Category: General

2018: New York’s Wackier Wellness Waves

December 27, 2017

If 2017 wasn’t wacky enough in New York with weird and wonderful wellness trends, 2018 will surely not disappoint.  According to a list recently published by Well and Good, we’re taking it to the next level.

Some of the weirder ideas include: moon sound baths with a tracking of lunar cycles for more targeted “predictions” for horoscopes, a drink of moringa (a complete protein plant) to fight anti-aging (as it supports longer telomere compounds).

Then there are the pretty tame suggestions of home workouts being better than those that happen at a fitness studio.  But it’s not just putting on a workout video.  It’s a streaming workout where companies like Peloton are bringing the workout into your home.  Get on your bike and enjoy the spin classes without having to worry if you’ve shaved your armpits.

It’s cheaper too.  Given that a cardio trampoline can be purchased for a mere $100 with training sessions beginning at as low as $10, there’s no longer the excuse that it’s too expensive to get trim.

And let’s not forget nutrition.  Nut milk yogurts seem to be all the rage as they are bursting with probiotics and protein without any of the oft-problematic dairy issues.

The only comment left to make is, dare we ask what 2019 will look like…?

Clarifying the Issues at West Lake Landfill

August 1, 2017

The West Lake Landfill has been the focus of worry for many residents in the St. Louis area, but experts say there is little risk associated with the radioactive waste that has been stored at the location since 1943.

Scientists say that the majority of the radiation detected coming from the landfill is small, with the vast amount alpha particles which cannot penetrate through any dense material, including human skin. The only way these particles can do damage is internally, so when they are stopped at the skin they are rendered harmless.

The minute amounts of gamma rays which can pierce skin do not pose more than a tiny risk, similar to the risk of driving a car.

According to calculations made by the International Commission on Radiological Protection, the amounts of radiation which have been detected over the years by the EPA at the surface of West Lake is truly tiny. A person would need to ingest more than an ounce of the material to receive the same amount of radiation that a full-body CT scan delivers. According to the National Research Council, a CT scan’s risk is about 1 in 1,000 to cause cancer.

In addition, those levels are the highest at West Lake Landfill. Most of the radiation levels are much smaller, requiring closer to 4 ounces or more to equal the radiation exposure of a CT scan.
The following video debunks a few of the myths surrounding the dangers of the West Lake Landfill:

For more information about this important subject please read “Misplaced fears? Radiation risks from West Lake, Coldwater Creek low, say experts.”