PREMSTAETTEN, Austria--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ams (SIX: AMS), a leading worldwide supplier of high-performance sensor solutions, shares the results of its Comfortable, Smart, High-performing Earbuds Survey conducted in spring 2020 with 2000-plus consumers around the world on their audio earbud uses, habits and preferences. The survey was conducted in Austria, China, France, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, UK, and USA. It found that consumers are demanding greater comfort and hearing safety without compromising on sound quality or their long-term hearing. This becomes more important given the trend to wear earbuds all day. In fact, customers are asking for innovations like reducing background noise without losing awareness of ones surroundings, volume-limiting features, 3D/special sound, and long battery life. This is especially true in China where consumers seem to be particularly well informed and more selective on earbud innovations.

Are your earbuds now part of your daily routine?

Listening to music was cited as the primary use of headphones across all regions (80%), followed by sports/exercise (61%), voice calls (51%) and gaming (45%). In fact, the survey showed earbuds are an integral part of daily life for many consumers. Users in USA and some European countries reported that they tend to wear earbuds all day while making calls, listening to music, or exercising.

Until now, real data on consumer needs, wants, and uses for earbuds was hard to find. By talking directly with a statistically relevant sample of earbud users, we have learned, that users want a say in earbud innovation. They want comfort, safety, and usability: such as a comfortable yet secure fit; innovations, that will protect their ears and hearing; and long battery life in both the earbuds and charging case regardless of the usage scenario. ams strives to deliver innovation to meet these needs. Examples include: digital active noise cancellation for loose-fit earbuds to address comfort and hearing safety; features that help reduce the symptoms of Tinnitus for safety; and proximity sensors to help increase battery life. They want these features regardless of their activity traveling, working, relaxing, or doing sport activities such as running or biking, said Wim Renirie,

Vice President and General Manager for Accessory & Wearable Solutions Business Line at ams.

Users do not want to compromise: Active Noise Cancellation in a comfortable form factor and long battery life

Loose and tight fit: Around 45% revealed they use tight-fitting, in-ear earbuds because they are perceived to stay in place (67%) and feel more secure when exercising (51%). However, consumers noted tight-fitting earbuds are not comfortable for extended periods or they do not fit correctly (44% across all regions surveyed). Respondents also reported that tight-fitting earbuds can make them feel less aware of their surroundings (21%) and that they hear their own footfalls when wearing them particularly during exercise (11%). Those problems are remedied with the loose-fit earbuds which have ANC. In addition to being more comfortable than tight-fit earbuds (26%), the ability to hear what you want to hear with augmented hearing allows users to hear necessary surrounding noise and activity (20%).

Augmented hearing through Active Noise Cancellation technology provides important usability factors in earbuds through reducing the distraction of ambient noise. This helps to keep volume levels lower, important for ear health. Moreover, ams has Augmented Hearing technology specially designed for loose-fit earbuds increasing comfort for users. The survey results showed that volume-limiting technology to prevent hearing loss or damage was important across the world with 56% requesting this feature. While half the respondents in China (49%) use active noise cancelling (ANC) headphones to reduce the distraction of ambient noise, just 17% in the US and 16% in Europe have ANC headphones. However, about 21% of respondents said they hear too much background noise with loose-fit earbuds. Until now, ANC has not been available in loose-fit earbuds. Thanks to ams developed digital ANC features for loose-fit earbuds, users can now have this feature in a very comfortable form factor. However, the same percentage also noted they did not know active noise cancelling technology was available in loose-fit earbuds. Consumers in China were savvier with just 14% unaware that ANC technology is available for more comfortable loose-fit earbud designs.

ams audio sensing technologies, such as Digital Augmented Hearing for high-performing noise cancellation for all types of headphones and earbuds, is used by manufactures around the world to give customers these kinds of audio benefits. Real time adaptation enables ANC on loose-fit earbuds, allows use of a smaller speaker on closed-fit designs, and always delivers the best performance on over-ear designs even if you wear eyeglasses or prefer a loose fit.

Battery life continues to matter: ams proximity sensors are key to helping manage battery life in earbuds, as the buds only turn on when they register that they are in the ear. Nearly 49% across all regions agreed acceptable battery life must be at least 5 hours. However, 32% of respondents said they prefer battery life of over 8 hours and up to 24 hours. Just 11% said less than 5 hours of battery life was acceptable.

Emerging earbud innovations

Users are looking for new technologies such as 3D or spatial sound had high interest in China (at 48%) but less so in the US (24%) and Europe (20%). High volume without distortion (mostly for gaming) was important to consumers in China (50%) but less so in the US (31%) and Europe (19%).

Survey Methodology: Who participated and what type of earbuds they use

In spring 2020, ams surveyed over 2,150 consumers around the world (USA, Europe, and China). Respondents were almost evenly split between men (49%) and women (51%) between the ages of 18-29 (41%), 30-44 (32%), and 45-60 (18%). In pre-qualification questions, 24% of respondents said they use tight-fitting, in-ear, wired earbuds, 22% used tight-fitting, in-ear wireless earbuds; 10% use loose-fitting, wired earbuds; 6% use loose-fitting, wireless earbuds; 23% said they use both; and 15% said they do not use earbuds. The survey was conducted through SurveyMonkey.

Resources

For more information on the survey and more detailed results, please

download the ams Comfortable, Smart, High-performing Earbuds Survey eBook.

A consumer-focused Earbud Reviewers Guide is also available for media use.

Visit the ams website to see all available earbud technologies:

https://ams.com/wireless-earbud-solutions

>Twitter >LinkedIn >Facebook >YouTube

See the rest here:

ams Survey Finds Consumers Expect to 'Hear What They Want to Hear' Without Compromise on Earbud Comfort - Business Wire

A lot of people turn to meditation in this period to find inner peace, balance and the strength to deal with stress. Since offers always appear where there is demand, users can choose from a large variety of VR meditation apps. These apps allow you to meditate at your own convenience and in a place where you are comfortable and at ease.

Meditation involves getting into a deep state of mental relaxation. You should not be disturbed by anything in the world around you, such as images and sounds. However, this is difficult for beginners.

See Also: VR Experience Review: Guide Your Mind To Relaxation With The Marvellous Machine

This is why VR meditation apps are so popular among people trying to meditate for the first time. They can enter an immersive world specifically designed to induce rest and relaxation. Thus, the users can focus on the experience itself and not on any disrupting elements.

Are you ready to give VR meditation apps a go? Then here are our recommendations for you:

Devices: HTC VIVE, Oculus Rift

This is one of the best VR meditation apps for beginners. It takes the user through a series of magical landscapes, from deep seas to tropical forests. Along the way, the user discovers motivational quotes inspiring them to find inner strength and balance.

The dreamy landscape is made even more relaxing with a selection of soundtracks created by international artist and Academy Award-winning composers. The producers created the sequence of images and sounds in a succession that takes the user through various soothing emotional states.

Devices: a variety of VR viewers/smartphone VR headsets for Android and iOS phones

Our list of VR meditation apps includes something for people who want to choose an active form of meditating. Originating in ancient China, Tai Chi consists of slow, flowing movements with the purpose of activating the chi (the vital energy) and bringing the body and mind together.

If you are interested in this practice, Tai Chi Trainer XR is the right choice for you. It features:

Thus, as you become more advanced in your meditation technique, you can switch to the less immersive AR version of the app.

Devices: Samsung Gear VR, Oculus Go

With Chakra VR, you can enjoy a guided tour into your inner world and discover your chakras. They are seven wheels (direct translation from Sanskrit) that keep your spiritual life in balance:

With one of the most innovative VR meditation apps, Chakra VR, you can learn how to unblock all the chakras with the specific poses for each of them. This app received a lot of positive reviews (4.5/5 stars rating on the Oculus store) and costs only $2.99, so give it a try!

Devices: Samsung Gear VR, Oculus Go

This is one of the VR meditation apps designed for people who need a step by step approach to this activity. It features six modes aimed at helping users reach inner balance: Breath, Focus, Movement, Letting go, Calm, and Restore.

Featuring superb, calming landscapes from Iceland in 4K quality, the app is developed by an award-winning startup and includes music by bands like GusGus and Sigur Rs. As you may recall, Sigur Rs also partnered with Magic Leap to create the first immersive music video experiences.

Last but not least, we recommend a traditional approach to VR meditation apps, featuring authentic meditative music. The app contains a series of 23 relaxing landscapes, from tropical beaches and forests to majestic mountaintops and peaceful Greek coastal cities.

Built specifically for the VR medium, this app offers one of the most immersive and relaxing experiences, capable of helping anyone disconnect from stress and worries.

Read the original post:

The Best VR Meditation Apps To Try - ARPost

Mornings are tough. Theyre even worse when its the start of the week, at least for the majority of people.

Still, the start of the week is important since this day is a big influence over the rest of your week. A bad Monday can easily translate into a bad Tuesday, and then you blink and you realize that your entire week ended and that it wasnt all that productive. Luckily, there are simple ways of curbing this problem, making your weeks easier without much hassle on your part, just a little pre-planning.

Here are 5 things you can do to make your week run smoother:

Trying to smooth out your week and your Mondays can be helped dramatically by scheduling things in advance during the previous Friday. While you most likely wont be able to schedule every detail, you can complete a Monday to-do list and include some time constraints in order to help you stay on track. Doing this will only take a couple of minutes and it will help you enter the weekend with a relaxed state of mind.

While the weekend is meant to be enjoyed thoroughly, it could drastically help your upcoming week by have a relaxing Sunday. Try a work out or an early hang with friends, leaving your nights for relaxation and ensuring you have everything ready for Monday.

While some people have to complete their work on the weekends, especially freelancers, it really helps to block some days off, preferably in succession. This time-off is vital for preventing burnout, helping you relax and contributing to your productivity. Your Mondays can be whenever you want, just make sure you feel rested before you start your week.

Since Mondays tend to be tough, one thing that can help you is to go to bed early. Try working out Sunday evening and going to bed early and tired, ensuring that youll get your 8 hours of deep sleep and are able to kick-off the week with the best foot forward.

Another thing that can help you start your week right is to access a positive mood. Take an early morning shower, put on some comfy or colorful clothes and listen to some music. Try out a fun podcast, preferably not one thats about true crime (unless that puts a smile on your face, weirdo). Try out new things and see what makes you feel your best. Whatever you land on is what you should do to kick-start the week.

Read more on The Fresh Toast

Go here to see the original:

5 Thing You Can Do To Make Your Weeks Run Smoother - L.A. Weekly

First things first. I am not purporting that you must be a morning person to be successful in life or productive throughout the day. Our natural sleep cycle called our circadian rhythm varies greatly from person to person. Depending on whether you feel most awake and alert in the morning, in the evening or somewhere in between, you have a certain chronotype, and no type is better than the other. In fact, some experts say its best not to force yourself into another type. If being a night owl works for you, dont let the early risers shame you into thinking youre doing something wrong. Sayings like The early bird catches the worm! point to a general orientation around the workday.

Night owls AND morning people will want to read this. Lets begin.

There are, however, benefits to seizing a few sweet hours in the morning before most of our life functions rev up. Evidence shows there are benefits to maximizing effort in the morning while we have our reset calories that start to burn off throughout the day the moment we wake up. One study shows that we handle stressful things better in the morning due to cortisol levels (source), but for complex tasks, its best to work when youre less distracted whether that is morning or evening. A lot of morning people will tell you they get their best thinking or writing or problem-solving done early in the morning, and its largely due to the lack of texts, emails, TV and noise that grows and grows through the day. This also leaves room for menial and thoughtless tasks that are best saved for the end of the day when our core body temperature is highest.

Waking up early is something that I a classic night owl have historically struggled with (but am getting much better at!). So I called on Koula Callahan, a trained and impressive morning person and the Director of Content at StoryBrand, to weigh in on what works for her, too. Here are some helpful ways for night owls to begin to shift to an earlier wake-up time.

I dont do well with a routine thats heavily regimented and structured because if I dont do it exactly as I should, I feel like I failed, Koula says. The most important thing about my morning routine is that I dont let myself get on any device. There is a lot of science that backs the benefits to this, but Koulas main one is that it gives her time to fill her mind and soul with things that are good and nurturing. If the first thing I look at is my phone, it immediately fills my mind with comparison, stressful task lists, etc., she says. Other things Koula does in the morning: walk the dog without a phone, make a slow cup of coffee, meditate (Its like dental floss for my brain, Koula says.), drink water, or write for about 10 minutes. The takeaway? Do something that nourishes your mental, physical and emotional health each morning, but know that it can change day-to-day.

RELATED: The SB Healthy Hot List

We are grateful to all our sponsors:

If youre used to going to sleep at midnight, its unrealistic to think that your body will be ready to go to sleep at 9:30 p.m. If you expect that to be the case, you will get frustrated quickly. Instead, go to sleep at the same time, but get up earlier. You might be a little sleepy the next day (and the day after), but this way, your body will naturally start to want to fall asleep earlier. Day by day, go to sleep 15 minutes earlier than the night before. I fully believe that no one is just born a morning person, Koula says. You have to be disciplined about your wake-up time in order to morph into a morning person because its just not natural to want to get out of bed before you have to. I have not always been a morning person. But after years of getting up and experiencing how much better I think and feel in the morning, Im a convert. Im also highly protective of my sleep if I dont get eight hours I am a monster. So I really plan my days around how much sleep I need to get.

Youve heard everyone tell you to turn off your phones and screens after a certain point in the night. There is a truth to that, but dont beat yourself up if watching an episode of Parks and Rec helps you unwind. I try to nix mindless, purposeless scrolling at night and instead read a few non-current-event-related articles or listen to an uplifting podcast. Once my phone automatically sets to Bedtime Mode at 10 p.m. (maybe this is earlier for you!), I start reading an actual physical book. This helps lull me to sleep. If possible, open the blinds or curtains before bed to let natural light pour in in the morning!

For Koula, the nighttime routine is just as important as the morning one. Your wind-down helps prepare your brain and your body for sleep. Turning down the lights, getting quiet, taking care of your personal needs like skincare conditioning yourself to wind down at a certain time each night will get you into a good rhythm.

There are a lot of tools at our fingertips and on our bedside tables to help aid a morning person schedule. The sleep tracker that comes on your iPhone is a perfect place to start. Another great app to consider is Sleep Score, which tracks your sleep contactless from the bedside table, gives you actionable tips for improving your sleep, provides lots of data about your sleep, and it even comes with a smart alarm that gradually wakes you up at the best time during your cycle.

Sleep Cycle is another great option that offers less detailed sleep data, but more sound options for their smart alarm function. Other ideas: Play a guided meditation on apps like the Calm app as youre falling to sleep. Digital white noise or rain sounds played softly through a smart speaker can help to block background noise in your home and outdoors. Light sleepers, yall know what I am talking about.

Darkness is essential to good sleep. It tells the body that it is time to rest. Light exposure at the wrong times alters the bodys internal sleep clock our mechanism that regulates our sleep-wake cycle can mess with quality and quantity of sleep. Image: Sleep Cycle

One of the best tricks to feeling energized when you wake up is to immediately (like right away, on an empty stomach) drink as much water as you can muster four cups is ideal. For me, drinking a large glass of chilled water is more effective at waking me up than a cup of coffee. There are a lot of benefits to this. In a basic sense, six to eight hours of sleep is a long time without hydration, so morning water necessarily rehydrates us. But it also jumpstarts your metabolism, kickstarts your organs, balances your immune system, flushes toxins the body naturally casts out at night, and starts to produce a bunch of red blood cells.

A main symptom of dehydration is fatigue and tiredness. So if you awaken early after maybe not as many hours of sleep as youd like, preemptively squash that grogginess by fueling your body with water starting on an empty stomach. Plus, the brain is 70% water and if it doesnt get enough, it cant perform or remember at its best.

You dont have to run a 10k at 6 a.m. Even two minutes of jumping jacks or a few walks around the block in the morning is enough to wake up the body, start the metabolism and ignite that mental clarity. Need a few quick, effective 10-minute workouts? Weve got you!

There is likely a reason (or reasons) you want to get up earlier. Some might want to be more clearheaded and ready for work. Others might want to create alone time for introspection without distraction. Some might want to knock out exercising in the morning. Others might want to be more present for their children before school. Whatever your reason or reasons, return to them often and remind yourself of why your alarm is set.

I set my automatic coffee maker each night so that when my alarm goes off, I know that fresh, piping hot coffee awaits me downstairs. This is a small tactic that makes me look forward to jumping (well, jumping, is definitely a stretch) out of bed. (SB TIP: Wait 30-45 minutes to let all the water start to work its magic before you dive into the coffee.) Other versions of a morning treat would be to make your favorite smoothie or put on the latest episode of The New York Times The Daily or The Wall Street Journals The Journal. Speaking of journals, writing in the morning has been a formative habit for me and many others I know.

We are grateful to all our sponsors:

Every morning, after water and coffee, I put on some relaxing music like Neil Youngs Harvest Moon and start to write out three very short lists. First, I write three things I am proud of. Cooking that meal last night instead of ordering takeout. Making that pesky dentist appointment Ive been putting off. Turning in an article before a deadline. Running three miles without stopping. Thinking about accomplishments small or big is a great way to start your day with positive self-talk. Next, I write three things that make me happy. Mini M&Ms. The morning sun. Houseplants. Conversations with my mom. My new running shoes. Write down anything that comes to mind it does not have to profound. These change a lot throughout the weeks, months and years, and I always love going back to look at these lists. The last one is my motivated list of three things I want to get done that day. I start with the bigger project or task, and then work my way to the menial things like order new contacts or get a case of wine at Trader Joes wink wink!

RELATED:3 Simple Steps To Achieve Your Goals (Especially When Youre Overwhelmed)

The mental clarity that most people have in the morning is much sharper than later in the day, Koula says. Getting up early gives you the white space to think strategically and critically about your priorities. Since youre coming out of a sleep state, youre functioning more from your limbic system (motivation, emotion, learning, and memory) in the mornings, so its usually the best time to get creative work done. Rolling out of bed at the last possible minute even if youre just joining a morning Zoom meeting forces you to start your day feeling rushed, scatterbrained and anxious. Youre immediately forced to switch into the analytical part of your brain so you skip over that creative, fluid thinking time, Koula points out. Theres also tons of research that shows how [that creative time] improves your mood, makes you more likely to get promoted and paid more. (source)

Dont forget that many of us just arent wired to be larks, so a shift from night owl to lark is not going to happen overnight (see what I did there!?). Be patient with yourself. If you want to stay up late sipping cocktails on your neighbors porch, do it! If youre at the beach and you want to sleep in, sleep in! Just try to keep a schedule as best you can, because its easy to fall out of sync once your sleep cycle has shifted. Even a 30-minute shift to an earlier wake-up call can provide some much-needed alone time to start your day with intention and calmness.

**********

Give your inbox the Southern makeover it deserves! Subscribe to our daily emails HERE!

Read the original:

How to Be a Morning Person When You're Really a Night Owl - StyleBlueprint

Repose is an hour of beautiful and relaxing music. You can hear it every weeknight at 10 p.m. on Classical IPR, with new episodes every Saturday at 10 p.m.

Monday Ep080405

Peter Kater - Ascent

David Lanz - A Whiter Shade of Pale

Jeanette Alexander - The Road to Caernarvon

Autumn's Child - Row of White Trees

Jeffrey Michael - Indigo Falls

Paul Cardall - An Unseen World

Peter Kater w/ Paul McCandless and Mike Hamilton - Calling You

Esteban Ramirez - Love and Moonlight

Gerry Schubert - Forgiveness

Danny Wright - Softly as I Leave You

Tuesday Ep080315

Jim Wilson - Cape of Good Hope

Jeanette Alexander - Peaceful Path

Robin Spielberg - Just Float Away

V/A: - When Angels Smile

Kim Robertson - Sally Gardens/Rider's Song/Apples in... - Dance to Your Shadow

Paul Sullivan - The Rising Moon

Emile Pandolfi - Broken Vow

Frank Steiner, Jr. - Ajala

Kevin Kern - In My Life

Jon Schmidt - Night Song

John Fluker - Through New Eyes

Colors of the Land - Goodbyes

John Boswell - Recollection

Danny Wright - Softly as I Leave You

Wednesday Ep080216

Gerry Schubert - The Dream Princess

Jeff Oster (w/ Philip Aaberg, Michael Manring, Eugene Friesen and Patrick Gorman) - Violet

Tom Salvatori and Iris Litchfield w/ John Catchings - Song of Hope

Nicholas Gunn - Dance of Light

Kathy Raimey - Shimmer Float

Brian Henke - Light of Dreams-Part 1 (Dreaming with Eyes Wide Open)

James Todd w/ William Morse - New Day

Richard Collins - Delicate Memories

Secret Garden - Heartstrings

Jim Chappell - Once in August

Jennifer Haines - Miles Apart

Carolyn Southworth w/ Paul Speer, Nancy Rumbel, Richard Warner - Highlander

Danny Wright - Softly as I Leave You

Thursday Ep080209

Fiona Joy - Snow Bird

Kevin Kern - Through Your Eyes

Laura Sullivan - First Course: Pinot Noir

Jeff Oster (w/ Philip Aaberg, Michael Manring, Eugene Friesen and Patrick Gorman) - Violet Lawrence Blatt - I Remember When

Patty Griffin - Some else's tomorrow

Laura Sullivan - Coral Castle

David Lanz w/ Paul Speer - Veil of Tears

Lawrence Blatt - Catalina

James Todd w/ William Morse - New Day

Stanton Lanier (w/ Tracy Silverman) - The Quest

Danny Wright - Softly as I Leave You

Friday Ep071006

James Todd w/ William Morse - Esperance (Hope)

Kim Robertson - Ferry Me Across the Water

Wind Machine - Twin Bridges

Karen Marie Garrett - Moon Night

Secret Garden - Sleepsong

Michelle Sell - Within Every Moment

Enya - May It Be

John Boswell - Recollection

V/A: Bonnie Rideout - Rebecca's Hymn

Peter Janson & Friends - Beautiful Day

Kevin Kendle - Roses

Wayne Kelling - Last Flight of the Butterfly

Karen Marie Garrett (w/ Will Ackerman, Jeff Oster, Steve Schuch and Derrik Jordan) - Finale of the Rose

Danny Wright - Softly as I Leave You

See the article here:

Repose playlists for the week of August 10, 2020 - Interlochen

Food & Drink

11-Year-Old Santa Barbara Nonprofit Launches Helpline, Delivers Soup across Region

By Linda Chong Mon Aug 10, 2020 | 1:38pm

In 2009, Andrea and Anthony Carroccio launched Organic Soup Kitchen, and the nonprofit, which feeds chronically ill people and others in need, quickly became one of Santa Barbaras most visible organizations. Said Anthony, We believe everyone should have access to food that nourishes their body and spirit.

The COVID-19 pandemic ceased OSKs ability to serve their clients in a traditional soup kitchen setting and also limited the caregiver education and other plans they had for the downtown Anacapa Street headquarters that they opened in May 2019. Like everyone, theyre pivoting to stay in touch with their clients, and they recently launched The Helpline as a phone service to address their clients emotional needs. Explained Andrea, We consider ourselves a partner in our clients health and provide critical food security and emotional support to residents experiencing extreme financial pressure, malnutrition, and isolation.

Get the top stories in your inbox by signing up for our daily newsletter, Indy Today.

Soup-wise, the Carroccios are proudly focusing on their Cancer Recovery Program, which delivers soups formulated for optimal oncological health across the South Coast and in the Santa Ynez Valley every Wednesday. All of our SoupMeals are scientifically formulated in partnership with leading oncologists and nutrition experts for optimal immune-system function, she explained.

The mostly plant-based soups, which can also be picked up at headquarters every Wednesday morning, cost $15 for 24 ounces and $50 for a gallon. Theres a sliding scale for low-income clients, who can apply for discounted rates through organicsoupkitchen.org. Among su ch satisfying options as Italian Fagioli, Tuscan White Bean & Kale, and Black Bean & Vegetable, here are a few of the more popular flavors:

Coconut Curry Lentil: Slow-cooked with up to 10 vegetables, the coconut curry lentil soup marinates coconut milk with the vegetable broth, allowing different spices such as bay leaves and turmeric to contribute medicinal properties. Healthy fats and oils, such as coconut oil and milk, are purposely selected for their heart and brain healthy levels of medium-chain triglycerides or MCTs, said Andrea.

Rustic Split Pea: This classic, creamy blend is made from yellow split pea, multiple vegetables, and spices to offer healing agents that dont compromise the flavors of the soup. All spices, including the powerful anti-inflammatory turmeric and respiratory-strengthening oregano, are non-irradiated to retain their medicinal value, said Anthony.

Lectin-Free Bone Broth Chicken Soup: Offered as a nutritious and filling meal, this chicken soup brings familiar tones and flavors to a lectin-free alternative. With a base of chicken broth and coconut milk, the rich foundation blends and amplifies each organic ingredient. This proprietary blend creates a superfood soup base that nourishes the body and strengthens the immune system, said Andrea. By creating Americas nostalgic chicken soup lectin-free, OSK conveys their dedication to the health and well-being of every patient.

608 Anacapa St. #C; (805) 364-2790; organicsoupkitchen.org.

Every day, the staff of theSanta Barbara Independentworks hard to sort out truth from rumor and keep you informed of whats happening across the entire Santa Barbara community. Now theres a way to directly enable these efforts.Support theIndependentby making adirect contributionor with asubscription to Indy+.

View post:

Organic Soup Kitchen Hits the Road and Phones - Santa Barbara Independent

The coronaviruscrisis has put a cherry on top of all the stresses involved in being a new parent. Now that people are juggling their family life and work life -- often in the same space -- a baby food delivery service could help keep everything together. Seriously, you don't want to spend any of your precious time filling a tiny glass jar up with pureed fruit. Let someone else do that for you.

Luckily, these days,baby fooddelivery companies are as convenient and abundant asmeal delivery servicesfor grownups. But with so many choices, how do you find the best option that will work for you and your growing family?

Subscribe to the CNET Now newsletter for our editors' picks of the most important stories of the day.

We all know that choosing healthy food is important, no matter your age. For babies, it's even more critical. Nutritious, high-quality baby food can help ensure proper development and growth (not to mention fewer meltdowns). If you're struggling with what to feed junior, baby food subscription service options lay out all the nutritional information and ingredients. They also set up a plan so you can have the best veggie purees and organic food for your tykes delivered to your door -- weekly or monthly -- so you're never without.

Babies require different nutrition and food types depending on their age and stage of development, so many of these baby food subscription services curate meal plan deliveries and special packages based on those specific needs. Options include customized baby food pouches, organic purees for an infant or more complete toddler meals and homemade food for young children. What's more is that each meal delivery service offers a wealth of options, ensuring your baby doesn't get bored with her food and instilling healthy eating habits that will serve them well in life.

The following are seven of the best baby food delivery services for babies, toddlers and busy parents:

These services are independently chosen by our editors and updated as we try new ones.

Read more:The best healthy meal kits (for adults) in 2020

If you want baby food meals that are healthy, fresh and fun, look no further than Yumble Kids. This food subscription company offers a variety of weekly meal plans, nutrients and ingredients for young children, including fun solid food recipes such as pizza pockets with mashed potatoes and broccoli or cheese rotini with green beans. What's even better is that there's no cooking necessary: Just warm them up and you're good to go.

Frequency and pricing:Starting at six meals per week at $5.99 per meal, $35.95 for the first two weeks.

Little Spoon offers a wide variety of baby food and ingredients specially designed to boost various areas of your baby's development and health. After you answer a few questions about your baby, Little Spoon will create a customized nutrition plan for you and send fresh weekly deliveries of healthyfood -- simply choose how many baby meals you need per day. As an added bonus, the fresh baby food purees are made with organic ingredients and no preservatives.

Frequency and pricing:Three plan sizes (one, two, or three times per day), pricing dependent on location.

If you're still breastfeeding or bottle feeding, it's important to eat well and keep your body healthy -- for youandyour baby. The Boobie Box will help you do just that, as it provides a variety of helpful products to aid in your nursing and eventually baby-led weaning. Each month, you'll get a box specially curated by a lactation counselor, including items like lactation teas, drinks and cookies, breastfeeding supplies and even toys.

Frequency and pricing:Starts at $25.50 per month.

Tykes not eating solid foods yet? Don't worry, Yumi has you covered. This company offers three "stages" of baby foods, including single-ingredient purees, multi-ingredient purees and chunky puree options. You can work your way through the sequential stages, from nutritious infant meals to toddler meals, with weekly fresh deliveries, gradually introducing your children to new flavors, nutrients and textures, like quinoa, wheat germ oil and chia seeds.

Frequency and pricing:Three plan sizes (one, two, or three times per day), starting around $5 per day.

You might see a familiar face if you venture to the Once Upon a Farm website. That's right, this baby food delivery company is run by actress and mother-of-three Jennifer Garner. The company delivers fresh food pouches of cold-pressed baby food purees made from certified organic fruits and organic vegetables (like Magic Velvet Mango and Baby Bear Butternut Squash), plus it offers organic food for toddlers and young children, too. You can even purchase Once Upon a Farm products individually to see if your little ones like the organic baby food pouches before committing to a subscription.

Frequency and pricing:Starting at $2.69 per cup or pouch of organic ingredients and free shipping for subscription-based services. $2.99 per cup or pouch plus $12 shipping for one-time purchases.

Whether you need fresh, delicious meals for your baby, toddler or child, Nurture Life has you covered. This baby food brand focuses on delivering nutritionally balanced, perfectly portioned meals for children of all ages and all of its meals are ready to serve in three minutes or less. Food is shipped refrigerated -- not frozen -- and, to be honest, if you don't have time to shop for food at the grocery store, it might be the closest thing you can get to homemade baby food bya personal chef.

Frequency and pricing:Starting at eight jars at $35 per week, plus shipping.

Expose your little ones to new tastes, textures and smells with food from Tiny Organics. This company supplies a variety of soft, organic finger food choices that are perfect for babies eight months and older and you can choose to get deliveries every two or four weeks. Tiny Organics promotes self-feeding as a way to make mealtimes more enjoyable and help your babies develop fine motor skills. Also, the food looks so tasty you might be tempted to steal a bite.

Frequency and pricing:Starting at $3.52 to $4.12 per meal for a subscription-based service (one-time purchasing also permitted).

This story was written by Camryn Rabideau and originally posted at Chowhound.

The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.

Continue reading here:

Best baby food delivery and subscriptions for 2020 - CNET

WASHINGTON, August 10, 2020 USDAs Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced that organic producers and handlers can apply for federal funds to assist with the cost of receiving and maintaining organic certification through theOrganic Certification Cost Share Program(OCCSP). Applications for eligible certification expenses paid between Oct. 1, 2019, and Sept. 30, 2020, are due Oct. 31, 2020.

For producers producing food with organic certification, this program helps cover a portion of those certification costs, FSA Administrator Richard Fordyce said. Contact your local FSA county office to learn more about this program and other valuable USDA resources, like farm loans and conservation assistance, that can help you succeed.

OCCSP provides cost-share assistance to producers and handlers of agricultural products for the costs of obtaining or maintaining organic certification under the USDAs National Organic Program. Eligible producers include any certified producers or handlers who have paid organic certification fees to a USDA-accredited certifying agent. Eligible expenses for cost-share reimbursement include application fees, inspection costs, fees related to equivalency agreement and arrangement requirements, travel expenses for inspectors, user fees, sales assessments and postage.

Changes in Reimbursement

Due to expected participation levels and the limited funds available, FSA revised the reimbursement amount available through fiscal year 2023. Certified producers and handlers are now eligible to receive reimbursement for up to 50% of the certified organic operations eligible expenses, up to a maximum of $500 per scope.

This change will allow a larger number of certified organic operations to receive assistance. If Congress authorizes additional funding, FSA may provide additional assistance to certified operations that have applied for OCCSP, not to exceed 75% of their eligible costs, up to $750 per scope.

The changes to the payment calculation and maximum payment amount are applicable to all certified organic operations, regardless of whether they apply through an FSA county office or a participating state agency. State agencies that are interested in overseeing reimbursements to producers and handlers in their states must establish new agreements with FSA for fiscal 2020.

Opportunities for State Agencies

Todays announcement also includes the opportunity for state agencies to apply for grant agreements to administer the OCCSP program in fiscal 2020. State agencies that establish agreements may be able to extend their agreements and receive additional funds to administer the program in future years.

FSA has not yet determined whether an additional application period will be announced for state agencies that choose not to participate in fiscal 2020. States that would like to administer OCCSP for multiple years are encouraged to establish an agreement for fiscal 2020.

FSA will accept applications from state agencies from Aug. 10, 2020 through Sept. 9, 2020.

State Agencies must submit the Application for Federal Assistance (Standard Form 424 and 424B) electronically via Grants.gov, the Federal grants website, athttp://www.grants.gov.

More Information

To learn more about organic certification cost share, please visit theOCCSP webpage,view thenotice of funds availability on the Federal Register, or contact theFSA county officeat your local USDA Service Center. All USDA Service Centers are open for business, including some that are open to visitors to conduct business in person by appointment only. All Service Center visitors wishing to conduct business with FSA, Natural Resources Conservation Service or any other Service Center agency should call ahead and schedule an appointment. Service Centers that are open for appointments will pre-screen visitors based on health concerns or recent travel, and visitors must adhere to social distancing guidelines. Visitors may also be required to wear a face covering during their appointment.

To learn more about USDA support for organic agriculture, visitusda.gov/organic.

Excerpt from:

USDA Accepting Applications to Help Cover Costs for Organic Certification - Southeast AgNet

Americas COVID-19 response leaves a lot to be desired.

From the federal government.

From state and local governments.

And from certain segments of the population who refuse to wear face coverings and practice social distancing.

These are among the reasons why, despite being just 4% of the worlds population, the U.S. has suffered 25% percent of the worlds COVID-19 deaths.

But theres another factor that has likely put many Americas at greater risk for coronavirus complications: our obesity epidemic.

Last month, three Johns Hopkins University physicians published a study in Lancet that links higher body mass index to more severe cases of COVID-19 and points to obesity as a significant pre-existing condition especially in younger patients. The report confirms anecdotal observations from early in the pandemic, as well recent studies from other countries.

Comedian Bill Maher, whos been railing for years about American obesity, did so again recently during a New Rules segment on his HBO show "Real Time". He chastised both the media and government health officials for not being more direct with the public about the need to address obesity in the U.S.

Noting that he didnt think it was a coincidence that the countries with the lowest obesity rates had the lowest coronavirus death rates, he said, "Obesity was already killing us slowly. But you mix it with COVID and it kills us fast."

Obesity defined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control as a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more creates a cascade of comorbidities, including heart disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, increased risk for stroke and multiple forms of cancer and, as it relates to coronavirus, a compromised immune system response.

Cardiologist Dr. David Kass, one of the authors of the Johns Hopkins University study, told the schools magazine Hub, "Studies have now shown obesity increases the likelihood that you'll end up in a hospital or an ICU, and that your disease course can be more severe. The reason the comorbidities aren't showing up in younger patients let's say under 40 or 50 years old is that the cardiac, vascular, and metabolic risks linked to obesity may not have had enough time to develop in a concrete way."

Another concern experts have about COVID-19 and obesity is how the condition could impact the efficacy of potential vaccines.

Last week, Kaiser News reported that scientists have known since the 1980s that common vaccines for influenza, hepatitis B, tetanus and rabies, among others "can be less effective in obese adults than in the general population" and that "there is little reason to believe, obesity researchers say, that COVID-19 vaccines will be any different."

As University of North Carolina associate professor of nutrition Raz Shaikh said to Kaiser News, "Will we have a COVID vaccine next year tailored to the obese? No way. Will it still work in the obese? Our prediction is no."

According to the CDC, more than 42% of American adults are obese.

By comparison, the World Health Organization says that the European countries with the highest obesity rates Malta and the United Kingdom come in at around 29% and 28% respectively.

The last time the U.S. obesity rate was in that range? More than 20 years ago when it was around 30%.

So what happened? And what can we do about it?

Socioeconomics, industrialized food supply and more

Like so many race and economic issues the U.S. is currently wrestling with, obesity rates are, statistically speaking, largely affected by ones socioeconomic status.

The CDC notes that although "the association between obesity and income or educational level is complex and differs by sex and race/ethnicity overall, men and women with college degrees had lower obesity prevalence compared with those with less education" and that the "prevalence of obesity among adults was lower in the highest income group than [in] other groups" and the "prevalence of obesity among college graduates was lower than among those with some college and those who were high school graduates or less."

Last week, CNN detailed how, since the end of World War II, America started producing an "industrialized food supply." Originally, this was done in anticipation of potential post-war food shortages. Soon, though, manufacturers recognized the profitability of efficiently producing such products.

This, noted CNN, "led to a domestic food market rife with highly processed, carbohydrate-laden, shelf-stable and convenient foods" and a populace that began consuming less fresh fruits and vegetables and more foodstuffs filled with chemicals, additives, preservatives and high-fructose corn syrup.

The efficiency of this domestic food supply made it progressively cheaper to eat these kinds of foods, especially in comparison to clean, organic foods. In recent decades, as income inequality has grown, low-income and impoverished households became ever more dependent on these kinds of products to stretch their food dollar.

The government definition of "food insecurity" a circumstance now affecting tens of millions of out-of-work Americans is "the disruption of food intake or eating patterns because of lack of money and other resources."

But in many ways equally as harmful is "nutrition insecurity" which is "the inability to access adequate quantities of nutritious foods required for optimal growth and development."

Sicker than ever

According to experts, as a population, were sicker now than we were at the end of the Great Depression.

Whats more, diet-related illness and lack of metabolic health are starting at earlier ages.

For instance, according to CNN "a 2018 report filed by Mission: Readiness, a council of retired admirals and generals who advocate for policies that help kids stay healthy ... stated In the United States, 71 percent of young people between the ages of 17 and 24 do not qualify for military service, noting exceptionally high rates of obesity starting as early as age 2. Fewer Americans are physically ready for work and war than in 1945, yet, instead of being underweight and malnourished, they are overweight and malnourished."

What can we do now?

"Fat" "overweight" "obese" these words all carry emotional triggers and pejorative connotations. So when it comes to helping people make better nutritional choices and reverse the effects of clinical obesity, lets eliminate the terms most people associate with ones appearance.

The message could better be framed as the need to maximize ones "metabolic health" which is defined as having ideal levels of blood sugar, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, blood pressure, and waist circumference, without using medications.

People with good metabolic health have better immune systems and are at less risk for disease.

"You shouldnt try to force this on people, but instead try to tactfully help them understand that there is an issue that needs to be addressed," recommended Boca Raton neuropsychologist Raphael Wald. "People have to see that theres an issue and then be properly motivated to address it."

To treat people with issues related to overeating and/or poor nutritional choices, Wald believes the "team approach" works best one that includes a medical doctor, a nutritionist, a therapist and a physical trainer.

And he believes in the power and sustainability of making small, incremental changes over time: "A lot of inertia goes into having poor nutritional habits. However, if you vow to make one healthy choice per day for, say, a week, that can break the negative cycle and start you on the path to better nutritional habits."

However, making these changes on a societal level wont be easy.

"We simply have too much access to junk food," lamented Jacqueline Botting, founder and "chief visionary" of WiseTribe, the Delray Beach-based initiative whose goal is to organize and activate communities to engage in food-related behaviors that support better health and environmental sustainability. "Unfortunately, a lack of nutrition education combined with a need for convenience, poor personal choices and aggressive advertising by fast food and junk food companies influence a lot of our behaviors and choices concerning food."

Local activists like Botting are determined to combat this.

"For the first time in history we have too many people dying from eating too much food rather than dying from starvation," she said. "The entire global food system needs to be revised with health, equity and sustainability in mind. As a country, we need to put pressure on lawmakers to enact policies that encourage the growth of production and distribution networks that favor high-quality, healthy food. Our food system should be our first line of healthcare. Its going to take an entire generation to rebuild the food system."

In 2019, WiseTribe received a grant from Children Services Council to teach local kids about "food citizenship" which Botting explained is "the practice of engaging in food-related behaviors that support, rather than threaten, the development of democratic, socially and economically just, and environmentally sustainable, food systems."

In the current absence of a federally backed national campaign on better nutrition and food citizenship, local grassroots campaigns like WiseTribes will have to suffice.

But heres to hoping that someday in the not-too-distant future, all Americans will recognize that over-reliance on the convenience of our industrialized food supply is literally killing us and must be changed.

And then we all have to be encouraged maybe even incentivized to make better nutritional choices.

Continue reading here:

One COVID-19 risk is obvious so why wont we talk about it? - Palm Beach Post

"Producing organic food, of the highest quality and strictly Italian, is a rather ordinary practice, even when the weather is not at its best. On the contrary, the challenge was to educate the client, and therefore the final consumer, to prefer and support food from organic farming. The health emergency seems to have changed the preferences of Italians, directing them towards healthier, safer and certified products, regardless, sometimes, of their physical appearance."

This is what was explained to FreshPlaza by Rocco Dimallio, director of "Principe di Puglia", the all-organic agricultural company that has over 500 hectares of cultivated area and a wide range of fruit and vegetables all year round.

"This positive trend is reflected in our order history. As a matter of fact, during the lockdown weeks, we recorded a +30% increase compared to the same period last year, but, as of today, we can confirm that orders are staying quite high. Those fruit and vegetables that once were undervalued for their uneven shape and color, now seem to be favored. This is also a result of the work carried out in recent years to raise awareness of organic farming. There is a deeper commitment to the naturalness of the product. We can see this also from the packaging we are asked for, packaging which is more sustainable, innovative and therefore more associated with the concept of organic."

"While we are still busy with cucumbers and zucchini, we have also started the commercialization of potatoes and tomatoes, and we are expecting the harvest of aubergines and peppers in a few days. A catalogue full of Apulian products, sold both in Italy and abroad, such as Germany, Denmark, Belgium and the Netherlands. Fresh, safe products, with extraordinary organoleptic qualities, that reach the shelves of many large-scale retail chains. These are references that we want each and every one of our customers to experience."

Contact: Principe di Puglia Soc. Coop. Agr. Via La Menola, 15 71047 Stornara (FG) Phone.: +39 0885/434072 - 388/3520921 Email:commerciale@principedipuglia.it Website: principedipuglia.it

Read more here:

The pandemic didn't just bring bad things with it - FreshPlaza.com