Over-consumption in the world’s richest countries is creating unhealthy, dangerous, and toxic conditions for children globally, according to a new report published on Tuesday by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
“Not only are the majority of rich countries failing to provide healthy environments for children within their borders, they are also contributing to the destruction of children’s environments in other parts of the world,” said Gunilla Olsson, Director of the UNICEF Office of Research – Innocenti.
The latest Innocenti Report Card 17: Places and Spaces compares how 39 countries in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and European Union (EU) impact children’s environments.
Indicators include exposure to harmful pollutants, such as toxic air, pesticides, damp and lead; access to light, green spaces and safe roads; and countries’ contributions to the climate crisis, resource consumption, and e-waste dumping.
The report states that if the entire world consumed resources at the rate of OECD and EU countries, the equivalent of 3.3 earths would be needed to keep up with consumption levels.
If it were at the rate at which people in Canada, Luxembourg and the United States do, at least five earths would be needed, according to the report.
While Spain, Ireland and Portugal feature at the overall top of the list, all OECD and EU countries are failing to provide healthy environments for all children across all indicators.
Based on CO2 emissions, e-waste and overall resource consumption per capita, Australia, Belgium, Canada and the United States are among other wealthy countries that rank low on creating a healthy environment for children within and beyond their borders.
Meanwhile, Finland, Iceland and Norway are among those that provide healthier environments for their country’s children but disproportionately contribute to destroying the global environment.
“In some cases we are seeing countries providing relatively healthy environments for children at home while being among the top contributors to pollutants that are destroying children’s environments abroad,” attested Gunilla Olsson, Director of UNICEF Office of Research
In contrast, the least wealthy OECD and EU countries in Latin America and Europe, have a much lower impact on the wider world.
Over 20 million children in this group, have elevated levels of lead – one of the most dangerous environmental toxic substances – in their blood.
In Iceland, Latvia, Portugal and the United Kingdom, one in five children is exposed to damp and mould at home; while in Cyprus, Hungary and Turkey, that number rises to more than one in four.
Many children are breathing toxic air both in and outside of their homes.
More than one in 12 children in Belgium, Czech Republic, Israel and Poland and are exposed to high pesticide pollution, which has been linked with cancer – including childhood leukaemia – and can harm vital body systems.
“We owe it to ourselves and to future generations to create better places and spaces for children to thrive,” Ms. Olsson said.
Children in poor families tend to face greater exposure to environmental harm –entrenching and amplifying existing disadvantages and inequities.
“Mounting waste, harmful pollutants and exhausted natural resources are taking a toll on our children’s physical and mental health and threatening our planet’s sustainability,” said the UNICEF official.
As such, UNICEF has urged national, regional, and local governments to improve children’s environments by reducing waste, air and water pollution, and ensuring high-quality housing and neighbourhoods.
Governments and businesses must immediately honour their commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. And climate adaptation should also be at the forefront of action across various sectors – from education to infrastructure.
Child-sensitive environmental policies must ensure that children’s needs are built into decision making and that their perspectives are considered when designing policies that will disproportionately affect future generations.
UNICEF’s report outlines that although children are the main stakeholders of the future and will face today’s environmental problems for the longest time, they are the least able to influence the course of events.
“We must pursue policies and practices that safeguard the natural environment upon which children and young people depend the most,” Ms. Olsson said.
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Collagen is the most prevalent protein in the body and is present in the skin, joints, cartilage, and other connective tissues. The glue holds the joints together and provides the skin and joints with their usual tightness and elasticity. Reducing the amount of human collagen produced as one ages is why supplementing with oral collagen peptides or using collagen powder is so common.
How can collagen peptides help you, and can you buy peptides online? To maintain healthy, elastic skin, little fragments of collagen protein are essential. Additionally, it aids in the prevention of bone loss and joint discomfort. Moreover, it may increase muscle mass and improve cardiovascular and digestive health.
The Advantages of Collagen Peptide Supplementation
Collagen peptides are derived from collagen hydrolysate, which is a term that refers to a denatured form of collagen. Collagen peptides may benefit skin, bones, and joints whether taken orally or combined with water. It’s great for the hair, nails, and skin, and it also helps with joint discomfort. Weight reduction may be aided by increased muscle mass and the benefits to the heart and digestive system.
The skin sags, wrinkles, and dulls as the body loses collagen. When it comes to slowing down the aging process by tightening and enhancing the skin’s radiance, collagen peptide supplements are an excellent resource to have on hand. Wrinkles may also be reduced by increasing skin suppleness.
Since the skin’s framework is held together by collagen, supplementing with the protein may help maintain skin more firmly attached to the body. Research suggests that taking collagen supplements might help your skin stay healthy. Taking 10 grams of collagen per day improved the skin’s suppleness and collagen fiber density in 800 participants. They also reported enhanced hydration, which led to more moisture in their facial skin. In addition to boosting skin hydration, Collagen peptide supplements also increase melanin synthesis, which protects against UV damage.
Efficacious for the Treatment of Joint Pain
As collagen synthesis declines with age, individuals may experience joint pain and brittleness. The flexibility of the joints diminishes when they lose their natural collagen. Osteoarthritis and other joint problems make it more difficult for people to exercise and engage in other activities that involve mobility. Joint pain sufferers may benefit from consuming collagen peptide supplements to get back on their feet.
According to research in the National Library of Medicine, this joint ailment may be relieved with oral collagen supplements. Joint pain and stiffness were reduced significantly in 500 subjects who received 10 grams of collagen peptides each day for roughly 24 weeks.
It has been shown that ingesting 5 grams of collagen peptides every day for 12 weeks will help alleviate knee discomfort in athletes. Anti-inflammatory benefits of collagen peptide supplements have also been discovered, and they may help with cartilage repair. Supplementing with collagen, according to some experts, may assist boost cartilage production, resulting in more excellent joint health.
An additional advantage of collagen supplements is that they help prevent bone loss. To balance the loss of bone mass that occurs when collagen synthesis declines with age, collagen serves as a structural and supportive component of the bone matrix. Having trustworthy collagen supplies like collagen tablets or powder might help prevent osteoporosis and other associated diseases.
Meanwhile, a new study suggests that supplementing with collagen peptides may help prevent bone loss even further. Experts have divided female patients into two groups: those who supplement with 5 grams of collagen and those who don’t. According to the data, collagen supplementation reduced blood levels of bone-breaking proteins compared to oral collagen peptide supplementation after a year.
Increases the Mass of the Muscle
In contrast to our collagen, the substance found in our bodies, collagen peptides are synthesized synthetically. Low-molecular-weight collagen peptides or hydrolyzed collagen are the most common types found in dietary supplements. Both collagen peptides and natural collagen include amino acids, which have a positive impact on muscle mass.
Collagen is the most prevalent protein in the skeletal muscles, making it a crucial body component. According to research, sarcopenia, the progressive weakening of the skeletal muscles as we age, may be helped by this treatment.
Does your desire to study seem to have reached its due date? Let’s understand together why and what you can do to turn it back on in the next few minutes.
But first let me tell you: the motivation (fortunately!) has no expiration. Only in the long career of a student, there are many moments for which you can feel that you have exhausted all propulsion to study and there can be many reasons that can lead to this state of mind.
If you find yourself in this phase where you should study but you can’t because you lack the desire, here, this article is for you!
Let’s start by understanding “why” you can find yourself without the desire to study.
It can happen. Many students find themselves in this situation when they have to face several tests in a short time. Having such important goals as exams to hit shortly can be really stressful and send even the most skilled people into crisis.
The pressure, the tiredness, and why not even the long study sessions (“But when will it end?!?!) Can lead to the same result: apparent “brain death” of the desire to study.
In these cases, there are techniques you can try to apply. We will see them shortly, but an important thing to do right away is to understand that all this is physiological! That’s right, there’s nothing wrong with that and you don’t have to point too hard at yourself. We often hear about successful people who never give up and who are still ultra motivated; only to discover that it is not quite so…
Have you ever read the biography of Andre Agassi, one of the most famous tennis players of all time? Well, reading it I discovered that even a legend like him has had a number of “low” moments. Andre has lost many games, often withdrew from tournaments due to lack of motivation, and has always said, even, “I hate tennis”… yet he has become a legend!
How did he do? Accepting his problems and looking for smart solutions from time to time (some of which I will show you in this article).
It takes a great character to let the small/big problems of every day slip on, without letting oneself be scratched.
All situations that, immediately, can affect your motivation a little!
These moments, or others like them, can never disappear from your Life. But by learning to use the right techniques you will see that you will be able to be influenced less and less and get over it in a short time.
But it can also happen that you realize that something is changing inside you. The choice of the path you have taken no longer convinces you as before and you prefer to cultivate other interests instead of spending hours and hours on books.
Or, if you’ve started working alongside your studies, having income may prompt you to reconsider the importance of graduating quickly. Especially in these times when, very often, the fact of having a degree does not give you the certainty of finding a job soon.
In these cases, a moment of reflection is needed to understand if it is a momentary sensation or if the time has come to change course. In any case, if you feel that you are in this situation, give yourself some time to reflect. “The answer” you will not find in a book but it must emerge from within you!
I will talk about this topic in a future article because it deserves special attention.
Now let’s see some practical tips that can help you regain the desire to study.
Start trying them in your days to understand which technique to use in certain situations; you will find that every day is a little different in itself because you are a little different every day and maybe even the subject you study is different.
Developing a certain sensitivity to understand “what you need” will make you use the right technique at the right time and from this, your Motivation can only benefit!
If you have a friend who, when he studies, does it seriously, join him: his concentration will help you too because you will be tempted to imitate him and to be as productive as he is. But I recommend, he tries not to mislead him otherwise then you will be two to have a problem!
If you and your friends have to prepare for the same exam, it’s also okay to organize yourself in a study group (as long as you don’t take too many coffee breaks away from the books, smart guys!). By studying together you will be able to motivate each other and help you by filling each other’s gaps.
I agree that to study you have to be comfortable, but it is not the case to fall asleep! Mattresses induce laziness and sleepiness, so give up the idea of lying comfortably on the soft, also because it is important that you assume a correct posture.
You must know that, precisely for a neurological issue, it is always better to choose austerity over luxury. A luxurious environment, in fact, comfortable and with every comfort, unconsciously induces us to relax and it follows that we are not inclined to make any effort! Not for anything else Daniel Coyle in his Little Talent Handbook defines luxury as a “motivational narcotic”.
Which is why you’d better go back to your good old desk, freed of everything you don’t need to study, and tidy up your room before you start. Doing so will best influence your motivation to stay on the books.
Of course, put your phone and tablet aside if you don’t need them and, needless to say, turn off the TV!
Lastly, if you really want to minimize the amount of effort you’re putting in, consider getting an essay helper to do assignments for you. This way, you won’t have to spread out yourself too thin when it comes to college responsibilities.
Ask anyone in a choir why they enjoy it, and they will tell you about the euphoric effects singing has on their mental health. A team of neuroscientists and clinical psychologists based at the University of Helsinki (Finland) believe these benefits could extend to improving brain function and treating aphasia.
Professor Teppo Särkämö is studying how ageing affects the way singing is processed by the brain, which could have important therapeutic applications. ‘We know a lot about speech processing, but not much about singing. We’re exploring how different singing related functions might be preserved in many neurological diseases,’ he explained.
For people with aphasia, a condition which severely impairs communication and is commonly caused by stroke, communication can be almost impossible as they struggle to sound out the right words. Yet, through a technique known as ‘melodic intonation therapy’ – whereby people are asked to sing an everyday sentence instead of speaking it – quite incredibly they often find a voice.
Coordinator of the PREMUS project, Prof Särkämö and his team are using similar methods, scaling-up the approach through specially-run ‘senior choirs’ that involve aphasic patients and their families. The scientists are exploring how singing could play an important rehabilitative role for cases of aphasia and might prevent cognitive decline too.
The PREMUS study is coordinated with a local aphasia organisation in Helsinki and involves around 25 people per choir, both aphasia patients and their family caregivers. Results of the trial show encouraging results.
‘Ultimately, the aim through our work with persons with aphasia is to use singing as a tool to train speech production and eventually enable them to communicate without singing. But through the choirs we are beginning to see how this approach is translating to people’s daily life as an important communication tool,’ said Särkämö.
Alongside an aphasia choir, the team has also carried out extensive fMRI brain scans of young, middle aged and older adults who participate in choirs to understand why singing is so important at different life stages. Their results indicate that as we age, the brain networks involved in singing undergo fewer changes than those that process speech, suggesting that singing is more widespread in the brain and more resilient to ageing.
Their studies also suggest that being actively engaged in singing, as opposed to listening to choral music for example, is crucial. ‘When you’re singing, you are engaging in the frontal and parietal systems in the brain where you regulate your own behaviour, and you use more of your motor and cognitive resources in terms of vocal control and executive functions,’ said Särkämö. Early results from a longitudinal study, which compared neurocognitive functioning between members of senior choirs and healthy older adults (who do not sing) showed the positive effects of singing on cognitive and auditory functioning and the importance of the social interaction it brings, which may help delay the onset of dementia.
Choir members performed better in neuropsychological tests, reported fewer cognitive difficulties, and had higher social integration. Electroencephalogram measurements of the same groups suggest that the choir singers had more advanced higher-level auditory processing abilities, especially for combining pitch and location information in frontotemporal brain regions, something Särkämö attributes to the complexity of the sound environment in choir singing.
The next step will be to replicate and expand this work with senior choirs for patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and to develop a large-scale clinical trial to test the effect. The challenge, however, is likely to be different with Alzheimer’s: whereas patients may remember songs from their past, Särkämö is unsure to what extent they can learn and retain new lyrics.
He is both optimistic and realistic about this work. ‘This is all about trying to stimulate the remaining networks in the brain. We believe singing could help to regain some of those functions, but of course with Alzheimer’s it’s a brutal, progressive disorder so it’s a matter of buying more time and trying to slow down the pattern of decline happening already.’
Someone else firmly focused on responding to the challenges of an ageing population is Christian A. Drevon, Professor of medicine at the University of Oslo (Norway). Drevon is a specialist in biomarkers and is now using his expertise to understand the different factors affecting neurocognitive function in the EU-funded Lifebrain project.
’Most studies about Alzheimer’s are cross-sectional where you take a group of people, look at a certain time and associate certain things with those who have the disease and those who don’t,’ he explained. ‘However, this is often not causal; you can’t tell if it’s the reason for the disease or if it’s just a consequence of it.’
To really understand what’s happening with Alzheimer’s and dementia, data are needed for individuals spanning periods both when they are healthy and when they are not, to tease apart what has gone wrong. Unpicking this question is the primary aim of Lifebrain, coordinated by psychologists Professors Kristine Walhovd and Anders Fjell.
By pooling pre-existing MRI brain scan data from people right across Europe, the Lifebrain project has analysed the significance of a range of different factors on cognition when we age and how this might vary between individuals.
To analyse over 40 000 brain scans from more than 5 000 people aged 1880 across seven countries, the first challenge was to harmonise the data. Do MRI scans in Sweden and Spain produce the same results? To ensure they do, Lifebrain sent eight participants around Europe to be scanned and to adjust equipment accordingly.
All psychological tests (including cognitive tests) and other collected data (body weight; demographic; genetic; and lifestyle data, including sleep and diet) were harmonised.
Next, the team linked MRI data with additional databases which uncovered new insights about how where you live and what access you have to green space might help lower dementia risk. Conversely, it also helped to reveal how education and sleep may be less important for future risk of dementia than previously assumed.
‘Lots of studies have claimed education is really important for reducing the risk of dementia. But if you follow people longitudinally through life there’s actually no association,’ said Drevon. ‘That doesn’t mean education isn’t important; it means it’s probably not true that education will prevent you from developing dementia. We have to search for other factors of importance.’
Given the expense of MRIs, Drevon suggests tiny blood samples (dried blood spots) could be taken by finger-prick without professional support to provide individual insights in the future. Analysed in an advanced laboratory like Vitas Ltd – Lifebrain partner – this could be a game-changer in providing tailored, online advice about individual risks.
‘If you really want to improve lifestyle, you probably have to personalise it. You have to measure several factors on an individual level across the life course,’ he said. ‘Our best chance of fighting cognitive decline and dementia will come from early preventative measures using this lifespan data approach.’
In time Prof Drevon hopes these personalised insights could help delay or potentially eradicate certain aspects of dementia. In the meantime, what about singing to stave off cognitive decline as proposed by Särkämö through the PREMUS project? Does he agree singing could be an important preventative step?
‘Well, the brain is like a muscle. If you train it, you make it fit, and if you use your brain for singing, it’s complicated, there are a lot of processes, it’s about remembering. Of course, there are other ways of training the brain, but singing is a very good example of how you can help to improve brain function.’
The research in this article was funded by the EU. This article was originally published in Horizon, the EU Research and Innovation Magazine.
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