For people with epilepsy, doing yoga may help reduce feelings of stigma about the disease along with reducing seizure frequency and anxiety, according to new research published in the November 8, 2023, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

“People with epilepsy often face stigma that can cause them to feel different than others due to their own health condition and that can have a significant impact on their quality of life,” said study author Manjari Tripathi, MD, DM, of All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi. “This stigma can affect a person’s life in many ways including treatment, emergency department visits and poor mental health. Our study showed that doing yoga can alleviate the burden of epilepsy and improve the overall quality of life by reducing this perceived stigma.” 

For the study, researchers looked at people with epilepsy with an average age of 30 in India.

Researchers measured stigma based on participants’ answers to questions such as: “Do you feel other people discriminate against you?” “Do you feel you cannot contribute anything in society?” and “Do you feel different from other people?”

Researchers then identified 160 people who met the criteria for experiencing stigma. Participants had an average of one seizure per week and on average took at least two anti-seizure medications.

Researchers then randomly assigned participants to receive yoga therapy or sham yoga therapy. Yoga therapy included exercises in loosening muscles, breathing, meditation and positive affirmations. Sham yoga consisted of exercises that mimic the same yoga exercises, but participants were not given instructions on two key components of yoga believed to induce a relaxation response: slow and synchronized breathing, and attention to the body movements and sensations during practice.

Each group received seven supervised group sessions of 45 to 60 minutes over three months. Participants were also asked to practice sessions at home at least five times a week for 30 minutes. They tracked seizures and yoga sessions in a journal. After the three months of therapy, participants were followed for another three months.

Researchers found when compared to people who did sham yoga, people who did yoga were more likely to reduce their perceived stigma of the disease. People who did yoga had an average score of seven at the start of the study and an average score of four at the end of the study, while people who did sham yoga had an increase from an average score of six at the start of the study to an average score of seven at the end.

Researchers also found that people who did yoga were more than four times as likely to have more than a 50% reduction in their seizure frequency after six months than the people who did sham yoga.

In addition, people who did yoga were more than seven times more likely to no longer have seizures than those who did sham yoga.

There was also a significant decrease in anxiety symptoms for people who did yoga versus people who did not. They saw improvements in quality of life measures and mindfulness.

“These study findings elevate the need to consider alternative therapies and activities for people with epilepsy facing stigma,” said Tripathi. “Yoga may not only help reduce stigma, but also improve quality of life and mindfulness. Plus, yoga can be easily prerecorded and shared with patients online using minimal resources and costs.”

Food costs decrease 16% on a low-fat vegan diet, a savings of more than $500 a year, compared to a diet that includes meat, dairy, and other animal products, according to a new analysis from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine published in JAMA Network Open.

“We knew that a vegan diet significantly reduces your risk of conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and obesity—and now we have proof that opting for beans instead of beef will also lead to significant savings on your grocery bill,” says study co-author Hana Kahleova, MD, PhD, director of clinical research at the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.

The research is an analysis of a Physicians Committee study in which participants were randomly assigned to a vegan group or control group. The vegan group was asked to follow a low-fat vegan diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes, while the control group was requested to make no diet changes. Calorie intake and food costs were not limited for either group.

For the food cost assessment, the participants’ dietary records were linked to food price data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Thrifty Food Plan, 2021.

Total food costs decreased in the vegan group by 16%, or $1.51 per day, compared with no significant change in the control group. This decrease was mainly attributable to savings on meat, -$1.77 per day, and dairy, -$0.74 per day. Changes in purchases of other food groups (e.g., eggs and added fats) also contributed to the observed savings.

These savings outweighed the increased spending on vegetables, +$1.03 per day; fruits, +$0.40 per day; legumes, +$0.30 per day; whole grains, +$0.30 per day, and meat and dairy alternatives.

The findings support previous research showing that a plant-based diet provides more cost savings than one that includes animal products.

In addition to the cost savings, the study found that a low-fat vegan diet resulted in weight loss and improved body composition and insulin sensitivity in overweight adults.

Millennials have been observed to search for condominiums online, which has been attributed to them entering their prime years of home buying and wanting to live near where they work. However, moving into a new home is a big step that requires advanced preparation logistically, financially, and emotionally.

“Finding your first home can be daunting. There should be no risk of regrets. This is why we have been extremely thoughtful in designing Sierra Valley Gardens such that it caters to modern needs and aspirations – from installing upgraded smart home facilities, a WFH nook in our units, to providing abundant green spaces and a multitude of amenities for young professionals to enjoy,” saysRLC Residences’ Senior Director, Marketing Head and Chief Integration Officer Karen Cesario.

To help millennials kickstart their homebuying journey, RLC Residences shares a few things that aspiring homeowners should consider:

#1. Scheduling the move-out date

Moving out is not easy and it can take a long time to ensure that the new place is clean and ready for occupancy, packing belongings, buying new furniture and appliances, and securing permits and documents.

Buyers of the newly launched fourth building of Sierra Valley Gardens in Cainta, Rizal still have a lot of time to plan their moving out process as the target turnover date is still on 2028. This also means that they have time to learn more adulting stuff like cooking, doing laundry, and budgeting before doing the big move.

#2. Emotionally preparing your family

Traditionally, Filipino families are very close to each other. There is a need to emotionally prepare yourself, your parents, and siblings when deciding to leave the family home. Do allot an ample time to share and explain your big move to your family.

A way to make ‘the talk’ lighter is to assure them that you will still visit often and they, too, can come to your place anytime. For future residents of Sierra Valley Gardens, family time can mean taking a dip at the lap pool, playing basketball at the Multi-purpose court or game room, or simply catching up at the property’s cozy lounge area in the 3-level Clubhouse.

#3. Building a budget

An important ingredient in solo living is budgeting. This makes sure that homeowners are not spending more than they’re earning so they can stay on top of daily and monthly expenses.

In terms of monthly amortizations, Sierra Valley Gardens has flexible payment schemes so millennials can pay with ease. For the new fourth building, RLC Residences is also offering a 5% launch discount so future homeowners can buy their dream home.

#4. Establishing eating habits

A benefit of living with the family is that eating is easier. It’s either they are served meals or ingredients are readily available. Moving out means crafting your own menu, learning recipes, and visiting the grocery to buy ingredients and other essentials.

Located within a destination estate, Sierra Valley Gardens has easy access to the upcoming mall and to now open retail stores and restaurants within the area. Also, future residents will find living here comfortable given its direct access to Ortigas Ave. Extension should they need to go outside the estate.

#5. Keeping an administration and maintenance directory

It’s important to have a directory of service providers like hospitals and police and fire stations in case of emergencies. Condominium dwellers are also advised to have a directory of administration and maintenance offices.

Lucky for the future residents of Sierra Valley Gardens, an Audio/Video intercom is provided that helps residents reach reception in case of emergencies. This is one of the many smart home features the property offers to its future homeowners.

“Moving out, especially for young Filipinos, is not an easy undertaking. It takes a lot of guts and planning to push it through. That is why the decision to do so needs to be a smart move,” shares Cesario.

For millennials thinking of making their smart move in the East with Sierra Valley Gardens, they may connect with a Property Specialist or visit rlcresidences.com to know more.