BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Hair loss can be a frustrating experience, and it is commonly associated with the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is essential for body hair growth during adolescence, but excessive amounts can lead to hair loss. Fortunately, incorporating specific foods in your diet can help reduce DHT levels and promote hair health. Here are six foods that may help you prevent hair loss naturally. Understanding the ins and outs of DHT and hair loss DHT is a testosterone derivative created by the enzyme 5-alpha reductase, which transforms roughly 10 percent of testosterone into DHT. High DHT levels can shrink hair follicles and delay the growth cycle, resulting in hair loss. Some studies suggest that certain foods can inhibit the 5-alpha reductase enzyme, lowering DHT levels and potentially preventing hair loss. Foods that might help you fight hair loss 1. Green tea, the antioxidant powerhouse Green tea, which comes from the Camellia sinensis plant, is well-known for its multiple health advantages. The steaming process used to make green tea keeps its natural components, such as epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), intact. This potent plant chemical has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant qualities, which can protect hair follicles and promote hair growth. While evidence on EGCG’s direct effect on hair loss is limited, its general health benefits make green tea an important part of your diet. 2. Coconut oil, nature’s hair protector Coconut oil, obtained from coconut meat, is a versatile component used in both cooking and beauty treatments. It contains medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), especially lauric acid, which have been demonstrated in test tube and animal studies to inhibit DHT formation. Though human studies are required to validate these advantages, integrating coconut oil into your hair care routine may provide benefits due to its nourishing characteristics. 3. Onions’ quercetin advantage White onions are more than just a tasty complement to your meals; they also contain quercetin, a powerful antioxidant. Quercetin has been proven to reduce DHT production by inhibiting the enzyme alpha-5 reductase and lowering oxidative stress. While no studies have specifically explored the effect of onions on DHT levels in humans, including quercetin-rich foods in your diet, such as onions, asparagus, spinach, kale, apples, and berries, can help with general hair health. 4. Turmeric, the golden spice Turmeric, a popular ingredient in many cuisines, is known for its anti-inflammatory qualities. Preclinical investigations have revealed that the active ingredient curcumin in turmeric reduces DHT levels by blocking the alpha-5 reductase enzyme. Turmeric may help prevent hair loss, and it has many other health advantages as well. However, further human studies are required to draw firm conclusions. 5. Pumpkin seeds: nutritious powerhouses Pumpkin seeds are a healthy snack high in iron, zinc, and magnesium. Research has shown that using pumpkin seed oil can help prevent hair loss and encourage hair growth. Although further human trials are required, it’s evident that pumpkin seeds’ high nutrient profile may benefit hair health. 6. Edamame: the isoflavone source Edamame, young soybeans often enjoyed as a snack, contain isoflavones, which can lower DHT levels by blocking 5-alpha reductase. A 2007 study indicated that soy protein, regardless of isoflavone content, lowered DHT levels more effectively than milk protein. This implies that other active components in soy may possibly play a role. Including edamame in your diet might provide a pleasant method to promote hair health. More tips for managing hair loss: While eating these foods may help lower DHT levels, if you are experiencing hair loss, you should visit a healthcare expert. They can give you personalized advice and recommend treatments like vitamins and supplements (protein, zinc, iron, vitamins C and A), natural remedies (scalp massage, aloe vera, fish oil), laser therapy, topical medications (minoxidil, finasteride, corticosteroids), injections (platelet-rich plasma therapy), or hair transplant surgery. By being proactive and combining a balanced diet with professional advice, improving your hair health is within reach.The post Natural ways to fight hair loss: 6 foods that block DHT first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

'We want her to be remembered as someone who was selfless'

When the AWFL Cat Lady Is Also Certifiably BAT Sh...Well...You Know What I Mean

Wednesday's Final Word

During a Monday morning segment of CNN Newsroom, host Jim Acosta invited Republican strategist Shermichael Singleton and Democratic strategist Maria Cardona to discuss the plummeting stock market. As the episode progressed, Acosta allowed Cardona to insist on America’s economic strength and Vice President Kamala Harris’ political genius, prompting Singleton to expose the blatant failures of Bidenomics. Acosta began with a grim review of the stock market decline, which he said was “fueling fears of recession amid a global market meltdown,” and its contributing factors, particularly the recent disappointing jobs report and the Federal Reserve’s neglect in cutting interest rates.  Cardona immediately downplayed the issue as simply “not great numbers that anybody wants to see” and claimed that in comparison to 2008’s financial crisis, “every other indication is that the economy is stable, solid, strong.” “We'll just have to see this through, see what happens,” she flippantly added.     Cardona wasted no time in pivoting to her expectations for a Harris presidency, dismissing the quickly escalating problem, since “the majority of Americans are not in the stock market.” She fawningly declared Harris would “continue to talk about…how she is going to expand the middle-class, how she's gonna make this economy work for everyone.” Furthermore, Cardona hoped that the vice president would “refocus on Donald Trump's plan, Project 2025, and how almost every economist across the spectrum has said if he imposes that plan, it would be a disaster for Americans across the board and especially for low-income and middle-class Americans,” even though the former president has repeatedly distanced himself from the Heritage Foundation initiative. Singleton delivered a fresh dose of reality to his Democratic counterpart, detailing how “difficult” it would be for Harris to defend Bidenomics or even remotely demonstrate how it benefited the average American family: We know that a significant percent of middle-class people are relying heavily on their credit cards, right now. That's gonna become harder for them. Banks are likely going to be more careful in terms of deciding who to lend to and who not to lend to, in regards to small business owners, individuals trying to buy their first homes. Imagine if you're a young person looking in the market. So I think this hits against every single thing the vice president will attempt to argue that Biden–over the four years with her as vice president–has done well for the average person, economically. Ironically enough, Acosta recalled John McCain’s words, “The fundamentals of the economy are strong,” which proved disastrous to his campaign.  Yet, Cardona foolishly insisted that while anyone could see 2008’s crisis coming, “This is not that” and she didn’t “think it makes it difficult for the vice president to make the argument. I think it makes it, actually, more real for her to make the argument that this is about middle-class families, low-income families, workers.” Cardona apparently expected the situation to resolve itself with simple interest rate cuts at the Fed’s next meeting and stated, “That will help Americans across the board.” Singleton wasn’t convinced and warned about pursuing such a solution “prematurely,” suggesting that the Fed “is attempting to be very, very careful in how he placates the markets, not only domestically but internationally.” He reemphasized his previous point, arguing that “this is difficult if you're a Democrat trying to run on the idea that the economy, generally speaking, is strong. By all metrics, that is not the case. If you're a single individual, if you’re a family of four, you are seeing the diminishment of your spending power as compared to eight years ago.” Nonetheless, Cardona dutifully doubled down on her support for Harris and hatred for Trump, echoing her baseless claim that, “Harris is arguing that she is there to focus on expanding opportunities for all Americans, and what Trump wants to do would actually destroy those opportunities for the majority of Americans.” The transcript is below. Click "expand" to read: CNN’s Newsroom with Jim Acosta 8/5/2024 10:37:23 AM EST JIM ACOSTA: Alright, back to our breaking news right now. We are looking at what's taking place down at Wall Street. The Dow Jones is down about 1,010 points, that's about two-and-a-half percent. We’ve been watching this all morning, the plummet is fueling fears of recession amid a global market meltdown. Tech stocks are driving this nose drive–nosedive, I should say–as investors are selling off all of those equities, as well as crypto and oil stocks. Also contributing to the drop, Friday's disappointing jobs report and an unchanged Fed interest rate.  All of that happening as three men are emerging as the front runners to be Kamala Harris’ running mate this weekend. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, and Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, met with the vice president for what's expected to be their final interview in the vetting process. Today is likely decision day for Harris, who is launching a week-long battleground blitz with her running mate, tomorrow, starting in Philadelphia. Let's discuss with CNN political commentators Maria Cardona and Shermichael Singleton. Maria, I do want to talk–we're watching the stock market–I do want to talk about the veepstakes, but I suppose there is a political concern about the markets, if this keeps going in this direction. MARIA CARDONA: Well, that's certainly not great numbers that anybody wants to see, right? But I will say, you know, what I've heard economists say, is that this is not an issue that is structural–the way that the 2008 meltdown was–that every other indication is that the economy is stable, solid, strong. And, so, we'll just have to see this through, see what happens.  And, frankly, you know, the majority of Americans are not in the stock market and, so, what I believe that the vice president will continue to talk about, is how she is going to expand the middle-class, how she's gonna make this economy work for everyone, and refocus on Donald Trump's plan, Project 2025, and how almost every economist across the spectrum has said if he imposes that plan, it would be a disaster for Americans across the board and especially for low-income and middle-class Americans. ACOSTA: Let's talk–let's talk veepstakes. Feel free if you want to weigh in on the economy too, Shermichael. SHERMICHAEL SINGLETON: Yeah, I mean, look this is–definitely makes it difficult to make the case and the argument that Bidenomics, if you will, is working for the average American family. I was also reading that the banks in Japan were also tightening the belt. With those types of numbers, if this was to continue, lenders are going to tighten the belt.  We know that a significant percent of middle-class people are relying heavily on their credit cards, right now. That's gonna become harder for them. Banks are likely going to be more careful in terms of deciding who to lend to and who not to lend to, in regards to small business owners, individuals trying to buy their first homes. Imagine if you're a young person looking in the market. So I think this hits against every single thing the vice president will attempt to argue that Biden–over the four years with her as vice president–has done well for the average person, economically. ACOSTA: Yeah, we'll see how it shakes out. I mean, I was talking to Steve Schmidt earlier this morning and he was saying, well, you know, in 2008, I mean, that was a big… CARDONA: Right! ACOSTA: …that was a big impact on that race.  CARDONA: Right. ACOSTA: I remember I was out there with Barack Obama in–when John McCain uttered those words, “the fundamentals of the economy are strong.” I mean that was–that was a big hit to the McCain camp… CARDONA: But that was als–you could see–anyone who was looking at what was going on in the housing market could see that coming. That is n–this is not that. And, so, certainly everyone's keeping an eye on it, but right now–and I don't think it makes it difficult for the vice president to make the argument. I think it makes it, actually, more real for her to make the argument that this is about middle-class families, low-income families, workers, and that there's a… ACOSTA: But how frustrated are they in the White House, right now, with the Fed–with the Fed chairman? CARDONA: I mean, I don't know. I haven't spoken to them… ACOSTA: Yeah. Yeah, yeah.  CARDONA: …but–but there's an argument to be made that this actually will push the Fed to bring down interest rates, which is–my understanding is that this is a reaction to them not doing that. So if that happens, that will help Americans across the board. SINGLETON: You certainly want to–you don't want to do it prematurely, I would argue. We've already had difficulties, earlier this year, selling treasury notes, which allows our country to continue to print unlimitless amounts of money–which is ridiculous–but that's another conversation to have. I think the Fed–if you're looking at monetary easing and monetary theory, generally speaking–is attempting to be very, very careful in how he placates the markets, not only domestically but internationally.  And, so, I'm not convinced, to Maria's point, that the Fed will lower rates by the next Fed meeting, which is in September. Again, this is difficult if you're a Democrat trying to run on the idea that the economy, generally speaking, is strong. By all metrics, that is not the case. If you're a single individual, if you’re a family of four, you are seeing the diminishment of your spending power as compared to eight years ago. CARDONA: But, see, what Harris is arguing is that she is there to focus on expanding opportunities for all Americans, and what Trump wants to do would actually destroy those opportunities for the majority of Americans. (...)

On Tuesday, CNN’s Dana Bash filled in on Anderson Cooper 360 and gave Van Jones a second chance to praise Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as Kamala Harris’s vice president choice. Earlier in the day, Jones claimed that Walz was picked to appeal to “anti-Jewish bigots” among Democrats. This time around, Jones described Walz as “young” and “fresh” before Bash introduced new Harris/Walz campaign "merch." Bash began the segment by seemingly hinting at the social media firestorm Jones was embroiled in by hinting he was “not so sure about Walz” at first.     She also mentioned that there “were Republicans who were worried about Josh Shapiro” getting picked as Harris’s running mate. Jones responded that Republicans “were not scared of Governor Walz. But they should be.” Jones continued by claiming he was hearing a lot of bipartisan praise for Walz: “I've heard from my most conservative friends and my most liberal friends and even my radical friends -- everybody is like this guy is amazing because he talks like a normal person about stuff that people really care about and its effective.” Jones described the 60-year-old governor as “young, and exciting, and fresh, and new.” He then went on a rampage about how “uniting” Harris has been to the Democratic Party: The other thing is that Kamala Harris has managed to do something without relying on Donald Trump to do it. She has united this party. We used to say that the only thing to unite this party is Donald Trump. She's not talking about Donald Trump. She's talking about a future you can believe in. She's giving people hope. Jones decided to point out that Harris “picked somebody [who] does not look like her and from where she’s from.” He called this an “unbelievable feeling that's sweeping through the country and Donald Trump is scared and he should be.” Bash decided to end this segment by announcing new Harris/Walz campaign “merch.” Unsurprisingly excited, she exclaimed: “I want to show our viewers something that our colleague Josh Campbell just pointed out to me and I believe we have it, it's new merch.” The merch Bash shared was a “blaze orange” camo hat. She reminded everybody that blaze orange is “a color used by hunters for safety purposes” and quickly added on “that's what Tim Walz is.” “He is a hunter and the fact that that is one of the first things that they are selling that tells you a lot about the way that they are trying to get the white men,” Bash concluded. Click "Expand" to view the transcript: CNN Anderson Cooper 360 8/6/2024 8:13:28 – 8:15:41 PM DANA BASH: Van, you were not so sure about Walz. You were -- you can tell me if I'm not characterizing your – your position this morning, right. I'm sure you will and because there were Republicans who thought – VAN JONES: Yeah look – BASH: -- Josh Shapiro – JONES: The Republicans were -- BASH: -- or  who were worried about Josh Shapiro. JONES: The Republicans were scared of Josh Shapiro. Republicans were scared of Mark Kelly. They were not scared of Governor Walz, but they should be. They should be because what you just saw tonight was extraordinary. This was somebody -- I've heard from my most conservative friends and my most liberal friends and even my radical friends. Everybody is like this guy is amazing because he talks like a normal person about stuff that people really care about and its effective. And to David's point, Trump was ready to go with strength versus weakness. I'm strong, Biden's weak, give me the job. This is not that. This is old, and sorry, and pathetic, and boring, and doom, and gloom versus young, and exciting, and fresh, and new. And that's a different fight. It's the past versus the future. It is a completely different fight. The other thing is that Kamala Harris has managed to do something without relying on Donald Trump to do it. She has united this party. We used to say that the only thing to unite this party is Donald Trump. She's not talking about Donald Trump. She's talking about a future you can believe in. She's giving people hope. She picked somebody looks– does not look like her and from where she's from, and they fit together like Legos. It is an unbelievable feeling that's sweeping through the country and Donald Trump is scared and he should be. BASH: I want to show our viewers something that our colleague Josh Campbell just pointed out to me and I believe we have it, it's new 'merch'. JONES: New merch? BASH:  All the campaigns get 'merch' up -- really quickly. But this in particular as, Josh is pointing out, is in orange, blaze orange. It's a color used by hunters for safety purposes. And that's what Tim Walz is. He is a hunter and the fact that that is one of the first things that they are selling that tells you a lot about the way that they are trying to get the white men.

A man was arrested after police said he lit a woman on fire over theft accusations from his food truck in Niagara Falls, New York. Witnesses said they heard the argument between 38-year-old Barinder Singh and a 48-year-old woman at the Indian Fusion food truck that he owns.The victim had to be intubated due to burn injuries.Police said they responded to a call from the area at about 1:45 p.m. and found the woman near the intersection of of 7th and Niagara Street with burns to her head, arms, and body. The woman was rushed to the Erie County Medical Center, where police said she was in critical condition with third-degree burns. One witness to the altercation said he thought a garbage tote was on fire before he realized it was actually a woman. Police said they got permission from Singh to read his phone and were able to obtain surveillance videos from before and after the attack. He can be heard saying, "I'll (expletive) kill you," and, "Don't (expletive) steal from me," on the videos. A police report said the victim had to be intubated due to burn injuries to her throat. On Monday, Singh was brought to the police station for questioning and was arrested for assault. He was released without bail, and a judge issued a protective order for the victim. WKBW-TV posted its news video report on its channel on YouTube. Niagara Falls is world-renowned for the massive waterfalls, but the surrounding city is more infamous for high rates of crime and poverty. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

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