.

And Sean Gullette, the lead actor from Aronofskys debut Pi has a small but memorable part here as a smug and genuinely disgusting shrink for Jennifer Connellys character. Gullette shows a lot of range, going from the pitiable and paranoid hero in Pi to a smarmy and revolting character here.

American Psycho

The Mary Harron-helmed adaptation of Bret Easton Elliss controversial and highly disturbing black comedy/satire novel American Psycho is a famous example of a film having more cultural impact and longevity than the original work.

Set in the late 1980s, the film follows Patrick Bateman, a young man working on Wall Streetthough we never see him actually workingobsessed with a handful of things: maintaining physical perfection and a stunning appearance, getting a great table at the hippest high-end restaurants and clubs, his material possessions, his collection of pop music, and regularly butchering those who annoy him in a variety of gruesome and depraved wayseven though hes actually quite an inept serial killer. The things he doesnt care much for? His stupid and oafish girlfriend, his loyal secretary who clearly crushes on him, homeless beggars and their dogs, his co-workerspretty much anything with a pulse. The film serves as a sharp skewering of 1980s New York yuppie culture and the excess and extravagance of Wall Street, and the type of personalities this environment attracted: could a true psychopath really just blend in within this vapid and superficial culture? American Psycho says yes.

Christian Bale delivers perhaps the best performance of his career as the titular psychopath Patrick Bateman. Bale is absolutely one of the main reasons to watch this movie. It was his first really dramatic physical transformation, now his trademark as an actorchanging in a few months from a normal build to a chiseled physique befitting the highly narcissistic, vain and self-obsessed Bateman. Bale swings wildly between a chillingly robotic and monotone delivery stylewith a dead-eyed gaze that would make The Terminator look sympathetic and cuddlyto comically manic bouts of psychotic rage, to a very wooden and almost Lynchian style of small talk. The third style of Bales presentation is the most intriguing and important. He delivers his words when talking to colleagues and friends with a sort of dreamlike aurait feels like someone giving a bad line reading for a school play. But its an intentional choice on Bales part: Batemans such a monstrous and dysfunctional psychopath that he cant even mimic normal human communication without it seeming hollow and affected. The genius of the satire is that all of his friends are so hollow and self-involved themselves that no one really notices how transparently disturbed Bateman iswith Bateman regularly seen engaging in highly suspicious behavior before it is quickly brushed off.

Theres also Jared Leto, Reese Witherspoon, Chloe Sevigny, Justin Theroux, Matt Ross and Josh Lucas, who are all great. The best supporting player, though, is Willem Dafoe as an enigmatic detective. His series of conversations with Bateman are absolutely uncannysome of the most bizarre and upsetting dialogue exchanges in film. Director Harron had Dafoe do each scene in three ways: the detective knows, doesnt know, or isnt sure whether Bateman is a killer. Harron then took each take and edited them together, creating a highly unique and uncertain quality to Dafoes performance, and maximizing the surreal quality of their interactions.

This effectively helps an audience to empathize with Bateman, in that both the viewer and the character are perplexed by Dafoes detective, and also makes Dafoes character a bit terrifying, even though hes ostensibly a good guy. He should bring Bateman in. Viewers should want to see him punished. But the viewer knows more about Bateman than can be gathered from the unreadable Dafoe and the unknown is always scarier. Thats a brilliant use of invisible editing techniques to get an audience to side more with Bateman, a completely vile and pathetic character, than a police detectiveand coaxing viewers deeper into Batemans mentality and worldview.

The film is hard to really categorize. Its not a conventional thriller or psychological horror film, but its also so dark it cannot be identified as a run-of-the-mill black comedy. Its satire and humor are so pitch black they probably wont register with a majority of viewers, and some of the sequences are played straight, refusing to make light of the brutality and violence on display. There is something very unnerving and eerie about the tone of the film, and we often see things from Batemans perspective: the reality of the film is heightened and stylized, with all characters being warped caricatures and deeply repugnant, and the logic of the world of the film shifting and bending until we cant recognize what is reality and what is merely being interpreted for us through the fractured psyche of Bateman.

American Psycho captures with startling effect the experience of viewing the world through the eyes of a psychopath, and the implications of the film are bigger than that: is this what viewing the world is like through the eyes of a vain and selfish Wall Street hustler? A person with everything who feels nothing anymore as they are so drowned in excess. Someone so narcissistic and superior that they are at once repulsed by their own friends and colleagues while also gleefully trouncing upon the poor and needy. So detached from reality and any sense of humanity due to the soullessness of their environment that increasingly aberrant behaviorthe extreme being casual murderbecomes just a way to pass the time? To even feel real? When capitalistic excess strips someone of their individuality and their humanity and they become just a series of fashion trends and social signifiers, does it take empathy with it?

American Psycho isnt here to provide answers to these questions, but to explore these hypotheticals through an extreme and exaggerated scenario that suggests perhaps the culture of American extravagance that perpetuated the 80s and continues today is perhaps just as corrosive to the human spirit as any major disaster, and perhaps just as insidious and horrifying as another Ted Bundy or Jeffrey Dahmer. And it manages to be grimly humorous and endlessly watchable along the way.

Unbreakable

M. Night Shyalamans follow-up to his mega-hit The Sixth Sense flew under the radar during its initial release, but slowly developed a cult following and garnered two sequels: Split and Glass.

Bruce Willis stars as David Dunn, a security guard at a college football stadium in Philadelphia. After a horrifying train crash that kills every passenger but himself, and he is left without any injury or trauma, he is approached by Elijah Priceplayed by Samuel L. Jacksonan eccentric art collector with a focus on pop art and comic books who believes David is a real-life Superman.

Due to the release of sequels since this film, its possible that most people are aware of the twist ending. However, if not, go into this film blind. Its definitely not a typical superhero film. Washed out in muted and grey colors and possessing little-to-no action, the film is remarkably subdued and focuses more on human drama than flashy popcorn movie antics or colorful costumes.

Willis and Jackson have terrific on-screen chemistry, and both turn in rather downbeat performances. Jackson shows a lot of range in this part, showing hes just as comfortable turning in a quiet and rather sad performance as he is with the more lighthearted banter and scenery-chewing most know him for.

The film focuses just as much on the recovery from trauma and tragedy as it does on Davids slow discovery of his powerswhich themselves are made more realistic: he can bench 500 lbs without breaking a sweat and take ridiculous abuse with little pain but isnt going to be flying or punching through skyscrapers anytime soon. Shyamalan seems less preoccupied with satisfying genre tropes and conventions than with establishing a sense of relatability with David and his family, and focusing on the true psychological toll it would take on a normal person to discover they have superpowers. How would someone actually respond? Would they deny it? For how long? Would they try to keep going about their day-to-day?

Unbreakable is without a doubt Shyamalans best film aside from The Sixth Sense and reveals his talent for grounded and often quite poignant and emotional storytelling through traditionally low-brow genreslike superhero films and horror. Its a shame it took him nearly two decades to recapture this with Splitthough thats less emotionally resonant and more of a straightforward thriller filmand almost immediately drop the ball with Glass.

Extra Recommendations:

Battle Royale

This cult classic from Japan predates The Hunger Games by about a decade and is a much better execution of a similar concept. Battle Royale delivers far more shocking violence and emotionally investing stories than those three films combined in its two-hour runtime. Its also a favorite of Quentin Tarantino, who cast one of the leads in this film, Chiaki Kuriyama, as Gogo in Kill Bill: Volume 1.

Ginger Snaps

This clever Canadian horror film starring scream queen Katherine Isabelle offers a unique take on the werewolf myth by serving as an allegory for puberty and sexual awakenings. Two sisters, Ginger and Brigitte, revel in their status as outsiders and weirdos at their high school. After Ginger is attacked by a massive wolf responsible for killing local dogs, she undergoes a radical physical and mental transformation, and quickly becomes sexually (and generally) aggressive, which earns her the attention of their entire class. However, her transformation doesnt stop there, and Gingers aggression quickly spirals out of control. Not to mention Ginger starts growing a tail and sharp canines. Brigitte hopes to find a way to save Ginger before she inevitably devolves into a rabid wolf creature.

The film works well as both a B-movie werewolf story, and a commentary on the societal fears and shaming of female sexuality and a gnarly reminder of the bodily horrors we all faced as teenagers. And the relationship between the sisters can be viewed as an allegory for when siblings grow apart with age, and the pains of that transformation. Is Brigitte saving her sister from a horrible fate, or trying to return to a stagnant state of normalcy?

Matt Cotter can be reached at ryleejackson@sagebrush.unr.edu, or on Twitter @NevadaSagebrush.

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Top films celebrating their 20th anniversary - UNR The Nevada Sagebrush

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Apr 21st, 2020 | Filed under Diet Effectively
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