Dr Lisa Shaver

09/01/2025

Smiles for your Monday.
Whatever you do and wherever you may be or go, be safe.

08/31/2025

08/29/2025

Strawberry Parfait

Strawberry parfait is a cold dessert made of layers of fruit, yogurt, granola, and whipped cream.

Change up or omit the layers and use whatever fruit or add-ins you have on hand.: sliced bananas, kiwi, other berries, pudding, chocolate chips, etc.

Recipe: https://www.simplegreenrecipes.com/strawberry-parfait-vegan-gluten-free/

08/29/2025

IBS and the gluten-free diet

A study investigated IBS and the gluten-free diet with about 30 study participants who believed they were sensitive to gluten and followed a gluten-free diet were evenly divided to get cereal bars that contained whole wheat, gluten or neither. They did not know which group they were in.

In all groups, including the ones with bars that did not contain gluten or wheat, 93 percent of participants reported having symptoms.

This kind of reaction is called the nocebo effect, where patients develop symptoms because they anticipate negative effects will be triggered. It’s the opposite of the placebo effect, where patients feel better because they think they will.

Still, some IBS patients legitimately benefit from diets that exclude gluten or wheat, the study says.

These IBS patients should be identified, the authors wrote.

In those who don’t benefit, wheat and gluten need to be destigmatized, they noted, and psychological counseling to reintroduce these ingredients in the diet may be helpful.

There is a reluctance to give up the gluten-free diet.

“Most patients continued a gluten-free diet despite learning that neither gluten nor wheat was triggering their symptoms,” the study says, noting this suggests patients were entrenched in their belief systems.

These beliefs about harm were strong and persistent for the long term. Following the gluten-free diet may be one of the few ways patients feel they can take control of their IBS, the study suggests.

Those who did abandon the gluten-free diet usually did so because of financial constraints or difficulty following the diet.

After being given the cereal bars, study participants reported symptoms as well as whether they had eaten the bars, which all had the same appearance, taste and smell. Though most claimed that they ate all the bars, little or no gluten found in stools tests even among those who received gluten-containing bars suggested that many had avoided consuming them.

Still, gluten getting into the gluten-free diet was an issue for most study participants. Despite expert dietitian advice on maintaining the diet at the start of the study, gluten was found in stool tests of nearly 70 percent of study participants before they ate the cereal bars containing gluten or after eating the bars that did not contain gluten. Study authors attributed this to the cross-contamination and the difficulty of maintaining a gluten-free diet.

The study is not a definitive trial for all IBS patients, the authors wrote, noting several limitations. They call for larger studies to confirm their results.

Reference:
Effect of gluten and wheat on symptoms and behaviours in adults with irritable bowel syndrome: a single-centre, randomised, double-blind, sham-controlled crossover trial
Caroline Larissa Seiler, PhD, et al.
The Lancet Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Volume 10, Issue 9P794-805September 2025

08/28/2025

Diabetes risk study says french fries are a culprit

Weekly servings of boiled, baked or mashed potatoes weren’t associated with an elevated risk of Type 2 diabetes — but french fries were.

The authors examined the diets of more than 205,000 adults in the U.S. who responded to questionnaires about what they ate over nearly four decades.

Among those who consumed potatoes, the authors looked at which people developed Type 2 diabetes, a disease that leads to persistently high blood sugar levels.

Eating three weekly servings of french fries, they found, was associated with a 20% increased risk of Type 2 diabetes.

Consuming the same amount of boiled, baked or mashed potatoes did not appear to be linked to the disease.

The vast majority of the 1 in 10 people with diabetes in the U.S. have Type 2. The condition can increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes or kidney damage.

The findings underscore that the way foods are prepared is key to their overall health risks or benefits.

Reference:
Total and specific potato intake and risk of type 2 diabetes: results from three US cohort studies and a substitution meta-analysis of prospective cohorts
BMJ 2025; 390
Published 06 August 2025

08/27/2025

10 Science-Based Benefits of Having a Dog

Unconditional love. Devoted companionship. Constant entertainment. Most of us dog lovers know that life is better with a dog. But is that knowledge based on a feeling, or is there something else at work? There is — science.

Spending time with dogs does wonders for your well-being. Recent research shows that owning a dog is good for you physically and emotionally. Dogs make us happier and healthier. They can help us cope with a crisis and can even help you get a date. Read on for 10 science-backed benefits of having a dog.

1. Dogs Make Us Feel Less Alone
Dogs can be there for you even when people can’t. They offer unconditional love, emotional support, and constant cuddles that help stave off social isolation. A small Australian study discovered that dog ownership can reduce loneliness.

A national survey of pet owners and non-pet owners by the Human Animal Bond Research Institute found that 85% of respondents believe that interaction with pets reduces loneliness. Most agree that human-pet interactions can help address social isolation.

2. Dogs Are Good for Your Heart
Owning a dog can help you live longer. A comprehensive review of studies published between 1950 and 2019 found that dog owners had a lower risk of death. Studies suggest that dog owners have lower blood pressure levels and improved responses to stress. Research has concluded that the bond between humans and dogs reduces stress, which is a major cause of cardiovascular problems.

3. Dogs Help You Stop Stressing Out
Your canine companion can offer comfort and ease your worries. Multiple studies show that dogs and therapy dogs help relieve stress and anxiety.

Even just petting a familiar dog lowers blood pressure and heart rate, slows breathing, and relaxes tense muscles. Scientists at Washington State University discovered that petting a dog for just 10 minutes can have a significant impact. Study participants had a significant reduction in cortisol, a major stress hormone.

4. Dogs Can Help Us Cope in Times of Crisis
Dogs can help us recover psychologically from a crisis. Purdue University’s College of Veterinary Medicine discovered that military veterans with PTSD can do better both physiologically and psychologically when they have a service dog. Veterans with a service dog had significantly fewer symptoms of PTSD and showed improved coping skills.

5. Dogs Encourage You to Move
Those long treks along sidewalks, trails, and paths add up. A 2019 British study discovered that dog owners are nearly four times more likely than non-dog owners to meet daily physical activity guidelines.

Dog owners spend nearly 300 minutes every week walking with their dogs. That’s 200 more minutes of walking than people without a dog of their own.

6. Dogs Make You More Attractive
If you’re looking for a date, it might be time to get a dog. A dog’s presence may make people appear more likable and attractive.

In a series of studies, men were more likely to get a woman’s phone number when they had a dog with them. In another study, researchers asked individuals to rate people in photographs. The individuals found that people looked happier and more relaxed when they appeared with a dog.

A study by Pet Wingman found that men and women swipe right more often in dating apps on profile photos with dogs. Women benefited more than men with dogs in their profiles.

7. Dogs Make Us More Social
Walking with a dog can make us more approachable and give people a conversation starter. Think about how many times you’ve talked with other people, whether they’re your neighbors or new friends at the dog park.

Researchers have found that about 40% of dog owners had an easier time making friends. Dogs can provide the perfect way to get to know strangers and form new friendships.

A study at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University concluded that people who have a strong attachment to a pet often feel more connected in their human relationships and their communities.

8. Dogs Are Made to Be Irrestible
There’s a reason why puppies are so irresistible. A dog’s facial features possess an “infant schema.” These “social releasers” can trigger an innate caregiver response in humans. So the next time you can’t stop watching that dog video, know those big eyes and floppy ears are scientifically appealing.

9. Dogs Make Us Happier
Just looking at a dog can lift your spirits. A 2009 study in Japan found that staring into your dog’s eyes can raise your level of oxytocin, also known as the “love hormone.”

Besides the general health benefits of owning a dog, dogs can be natural mood boosters. People with AIDS may be less likely to suffer from depression if they own a pet, according to a 2017 study.

10. Dogs Can Have Positive Effects on Seniors
Studies exploring the effects of dogs on seniors found positive results. One study found that pet therapy can improve the cognitive function of residents in long-term care with mental illness. Another study showed significant decreases in agitated behaviors in seniors with dementia, as well as improved social interactions.

A dog provides unconditional love and support, which is especially important during tough times. Though people may think we’re taking care of our dogs, it’s mutual. Dogs also take care of us, and science confirms it.

Source: American Kennel Club

08/25/2025

Do you know how to live self-sufficiently?

Learn about disaster preparedness, resource sustainably, and how to be ready for the unexpected at OMSI After Dark: Survival Guide! August 27, 6-10pm
21+ only

OMSI After Dark is for guests 21 and over, where you can have a drink and wander the exhibits after hours.

OMSI offers science demos, performances, DJ’s, artisan food and beverage vendors to sample their products, community vendors, local educators, and more to help enhance your museum experience.

Each event has a different theme, which allows us to shake things up a little each month.

OMSI Members receive a 15% discount

Tickets

OMSI After Dark General Admission
$27.00 per person | 15% OMSI member discount

Includes access to OMSI’s turbine hall, natural science hall, all activities, performances, Planetarium shows, lectures, and vendors taking part in the event.

Link in comments

08/25/2025

Smiles for your Monday

08/24/2025

Immediate Recall of Two Items - Stop Using Immediately

Two products sold through Target's online marketplace have been recalled over serious safety concerns, prompting U.S. regulators to urge customers to stop using them immediately.

RE*****ON PURPLE AND BLACK HAIRDRYERS
More than 55,000 hairdryers sold under the “Remington” brand have been recalled due to risk of electrocution and shock hazards resulting in injury and/or death.

The hair dryers were found to lack an immersion protection device, which works to prevent electrocution risk should the dryer fall into water while plugged in, per the recall.

DRINKMATE PET CARBONATION BOTTLES
Drinkmate has recalled about 106,200 carbonation bottles in the U.S. and Canada due to explosion risks, with affected bottles having expiration dates between 01/2026 and 10/2026.
There have been eight reports of bottle explosions in the U.S., including four injuries, plus one incident in Canada causing bruises and property damage.
Consumers should stop using the bottles immediately, mark them with "Recall," submit a replacement request with a photo, and dispose of the bottles to receive a free replacement.

More info and link in comments.