WARM UP:

One Joke: 

What did the doctor say to the gingerbread man complaining of knee pain? (Answer at bottom.)

One Fact: 

An onion has nearly five times more DNA in its genome than a human! (Source)

One Quote:

“If you want the best the world has to offer, offer the world your best.”

–Neale Donald Walsch

One Guess…Name That Disease: 

• Description:  Common hormone problem in women of childbearing age in which the ovaries produce an abnormal amount of androgens.  6-12% of women are affected.

• Signs and Symptoms:  Irregular periods, difficulty getting pregnant, excessive hair growth, weight gain, thinning hair, oily skin.

• Associated Conditions: Associated with insulin resistance, hypertension, heart problems, endometrial cancer.

• Treatment:  There is no cure.  Treatment may include birth control pills or medications to stimulate ovarian production, depending on goals.  Diet and activity modifications are often recommended.

Disease answer: Click to find out!

HEALTHCARE HEADLINES:

** Morning sickness can be absolutely debilitating for many expecting mothers.  Of course morning sickness doesn’t just strike in the morning and it can be so severe, as in hyperemesis gravidarum, that hospitalization is required.  A team of researchers led by Dr. Marlena Fejzo now believes the condition is caused by a placental protein called GDF15.  Fejzo believes that exposure to the protein before pregnancy may limit morning sickness during pregnancy, paving the way for new treatments.

** Moderna-Merck believes their new vaccine may cut the odds of skin cancer recurrence in half.  An ongoing randomized vaccine trial involving 157 patients with high-risk stage III/IV melanoma demonstrated those who received the vaccine were 49% less likely to die or have their cancer come back after three years than those who only received treatment with a cancer drug. Additional studies are now underway.

TOGETHER WITH FULTON:

Discover the world's most comfortable, supportive, and sustainable insoles. Fulton offers comfortable cork insoles that mold to your foot as you walk to provide customized arch support. They mitigate foot, knee, and back pain and align your body to prevent injury. Fulton offers a 90 day comfort guarantee, so your order is risk free!

WATER COOLER WONDERS…the stuff we found interesting this week:

** Year in Review: 2023 was weird.  More so because of some of the bizarre Guinness World Records accomplished this year.  Favorites include loudest burp (female), most underwater magic tricks in 3 minutes, and of course the fastest time to assemble a Mr. Potato Head while blindfolded.

** Video: Up your gift wrapping game just in time for the holiday season:

FOCUS ON WELLNESS:

With the holiday season in full swing, it’s hard to stay healthy.  Studies show that not just eating too much but also eating the wrong kinds of foods, especially heavily processed foods, leads to long term weight gain.  

So what should we eat when hunger hits?  Building a habit of eating healthy snacks rather than highly processed, high calorie munchies is essential.

Here is an article from Everyday Health with 10 Healthy Snack Ideas Under 100 Calories (the article has 20 options but we’ll include our 10 favorites):

1. 1 Cup of Blueberries: rich in antioxidants, vitamin C.

2. 1 Hard Boiled Egg: with 6.3g of protein to just 78 calories, this high-protein snack will keep you full and prevent overeating later

3. 1 Orange: great source of Vitamin C and fiber; the act of peeling and sectioning slows eating and promotes fullness

4. 1 Piece of String Cheese: portable and packed with protein (lots of p’s!) - 6.7g of protein and a good source of calcium

5. Small Handful of Almonds: nuts are high in protein and vitamin E 

6. 1 Cup of Cheerios (Dry): high in fiber

7. 1 Berry Smoothie: this is a great way to combine spinach, frozen berries, almond milk for a delicious and nutritious treat

8. 3 Cups Air Popped Popcorn: just 31 calories per cup and a good source of fiber; sorry no salt or butter allowed!

9. Raw Veggies with 2 Tablespoons Low Fat Ranch Dressing: broccoli, bell peppers, celery are good sources of fiber that help fill you up

10. ½ Cup Nonfat Greek Yogurt: easy to grab and go, this snack is full of probiotics that promote gut health and have 16.1g of protein!

By the way, what does a nosey pepper do?  Get jalapeño business 🤣 

THANKS FOR READING!

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JOKE ANSWER: Did you try icing it?