Features
A Complicated Pesach
By ORLY DREMAN We marked a Leil Seder but there was no happiness.
We left an empty chair with a yellow ribbon and I cried as I read the prayer for the hostages- that G-D should have mercy on the few who are still alive and to those who are not among the living that they should at least have the right to be buried in their land.
How can we talk about the holiday of freedom, about redemption and being free? Our hearts ache. Two hundred days with no freedom. Even Hollywood could not come up with a more terrifying script. Our hearts are embedded in Gaza.
Every Israeli recognizes the photos and the names of the hostages. Everyone is praying and expecting them to return. Their families want to embrace them and we want to see them back home. Soldiers who come back from reserves cry that they have not succeeded in returning them. Roommates of students who were kidnapped still keep their rooms for them. Birthday presents are kept for them, their friends keep their favorite university library chair awaiting their return. Children draw pictures for their fathers who are held in captivity.
The adult hostages who returned half a year ago describe how they were in the tunnels suffocating with no air while the terrorists were residing above them in their homes and the hostages were begging for oxygen. Once in three days they got a little water with half a dry pita. Today, those who returned have not recovered, they are thankful for every breath they inhale and are so grateful for every glass of water and food. The children who were released and initially came back happy – with time have to process what has happened. Some have lost family members, some still have relatives in Gaza. They lost friends, they lost their homes and are still residing in hotels in the center of the country- whole families in a twenty square meter room.
In the past the psychologists took care of teenagers who were anxious and depressed. Now however, they have to take care of children as young as eight year olds. People feel they have lost control of their lives. Everything we viewed as “safe” has been shattered. Millions of Israelis are or will be in need of psychological treatment and mental health services will require more psychologists. The pressure and the loss affects all parts of society and we still do not know if the worst is behind us. Many families do not want to return to the south or to the north when the time will come and it is possible the damages are irreversible. Hizballah in the north is much stronger and better equipped than Hamas. The country has shrunk towards the center. We as a nation are used to short, victorious wars, but we have been fighting on several fronts for seven months.
In three weeks we will mark Independence Day. On this day we have the ceremony of the “Israeli Prize”. This year one of the prizes goes to the Director of the National Pathologic Institute- for civil bravery. At the beginning of October the institute was swamped with 1500 body bags. They were unidentifiable. Nowhere in the world were there so many bodies that had to be identified and so quickly. There was never a catastrophic event of that magnitude without a list of people who were there.
At the Twin Towers 2,700 people died, but only 1,680 were identified. In Israel only 11 people are still unaccounted for. Bodies and body parts were burned, tortured, beheaded and often only remnants of body parts were left -scenes reminiscent of Auschwitz. Just last week a family found out their son was buried beheaded. The authorities did not want to cause additional grief to the family so they buried him with a head of a doll until the family demanded to open the grave.
The night we were attacked by over 330 missiles from Iran we were very proud of our defense forces, which downed 99 percent of them. This will be remembered and taught for generations to come in military academies. Seventy five percent success is due to the Israeli air force and our protective systems. Israel owes considerable thanks for the remaining 24 percent to the coalition formed by the U.S, England, France and other countries in the region.
That night, our intelligence was great – together with our active military system. We personally witnessed this success through the booms of intercepted missiles while sitting in our shelters. Of course the danger from Iran is a thousand times greater than that transpiring in Gaza. In most countries people would probably stay home for some days to recover, but here we go through dozens of events in a few months but – being a resilient nation, we managed to get back to almost a normal routine very quickly in spite of the traumatic events.
Personally, my grandchildren tell me they are not able to distinguish between the sound of an ambulance siren and that of an air raid siren, so they are afraid they will not know when to run to the shelter. To illustrate how precarious life is in Israel – when we participate in daily activities such as going to a shopping mall, which is not a safe place because it is crowded, we do not stop for ice cream because of the fear of being attacked.
On another level, our political perspective has changed immensely. For example, there is the issue of the orthodox (Haredi) community, who refuse to serve in the army. In the past we could afford to accept their refusal and they were exempt from conscription in order to study Torah. This present, elongated war and the losses demand a large increase in the size of the IDF. The army is offering adjustments to create small Orthodox regiments along the borders where they can keep their order of the day- pray and protect. However, they still refuse to help us with this burden.
Today, our democracy is severely in need of a new leadership which places its citizens and its country before politics. To date, our leaders have been making empty promises to us. They refuse to plan for the future of how Gaza will be governed when the war is over. They promise us “complete victory,” which now we understand is nonsense and the threat is still there. For the government – as long as the war is going on, they think they can avoid new elections, they are only interested in their political survival. We feel like orphans with no responsible adult.
Even though we are hurting today, l believe in our resilience and better days will come.
Features
Skipping breakfast: Does it help you lose weight or is it bad for your health?
Breakfast is known to be an important meal – and yet many people leave the house without it. But what are the consequences for your health if you skip breakfast?
Whether it’s because of time pressure, to lose weight or because you’re not hungry yet – many people skip breakfast in the morning. There are different opinions. But to really have full energy for your next round at Betamo casino Canada you better not skip this very important meal.
Skipping breakfast: A good idea to lose weight?
Skipping breakfast is a common weight loss tip. Provided that you save the calories for breakfast and don’t eat them with another meal. This assessment is supported by studies:
A meta-analysis from 2023 found a significant correlation between skipping breakfast and a reduction in body weight.
A study from 2020 shows similar results: Skipping breakfast had a slightly positive effect on weight loss.
Another analysis from 2019 also shows that the study participants who skipped breakfast had a small – but significant – weight reduction of just under half a kilo.
However, these studies only show slight effects on weight and appetite. What’s more, some of the scientists also point to negative effects.
Skipping breakfast: What speaks against it
There are many voices that clearly speak out against skipping breakfast. For example, Anja Bosy-Westphal, President of the German Society for Nutritional Medicine, told Zeit magazine that skipping breakfast does not help to maintain lost weight in the long term. “People who skip breakfast for a long time are more likely to be overweight,” explains the expert. The effect persists even if other unhealthy habits are ruled out as the cause.
Skipping breakfast increases the risk of diabetes and obesity
In order to maintain your weight and eat healthily, you should therefore eat breakfast. Bosy-Westphal goes on to explain that glucose and energy metabolism work less efficiently in the morning. “If I eat the same meal once for breakfast and once for dinner, the blood sugar level rises less in the morning.” On the other hand, more calories are burned immediately after eating.
In the evening, the effect is reversed and we store more energy. The expert is generally in favor of never skipping a main meal. However, if someone “absolutely” wants to do this, for example because they are intermittent fasting, she says it should ideally be the evening meal.
Eating breakfast regularly has a positive effect on blood sugar levels and prevents diabetes. Conversely, according to Bosy-Westphal: “The more often you skip breakfast, the higher the risk of developing diabetes”. This is because eating early in the day helps the body to adjust the metabolism correctly and reduces the risk of obesity and metabolic diseases.
Increased risk of cardiovascular disease
Another negative effect associated with skipping breakfast is an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. A study from 2023 shows: A late first meal of the day (for example, by skipping breakfast) is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Every hour later (9 a.m. instead of 8 a.m.) increased the risk by 6 percent.
Skipping breakfast to lose weight: A good idea?
Whether skipping breakfast really helps you lose weight is controversial – some experts even suspect the opposite. At the same time, the scientists point out that breakfast is not the only thing that matters. This is because the participants who ate late drank more alcohol, went to bed later and ate more irregularly compared to those who ate early.
Skip breakfast: This is the recommendation of the DGE
The overall study situation is not clear. The results are partly limited by methodological weaknesses such as small study sizes and the fact that physical activity was not recorded. The German Nutrition Society (DGE) therefore does not currently give a clear recommendation as to whether skipping breakfast helps with weight loss or not:
At present, no scientifically validated statement can be made regarding the relationship between meal frequency and body weight regulation in healthy adults, so the German Nutrition Society (DGE) makes no recommendation in this regard. The energy balance is decisive for the development of body weight.
Features
How often you should cycle per week to get fit
Cycling is an excellent way to get or stay fit. But how often, how long and how intensively should you cycle to achieve this?
What does it actually mean to be fit? The word “fit” means nothing more than “suitable”. However, we generally understand “fit” as a certain level of training that is not only healthy, but also makes many everyday things easier for us – for example, just catching a streetcar or playing tag with the children. Last but not least, basic fitness can be a basis for more ambitious training or sporting goals (a long bike ride, a 10-kilometer run or similar).
Cycling is basically a very good way to get or stay fit, as it trains our endurance and most major muscle groups, is easy on the joints and, in terms of intensity, is easy to control. Numerous studies also show that cycling is healthy and a good option for building up fitness. But who should cycle how often and for how long is very individual and depends above all on the current state of training and health. So you will be calm after and can focus completely on National Casino.
This is how often and how fast beginners should (be able to) cycle
Let’s assume that you want to do something for your fitness again after a long break from sport. The best way to start is to take stock: grab your bike and go for a ride to see how long you can keep going and at what pace. If you haven’t exercised for a very long time or have never done so regularly and/or suffer from pre-existing conditions, you should check with your doctor beforehand whether and how much strain you can put on your cardiovascular system.
After taking stock, you should start training slowly. In the beginning, it is enough for beginners to cycle on flat terrain for 20 to 30 minutes about three times a week.
Now for the right intensity and the right pace: For (re)beginners, the following applies: If you still have just enough air to keep yourself entertained while riding, then you’re on the right track. If you want, you can of course also train with a heart rate monitor, where the target heart rate for most people is around 120 to 130 beats per minute. However, as the exercise heart rate is very individual and depends on many factors such as age, training condition, etc., intensity control via the “conversation test” works at least as well.
If you are riding on flat terrain, you will probably reach a speed of around 18 to 20 kilometers per hour in calm conditions.
Building fitness means building new habits
This training area is called the foundation area, by the way, and this is precisely your most important goal: laying a solid foundation for your fitness. Continuity is crucial, especially at the beginning – so really try to cycle three times a week – even if it’s only 15 minutes, that’s still better than not cycling at all. This will help you get into a steady rhythm and each time you cycle it will be easier for you to get going.
According to studies, it can take up to three months for new habits to become so integrated into your life that you find them as easy as brushing your teeth – so keep at it!
If you then have no problem sticking to the basics for around 30 to 40 minutes three to four times a week, you will have built up a solid base level of fitness. This will also help you achieve the WHO’s recommended exercise target of at least 150 minutes of exercise per week. Once you have reached this basic level of fitness, you can of course always increase your training, depending on your goals.
Combining cycling with strength training
Cycling is very good endurance training. However, it is also important for our health and fitness to train our strength. Otherwise, as we get older, we lose muscle mass, which can lead to back pain and the like, but also promotes weight gain – because muscles use energy and therefore calories even at rest. Strength training also improves your performance on the bike.
All it takes is 10 to 15 minutes two to three times a week. And you don’t have to go to the gym or buy any equipment. Classic exercises such as push-ups or squats are very effective and anyone can easily do them at home.
Tip: There are many practical apps with short workouts that strengthen the entire body, for example the free app Seven – 7 Minute Workout (for Apple or Android devices). It gives you suggestions for exercises and – especially important for beginners – shows you the correct exercises to do.
Features
Sleepmaxxing: Sleep better with these tips
Sleepmaxxing is trending on social media: targeted tricks and habits are designed to make your sleep as restful as possible. We explain what the hype is really about.
If you’re active on social media, you’ve probably heard the term “sleepmaxxing”. At the end of 2024, this tag already had 98.6 million posts on TikTok. This term, which literally means “maximizing sleep”, i.e. “getting the most out of your sleep”, is all about getting the perfect night’s sleep. From an optimized sleeping environment to the ideal evening routine, nothing is left to chance with Sleepmaxxing – all for the purpose of perfect nightly rest for your next round of TonyBet Canada.
Sleepmaxxing – what really works?
As is so often the case with health tips on social media, the Sleepmaxxing methods should also be taken with a grain of salt. Most of the popular tips for better sleep are not scientifically proven and will definitely not be the panacea they are promoted as on TikTok and the like.
However, some behaviors can actually help you improve your sleep quality or fall asleep faster. Here are some tips that can help you sleep better.
1. evening routine for better sleep
Fixed bedtimes and other rituals can benefit the quality of your sleep. Regular rituals help your body to adjust better to sleep. You can try out these methods, for example:
- Fixed bedtimes: If possible, go to bed at the same time every day and get up at the same time – even at the weekend. This stabilizes your sleep rhythm and the hormone balance that controls your tiredness.
- Avoid screens in the evening: The blue light from cell phones, laptops and televisions inhibits the production of the sleep hormone melatonin. Put your cell phone away at least an hour before going to bed and try using blue light filters if you like.
- Relaxation rituals: Reading, meditation or a warm shower can help you to calm down more quickly.
- Sleeping tea instead of caffeine: Avoid coffee or energy drinks in the evening. Instead, opt for herbal teas with valerian or lavender.
2. create the ideal sleeping environment
Your sleeping environment can have a major impact on the quality of your sleep. Your environment has a big impact on the quality of your sleep. With a few adjustments, you can significantly improve the conditions for restful sleep:
- Darkness: Sources of light at night disturb your internal clock. Darken your bedroom as much as possible or use a sleep mask.
- Quiet: Noise can interrupt your sleep. Earplugs or a white noise app can help combat noise.
- Cool temperature: The optimum sleeping temperature is between 16 and 19 degrees Celsius. You should briefly air your bedroom twice before going to bed.
- Comfortable mattress and pillow: A sagging mattress or the wrong pillow can massively affect your quality of sleep. Make sure your back and neck are well supported and find the right type of mattress for you.
3. diet and exercise for better sleep
Those who live healthily also sleep better: diet and exercise can influence your sleep. Diet and exercise also have a major influence on your sleep. The following tips can contribute to a healthier sleep:
- No heavy food before sleep: fatty or highly seasoned foods can put a strain on your digestion and disrupt your sleep.
- No alcohol to help you sleep: Although alcohol makes you tired, it worsens the quality of your sleep and makes for restless nights.
- Regular exercise: Exercising helps you to sleep better – but intensive training directly before bedtime can keep you awake. It’s therefore better to schedule your workout for the morning or afternoon.
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