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RECYCLING — IT’S NOT ALL DOOM AND GLOOM! How These Innovations Are a Positive Step Towards Change
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Many believe we are quickly tumbling towards doomsday because of plastic waste, greenhouse gases, and water scarcity. Most television reports, newspaper, and magazine articles reiterate this message. While these are daunting problems, I believe that no one can predict the future and that we can find workable solutions. After all, humans have survived this long on Earth. Problem-solving is in our blood. Finding quick answers to environmental issues is difficult because most solutions are imperfect and require compromises. One size does not fit all; often, one solution does not solve the entire problem. Nevertheless, there are many encouraging and creative ideas on the horizon. The following inventions are exciting and make me think we are moving in the right direction. Some are in their infancy, and some have been developed for some time. There are far too many of them to be written about in one article, but here is a sampling of what people are working on.
same items — a useful innovation for widespread use. Depolymerization of plastics: Technology to break plastics down to their basic building blocks so they can be reused. Emissions Solutions More public transportation: Many urban planners worldwide want to increase public transportation, especially in cities. This reduces the need for private cars. The barriers to success are the exorbitant cost and lack of political will. Working from home: Partial or complete work from home reduces the need for cars and is an easy way to reduce gas emissions. The pandemic showed us that, for many jobs, it’s possible. Hybrid vehicles: For years, there has been talk about electric vehicles (EVs) as the best alternative to current cars. But hybrid vehicles may be a good alternative simply because they are more practical. Hybrid vehicles ensure that if your car’s battery runs low, you can switch to gasoline and make it to your destination. This removes the fear of running out of battery charge and being stranded while traveling. (Peter covered this topic in a previous article.)
Recycling Innovations Countertop Composters: Small,
automatic composters like the Lomi and FoodCycler are no bigger than a bread maker. You throw kitchen scraps, egg shells, soft bones, and even some plastic waste into a bin. When it’s full, you lock it and press a button. 16 to 20 hours later, you have compost. This practical solution may bring about more composters because it’s easy to do. No smell, no going out to the bin in the backyard (even in winter), and no churning the bin every few days. This technology is new and expensive, and I’m sure some problems still need to be worked out, but it’s promising. Plastic Infrastructure and furniture: Roads, bricks, building blocks, and furniture, all incorporating plastic waste. An exciting area that has already seen some success. Straw instead of Styrofoam: Straw that is re-used and built into packaging material. Plastic-eating bacteria: Ideonella sakaiensis is the name of this bacterium. Since its discovery in Japan in 2016, other organisms, including a fungus, have been found that break down different types of plastics. We are nowhere near industrial usage of these organisms, but researchers are pushing forward. Disposable flatware and crockery: Instead of plastic spoons, forks, and bowls, plant residue is used to make the
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Electric mopeds and motorcycles: When it’s just you and the road.
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Be Mine! 6 Pieces of Valentine’s Day Trivia
The Hallmark cards have hit the shelves, boyfriends and husbands have all scrambled to plan, and the local restaurants are all swimming in reservations — Valentine’s Day has arrived! On this day, many are left wondering how far back exchanging valentines goes, why we exchange valentines, and where those little heart- shaped candies come from. Look no further, we have answers for you.
Mass-produced valentines weren’t a thing until the 1840s. Known as the Mother of the American Valentine, Esther A. Howland commercialized Valentine’s Day cards that were decorated in ribbons and lace (as some are today) in the 1840s. Sweethearts candies were born in the 1860s. Oliver Chase, a Boston pharmacist, created a machine that produced medicinal lozenges (a common way to take medicine back then). With
the success of his machine, he decided to use it to make candy as well, and thus Sweethearts were created in the 1860s. Valentine’s Day is an expensive holiday. According to the National Retail Foundation, in 2019, Americans spent more than $20 billion on the holiday to buy gifts that included flowers, chocolates, cards, and jewelry.
The first valentine dates back to the 15th century. According to History.com, the oldest record of a valentine was in 1415 when a French medieval duke named Charles wrote a poem to his wife while in prison. One of the lines read, “I am already sick of love … My very gentle Valentine.”
Saint Valentine is not the same person. It’s unclear which Saint Valentine the holiday is named after. One was a Roman priest who was sentenced to death after being caught illegally marrying couples during a marriage ban and the other was a man who got caught helping Christians escape into Rome — he later wrote a letter from prison, signing it, “From your Valentine.”
It’s a popular day of engagement! According to a survey by American Express, millions of couples get engaged on Valentine’s Day. It was also voted as the best day of the year to pop the magical question.
7 Home Remedies for Nagging Toothaches A Pain in the Mouth! bag of frozen peas in a towel and apply it to the irritated area, it should help alleviate your oral pain. Take some medicine. Over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen and aspirin will target your pain and reduce the inflammation in your mouth and teeth. Be sure to take the correct recommended dosage. Rinse with salt water. Saltwater rinses are great for oral health — they dislodge food particles and substances stuck to your teeth and can also reduce inflammation! Mix 1/2 teaspoon salt with warm water and gargle it to reduce pain. Apply a peppermint tea bag. A peppermint tea bag — either warm or cold — can help relieve your toothache and reduce inflammation. Just make sure it isn’t too hot or too cold before applying it to the irritated area. Rinse with hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide targets inflammation and bacteria in your mouth, which helps with pain. Swish with one part hydrogen peroxide and two parts water. Make a garlic paste. Garlic is a natural pain reliever, and it combats bacteria. Crush up some garlic cloves, make a paste, and then apply it to the sore area!
If you’ve ever experienced tooth pain, you know how frustrating it can be. Pain can range from a minor annoyance to severe and disruptive if it keeps you up at night and distracts you from your work. And depending on your situation, you may not be able to get in to see a dentist immediately. To nip the pesky pain in the bud right away, you may wonder if any at-home solutions can tide you over before making it to your dentist. Thankfully, here are seven methods to alleviate tooth pain without a dentist. Elevate your head. When you twist your ankle, you know to prop it up on a pillow and get some rest. This is because when your ankle is in a flat position, gravity increases blood pressure in that area. The same is true for a toothache. If you’re trying to sleep through the pain, prop your head up on some pillows or position yourself in an upright chair! Apply ice. Just like you ice a sports injury, you can ice your toothache. Whether you hold ice water in your mouth for many seconds at a time or wrap ice or a
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Often, the desire to succeed in our professional lives can take precedence over everything else in our private lives, including our well-being, family, friends, and hobbies. Moreover, finding a healthy balance between the two can be challenging as they can begin to blend. Here are the four best ways to keep your work and personal life separate while excelling at both! YOU CAN HAVE YOUR CAKE AND EAT IT, TOO Developing a Healthy Work-Life Balance Love what you do. Loving your job is easier said than done, right? If you can land an enjoyable career that isn’t restraining, you’ll find it’s much easier to leave work at work and home at home. When you’re unhappy with your job, it can affect your overall happiness, and feelings of despair can carry into your personal life. Don’t be a perfectionist. Career burnout can drastically impact your personal life, so stop trying to control everything.
Chai-Spice Butternut Squash Smoothie
Inspired by AmbitiousKitchen.com
Ingredients • 1 ripe banana, frozen • 1 cup cubed butternut squash, cooked and frozen • 1/4 cup plain or vanilla Greek yogurt • 1 cup unsweetened almond milk or coconut milk • 1 tbsp almond, cashew, or pecan butter (do not use
peanut butter, the flavor is overpowering)
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract • 1/2 tsp cinnamon • 1/8 tsp cardamom • 1/8 tsp ground ginger • 1/8 tsp allspice
In reality, perfectionism is out of reach. Constantly striving for perfection can be exhausting, draining, and destructive; at home and in the office.
Directions
Take time to unplug. If the first thing you do in the morning is go online and check emails, or if you’re responding to work texts at the family dinner table, you’ve certainly crossed the line on balancing your work and home life. Quality time at home should be focused solely on your family, and hours at the office are for business activities. Once you mix the two, it can be tough to turn back. Take breaks. Even 30-second breathers throughout your day can make a drastic difference in improving stress levels, building your concentration, and helping you to feel more engaged — it can even help you to enjoy your job a bit more! By implementing these tips into your routine, you’ll be on your way to a healthier work-life balance, which translates into feeling less stressed, having fewer health issues, being more productive, and having a happier life at work and home.
1. In a large, high-powered blender, add all ingredients and blend on high for 1–2 minutes or until all ingredients are well combined. Add more milk if necessary to thin and blend again. 2. Serve and enjoy!
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Water Scarcity Solutions Desalination of ocean water: Removing the salt from ocean water and converting it to drinkable water and water for irrigating crops. Capturing water from the air: Some countries, especially in the Middle East and North Africa, use hydro panels to capture water from moisture in the air. Drip Irrigation: This method reduces water waste for watering plants and produces a higher yield. Rainwater Collection Systems: Most householders can collect the runoff water from their drains and other impervious surfaces into a large bin, which can irrigate plants and gardens. While many of these ideas only offer partial solutions, awareness of these innovations is a positive step toward lasting change. It’s comforting to know that our scientists and researchers are looking for answers. And we can be part of solutions that don’t require us to change our lifestyles drastically. –Hema Gopal, DMD
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Inside
DR. HEMA GOPAL: 20+ YEARS IN PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
This Issue
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Bringing Awareness to Recycling Innovations Valentine’s Day Fun Facts 7 Natural Toothache Remedies How To Achieve a Healthy Work-Life Balance Chai-Spice Butternut Squash Smoothie
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5 Tips to Help Your Kids Sleep Better
If only it were as easy as magic pajamas! Adequate and quality sleep is just as important for kids as it is for adults, but sometimes, children have difficulty falling and staying asleep. To ensure your kids get the sleep they need to grow, lead happy lives, and develop mentally and physically, here are five tips to help them achieve a better night’s sleep. Create a routine. Children, like adults, are creatures of habit — they thrive with routines. These routines may vary depending on the age of your child. An infant’s bedtime routine may include swaddling and turning on a white noise machine. But for a toddler, this may require a bath, reading a book, cuddling, teeth brushing, and singing. With a consistent routine, children know what to expect and are more likely to welcome sleep instead of fighting it. Don’t forget to stick to a specific bedtime! Make bedtime special. Children may sometimes become unsettled when it’s time for bed because they want attention. After long days at school or day care, children may turn to their parents for comfort. By spending 10 minutes talking with your child, cuddling, or reading, they may feel more soothed and relaxed before bed. Reserve the bed for sleep. Help your child to associate their bed with sleep. When you allow your children to watch television, read, or play in bed, staying up and engaging in other Tips to Help Kids Get Better Sleep SLEEP TIGHT!
activities may feel more normal instead of getting quality sleep. Creating a strong sleep association with their bed early on helps them to fall asleep and stay asleep. Use positive reinforcement. On nights when your child falls asleep quickly and stays asleep throughout the night, offer positive rewards. Whether it’s a favorite snack, a sticker chart for each day they practice good sleep habits, or a trip to the park, associating positivity with quality sleep will set your child up for sleep success! Eliminate electronics. When your child’s bedtime approaches, limit screen time. It’s widely known that blue light from an electronic screen stimulates the brain, making children feel restless when they should be sleeping. At least 30 minutes before lights out, you should turn off electronics and engage in other aspects of your established routine.
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