AW promotion

The past decades have brought about a change in attitude towards the concept of exercise and how it benefits our body. Nowadays, we make it a point to allot some hours of exercise in their daily routines.

The most common types of exercises are walking and running and doing these can boost your mental health. Running outdoors lessens the feelings of isolation, depression, stress, and anxiety while improving your sleeping habits.

It transforms your brain for the better

Running is good for your body and mind. It strengthens the former and exercises the latter. With ahealthy mind, you will learn how to focus more and feel more determined to overcome any obstacles that come your way.

You can also gain a different viewpoint of significant and minor challenges in your life while seeing your potential in managing these. Running can help strengthen your will and determination by exposing your body to nature and physical activity.

Missing out on these sessions will affect your daily routine. When you give in to exercise, you will allow more energy in the different parts of your life.

Running can initiate changes within your brain. A study that involved obtaining scans of competitive runners discovered that there were links between the areas of the brain associated with working memory and self-control and the frontal-parietal network.

The researchers of this study have attributed this to the cognitive demands and enhanced cardiovascular ability to run. Moreover, they also established that running might have something to do with the production of healthy cells in the brain.

They believe that running and other forms of exercise are some of the main causes related to the development of new cells in the brain in a process called neurogenesis. Experiments on animal subjects have shown thatdistance runningcan improve cell production.

Further research has also shown that running and training can offer significant brain benefits. There was also a report that focused on individuals involved in interval training and those engaged in a moderately healthy lifestyle.

This report showed that the former (who happened to be athletes) showed the most notable improvements. From this, we can say that running can enhance your ability to easily and rapidly shift between activities that involve mental functions.

Its the best way to spend more time working out

Those who run every day agree that when they run, they can immerse themselves fully in their thoughts and take a break from their studies. Since running relaxes the brain, it is especially beneficial for students.

If you get assigned plenty of homework as part of your education, you would need a break from writing once in a while. If you feel like you dont have enough time because you have too much work,try this online essay serviceby EduBirdie. You can turn to this service only you need online help in writing high-quality content. Since this is a professional service, you can spend more time doing other important things like studying your lessons or going for a run for your health.

It improves your mood to keep you motivated

If youre a regular runner, you would know that running gives you an emotional boost. This is whats called the runners high, a sensation that stimulates feel-good emotions to reduce your stress and elevate your mood.

Researchers in the past believed that the positive feelings that emerge during running happen when the body releases endorphins. But recent studies have shown that endorphins dont pass from the blood to the brain, but they help prevent you from feeling pain in your muscles.

These studies have shown that biochemical substances called endocannabinoids are the ones responsible for feelings of euphoria that are usually associated with runners high.

Endocannabinoids are substances similar to cannabis the body produces naturally. Unlike endorphins, they play a role in neurological communications in the brain.

It will make learning easier, especially if you have help too

Running will surely make your life easier as it will promote the health of your mind, which is essential for your education. As a student in college, you may notice yourself feeling more alert and clearheaded while studying.

But if you struggle with other aspects of your studies like writing essays or other written coursework, you can seek help online. For instance, you canhire law essay writers in the UKfrom Uk.EduBirdie. No matter what your course is, this service will accommodate you.

It helps reduce the risk of depression

Knowing what running improves will make you feel more motivated to make this activity part of your daily routine. Many of todays students indulge in running to enhance their physical and mental fitness.

After immersing yourself in this activity, you will realise that it makes you feel better. You will see an improvement in your mental energy, mood, emotions, and more. All of these lead to the following positive effects:

To further support the concept that running has several benefits to health, a chapter in the 2019 handbook calledSport and Exercise Psychologystated that there is a substantial amount of evidence that supports exercise in the treatment of depression and other mental disorders.

Of course, you dont have torely solely on running if you suffer from depression. This is a serious condition that you need to combat with various medical and alternative approaches.

Conclusion

Including running in your life will boost your overall feeling of happiness. This is a way of making both your mind and body feel better. Running has many incredible benefits on your mental health.

Cory Shilling worked as the college magazine writer and editor and he was popular across the university for his writing skills. Now he works as a full-time professional writer and is one of the top-rated writers for an essay writing website, having served students from all parts of the world. His hobbies are reading literary fiction, playing volleyball and watching anime

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Five main reasons that running has a positive effect on mental development and study success - AW - Athletics Weekly

August 31, 2021 6 min read

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Forex trading can be a highly profitable way to compound your money. When you trade in the forex market, there are no restrictions on what kind of assets you buy and sell or when the trades happen. It is a simple way for people looking to get into trading at first glance without any overheads and low starting costs as it doesn't require purchases like stocks do; all thats required is that you sign up online and start trading.

Although forex trading can be seen as a high-risk, speculative endeavor, there are many potential benefits such as the ability to hedge against fluctuations in your local currency and make money on global markets regardless of where you live or what language you speak. It's important for beginner traders to not only understand how forex works but to have a proven rule-based strategy that beginners can pick up and execute with ease, says Deflorio.

Check your emotions at the door

Deflorio says after coaching 1,500-plus students, Successful traders need to understand that trading is a game of probabilities. It can be easier said than done when it comes to controlling our emotions, making trading decisions from a place of sound judgment, and staying detached from the outcomes of each trade.

If you are new to trading, one of the most valuable skills to learn is emotional intelligence, where you have a strong ability to understand and manage your emotions. Stay calm and composed, avoid revenge trading or impulsive trades, and ask yourself if you are listening to your heart or head.

Bestselling author Jack D. Schwager interviewed dozens of top traders across most financial markets. In his book Market Wizards: Interviews with Top Traders, his findings from his interviews boiled down to the same essential formula: solid methodology plus proper mental attitude equals trading success. This is the exact mindset that Deflorio and his company Onyx Forex stand by. Given that emotional responses are a natural occurrence in human biology and psychology, no forex trader is immune to them. By having enough awareness, you will learn not to trade out of emotions such as greed, fear, ego, or euphoria as it can come with devastating financial effects and leave you feeling nothing but discouraged.

Seek guidance to avoid costly mistakes

Having a teacher, mentor or guide has been the backbone of many successful careers for generations. When you first begin to explore the currency market, you will stumble across many free resources such as courses, programs or YouTube tutorials. After realising you may be left with more questions than answers, you may find yourself asking yourself should I invest money to learn how to trade?

Stanley Druckenmiller was mentored by George Soros and is now a billionaire hedge fund pioneer. Paul Tudor Jones was mentored by Eli Tullis and is now another billionaire hedge fund manager. It goes without saying that in order to not only grow, but grow at an exceeding rate, guidance from an expert is necessary if youre in it for the long term.

Deflorio, founder of e-learning platform Onyx Forex Trading, sees a gap in the education market for beginner traders, stating, Because there is a massive hole in the industry for beginners, the learning curve is simply portrayed as being too long and too complicated. When we cracked 500 global members, this is when I realized that there is a massive market for beginners who want guidance and results without being promised a broken dream. Deflorio from Sydney, Australia has profited over 370k trading throughout the global pandemic through practicing what he preaches to his customers, hundreds of whom have been able to replace their weekly incomes at their traditional jobs and start a new career in forex trading.

Compounding growth

A compounding growth forex strategy is a gradual capital growth strategy that allows you to turn your earned profits into further profits, similar to a snowballing effect. While this strategy is preferred by some traders, many dont have the patience to implement this kind of long-term strategy but Deflorio from Onyx Forex Trading says this is the most crucial element needed to turn a small initial capital into six figures.

American investor and CEO of Greenhaven associates, Ed Wachenhein says "Compounding is powerful. Warren Buffett did not become one of the wealthiest men in the world by suddenly striking gold in a single highly successful investment, but rather by compounding the value of Berkshire Hathaway at a 20 per cent or so rate for 45 years. If an investor can achieve an average annual return of 20 per cent, then, after 45 years, an initial investment of $1 million will appreciate to $3.6 billion."

Deflorio also uses a compounding approach in his trading strategy, explaining, We realized early on that if we could help everyday people simply mimic our working strategy and break it down in a simple and easy to understand way, we would naturally grow the business. A seemingly small or insignificant event can have an astoundingly large impact if it happens over and over again, as proven with Deflorios results as well as those with his customers.

The forex market is the largest financial market in the world, larger than the stock market, with a daily volume of $6.6 trillion, according to the 2019 Triennial Central Bank Survey of FX and OTC derivatives markets. Given the high liquidity of the forex market, meaning it can be easier to trade than other financial instruments, it is becoming increasingly appealing to those, including myself, who are looking for a lucrative way to earn money from anywhere in the world, with nothing but your laptop and WiFi.

Deflorio has been involved in the forex market for over five years and his company Onyx Forex Trading are the market leaders in beginner trading education.

Note: Forex trading is subject to risk and readers should do their own due diligence. Entrepreneur Media does not endorse any such investment.

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Here's What You Need To Know Before You Start Trading - Entrepreneur

Original artwork by Ella Johnson for Voices of YouthThis story was written by Conner McBryde as part of the Kalamazoo Voices of Youth Program. The art work of the hug is by Voices of Youth participant Ella Johnson. The Voices of Youth program is a collaboration between Southwest Michigan Second Wave and KYD Network.

On a sunny Thursday afternoon at 4 p.m. Elizabeth Collins, 13, walks into her bedroom, sits at her desk, and logs into a Zoom meeting session with her therapist.

Im on neutral grounds about therapy when Im in my room talking to someone who listens to me, says Collins, who struggles with anxiety, ADHD, and grief associated with the death of a grandmother with whom she was very close.

Her bedroom is a judgment-free zone, she says, and the mental health therapy she receives there helps her.

Therapy itself can be very helpful, says Collins. Its nice to talk about anything and everything, ranging from things I was excited for, to how I felt or issues I was having. After going to therapy, I was glad I went.

Professionals say they are working to make access to mental health services for young people better but some teens say its not always easy to find and get started. They also say there is still an age-old stigma attached to receiving treatment and that is felt by today's youth.

Elizabeth Collins has found that therapy has helped her.I mostly see the stigma spread on the Internet, with many people saying things such as mental health problems are just the new trend and arent real, says Collins. Or Ill see someone claim someone else who isnt OK mentally be it depression or anxiety be insane or a danger to society.

She says thats stupid, for one, because it shouldnt be there.

There shouldn't be a stigma about receiving help, she says, With the stigma attached to every aspect of mental health, it can be incredibly harmful to those affected by it. It can inhibit peoples ability to reach out for help due to fear of the stigma.

Georgia Hutton, a 15-year-old Kalamazoo resident who has struggled with anxiety since her parents divorced several years ago, says she thinks theres a lot less stigma attached to seeking therapy than there was when she started a few years ago. She says she's talked to people who told her they went to mental health services and they were ashamed of it.

I was really scared to do it at first because this was like four or five years ago. And it was really stigmatized at the time. But ever since then its become a lot less.

She says she thinks that now its less about how people are treated when it comes to the stigma and more about how people treat the idea of therapy.

It's not commonly talked about so if you talk about it people treat you differently, Hutton says. If anything, the stigma is about talking about therapy more so than therapy itself or going to it.

Georgia Hutton says she thinks there is less stigma attached to seeking therapy than there has been in the past.Christopher Aguinaga, principal of Loy Norrix High School, says, I dont think the stigma has changed. I think teenagers by default want to fit in so the attitude (towards stigma) has changed.

When it comes to negative stigmas, Gretchen Grappone, a licensed clinical social worker and consultant with Atlas Research in Washington, D.C., has identified seven main types that are barriers to people trying to access mental health treatment.

Grappone has said she is happy in her work but has struggled for many years with depression. In a Spring 2017 article for the National Alliance on Mental Illness, she wrote, Besides my symptoms of depression, I faced an additional barrier to school, employment and inclusion in general: unhelpful attitudes from well-intentioned health professionals. In other words, stigmas.

The stigmas she identified involving professionals and others are:

Public stigma This happens when the public endorses negative stereotypes and prejudices resulting in discrimination against people with mental health conditions.

Self-stigmaThis happens when a person with mental illness or substance-use disorder internalizes public stigma.

Perceived stigma The belief that others have negative beliefs about people with mental illness.

Label avoidance This occurs when a person chooses not to seek mental health treatment to avoid being assigned a stigmatized label. It is considered one of the most harmful forms of stigma.

Stigma by association This occurs when the effects of stigma are extended to someone linked to a person with mental health difficulties. It is also known as courtesy stigma or associative stigma.

Structural stigma Institutional policies or other social structures that result in decreased opportunities for people with mental illnesses are considered structural stigma.

Health practitioner stigma This takes place any time a health professional allows stereotypes and prejudices about mental illness to negatively affect a patients care.

Stigma, prejudice, and discrimination against people with mental illness can be subtle or it can be obviousbut no matter the magnitude, it can lead to harm, Borenstein writes. People with mental illness are marginalized and discriminated against in various ways, but understanding what that looks like and how to address and eradicate it can help.

He says public, self, and structural stigmas have a very negative impact on teens self-esteem and social life, and they can create barriers in places like schools.

Emotional disorders can profoundly affect areas like schoolwork and school attendance, according to the World Health Organization. Social withdrawal can exacerbate isolation and loneliness.

Despite the negative perception that therapy may have among some people, there has still been an increase in the number of young people who seek out treatment, whether that be through medication, counseling, or other means.

Data from a study of national trends in mental health care for teens (ages 12-17) showed that from 2005 to 2006 and from 2017 to 2018 there was an increase in the use of outpatient mental health services by 9.2 percent for each of those periods. The study was done by Ramin Mojtabai, of the Department of Mental Health at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and Mark Olfson, of the Department of Psychiatry at Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University.

My first experience with therapy was pretty good, Collins says. I remember being told that my mother had signed me up for therapy only hours before I had to log in (to Zoom) for the appointment. I was slightly apprehensive at first, being as I didnt know quite what to expect. My therapist was very kind, she was patient and always made sure I was comfortable in the situation.

Hutton says she has been in therapy since seventh grade and Ive had three therapists, so its taken a lot of trial and error for me. But its really just like, changed my life because its just been completely helpful.

She says that when her mother suggested therapy to her, she didnt want to do it. But then she had a sort of breakdown.

I have anxiety and depression, clinically diagnosed, Hutton says, and it was really bad before I was able to get help.

So she ultimately asked for help.

The main two triggers for her in middle school were having a dip in her grades. Hutton has been an all-A student. Those made me freak out. And then also when I was in middle school, that was when my parents got their divorce. So that, along with my grades was a huge source of anxiety for me

She said therapy helped clear her mind. It allowed her to talk fully about her experiences with someone who had an unbiased perspective about the situation. And to just have someone to help me break it down and understand what Im going through, how I feel? Like that really, really helped. And it essentially saved my life at a certain point.

While therapy is helpful to some, that is not the case for everyone. Like Toxic Hayes, 16, in Kalamazoo, who saw a therapist off and on since he was 15. He has struggled to deal with a very religious family that has not accepted him as he works to discover his sexual identity. He created the first name for himself as he works to discover himself.

I was really just hoping for it to help me cope with things, he said. But he has had limited success. I know it's all just about finding a good therapist that you trust. But even after seeing three different therapists, none of them had worked.

Of finding a therapist who works for a person and their situation, Hutton says, Its like a guess and check math problem.

Toxic Hayes is working to discover himself.For some, access to proper care is difficult because it may be too expensive and their family doesnt have insurance to cover it.

Without insurance, most people may have to pay for therapy out-of-pocket, according to information provided by the Michigan Counseling Centers. That can be anywhere from $30 to $250 per one-hour session.

Another reason therapy might not work for some are the personal boundaries that people have. Being able to discuss their emotions and issues is no big deal for some people. For others, it can make them feel uncomfortable or weirded out.

I just thought it was weird to talk to a stranger about personal issues, Hayes said.

Some people are prevented from getting the help they need, one therapist says because they dont know where to turn.

Teens often dont know where to turn or how to get connected to therapy, says Tim Henson, director of clinical services for children at Community Healing Centers of Kalamazoo. Some teens that are already feeling alone and disconnected may also struggle to reach out on their own.

Teens may find help at school. The Kalamazoo Public Schools have many ways to access a therapist or some form of mental help. With their student services provides information about a wide range of services such as LGTBQ+ support, career counseling and mental health services (social workers, psychologists, and counselors). Professionals also say information can be found at physicians' offices, local health care clinics, or mental health agencies.

Schools can play a big part in helping young people find their way to needed mental health services. Some possibilities may be introduced through health or psychology classes. Teachers and counselors who are trained in the subject may provide guidance.

Rita Raichoudhuri, superintendent of Kalamazoo Public Schools, is also making an effort when it comes to mental health services in school. In the fall of 2019, teachers started to get more training to help students cope with mental health issues. The training is intended to help teachers improve their skills so they can help young people in a way that integrates that information with students' subjects.

Overall, school-based services demonstrated a small-to-medium effect in decreasing mental health problems, write researchers Sanchez, Cornacchio, Poznanski, Golik, Chou, and Comer.

While it has started to improve in recent years, students have their own opinions on what could be done to better improve schools' response to mental health concerns.

Tim Henson, director of clinical services for children at the Community Healing Centers of Kalamazoo.I feel like I would have school counselors and teachers have resources and pamphlets for students to take and like, do research with, Hutton says. And there should be required mental health education in classes other than health classes.

Henson says, The biggest misconception is that mental health struggles among young people are rare.

Research has shown that one in every five young people will experience a mental health condition, he says. And, he says teens most common struggles are: adjusting to life experiences, depression, and anxiety.

The recent COVID-19 pandemic and the big move to online schooling that accompanied it has had a big impact on many students mental health, school officials have said. The transition from school in real life to virtual learning has been a disruption that has affected some students grades. And some students concentration wavered during online classes.

My grades were doing good, but then online school hit, Hutton said.

Collins asked, How am I expected to pay attention to school at 7 in the morning when there are so many other things that can distract me?

Therapy can be difficult for young people to access, Henson says, Part of that is due to the fear that parents will find out what a young person talks about. However, therapists should always include young people in discussions about what parents will know about sessions. If a youth cannot get a parents permission, there is a law in the state of Michigan that a youth aged 14 or older may request and receive mental health services and a mental health professional may provide mental health services on an outpatient basis without the consent of a parent or guardian. However, it is limited to no more than 12 sessions or four months per request for services.

Collins says, Therapy is valuable to those who benefit from it. It can be incredibly useful to confront what you're feeling and to have someone there with strategies to help you work through it.

Says Hutton, I think the stigma (towards mental health) is very strange as mental healthcare is just that, healthcare. And it (the healthcare) is extremely valuable and important.

Hayes says, I think it (the stigma) should be talked about more, and then people who have mental illness should be listened to. I think therapy is worth it for some people but it's not for everyone and people should find what works best for them.

Conner McBride, 16, is a Junior at Loy Norrix High School. Her mother is a physical therapist at Bronson Hospital and her father is a chemical engineer at Pfizer. She has a younger sister. Her interests include reading, music, baking and cooking, photography, hiking, and traveling. Sleep makes her the happiest and spoilers for a book she is reading make her the saddest. Her career interest is Executive Chef.

EllaJohnson is a Senior at Portage Central High School. Her passions are art, her many animals, and her online business (selling her art and vintageclothing). She plans to attend collegeat North Central Michigan College, majoring in small business. In her free time, she paints and cares for the un-homed population in Kalamazoo. Her plan for the future includes owning a small business using her profits for philanthropy.

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Voices of Youth: Kalamazoo teens discuss the realities of mental illness and its stigma - Concentrate

For Timothy*, who was a secondary school teacher for four years, the anxiety stemmed from not knowing what exactly he needed to do to perform better or maintain his grade.

Id keep doing more to try to fill that gap, and then the disappointment is when (even though) I keep doing more ... Im not performing (better) than another teacher in another school, he said.

Theyre getting a B; Im getting a C-plus. But Im doing more than them, and they always tell me that Im doing way more than them. So how is this fair?

Mrs Chua-Lim said the grades that teachers get shouldnt be a surprise. Work review sessions should happen two times a year at least, so that teachers can improve after the first review if need be.

But hearing the differing experiences shared by teachers, she acknowledged that somehow when it comes to the actual implementation, there are gaps. Now that we know there are gaps, well then make sure that we plug the gaps, she said.

That means the MOE (needs) to work with the reporting officers. For example, in their training, there is a workshop called managing difficult conversations, on how to say what they have to say.

So that at the end of the day, I may give you a grade, you may not be happy, but you can accept it, said Mrs Chua-Lim.

Several teachers, like Paul*, said there are expectations that they demonstrably show that they can deliver beyond their basic teaching duties in order to get better grades.

This is where people are pressured to stage projects and events that have little relevance to teaching and learning, said the secondary school teacher.

This points to a larger systemic issue: That a lot of the pointless stuff we do, like planning sports day ... should be outsourced to either event vendors or specialty officers whose job is to do this stuff.

Stradling multiple roles, said many teachers, is overwhelming.

To fulfilher other co-curricular activity and committee roles, Lisa said she is sometimes so busy she has to stop or delay her marking and her lessons preparations.

Everything becomes very messy (in class) because I didnt finish marking, then I cant give immediate feedback to my kids, and it frustrates me to be short-changing the children, she said.

I truly hate it each time when it comes to the ranking, and (school leaders) start saying that, okay, look, you havent done this and youre going to get this grade.

It makes you feel like your worth is attached to (the grade) and as if youre not doing (well) enough.

While the stressor and struggles are manifold, sometimes the starting point is whether teachers have asked, or been able to ask, for help.

Most people get into teaching because theres a pastoral side to them, said Chong Pao-er, a counsellor from Shan You Counselling Centre and a former teacher. Theres that caring side to them, and interestingly, I find its that group of teachers who get especially burnt out.

Theres absolutely no limit to what (the teachers) can do in that sense.

In Susans staffroom, frustrations are often put on the back burner. The moment someone says, lets do it for the kids, we go, said the upper-secondary teacher. We tell ourselves, stop complaining, lets revamp this, design that, find resources.

The rest is here:
'My mental health is at an all-time low': Teachers talk of burnout, MOE aware that 'gaps' need plugging - CNA

COVID-19 and climate change and elections.

Add to that Afghanistan, masks, wildfires, and hurricanes, and youve got more than a few reasons to recoil as you travel through your daily life.

If it feels like its too much to handle, there are numbers that back up that current collective stress level.

According to Jillian Hughes, a spokesperson for Mental Health America, more clicks than ever have been coming into online stress indicator surveys.

The number of people screening with moderate to severe symptoms of depression and anxiety in the first half of 2021 is similar [to] the number from 2020 and remains higher than the number of people screening at risk prior to COVID-19, Hughes told Healthline.

In the first half of 2021, 79 percent of people who took an anxiety screening exhibited moderate to severe symptoms, and 84 percent of people who took a depression screening scored with moderate to severe symptoms.

The organizations annual State of Mental Health in America report pulls no punches when it declared, Your mental health is worsening.

The COVID-19 pandemic isnt the only thing raising anxiety levels.

Experts say the stress of that singular situation was challenging enough. When you tack on things such as climate change, wildfires, election questions, and war, it can become too much for most of us.

Its time to recognize that we are wired to cope with acute stress well, but not chronic stress, Dr. Marni Chanoff, an integrative psychiatrist at McLean Hospital in Massachusetts, told Healthline.

Chronic stressors, over time, can lead to a depletion of our ability to cope, Chanoff said, and even push us toward or into depression.

With all that is going on in the world, she said, everyone may be feeling some anxiety, stress, or both.

It does vary from person to person, Chanoff said. We all have specific things that worry us more and make us feel a loss of control over our lives.

For each one of us now, there are several potential stressors, she added.

Dr. Cynthia Ackrill, FAIS, a board member of the American Institute of Stress, said this pressure is being felt throughout the country.

So many of us feel out of control, she told Healthline. Half the nation is on fire and the other half is under water.

C. Vaile Wright, PhD, senior director for healthcare innovation with the American Psychological Association, said we could, as a society, be facing a second pandemic: a mental health pandemic.

If the research we are seeing holds, weve got a (mental health) pandemic on our hands, Wright told Healthline.

Part of the reason could be the focus on the current pandemic, she noted.

Part of the issue is that from being in a pandemic, all our focus has been on physical health, Wright said. There has been no Mental Health Dr. Fauci.

Dr. Vivian B. Pender, president of the American Psychiatric Association, said she believes this could be one of the most stressful times for people in recent history.

Virtually no one alive has ever experienced a worldwide pandemic, she told Healthline.

Pender pointed out the fears of parents of schoolchildren, the emotional and physical challenges of working on the front lines, and the constant flow of information on everything as fuel to the fire that can be anxiety.

Whats a person to do?

People are so burned out, Pender said, and what I tell people is that its just so important to take care of yourself.

Experts have a number of recommendations for coping.

Pender suggests doing a self-checkup. Ask yourself how youre doing. Are you tired, anxious, depressed? Use what you see in yourself to take action.

She also recommends limiting your exposure. That means cutting back on your television and social media time.

Especially before bedtime. Sleep is really important, and turning off your phone (and any other device) an hour before sleep will help, Pender said.

Ackrill said people shouldnt assume theyre alone in this battle.

Some of us are more resilient, but most of us are struggling, she said. Dont assume that the person beside you is doing better.

It has taken enormous effort to face all of this, Ackrill added. Nobody has not spent energy on it. Even processing the news. I dont know who can watch the Afghanistan story and not be impacted. No matter what you believe, human suffering is painful to see.

Pender also recommends getting regular exercise. And dont think that means you must sign up for a gym or a sports league.

Rather, find time to get outside and walk or garden anything simple that brings you fresh air and makes you move.

Dont overthink it or overdo it, she said, because all that will do is add stress.

She also urges people not to turn to substances for relief. Alcohol, drugs, or smoking is not the solution, she said.

Chanoff suggests that people focus inwardly. She recommends having daily activities to keep on an even keel.

Focus on finding your own sense of strength, she said.

To do that, she suggests, each day, find some slow, quiet, and still time to connect with your clear, strongest self.

In addition, Chanoff suggests to reach outward. Rather than retreat to your own private world, people should connect with like-minded others to make a difference.

We cannot bury our heads in the sand, she said. Connect actively to help (whatever situation is stressing you out). Finding a community with common values and goals is a good step.

Chanoff also suggests building your own mental health toolbox.

In it, you can have free guided meditations, a balanced diet, and outside time every day.

I am a big proponent of helping people realize they have the power to take control of their lives, she said.

Remember, the experts say, that you may not feel normal because none of this really is normal.

We are dealing with real existential threats, Chanoff said. Climate change, tornadoes, wildfires, and thats just local. These are tricky times.

A good plan, she said, may be to not expect to necessarily feel like you once did, at least not yet.

There are waves of stress, fear, and anxiety coming at us, Chanoff said. Its a lot like grief.

She added that people may need to understand that theyll have harder days than others and not always move ahead in a straight line.

Im finding that now, she said. People are like, OK, I think I can cope. And then other days they are back to I just cant.

While community, friends who can listen, and family who cares all help, sometimes a person needs more.

If youre feeling like your symptoms are impacting your ability to function, if theyre getting in the way of you showing up however you need to show up, you should seek help, Chanoff said.

If you notice changes in mood, sleep, eating, activity, or enjoyment, and it lasts 2 solid weeks, you need to talk to someone, Pender said.

She said people can reach out to caring friends for an ear. But often, a mental health expert is needed.

Her great hope? That this time of mental health instability for many people helps the world understand mental health better and treat it more effectively in the future.

Its totally normal not to feel OK right now, Pender said. I say: Nervous is the new normal.

I hope that helps the stigma decrease and fade away, she said.

If everyone is feeling nervous, perhaps well see less discrimination around mental health, she added, because just about everyone has a mental health challenge right now.

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How to Cope With Anxiety in Our Stressful World - Healthline

Think the London Marathon sounds challenging? Later this month, 400 athletes embark on a 153-mile, 36-hour endurance test in Greece. They tell Nick Rufford why they do it

A competitor in the 2018 Spartathlon

ELIAS PERGANTIS/SPARTA PHOTOGRAPHY CLUB

Sunday September 05 2021, 12.01am, The Sunday Times

Shortly before she collapsed from heat and exhaustion, Sophie Power was having the time of her life. The 39-year-old from Guildford had been running for 36 hours and her sun-scorched skin was caked in road dust. Ice that shed stuffed down her sports bra at a rest stop had long ago melted and she was limping from a swelling in her left leg. Yet the tears that rolled down her face as she reached the finish were tears of joy.

My eyes are welling up now, just remembering, says Power, who was revived by medics at a temporary field hospital. It was just so hard, and it was my first big race after becoming a mother. Suddenly I felt that I wasnt only a mum,

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'Magic in misery': the ultrarunners tackling the Spartathlon, the world's toughest race - The Times

It is almost impossible to go on Facebook or Instagram without seeing quotes or comments accompanied with motivational words such as, Look on the bright side, Focus on the good things, or Be positive.

If anything, the pandemic has exacerbated the phenomenon of toxic positivity. In Qubec, the famous catchphrase, Its going to be OK, is undoubtedly one of the best known examples of this.

Though well-intentioned, these phrases can end up creating more distress instead of helping. Why? Because they are examples of toxic positivity, a school of thought that operates on the principle that one should always have a positive attitude, even when things get difficult.

As a doctoral student in psychology, I am interested in internalized symptoms (depression, anxiety and social withdrawal) and externalized symptoms (delinquency, violent, oppositional/defensive, disruptive and impulsive behaviours). I believe it is important to focus on the negative consequences of emotional invalidation and to understand why we need to live with our negative emotions.

When a person talks about what they are feeling, their main goal is usually to validate their emotions, to understand and accept the emotional experience. In contrast, emotional invalidation involves ignoring, denying, criticizing or rejecting another persons feelings.

Several studies have looked at the effects of emotional invalidation. The conclusions are clear: it is very harmful to mental health. People who experience emotional invalidation are more likely to have depressive symptoms.

Emotional invalidation has many negative effects. A person who is regularly invalidated may have difficulty accepting, controlling and understanding their emotions.

Whats more, people who expect their emotions to be invalidated are less likely to exhibit psychological flexibility, which is the ability to tolerate difficult thoughts and emotions and to resist unnecessarily defending oneself.

The more psychological flexibility a person has, the more they are able to live with their emotions and to get through difficult situations. For example, in the aftermath of a breakup, a young man feels anger, sadness and confusion. His friend listens to him and validates him. The man then normalizes his conflicting feelings and understands that the feelings will not last forever.

In contrast, another man going through the same type of breakup doesnt understand his feelings, feels ashamed and fears losing control of his emotions. His friend invalidates him and wont listen to him. The man then tries to suppress his emotions, which creates anxiety and can even lead to depression.

These two examples, drawn from the study Processes underlying depression: Risk aversion, emotional schemas, and psychological flexibility by American psychologists and researchers Robert L. Leahy, Dennis Tirch and Poonam S. Melwani, are neither rare nor harmless. The avoidance reaction, which involved doing everything possible to avoid experiencing negative emotions, is often amplified by the people around us.

Some people are so affected by other peoples unhappiness that just seeing this sadness makes them unhappy. This is why they react by making positive comments. However, the ability to live with our emotions is essential. Suppressing or avoiding them does not solve anything. In fact, trying to avoid negative emotions at all costs does not bring about the desired effect on the contrary, the emotions tend to return more often, and more intensely.

Unfortunately, humans are not designed to be positive all the time. On the contrary, we are more likely to recall bad memories. This probably goes back to a time, ages ago, when our survival depended on our reflex to avoid danger. A person who ignored signs of danger, even once, could end up in a catastrophic or even deadly situation.

Read more: Mindfulness meditation in brief daily doses can reduce negative mental health impact of COVID-19

In this article, Bad is stronger than good, the authors, both psychologists, explain how in evolutionary history the organisms that were better at identifying danger were more likely to survive threats. So the most alert among human beings had a higher probability of passing on their genes. The result is that we are in some ways programmed to pay attention to potential sources of danger.

This phenomenon is known as the negativity bias. Research has identified four manifestations of this bias that allow us to better understand it. One of these manifestations is linked to the vocabulary we use to describe negative events.

In a phenomenon called negative differentiation, it turns out that the vocabulary we have to describe negative events is much richer and more varied than the vocabulary used to describe positive events. In addition, negative stimuli are generally interpreted as more elaborate and differentiated than are positive ones.

The vocabulary used to describe physical pain is also much more complex than that used to describe physical pleasure. Another example: parents find it easier to judge their babies negative emotions than their positive emotions.

Negative emotions are a product of human complexity and are as important as positive ones.

The next time someone confides in you about their emotions, if you dont know what to say, opt for listening and emotional validation. Use expressions like, It looks like you had a hard day, or, It was hard, wasnt it?

Its worth noting that being positive is not always synonymous with toxic positivity the goal of which is to reject and avoid everything negative and only see the positive side of things. An example of positive and validating language is, It is normal to feel the way you do after such a serious event, lets try to make sense of it. Toxic positivity, on the other hand, sounds more like, Stop seeing the negative side, think about the positive things instead.

Finally, if you are unable to validate and listen, refer the person to a mental health professional who will know how to help them.

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'Toxic positivity': Why it is important to live with negative emotions - The Conversation CA

By Topher Gauk-Roger 5:23am PDT, Sep 3, 2021

The 25th entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, will introduce viewers to a brand new superhero when it hits theaters on Sept. 3, 2021. Simu Liu stars as the titular character, who must confront the past he thought he left behind after hes drawn into the web of the mysterious Ten Rings organization. The skilled martial artist is surrounded by an ensemble that includes Awkwafina, Michelle Yeoh and Tony Leung. Wonderwall.com rounded up everything you need to know about the latest entry in cinemas biggest franchise.

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RELATED: Stars attend the premiere of Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings

Shang-Chi is a skilled martial artist who was trained to be an assassin by his father at a young age. He doesnt have a traditional superpower, but he has enough abilities to earn the nickname Master of Kung Fu. The character was inspired by the Chinese American character Kwai Chang Caine from the TV showKung Fu and was originally developed as an unparalleled hand-to-hand fighter who fought his fathers global criminal machinations as part of Britains MI6 intelligence agency. In the comics, Shang-Chi eventually gained the ability to create duplicates of himself and carried various pieces of Tony Stark-built tech. Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, director Destin Daniel Cretton described the film version as afish-out-of-water and compared him to the character Will fromGood Will Hunting, whos a mixture of masculinity and vulnerability, noting that both characters had secrets and superpowers they do not understand. Star Simu Liu told Mens Health that Shang-Chis struggles with identity are the core of the character, rather than his martial arts skills.

RELATED: Marvel superheroes, sidekicks, antiheroes and Avengers ranked

Shang-Chi was created by Steve Englehart and Jim Starlin and debuted inSpecial Marvel Edition #15in December 1973 after Marvel Comics failed to acquire the rights to adapt theKung FuTV show. Up to that point, the comic series had followed Thor and Nick Fury. Shang-Chi was originally modeled after Bruce Lee and, as the martial arts craze swept the U.S. in the 70s, Shang-Chi, from from 1974 to 1983, ran in a solo comic entitled The Hands of Shang-Chi: Master of Kung Fu and enjoyed crossovers with other Marvel martial artists like White Tiger, Iron Fist and the Daughters of the Dragon. Hes one of the strongest non-superhumans in Marvel Comics and has been sought out by many other characters including Captain America, Spider-Man and Wolverine to help them strengthen their own hand-to-hand combat skills. The Shang-Chi comic book became massive in the 70s, but the Kung Fu craze died down in the 80s, and so did Shang-Chis popularity eventually relegating the character to occasional guest appearances. He made his way back into the spotlight as part of 2010sSecret Avengers series, eventually making it to the core Avengers team and the newAgents of Atlas. In anticipation of the film, Marvel debuted anew ongoing series in May 2021.

RELATED: Avengers stars: How their lives have changed over the years

The Ten Rings were originally established as the once-dormant international terrorist group that kidnaps Tony Stark in the first Iron Man movie in 2008. Tony builds his first Iron Man suit while being held captive by them. Members of the organization include Shang-Chis father, Wenwu (aka The Mandarin). In the films trailer, Wenwu tells his son that throughout my life, the Ten Rings gave our family power, and the rings are shown as physical bracelets with eerie lights and some kind of superpower. The movie seemingly depicts Shang-Chis father as leader of the Ten Rings who attempts to bring his son into the fold. But our hero appears to be a on a journey to free himself from his evil destiny.

It was quite the journey getting Shang-Chi to the big screen, with attempts dating as far back as the 80s. During a 2018 interview with Inverse, former president and CEO ofMarvel Productions Margaret Loesch revealed that Stan Lee considered Bruce Lees son Brandon to play the role and met with the actor and his mother, Linda Lee,to discuss a potential movie or television series starring the character. Stan did believe in the character, Margaret said. He used that as an example of the comic that could transition into the movie and television world. Unfortunately, Brandon tragically passed away in 1993 at 28. Then in 2001, Blade director Stephen Norrington signed on to direct the film The Hands of Shang-Chi but was replaced by famed martials arts choreographer and director Yuen Woo-pingwhen the project moved to DreamWorks a few years later. After getting stuck in development, the rights to the character reverted back to Marvel and it was listed as one of many potential projects inits new film deal with Paramount Pictures. Marvel eventually signed a deal with Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures before it could get made, which led to the current release schedule.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings gave actor Simu Liu his breakout role. He was raised in Ontario, Canada, and worked as an accountant before eventually getting laid off. Simu then used his background in martial arts such as TaekwondoandWing Chun, as well as gymnastics, to pursue a career as an actor and stuntman. His first role was as an extra in the 2013 blockbusterPacific Rim, which led to small roles on TV shows like Nikita and Beauty and the Beast and a stunt-double gig on Heroes Reborn. He then nabbed lead roles on the acclaimed Canadian programs Blood and Water and Kims Convenience before Marvel gave him the chance of a lifetime in 2019: Simu petitioned for the role of Shang-Chi on Twitter in 2018 when the movie was revealed to be in development and it was announced duringComic-Con 2019 that hed landed the part.

Following her breakout turn in 2018s Crazy Rich Asians and her Golden Globe-winning work in 2019s The Farewell, Awkwafina makes her Marvel debut as Katy. Little is known about the character other than that she works as a hotel valet alongside Shang-Chi and is the heros closest confidant. That said, she doesnt know much about his history or his action-packed world of assassins and kung fu masters. The funnywoman told StyleCaster in 2020 that Katy is thrust into a world where she doesnt really know what to do. At the same time, shes discovering things about herself. Awkwafina also told Entertainment Weekly that the character doesnt do a lot of the heavy lifting. But at the end of the day, she has a real heart, and she has a loyalty and dedication to her friendship with Shang-Chi. Shes super brave. Katy isnt sourced from the comics and, based on her poster image, this original character might just know how to use a bow and arrows.

Michelle Yeoh is best known for her work in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Tomorrow Never Dies, Crazy Rich Asians and Star Trek: Discovery. She made her Marvel debut in 2017s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 as space pirate Aleta Ogord. Now the Malaysian actress is taking on a new role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Ying Nan, a guardian of a mythical city. Michelle told Collider that the films other characters come to her to learn how to protect history and to protect not just this world but the worlds that are around us from the demons that are locked away. So its magic, its reality, so many things happening and its a lot of fun.

Tony Leung is considered one of Asias most successful and internationally recognized actors. The Hong Kong-born star, whos best known for his numerous collaborations with legendary director Wong Kar-wai, makes his Marvel debut in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. He stars as Wenwu, Shang-Chis father and the leader of the Ten Rings. Wenwu is a hybrid character for theMarvel Cinematic Universe, replacing Shang-Chis original comic book father, Fu Manchu. The character has many different names including The Mandarin which producer Jonathan Schwartztold Entertainment Weekly was due to audience expectations based on The Mandarins comic book history. He described Wenwu as a more complex and layered character than the comic book version. Director Destin Daniel Cretton explained to the outlet that Tony avoided Asian stereotypes and a one-dimensional portrayal by bringing humanity and love to the role.

Menger Zhang portrays Xialing, Shang-Chis estranged sister and Wenwus daughter. Menger is a relative newcomer and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings marks her first big screen credit. Xialing is based on the comic book character Fah Lo Suee, who was raised to be The Mandarins right hand, but eventually attempts to subvert her fathers control by leaving the Ten Rings. In the film, Xialing is similarly estranged from her father and partners with her brother to take him down once and for all. Menger told Comic Book Resources that she underwent four months of training before shooting began, explaining, I didnt have any martial arts background. I did muay thai, tai chi and some weapons work. Theyre all hard but so much fun. She also called the role monumental, like a dream come true.

Andy Le has been revealed as the masked actor portraying the villainous Death Dealer. Its a huge moment for the star, who up until this point had worked as a stuntman and acted in small roles in The Paper Tigers and Wu-Tang: An American Saga. In the comics, Death Dealer is an MI6 double agent and one of Shang-Chis closest confidants who also betrays the hero and his sister by teaming up with their dad and becoming one of the Ten Rings deadliest warriors. The stories find the brutal fighter and Shang-Chi fighting to the death, with our hero coming out victorious. The films trailer keeps Death Dealers identity a secret, only showing them clad in a mask with red, black and white face paint. But given their origins, its safe to assume Wenwu will dispatch him to take down his son in a fight for power.

Florian Munteanu is a German Romanian actor, model and former heavyweight boxer whos best known for his role as boxer Viktor Drago, the son ofIvan Drago, in the 2018 sports dramaCreed II. Now hes taking on Shang-Chi as Razor Fist, a skilled martial artist andmercenarywith steel blades for hands. The villain is hired to assassinate Shang-Chi, and in the comics, he has a storied history with the Master of Kung Fu, having fought and been defeated by him multiple times. Razor Fist is also known for having served as a nemesis for numerous other Marvel heroes including Wolverine, Hawkeye and Elektra. The films trailer teases a a massive fight between Shang-Chi and Razor Fist aboard a San Francisco bus.

Ronny Chiengis a senior correspondent onThe Daily Show and creator and star of the sitcomRonny Chieng: International Student. The Malaysian comedianandactor had a breakout feature role as the over-ambitious Eddie Cheng in2018s Crazy Rich Asians before nabbing the part of Jon Jon in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Not much is known about the character other than that hes a close friend of both Shang-Chi and Katy. Well have to wait until the films release to find out if there is more to Jon Jon or if hell act as the storys comic relief.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is directed by Destin Daniel Cretton. The Hawaiian-born filmmaker worked at a group home for at-risk teenagers while attending film school. He then used both of those experiences to create the 2009 short film Short Term 12, which received acclaim when it premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. It wasnt long before he moved into feature-length films, writing and directing the indie dramas I Am Not a Hipster and the theatrical adaptation of Short Term 12, which was nominated for multipleIndependent Spirit Awards and served as a breakout for Captain Marvel herself, Brie Larson. Destin then directed the major studio films The Glass Castle and Just Mercy, both of which reunited him with Brie and received critical raves. In 2019, Marvel announced he would be helming his first blockbuster. He told The Hollywood Reporter in 2020 that he wanted the departure to create a hero he could identify with. I grew up without a superhero to look up to, he told the outlet. I gravitated toSpider-Manwhen I was a kid, primarily because he had a mask covering his face and I could imagine myself under that mask. I would love to give my son a superhero to look up to. I feel very privileged to be a part of telling that story.

While Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings marks the title characters debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, elements of the story do have connections to previous films. Shang-Chis father in the movie is The Mandarin, a villain long teased in the Iron Man film series. He surfaced in 2013s Iron Man 3 as the leader of the Ten Rings before eventually being unmasked as a struggling British actor, played by Ben Kingsley, who was hired to play the villain in order to cover up the storys true antagonist, Aldrich Killian. As mentioned, the Ten Rings have also played a part in the Iron Man movies, starting with overseeing Tony Starks capturing in the first film, which prompted him to create the first Iron Man suit. He then spends much of that movie dismantling the organizations operations in the Middle East. The Ten Rings also appeared in the Marvel One-Shot shortAll Hail the Kingon theThor: The Dark WorldBlu-ray and in adeleted scenefromAnt-Man.

One of the biggest changes in the Shang-Chi film is an update to his famous parentage. In the comics, hes the secret son of the villainous Dr. Fu Manchu, a character whos also been steeped in racial stereotypes. Marvel Studios doesnt have the film rights for that character and its doubtful it wanted to unearth that problematic elements of the comics. Hence the character has been reconceived as known Marvel supervillain The Mandarin in the movie. The version of The Mandarin portrayed in Iron Man 3 was essentially a parody version of Fu Manchu, intact with all the same racist tropes. But Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige described Tony Leungs casting in 2019 as a chance for him to play the real Mandarin. As director Destin Daniel Crettontold Observer that same year,We are not looking to contribute anymore to the Asian stereotypes that we have seen both in cinema and pop culture. Were hoping to just show some different sides to both Asian Americans and Chinese Americans and Mainland Chinese characters. Tommy is such an incredible actor and Im excited to have him help us break some of those stereotypes because that villain could easily become a punchline.

Production on Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings wasnt without its complications. Filming began in February 2020 but was put on hold in March due to theCOVID-19 pandemic. Work building sets for the film resumed at the end of July 2020, and by the next month, all cast and crew members had arrived in Sydney to begin shooting. Any cast and crew members returning to Australia from outside the country had to be quarantined for two weeks upon arrival before returning to work, according toAustralias guidelines. Shooting then moved to San Francisco and wrapped by October 2020. As a result of the pandemic, the films release date shifted multiple times, originally going from February 2021 to May to July and, ultimately, September. Unlike the Marvel Cinematic Universes previous entry, Julys Black Widow, Shang-Chi wont be released simultaneouslyin theaters and on Disney+. Instead, it will be in theaters exclusively for 45 days before being added to the streaming platform.

Following the success of 2018s Black Panther as well as repeated calls for more diversity and less Chris in Marvel movies, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is helping expand the scope of the Marvel Cinematic Universe while also breaking ground for Asian representation on a blockbuster scale. Star Simu Liu discussed the films significance with Entertainment Weekly, calling it a celebration of our culture while also pointing out that this is just one step in the battle forvisibility in media. Just because theres one Asian American superhero in the MCU, it does not by any means imply that our fight is finished right there, he told the outlet.When we dont have to celebrate every single win, I think well be a little bit closer to our goal, but until then, theres just so much left to do. Im ready to be in a position where I can effect real change, amplify voices and put people in positions to get stories told that wouldnt ordinarily get that opportunity. So, yes, all of that stuff Im ready for. It couldnt come fast enough, actually.

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If you travel with your stomach first, add these cities to your bucket list.

BuzzFeed Staff

Traveling to Mexico City is an exercise in stamina for your stomach. Everywhere you go, the city wafts with the smells of flame-grilled meats and blue corn masa tortillas sizzling on the griddle, and just about every other block is lined with street carts and vendors dishing out everything from tlacoyos and tacos to tamales.

Seek outJenni's Street Quesadillasin the Roma Norte neighborhood for famous fresh blue corn tortillas smothered in melted cheese and squash blossoms (it'll only set you back about $1). And for the best esquites you've ever tasted, look for a nondescript little stand on a street corner by Reforma 222 shopping mall. There, you can fill up on a heaping cup of corn tossed with mayo, cotija cheese, lime, and chipotle pepper for less than 50 cents.

While you're in CDMX, make sure to sample al pastor tacos, thinly sliced marinated pork shaved from a spit and served with white onion, pineapple, and cilantro. While it's hard to go wrong at any taqueira, El Vilsito (Colonia Narvarte), Taqueria el Greco (Condesa), and El Turix (Polanco) are three top spots for pork-filled tacos.

Singapore is like two sides of a coin: on the one hand it's glitzy and pristine. but on the other it's chaotic and dazzling just look at the busy night markets filled with hawker stalls like the Chinatown Street Market. Singaporean cuisine is a blend of flavors and dishes from other countries: China, India, Malaysia, even Europe.

Prepare to eat lots and lots of rice, noodles, and seafood, but whatever you do, don't missHainanese chicken rice, char kway teow (stir fried, flat rice noodles),roti prata (a flaky fried bread served with butter) and laksa (noodles in creamy coconut broth).

At first glance, Paris might not be an obvious top street food city, but if you know where to look, the city offers everything from crpe stands to open air markets like the March des Enfants Rouges. In the heart of the old Jewish Quarter, LAs du Falafel doles out pita sandwiches stuffed to the brim with crispy falafel, fried eggplant and pickled vegetables, all smothered in tahini and spicy sauce.

Over in the 11th arrondissement, Chez Aline is home to some of the best sandwiches in the city simple combinations like jambon, feta, and pesto on freshly baked baguette. And in the Latin Quarter, you'll find life-changing savory and sweet crepes (around $5 a piece) from the tiny shop, Au P'tit Grec. And of course, a flaky croissant or freshly baked baguette from one of the city's many boulangeries is just as delicious as any fancy meal on earth, but if there's one spot to seek out it's Du Pain et des Ides located by Canal St Martin.

If you walk through Djema al Fna, Marrakesh's main square, around sundown, you'll be intoxicated by sights, sounds, and smells. There are snake charmers and monkeys, henna tattoo artists, storytellers, and stalls upon stalls of food selling fragrant spices, bowls of snail soup, fresh squeezed orange juice, and pyramids of sweet nuts coated in honey.

Other dishes includeharira, a traditional tomato and chickpea soupand tagine, a slow cooked stew of couscous, vegetables, and meat. But the crown jewel of Marrakesh's street food scene can be found inMechoui Alley where lamb is slow cooked underground for days at a time in clay ovens until it's tender, sprinkled withcumin and salt, and served with pita.

Taiwan is often overlooked, but it's an incredible destination with a sprawling urban city (Taipei) and lots of natural beauty (beaches, hot springs, and mountains, for starters). But if you visit Taiwan for one thing, it should be the food. Eating is a national past time, and you'll see that first hand if you visit one of the 30 night markets in Taipei alone.

Make sure to try Xiao Long Bao (the original Din Tai Fung is in Taipei and 10 plump soup dumplings will set you back about $5), eggs enveloped in scallion pancakes, spicy fried chicken tossed in salt, pepper, and basil leaves, and umami-packed beef noodle soup. If you're not sure where to begin, Nanjichang night market is a local favorite, while Ningxia and Raohe are two of the more manageable options for tourists just dipping their toes into Taiwanese street food culture.

If there's one city that could be crowned street food capital of the world, it might just be Bangkok. There's perhaps no other city where you could eat as well on a tight budget where tiny hawker stalls deserve Michelin stars (and in fact, many have them). But in a city that is home to over half a million street food stalls, it can be tough to choose where to eat.

At the street-side restaurantRaan Jay Fai, the eponymous female chef wears goggles as she cookscrab omelettes, stir-fries, and curries over a blazing flame. Then there'sKuay Jub Mr. Joe, famous for the crispiest pork belly in Bangkok ($4), which can be served over a piping bowl of noodle soup.Chakki, located in Bangkok's Chinatown, is the place to go for deep fried noodles with meat in a thick gravy. And of course there'sThipsamaifor what's commonly lauded as the best pad Thai in the city.

As soon as you touch town in Rio, you'll notice a different kind of energy, and this vibrance also manifests itself in the street food. The cuisine is a blend of African, European, and indigenous cultures, and you can find the iconic dishes at the Sunday markets, hole-in-the-wall shops, and carts along the busy streets to Ipanema and Copacabana.

Fill up on colorful aai bowls made with tropical fruits, po de queijo (a chewy, cheesy bread made of cassava flour), cod dumplings, pastis, and coxinha, deep fried pastries filled with shredded chicken and cheese.

It's easy to associate Berlin street food with dner kebabs and currywurst, but there's so much more to it. An extremely international city, Berlin's cheap eats are inspired by global cuisines and flavors all around the world. Just about every week, you'll find some new pop-up like Bite Club at Badeschiff and Street Food Thursday in Markthalle Neun, where eclectic vendors come together to sell drool-worthy dishes like gourmet burgers, tacos, tapas, and craft beer.

Then there's Thaipark, a decades-old tradition held on weekends during the warm weather months. You'll find over 100 Thai, Vietnamese, Korean, and other Asian vendors cooking up food from their home countries like shrimp pad Thai ($6), sticky rice with mango ($2), and chicken satay skiewers ($2). And finally theres' Boxhagener Platz, a flea, farmer's and street food market where you can chow down on things like falafel, charcuterie, bruschetta and more.

When you think of Tokyo, you might be inclined to think of fine dining and expensive restaurants. And while you can easily blow a whole paycheck on an omakase meal, Tokyo is also heaven on earth for affordable, street food. The maze of streets and buildings that make up Tsukiji Market is a feast for all the senses, especially the stomach.

As you get lost in the alleys you'll pass ramen stalls (a heaping bowl will set you back about $5), shelves of fresh onigiri, vendors grilling skewers of chicken yakitori and thinly sliced wagyu beef over a flame, and tiny sushi bars where hungry locals sling back pieces of fatty tuna nigiri for breakfast. This is a microcosm for the whole city. Incredible food is everywhere you look. In fact, 7-Elevens on every street corner serve the best $2 egg salad sandwich you'll ever eat.

Mumbai is a melting pot of different cultures and flavors. Here, you can find not only international cuisines, but also regional dishes from Punjab and southern India to Goa. The city also never sleeps, which means delicious street food is available all the time, whether it's a hot cup of chai, crispy, pani puri, or chaat.

Make your way toKhau Galli, Mumbai's biggest and best neighborhood for street food, where every street offers something a bit different. On the block namedMahim Khau Galli there are rows of vendors grilling things likerotis with lamb and chicken tandoori. Nearby, Mohammed Ali Road is known for kebabs and biryani. AlongTardeo Khau Galli you'll findsamosas, vada pav (fried potato dumplings on a bun) and pav bhaji (mashed vegetable stew served on a bun).

Tel Aviv is known for its food, but in addition to great restaurants, you can eat extremely well for cheap in this vibrant beach city on the Mediterranean Sea. Walk through Shuk HaCarmel, the city's largest market where you can buy everything from olives and spices to halva.

Once you've tried a plate of the creamy hummus topped with whole chickpeas and paprika ($6) from Hummus Abu Hassan, you'll never be able to eat the store bought stuff again. At Levinsky Burekas try one of the famous Middle Eastern pastries plucked right from the oven, and of course, you'll want to get a falafel sandwich from HaKosem. Biting into one of the fluffy pitas filled with fried chickpea balls, chopped Israeli salad, and tahini is the true definition of a religious experience.

You can avoid high end restaurants entirely and still eat like a king in Shanghai, China's most populated city. The food stalls along Xiangyang Road are great for a quick breakfast of jianbing (egg crpes filled with veggies) and on South Yunnan Road Food Street you'll find tons of hot pot and noodles.

Huanghe Road is the dumpling capital: try thesmall, gently pan fried soup dumplings atYang's(4 pieces for around $3) and the more traditional, delicate crab xiao long bao atJia Jia Tang Bao.OnQibao Old Street, vendors sell all sorts of steamed buns and dim sum and inTianzifang, snack stalls on every black sell all of the best cheap eats like rice cakes, grilled meat skewers, and egg tarts.

Lagos is the most populated city in Africa. It's a fast-paced, constantly moving commercial hub with a thriving street food scene to match. Grilled spicy beef skewers called suya and akara delightfully greasy and crunchy fritters made from beans can be found on street corners throughout the city.

There's puff puff, a favorite West African snack that are similar to French beignets, and there are plantains that are roasted on hot charcoals and served with nuts. These snacks are even sold on busy roadsides and can be delivered right to your car window during rush hour.

The island of Oahu, home to the capital city of Honolulu, is the cultural hub of Hawaii. The cuisine is influenced by Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, Portuguese, and Hawaiian culture, and that's most obvious when you look at the affordable eats and snack foods served at roadside shacks and food trucks all across the island. Fuel up for the day on loco moco from Rainbow Drive-In.

For lunch grab a heaping portion of shrimp scampi over rice from Giovanni's Shrimp Truck or pop into Ono Seafood for a giant scoop of the freshest tuna poke you've ever tasted ($13). There's Ray's Kiawe Broiled Chicken, where huli chicken roasts over coals on in a parking lot. And of course, no trip to Oahu is complete without trying a fried spam musubi, a few aai bowls or a refreshing shaved ice.

You can't talk about Seoul without mentioning street food. A huge part of the culture in this culinary-minded city is the cheap food sold by tiny stalls on busy city streets and in crowded subway stations. The most famous spot for street food is Gwangjang Market, a traditional market where seemingly endless rows of carts sell everything from bindaetteok (mung bean cakes) to pajeon (savory vegetable pancakes) and kimbap (the Korean take on sushi rolls).

Myeongdong Street is the place to go for tteokbokki, spicy rice cakes that bathe in a pool of chili sauce, and there are several markets around the city like Tongin Market, Dongdaemun Night Market and Namdaemun Market where you can taste Seoul's iconic dishes like Korean fried chicken, mandu (dumplings), and small banchan style dishes.

In a country known for delicious food, Ho Chi Minh City (commonly known as Saigon) is Vietnam's culinary jewel. In this wonderfully chaotic city where cooking and eating is a way of communicating and connecting, you can never be far from authentic, cheap, and most importantly, spectacular food.

On Vinh Khnh Street (seafood street), there are rows of outdoor grills cooking crabs, cockles, and sizzling seafood hot pot. In district 1, Ch Bn Thnh is an authentic market where you can sample all the classic dishes like spring rolls and banh mi, and more. Nearby, seek outBanh Xeo 46Afor savory egg crpes filled with shrimp and vegetables ($3) andPho Bo Vien, a hole-in-the-wall for quality pho.

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The 16 Greatest Street Food Cities In The World (And Exactly What You Should Eat There) - BuzzFeed

Its one thing to play Superman on screen, but its another thing entirely to walk around looking like a Kryptonian in your everyday life. And the first thing youre likely to notice when staring at Henry Cavill on Zoom are his shouldersnot even his Clark Kent jawline can distract from the small mountain range erupting from his humerus and clavicle. None of this is exactly news, given the multiple high-profile roles in which Cavill has transformed his body forThe DC universe, The Witcher, extremely buff Sherlock in Enola Holmesbut you truly cannot prepare for how mesmerizing those deltoids are.

Which is why Cavills latest role, as an ambassador for the supplement company MuscleTech is perhaps the most natural line on his resume. GQ caught up with the 38-year-old actor to find out how supplements influence his diet, his thoughts on pre-workout, and just how many meals a day you need to eat if you ever want shoulders like his.

GQ: Supplements are such a huge part of the fitness world, but I think something that can often be misunderstood, especially when youre first starting out. What was your journey with using supplements like?

Henry Cavill: It's an interesting thing, because I've been very fortunate over my career to have pros guiding me. As useful as that has been when it comes to physical results and how the body looks when I'm taking my shirt off on camera or whatever the case may be, it does certainly hinder my growth in knowledge. And so over the past couple of years, I've been trying to quiz my trainer, Dave Rienzi, more and more about the why of everything. Why is that going in? Why this rather than that? Aren't they both carbohydrates? Why this protein versus that protein? What does it mean when you do this before or afterwards? And so my journey is still very much in process.

Once you started asking those questions, was there anything that you were surprised to learn?

So I have a protein shake before bed, and there would be times where Id go, you know what, I want to lose a few more pounds, so I'm just going to cut the pre-bed shake out and not tell my trainer Dave. And itll be fine, because I'll be losing a few pounds and then I'll get back to showing progress photos and people will be like, Oh wow, look at the progress you made! But if I took three weeks off, when I would send Dave a progress photo, he would go, Okay, cool. So are you still taking the pre-bed shake? And I go, No, because I wanted to lose a few pounds.

That's when I started asking these questions because he then informed me that the problem with that logic is that, yes, you do have fewer calories going into your body, but you also go into a catabolic state with how hard you're training and how hard you're working. So actually what you're doing is you're losing muscularity while you sleep. So your body won't be looking as good. And almost immediately when I went back to the pre-bed shake, I was like, Yeah, the body looks better already. And for me, that was a massive learning point and a real shock. I thought, I need to start asking more questions and stop thinking that I can pull a fast one and pull the wool over his eyes.

I love that Dave instantly knew, too. Like, Hey, are you skipping that? But I think that's the preconceived notion, right? Don't eat before bed.

Absolutely. The protein shakes before bed, they are a real lifesaver for me. Especially with the amount of work, with the amount of output I have. It's important to make sure that all the right stuff is getting in at the right time so you don't lose anything and you're not wasting any time at the gym.

So youve got the protein shake right before bed, but what does a typical day of eating look like?

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Henry Cavill Is Happy to Eat the Same Thing Every Day - GQ