Trees Around Campus: The Noble Ginkgo

Benjamin Kramer

Unlike many living fossils, which too often garner merely passing interest, the Ginkgo tree has worked its way into the hearts of many cities around the world.  Known for its unique lobed leaf that sprouts in small clusters held close to the branch, Ginkgo biloba was often the chosen in Japanese monasteries for its beauty and longevity, typically thriving for hundreds or even thousands of years.  

More recently, its ability to resist disease and insect damage has made it an increasingly popular choice in large and small cities and can be seen lining streets all over the country.  However, the leaves hold an even greater secret than how they managed to remain unchanged for millions of years.  Studies have shown that extract from Ginkgo trees boosts memory and may even reduce mental deterioration in the elderly. 

            At Emory, a young, male Ginkgo can be found between Cox Bridge and the library.  Come spring it will be easily spotted due to its distinctive leaves, and in fall it sports a canopy of golden boughs.  Next time you’re walking from Asbury Circle to the B-School or the library, take a look around and see if you can spot it. 

 

An Alternative Way to Manage Anxiety

Hailey Morris

Everyone is familiar with the frantic chaos and overwhelming stress that final season inevitably brings as each semester draws to a close. As finals come to an end, Emory students feel the immense weight of their various academic obligations finally lifted from their shoulders; they can breathe freely again. Indeed, winter break is a highly anticipated time of year, for not only do students have the opportunity to spend quality time with their friends and family, but they are finally freed from the suffocating academic pressures they must grapple with when classes are in session. In the midst of a strenuous semester, it is certainly difficult to achieve the kind of “peace of mind” we are privileged to enjoy every break. But what if it were possible to be that stress-free year-round? What if one could effectively manage stress and anxiety while managing the countless challenges that come with attending such a prestigious and academically demanding institution like Emory University?

 

Constantly feeling the burden of readings and assignments, we are expected (by not only ourselves, but also our parents and the broader society we live in) to consistently perform at our best and even to compete with our high-achieving peers for the best exam grade, GPA or job offer. Consequently, the perpetual pressure to excel ultimately promotes an intense and high-stress environment amongst Emory’s student body; on an individual basis, this negatively affects each and every student’s health – for 99% of all disease is related to stress, with anxiety being a major symptom.

Anxiety disorders are one of the most common mental illnesses in the country, especially among college-aged students, a generation most commonly seeking professional help. Though psychiatrists and other M.D.s can certainly help patients to manage their anxiety, they often quickly resort prescribing antidepressants such as Prozac, Zoloft or Lexapro, or anti-anxiety medications known as benzodiazepines such as Klonopin, Ativan, and Xanax. These prescriptions come with a multitude of adverse side effects, ranging from nausea, headache, diarrhea, nervousness, restlessness, agitation, increased sweating, weight gain, insomnia and drowsiness, to more serious effects such as drug dependency, suicide or death.

As researchers continue to uncover additional risk factors associated with conventional prescription medications, a much healthier and more natural alternative to help treat anxiety and manage stress is gaining momentum and popularity. The emergence of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), which is defined as a “category of exclusion, preventive and therapeutic modalities that fall outside conventional U.S. medical practice” represents a greater “interest among the public in comprehensive (“holistic”) approaches to health care.” Alternative CAM treatments function independently from conventional medicine/bioscientific knowledge; they are instead grounded in professional systems such as naturopathy and homeopathy.

So, if you’re reluctant to take prescriptions, why not try out an alternative approach to treating anxiety first? After all, there are plenty of risk-free treatment options that don’t involve pharmaceutical drugs, but are equally (if not more) effective. Specifically, I would recommend scheduling an appointment with a naturopathic physician who can help guide you to choose the best natural products and botanicals available for treating anxiety – such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements.

 

In addition, I’ve compiled a brief list – based on recommendations from my very knowledgeable naturopathic doctor – of simple yet highly effective tactics to help alleviate school-related anxiety:

 

 

1. LEARN HOW TO COPE.

Unfortunately, with each semester comes an inevitable barricade of tests, papers, projects and presentations. This can definitely feel overwhelming – I think any college student would agree that these kinds of obligations can easily provoke anxiety. To help deal with such stress, the first thing to address is your actual mindset.

Here’s an article to help you get started:

http://gad.about.com/od/selfhelp/a/5waystocope.htm

Student health also offers an amazing opportunity for all Emory students: a free stress clinic.

http://studenthealth.emory.edu/cs/cs_services_stress_clinic.php

 

*Dr. Weil’s Anti-inflammatory Food Pyramid

[http://medicapblog.com/dr-weils-anti-inflammatory-food-pyramid/]

 

2. EAT A HEALTHY, BALANCED DIET.

This is vital for our mental health. Try not to overeat and incorporate foods that are rich in B-vitamins, omega 3 fatty acids, tryptophan and serotonin.

See the links below for more details on reducing anxiety through your diet.

http://opeth.hubpages.com/hub/Anti-Anxiety-Diet

http://www.livestrong.com/article/127698-foods-reduce-anxiety/

http://www.wikihow.com/Overcome-Anxiety-Naturally-With-Foods

If you have a passion for nutrition, I strongly recommend Professor Quave’s ANT 385: Food, Health and Society course. This semester, we completed group video projects analyzing the nutritional composition of various foods found on campus. To watch these videos, go to Dr. Quave’s Teach Ethnobotany website: [http://www.youtube.com/user/TeachEthnobotany/feed]

Also, check out award-winning writer Michael Pollan’s insightful books regarding our contemporary diet and food culture. His best-sellers include The Omnivore’s Dilemma, In Defense of Food, and my personal favorite, Food Rules, an “indispensable handbook lay[ing] out a set of straightforward, memorable rules for eating wisely, one per page accompanied by a concise explanation. It’s an easy-to-use guide that draws from a variety of traditions, suggesting how different cultures through the ages have arrived at the same enduring wisdom about food. Whether at the supermarket or an all-you-can-eat buffet, this is the perfect guide for anyone who ever wondered, ‘What should I eat?’”

 

 

3. SLEEP.

You’ve probably heard this one before but seriously, it’s important. Aim for at least 8 hours a night.

“Studies are showing that sleep deprivation may actually be one of the primary contributors, if not one of the causes of anxiety problems, as well as depression and other psychiatric disorders. Sleep appears to be very important for emotional regulation and emotional processing.”

[http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anxiety-sleep/]

Having trouble sleeping? Check out these articles:

[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/31/sleep-tips-for-college-st_0_n_1846154.html]

[http://www.everydayhealth.com/college-health/10-tips-for-better-sleep-at-college.aspx]

 

4. AVOID DRUGS.

This may seem counterintuitive, but study drugs such as caffeine and amphetamines are known to actually exacerbate anxiety – not alleviate it. Though seemingly beneficial in the short term, stimulants can also have dangerous, long term effects on the body (increases blood pressure, changes your brain’s neuro-chemical makeup and adversely affects your mood and emotions, etc.)

http://www.livestrong.com/article/162165-adderall-health-risks/]

So, instead of cramming for that exam and bingeing on coffee, work on improving your time management skills. Trust me – your body and mind will thank you for it!

 

http://www.artofliving.org/in-en/yoga/health-and-wellness/yoga-for-anxiety-disorder

5. EXERCISE.

For me, yoga is my “go-to” type of exercise to alleviate anxiety. Taking a yoga class in the morning is a great way to start out your day, as the practice improves your concentration, promotes mental clarity and boosts your energy!

Though you could easily start practicing yoga from home (via Youtube or home DVD programs), I strongly encourage that you join a well-established yoga studio. This is definitely the safer approach, as the instructors can give you the assistance you need with learning new asanas. A great studio to get started at is Decatur Yoga and Pilates, conveniently located in downtown Decatur [http://decaturhotyoga.com/]. Your first month’s membership costs less than $40, and there is no limit to the amount of classes you can take! The studio offers an extensive array of beginner’s classes, both in hot and cold room settings. I suggest trying out a variety of classes so you can find which ones work best for your needs. I personally recommend beginning with a class taught by Astrid Santana, Douglas Johnson and Lana Vogestad – they are particularly amazing instructors!

In addition, there are some wonderful opportunities to do yoga on campus! Need to complete a PE requirement? Take one of Professor Ingalls’ fitness yoga classes! Both her PE 135: Intro. to Fitness Yoga and her PE 235: Fitness Yoga classes are incredible, and she will help you develop a strong mental, spiritual and philosophical practice along with improving your physical strength.

For suggestions on which asanas (poses) are especially helpful for anxiety, check out the article 9 Yoga Tips to Overcome Anxiety Disorder, along with the link below:

[http://www.yogajournal.com/health/2085]

6. MEDITATE.

Of course, meditating can be difficult. Our over-stimulated brains rarely get the opportunity to rest, endlessly thinking about past and future tasks, appointments and other daily obligations. However, actively attempting to silence your mind is well worth the struggle; there are numerous health benefits of meditating (http://www.sedonameditation.com/meditation-research.html]).

Here are some simple instructions on how to begin meditating…

 

7. TAKE A HOLISTIC APPROACH.

So next semester, instead of trying to merely “survive” the often crippling stress related to your workload, or resorting to a “quick-fix” when finals come around, try a holistic approach to managing your anxiety. Make the effort to enjoy every day of college (because trust me, it goes by way too fast!) by committing to your health, living in moderation, and above all, respecting your mind and body: [http://www.steadyhealth.com/articles/Holistic_Approach_to_Anxiety__Naturopathic_Medicine_for_Nervousness__Fear__Apprehension___Worrying_a1431.html].

 

Additional articles on anxiety:

http://studenthealth.emory.edu/hp/documents/StressBustersKit_1_2012.pdf

http://www.livestrong.com/article/279353-ways-to-get-help-with-anxiety-in-college-students/

 

The Global Food Crisis

Ariel Simpson-Logan

While many American’s are focused on the rising food epidemic in other countries, very few are aware of the growing problem that we are facing right here in the United States. U.S. consumers have been wrestling with food inflation for the past five years. After experiencing the country’s worst drought since the 1950’s, consumers may be forced to pay three to four percent more for food next year. In response to tight supplies and rising food costs of corn, grain, soybeans, and milk, the cost of almost every item in your grocery store will substantially increase. In comparison to the early 90’s  the price of food has shown steep increases all around: Bananas in 1991 cost .49 cents a pound, today the cost is $1.12  a pound, coffee was $2.93 per pound in 1991, now it’s $5.58 per pound; apples cost $1.15 per pound in 2008, up from .59 a pound in 1991. As a fellow consumer, you should be worried.  The price of food is definitely going to go up before it lowers again, why does the USDA not do something about this? This is the same question I asked as well. According to the USDA, American households spend a smaller portion of their household income for food in comparison to other countries, however, millions of American’s are suffering.

I believe that the idea of having a food scarcity, here in America, is so hard for many Americans to conceive, that we are not efficiently planning to ensure a sustainable future. Very few individuals are actually tracking the correlation between fuel prices, grain crops, and food inflation. By relying on such large monocropping techniques such as what we see with corn and grain, we are limiting our choices on what to do if these crops fail.  The meat industry here in America is also a far cry from being picture-perfect.  The highly concentrated meat processing industry generates pounds of recalled meats and disease outbreaks caused by foodborne pathogens. It is a known fact that in today’s age only one percent of the U.S. population is growing America’s food. This fact alone is cause enough to be worrisome of a food crisis, here in America.

It is obvious that America is not effectively dealing with the problems that the consumers are facing. Is it so much to ask for affordable access to food? I would like to know that the food that I put on the table every night for my family is safe to eat, without any chemicals or ridden with disease. I would like to know that the meat I eat, was once a healthy living animal treated with care. I would like to know that the produce I see in supermarkets are locally grown and are full of flavor. As consumers, we have the power to have all of these things, but with the way the food industry is ran today, many people disregard the power of being a consumer. We have given the power to an industry that could care less how much money we spend on food, or whether we have access to a grocery store, let alone if the taste and quality of the food is fresh. As an American citizen, and a student at Emory University, I would like you all to take a deeper look at the American system, and hopefully join forces to help prevent the imminent food crisis America has yet to face.

Works Cited

Bjerga, A. (2012, 7 25). Food Inflation May Rise to 3% to 4% in 2013 After Drought. Retrieved from bloomberg: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-07-25/food-inflation-may-rise-to-3-to-4-in-2013-after-drought-1-.html

KURTZLEBEN, D. (2012, 8 7). Coffee Prices Dripping Down For Everyone But Consumers. Retrieved from USnews: http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2012/08/07/coffee-prices-dripping-down-for-everyone-but-consumers

Park Slope Food Coop. (2012). Produce Price List. Retrieved from foodcoop: http://foodcoop.com/go.php?id=90

Shabazz, S. (2008, 4 30). Could the global food crisis impact America? Retrieved from finalcall: http://www.finalcall.com/artman/publish/article_4654.shtml

A Sustainable Revolution in Modern Day India: Understanding the Relationships Amongst Education, Economy, Equality, and Ecology

Chandana Papudesu

Eleven years ago, I remember sitting on the tile floor out in the veranda listening to the splatter of the heavy raindrops as they hit the ground. The rain would wash away the colorful rangoli chalk designs drawn on the front entrance pathway to the house. I heard the howls of stray dogs looking for a dry place to take shelter and the groan from a wandering cow roaming the litter-ridden streets of Bangalore. It was the monsoon season, bringing good fortune to farmers hoping to get a good yield to be sold at the local bazaar. Every so often, I would go to the bazaar with my Grandmother to buy fruits and vegetables for our meals. The vendors would sit on woven mats on the sides of streets chanting prices of their goods while the autos and scooters pass by. After bargaining for the prices, my grandmother bought mint leaves by the bundle, tomatoes, and fresh ginger for the curry she will cook for the next meal.

By the beginning of the first rains in July, the farmers would have already sown their crops. My Great-grandfather was a farmer, and he grew everything from chili peppers to lentils on his farmland. He even kept goats and cattle for their milk. He also owned a mango-grove filled with trees bearing golden yellow mangos. I remember walking down the dirt paths leading me deep into the mango grove that stretched out for several miles, and I remember the smell of the sweet scent of mangos mixed in with the scent of the earthen ground. The grove was a magnificent sight to behold.

With these same memories in mind, I once again boarded Air India to visit my family in Bangalore. On this visit, I came to realize the India I kept in my memories had certainly changed, as modern day India has become more and more globalized, a process driven by international trade and increasing foreign investments. These ongoing economic reforms had started in the early 1990’s. After its independence India abided by socialist policies in which the management of production and the distribution of resources were controlled by the government. In 1991, the new economic liberal policies called for international trade and foreign investment, governmental deregulation, and privatization of businesses. The Indian government dramatically reduced barriers to commerce and formed international agreements to increase foreign trade in goods and services. When visiting my hometown, I noticed that the neighboring deteriorating homes had been demolished for up and coming brand-name stores and malls. Regardless of the ruling political parties that came to power, such market-oriented economic policies continued in the years to follow and are still in effect to this day, transforming India to a booming market- economy.

However, the political parties in power fail to focus their attention on the major issues at hand, which include education, healthcare, and infrastructure. A very small percentage of the GDP or Gross Domestic Product is spent on education and public health within the country, widening gaps between the privileged and the poor social classes. Such a division amongst the public has led to underdeveloped areas or slums. People living in the slums live below the poverty line with limited access to the bare necessities: clean water, electricity, food, and health care services. Many of these individuals do not have a proper education, and unfortunately high fertility and mortality is common within these areas. Apart from lack of access to drinking water, many individuals do not have access to proper sanitation and most do not own a toilet of their own. Poverty, equality, and sustainable development are interdependent. Sustainable initiatives should take into account that fundamentally, the well-being of the individuals and the larger eco- sensitive community are interrelated and not isolated. In accordance with the Hannover principles, “the basic rights of humanity, inclusive of access to the basic necessities, health services and nature should co-exist in a healthy, supportive, diverse and sustainable condition”(Edwards 99-100). Successful sustainable initiatives could be implemented within these regions by ensuring that the poor have access to basic necessities and services, thereby improving their overall quality of life and enabling them to connect to society at large.

The booming market economy has benefited Indian citizens in terms of improvements in industry and new technologies as well as overall quality of life. However, an increasingly globalized economy also has its drawbacks in relation to environmental degradation. Due to urbanization and population growth spurts as well as industrialization, there have been many environmental concerns in regard to pollution and deforestation. Automobiles significantly contribute to pollutants in the air, as there has been an exponential growth rate in the number of registered vehicles in the country. In 1981, the number of registered vehicles increased from 5.39 million to 25.28 million in 1993, a growth rate of 10.6 to 12.9 percent during these years, while the urban population only grew 4 percent annually (Singh 3). The numbers have been increasing in recent years with this continuing trend, further compounding the negative effects on the environment. According to a survey conducted by the Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Indian cities have passed the maximum limit (200 micrograms per meter of air) for suspended particulate matter in the air (SPM) set by the World Health Organization (Singh 4). Suspended particulate matter indicates the presence of dust and carbon monoxide particles suspended in toxic gases. Air pollution not only affects us humans but also every other living being that is part of the biosphere in terms of health concerns as well as species eradication and reduction in species diversification.

The booming economy can also be attributed to the agriculture sector, which has and will always be India’s most important economic sector. In the late 1990’s, it provided almost one- third of the GDP and employed nearly two thirds of the population (India: A Country Study). Unfortunately, agriculture is characterized by low farmland productivity, in which the crop yields are below world levels (MeriNews). The average farm size is not over 3.5 acres, whereas large farms over 25 acres account for only 1 percent of the total 120 million farms within the country (India-Agricultural Economy and Policy Report). Farmland size has diminished as the land has been passed down through generations. The farm that my Grandfather once owned has been sold due to non-profitable crop yields and dependence upon the monsoon rains. The government has tried to solve this issue by providing free-electricity, loans for digging wells, and issuing subsidies. The issuance of subsidies has raised heated debates, particularly since subsidies have amounted to a significant portion of the country’s GDP that could have been put to use elsewhere. More importantly, such a subsidy structure has produced negative environmental consequences in the agrarian sector. These negative consequences include excessive energy and water usage for irrigation purposes. Though 9 million citizens in certain regions survive on less then 25 liters of water a day, thousands of gallons of water used for agrarian purposes are wasted (Singh 2-3).

Apart from excessive water and energy consumption, waste disposal is another major issue deteriorating the environmental landscape and worsening living conditions. Not many cities in India have efficient waste disposal facilities, and all of the wastes collected are dumped into a landfill. Many people literally throw garbage onto the streets out of habit and unconcern for the environmental consequences. Moreover, the partially treated and untreated wastewater contaminates rivers and lakes, affecting aquatic species and further compounding the environmental crisis.

To address these concerns, drastic measures should be taken at the central and state level to begin a sustainable revolution, in which “the needs of the present are met without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (Edwards 17). The main key to unlocking the solution starts with education. Educating citizens about their harmful actions as well as sharing techniques or strategies to implement sustainable initiatives should be the first course of action. In following the Hannover principles, citizens should be made aware of the consequences of their actions and take responsibility for them in order to “re-establish the integral relationship between natural processes and human activity” (Edwards 100-101). Since the leading causes of air pollution are poor vehicle maintenance, traffic congestion, and automotive emissions above the limit, education may play a vital role. Educating citizens about car maintenance as well as permissible emission limits will likely change attitudes in favor of sustainable strategies to create a more eco-stable country. Educational programs can touch upon a variety of issues, like simply re-iterating “no littering” or teaching ways to conserve water and energy. According to Stellar, by educating farmers on tactics to reduce the number of times the fields are irrigated, the potential water savings could be tremendous. He writes: “If one farmer simply irrigates his field 39 times instead of 40 times, enough water to meet the basic needs of 27 people for an entire year can be saved.” In reducing the number of times farmers irrigate their fields across hundreds of other farms, environmental crises dealing with water scarcity, resource depletion, and drought could be mitigated. Educational programs in conjunction with stricter governmental regulation on environmental policies will gear India towards a more sustainable economy.

Currently, measures are being taken to move towards such a sustainable economy. These measures are inclusive of National Missions, such as the National Solar Mission and the National Mission on Enhanced Energy Efficiency, aimed at the development of alternative energy sources, primarily solar power, and energy conservation (Indian Current Affairs). Under the Clean Development Mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol, the public and private sectors have taken initiatives to reduce carbon emissions by promoting clean coal technologies and encouraging Mass Rapid Transport systems (“Clean Development Mechanism”). The Indian government has also initiated LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) projects to promote sustainable development (Edwards 110). By enacting educational programs and taking steps towards creating a more eco-stable economy, India will be well on its way towards a paradigm shift in favor of a sustainable revolution.

Works Cited

“Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).” United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.”<http://unfccc.int/kyoto_protocol/mechanisms/clean_development_mechanism/i tems/2718.php>.

Edwards, Andres R. The Sustainability Revolution Portrait of a Paradigm Shift. Gabriola, BC: New Society, 2005.

Indian-Agricultural Economy and Policy Report. Rep. USDA Foreign Agricultural Services, 2009.<http://www.fas.usda.gov/country/india/indian%20agricultural%20economy%20an d%20policy%20paper.pdf>.

India: A Country Study. Ed. Robert L. Worden and James Heitzma. Washington: GPO for the Library of Congress, 1995. <http://countrystudies.us/india/102.htm&gt;.

“Report on Green House Emissions.” Indian Current Affairs. 10 August 2010. <http://indiacurrentaffairs.org/report-on-green-house-gas-emissions/&gt;.

Singh, J.P. Challenges of Urbanization and Environmental Degradation in India. Patna University, Patna-800 005, India. Print.

Stellar, Daniel. “Agriculture: Big Water Use, Big Water Savings- Water Matters.” State of the Planet. The Earth Institutue, Columbia University, 3 March 2010. <http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2010/03/02/agriculture-big-water-use-big-water-savings/&gt;.

“What Causes Low Farmland Productivity in India?” Citizen Journalism New Platform- MeriNews. 28 March 2008. <http://www.merinews.com/article/what-causes-low- farmland-productivity-in-india/131219.shtml>.

Tips to stay cold-free

Grace Ahn

Winter is coming. The days are getting shorter and the temperature is dropping below what we’re fond of. More layers of clothing, scarves and jackets are not the only things that come with this change of season. The common cold is the most contagious and common illness in humans. It is also the most common cause of individuals missing work and school, with up to 22 million school days lost each year in the U.S. Over 200 different viruses can cause the nasty symptoms of a cold. With finals coming up, it’s important that we take the preventive measures necessary to avoid the runny noses, coughing and disturbed sleep. Although some of these may seem obvious, here are some reminders to protect ourselves from the cold. Better safe than sorry right?

1. Avoid touching areas of the face—especially the nose, eye and mouth.
2. Wash your hands often, which is probably the best way to prevent transmitting or receiving colds. It may even be wise to carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer to protect those semester grades.
3. Maintain a lifestyle that includes adequate sleep, good nutrition and physical exercise so that your immune system is strong enough to fight off infection.
4. Controlling your stress helps to prevent a weakened immune system. So make sure to give yourself some healthy and relaxing breaks during those long and intense study sessions. Talk to a friend, take a walk around campus or take a short nap.
5. If you feel a cold coming on, go to CVS and stock up on some vitamin C gummies or powders that will dissolve in water. Try to eat foods high in vitamin C such as oranges, kiwis, strawberries and broccoli.

Although many of us easily sacrifice a healthy meal or sleep for extra studying, it won’t matter if we get sick. So try to make efficient use of time to prevent such sacrifices, and never underestimate the effectiveness of the tips listed above. Happy studying!

After the Storm

April Johnson

Map of Superfund Sites throughout the United States

      When news broke a couple of weeks ago that Hurricane Sandy was approaching the eastern coast, the first thing that I thought about was whether everyone would be properly protected against the damage that often accompanies such storms and whether those who needed to be evacuated had been able to do so. I think that often times, we think about the direct, short-term effects that these storms will have on people’s lives. Will everyone be safe during the storm? Will everyone be evacuated if need be? Who will help clean up the devastation left in the aftermath so that affected individuals and families can return to their normal lives? At least for me, these are the questions that I often ponder over.

      Many times, I hardly consider the long-term impacts that such storms have on the environment which in turn impact all of us—whether directly or indirectly—though we may not always like to think so. Hurricane Sandy is a very real reminder though, of how such storms affect all of us by way of the environment. As a result of the flooding in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, floodwaters have come in contact with several Superfund sites in the affected states. (Superfund sites are extremely toxic waste sites labeled by the federal government mainly so that in the case of contamination, authorities can decide whether private corporations or the public will be responsible for providing the funds that will ensure expedient cleanup.) The two most devastated states as a result of Hurricane Sandy—New Jersey and New York—also happen to harbor a shocking 15% of the nation’s Superfund sites! This number isn’t surprising considering that New Jersey harbors the most Superfund sites in the nation with New York not too far behind in fourth place.

      As a result of the floodwaters mingling with the waste at these Superfund sites, people in the affected areas may be coming directly into contact with coal tar wastes, heavy metals, high levels of lead, and cancer-causing pollutants, although there seems to be conflicting takes on just how contaminated these areas are.

      And for those of us who were fortunate enough to be far away from the Superfund sites when floodwaters passed over them, we may believe that those far-off floods had zero effect on us. This belief though could not be further from the truth since floodwaters eventually recede back into the ocean—carrying all of the toxic wastes with it. I know for me personally, I love seafood, but it doesn’t help when I know that as a result of contaminated floodwaters—and of course several other pollutants already present in the ocean—fish are living in and absorbing toxins.

      So, earlier I asked the question “Who will clean up the devastation left in the aftermath so that people can return to their normal lives?” When I had asked this though, I had only considered the tidying up of communities and the rebuilding of homes and infrastructure. I see now though, that my pondering may have been a bit too simple, as it ignores the fact that it could take several decades, even centuries to clean up the environmental devastation left in the aftermath.

Source: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324073504578109550624063018.html

Functional Foods

Jane Goldstein

We often look at food nowadays as a source of energy. However, our ancestry used to utilize food as a primary source of medicine. Today, as medicine advantages, we seem to forget about the many health benefits in food. We have become preoccupied in certain drugs that alleviate symptoms, yet have forgotten about, perhaps, the simplest form of medicine. There other ways that we can get our preventative and curative health fixes outside of biomedicine. As flu season comes around, rather than taking over the counter medicines, try a new approach.

Functional foods occupy the space in the middle on the food and medicine spectrum. Other than their taste benefits, functional foods are defined by their ability to positively affect the body. They are not eaten for a specific medicinal purpose, but rather, for overall health. With the winter come the flu and the common cold. Many people comfort themselves with food, and look at the holiday season as a time to overindulge. However, what if we used this time to incorporate functional foods? Add more garlic to your vegetables to reduce risk of heart disease and certain cancers, and lower cholesterol. Cook with oats rather than white grains to reduce cholesterol and constipation. If we are going to indulge over the holidays, it should be with foods that will ultimately work to raise our levels of overall health.