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CCPOA Benefit Trust Fund | Lighting The Darkness. Keeping You Covered. Winter/Spring 2020 In This Issue Getting Mental MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS . . . . .1 California’s correctional officers are reg- • Depression is a way of life for many TRUE BEER BELLY ...... 2 ularly exposed to traumatic events that law enforcement personnel. 28% report BSCA HEALTH LIBRARY ...... 3 make them more likely to grapple with de- often or sometimes feeling down, de- WORLD WIDE WEIRD ...... 4 pression, PTSD and suicidal thoughts, ac- pressed or hopeless, and 38% have lit- BUSTED ...... 5 cording to researchers at UC Berkeley’s tle interest or pleasure in doing things. MHA & YOU ...... 6 Goldman School of Public Policy. • 40% of officers report that they have FIELD REPS ...... 6 So begins the report based on the 2017 experienced an event so frightening, California Correctional Officer Survey horrible or upsetting at work that they RETIRED MEDICAL ...... 6 (CCOS) on Health and Wellness. The survey have had nightmares about it. JUNK FOOD CRACK ...... 7 was the first time a large-scale effort gath- • 10% of correctional officers have EXPLOSIVE RELIGION ...... 7 ering information on the thoughts, atti- thoughts of suicide. The rate is even TIDBITS ...... 8 tudes and experiences of more than 8,000 higher for retired C/Os. More than 7 in criminal justice personnel, including correc- 10 haven’t told anyone. tional officers and parole officers. • A minority of officers say they have When it comes to actually collecting and used the state-sponsored programs 1 studying the lives and well-being of correc- meant to improve their well-being. For tional officers, academic research and pol- example, only 18% reported ever hav- icy discussions have, until recently, been ing used the Employee Assistance Pro- practically nil. gram (EAP). 916-779-6300 Even the DOJ stated “Health and well- Not suprisingly, many officers said they 800-468-6486 ness among those who work in correctional were worried about privacy and repercus- agencies is an issue that has always ex- sions if they were to reach out to EAP for www.ccpoabtf.org isted, but is just starting to get the increas- help. news.berkeley.edu ing attention that it deserves.” The CCOS highlighted conditions that all WHAT CAN YOU DO? C/Os encounter: mental and physical well- The Benefit Trust Fund, along with the ness; exposure to violence; attitudes to- CCPOA are taking an active role in promot- Visit the links on our home page. wards rehabilitation and punishment; job ing mental health for all our members. training and management; work-life bal- Starting in March we are relaunching a ance; and training and support. series of free events we’re calling “Mental CCPOA Benefit Trust Fund It also documented the difficulties of en- Health Awareness.” The events will focus Communications Department couraging law enforcement personnel to on help and assistance to 2515 Venture Oaks Way, Suite 200 seek the assistance they need. our fellow officers who Sacramento, CA 95833-4235 may be facing mental HIGHLIGHTS OF THE STUDY: hard-ships. We present this issue of SearchLight for your • More than 50% of C/Os report that vio- We have more education and enjoyment. We produce this lent incidents are a regular occurrence details in this publication three or four times a year, as the whim at the prison where they work. 85% re- issue of Search- strikes us. If you have any benefit questions, ported seeing someone seriously in- Light, as well as on- please call the Trust. Don’t count on your buddy, jured or killed. Almost 30% reported line. Join us, and help because he got his information from some guy in being seriously injured at work. get this long-needed a van parked outside the wall. • 50% of officers say they rarely feel conversation going. safe at work. SearchLight_Winter2020.v1a.qxp 3/3/20 10:54 AM Page 2

A True Beer Belly checks, enabling the man to have a normal diet without exhibit- ing symptoms. The police didn’t believe him. They arrested the man on sus- People with auto-brewery syndrome may smell like alcohol or picion of drunken driving. Doctors didn’t believe him. His blood feel too tired to work or spend time with family. Some patients alcohol level was 0.2, more than twice the legal limit for operat- are unemployed because of the condition, and others skip meals ing a car. He refused a breathalyzer test. to be sober for longer periods. But the facts remained in contention. The 46-year-old man swore that he hadn’t had any alcohol that night. A CASE OF HESS Then researchers discovered the unusual truth: a rarely dia- Nick Hess, 39, had nearly 100 doctors try to diagnose him— gnosed condition known as “auto-brewery syndrome.” without success. The condition, also known as gut fermentation syndrome, can Hess said his wife didn’t believe that he hadn’t been drinking occur in otherwise healthy when he started showing his people, but is more common in symptoms. At one point, she patients with diabetes, obesity started recording him to ensure he or Crohn’s disease. Fermenting wasn’t sneaking alcohol. What she fungi or bacteria in the gut saw, Hess said, was just him play- produce ethanol, and cause the ing video games all day. patients to show signs of “She would watch me wake up drunkenness. and sit on that couch from the mo- The condition has rarely ment I woke up to the moment I been studied. Some of the went to sleep and progressively studies that do exist have cast get more and more drunk,” he doubt on the validity of auto- said. brewery as a real syndrome. Hess said his auto-brewery syn- However, Researchers at Rich- drome makes him oscillate each mond University Medical day between intoxication and a Center in New York, believe the hangover. He dropped out of col- 2 syndrome is not only real, but lege because of his symptoms and under diagnosed. is appealing a DUI conviction. Every day, Hess suffers from vomiting, headaches and other IT’S HAPPENED BEFORE symptoms. Back in 2014 the condition made news when the driver of a truck that spilled 11,000 salmon onto a highway claimed to have HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN? auto-brewery syndrome. In 2015, a New York woman was Auto-brewery syndrome seems to be caused by antibiotic use charged with DUI after registering a blood alcohol level four altering a person’s fungal growth, but researchers don’t know times the legal limit. After being shown evidence that she had why so few people who take antibiotics contract the condition. auto-brewery syndrome a judge dismissed the charges. The current best-guess is that other drugs, environmental toxins The man in the Richmond University study, whose identity or preservatives in foods also could cause auto-brewery syn- was not released, had started taking antibiotics in 2011 for a drome by disrupting the body’s normal balance of bacteria. traumatic injury. That’s when the symptoms started: depres- Some symptoms of auto-brewery syndrome can mimic other sion, memory issues and aggressive behavior that was uncom- conditions or medical events, such as hypoglycemia or a stroke, mon for him. People who suspect they have auto-brewery syndrome should get After his arrest on a drunken-driving charge, the man’s aunt a breathalyzer so they can test their blood alcohol levels when remembered hearing about a similar situation addressed by a symptoms manifest. doctor in Ohio. She bought her nephew a breathalyzer to test his Blood alcohol levels in people with auto-brewery syndrome blood alcohol levels and persuaded him to go to Ohio for treat- can reach five times the legal limit. Antifungal medications, pro- ment. biotics and low-carb diets can treat the condition. “Everybody thought that he was a liar, he was a closet One of the doctors involved with the study, Barbara Cordell, drinker,” said Fahad Malik, a doctor and the lead researcher on had personal knowledge of the condition, as her husband had the study. suffered from it for six years before they realized what it was. Doctors in Ohio gave the man a carbohydrate-heavy meal and Dr. Cordell is a researcher of auto-brewery syndrome and the watched his blood alcohol level shoot up to 0.57. However, when author of “My Gut Makes Alcohol.” Coddell said roughly 500 his intoxication caused him to fall and suffer a brain bleed, the people from around the world have contacted her about the con- doctors again refused to believe that he hadn’t been drinking. dition since 2015. She now runs a support group for about 200 Eventually a treatment was found which included an antifun- people with auto-brewery syndrome. washingtonpost.com gal medication, combined with regular blood alcohol level SearchLight_Winter2020.v1a.qxp 3/3/20 10:54 AM Page 3

STORIES From the Blue Shield Health Library How to get your kids to eat their fruits and veggies

MAKING TIME FOR FAMILY DINNER, casionally declaring “Kids Night,” where they get to choose an ap- AND BEING CREATIVE WHEN YOU CAN’T petizer, main course, and dessert from a list of healthy options. Getting fruits and vegetables on your kids’ plates can be chal- Getting your family to the table is worth the effort. lenging. Harder still? Getting the good stuff in your kids’ mouths. Try these simple strategies and call on your own creative ge- Change your mindset by nius to get your littles and middles on board the zucchini boat. changing your menu It’s time to ingrain your family’s healthy eating habits. LOAD UP ON FRUITS AND VEGETABLES PREP WHEN YOU CAN You knew these were good for your waistline, but they also Got a crazy week ahead? Try to carve out some time over the have other benefits. weekend to cook and freeze healthy meals that you can easily They’re mood boosters. That’s thanks to complex carbo- reheat on a minute’s notice. Gather your family around a table hydrates that release energy into our bodies gradually. and make a list of what they like to eat. Plan on featuring the They contain antioxidants.Vitamin C and carotenoids protect most nutritious suggestions. As for the less healthy options against chronic inflammatory disease, hardening and narrowing (mac and cheese, I’m looking at you), focus on balancing tried- of the arteries, some cancers, and certain forms of depression. and-true goodies with vegetables or healthy sides. Perform a snack makeover. FACTOR IN FERMENTED FOODS Relying on packaged, processed snack foods? Trade them in Rich in good bacteria, these foods keep your gut healthy. Aim for healthier, grabbable snacks. Think hummus and veggies for probiotics. These include kimchi, sauerkraut, kombucha, yo- wrapped in a tortilla, fruit skewers, or apple and celery slices gurt, miso, and most cheeses and traditional salamis. dipped in mini cups of peanut butter. Find an online snack guru They improve overall mental health. Studies show our mood like Anjali Shah who runs The Picky Eater blog, or search and emotions also benefit, since about 95 percent of our seroto- 3 #healthysnacks for tons of Instagram inspiration. nin receptors are found in the gut lining.

DON’T DITCH DESSERT STAY HYDRATED We all know sugar should be kept to a minimum, but a sweet Drink water throughout the day, not just when you feel thirsty. after-dinner treat doesn’t have to be bad for you to taste oh, so Keep a bottle in the car, at your desk, and on your nightstand. good. Give your kids (and yourself!) something worth finishing Avoid dehydration. When your body needs water, it can neg- their veggies for. Try freezing chocolate-dipped banana halves atively affect the brain’s dopamine and serotonin balances. These into pops, or serving small bowls of chocolate chip-stuffed rasp- are natural chemicals that, when thrown off, can increase or af- berries after they’ve cleared their plates. Strawberry yogurt bark fect depression and anxiety. makes a great stand-in for ice cream. Line a sheet pan with Greek yogurt, sprinkle with strawberries, freeze, then break into GET ENOUGH MAGNESIUM pieces. This mineral can help as a natural anxiety treatment. Adults should get between 310 and 420 grams, depending on MAKE FUN FOOD ARRANGEMENTS age and gender. Pregnant women often need more since Few kids look forward to broccoli and potatoes. But pregnancy can affect how the body absorbs certain served as small green trees sprouting from a mountain vitamins and minerals. of mashed potatoes lined with pretzel-stick fences? Not sure you’re getting enough? Load up on That’s fun! Zucchini fritters made into hearts using a leafy greens, avocado, whole grains, and when cookie cutter? Love! you’re in the mood for sweets, dark chocolate. Supplements might help. Consult your PRIORITIZE FAMILY MEALS doctor before taking a magnesium We’re all busy, so sitting down to dinner isn’t supplement. always possible. According to the Academy of Nu- By choosing foods and eating in trition and Dietetics , kids who sit down for a ways that both satisfy us and con- family meal eat more fruit, vegetables, vita- tribute to our emotional well-being, mins, and minerals. Try scheduling dinner at we can help protect against dis- the same time each night, so the family can ease, and improve our mood and plan around it. Or, involve little ones by oc- overall mental health. SearchLight_Winter2020.v1a.qxp 3/3/20 10:54 AM Page 4

Found online. That makes it true. How the Auto Club Invented Jay-Walking to Save the Car

In any American city if you walk out- trench,” said The New York Times. Mothers THE EFFORTS OF LEFFERTS side to a major intersection and look into of children killed in the streets were given E.B. Lefferts is the enemy of jaywalkers the streets, you know what you’ll see. a special white star to honor their loss. everywhere. He was head of the Automo- You’ll see cars, and trucks, and buses. You bile Club of Southern California and quite might see a few bicycles trying to sneak a public relations genius. Lefforts realized their way through the traffic. What you that you can’t just change behavior by won’t see are many people. Not on the writing laws and punishing people. You street, anyway. have to reach them through psychology. So But it wasnt always this way. Go back he invented a new word, ‘jaywalking.’ 100 years and it was almost exactly the Lefferts did this by turning a slang in- opposite. sult to a legal term. J-A-Y, was a slang- At the turn of the century, there was word for a country bumpkin. Therefore, a nothing moving faster than about 10 miles jaywalker is somebody who walks around an hour in the street. Horses and wagons the city like a Jay from the sticks. In his were the norm. Parents saying “Go outside bumbling and gawking at the big-city and play in the street” made sense. After sights, a Jay was a real nuissance to ev- all, yards and playgrounds were not com- eryone and evrything around him. mon in the big city. Launching his PR campaign in Los An- 4 Even after the first cars appeared geles. Lefferts explained what jaywalking around 1900, they had to conform to the was. He said that accidents could be the customs of the day, which meant that traf- foundsf.org result of reckless pedestrians. This was a fic moved at wagon speeds. So many people, so few drivers. tough sell, as most people had never con- But things changed. The Industrial Rev- sidered that there was such a thing as olution had people leaving farms for fac- THE BATTLE LINES ARE DRAWN reckless pedestrian. Within a year he was tories and moving to the cities. The Model Cities started to think seriously about able to get an anti-jaywalking ordinance T Ford was rolling off the line at a rate of restricting the use of the death-dealing car. passed. Cleverly though, he told the police one per minute. Near-and-Dear to the In November, 1923, Cincinnati residents not to arrest jaywalkers. heart of Henry Ford was the idea that the got a referendum placed on the ballot re- Arresting the jaywalker would only make people who make the Model T can afford to quiring cars to be mechanically limited to them indignant. Instead, Lefferts wanted buy a Model T. So by the 1920s, cities are 25 miles an hour. Once the speed governor the pedestrian ridiculed as a form of psy- getting crowded with people and cars. was installed, it would have a police seal chological control, because by then ‘jay- Just like drivers today, nobody wanted on it. If you tampered with it, you were walker’ had become a real term of abuse. to drive 10 miles an hour. Pedestrians and breaking the law. Equally important was that others see children still lingered in the streets, walk- This did not sit well with ‘Motordom,’ the jaywalker being ridiculed. The tech- ing casually, like it’s 1906. By 1923, close the group of people who made their liveli- nique worked. Newspaper reports show to 18,000 people a year were being killed hood from car owners. If cities banned the that just after a few weeks, pedestrians in by motor vehicles. Three-quarters of those car, people would buy far fewer of them. L.A. got the message, and the streets were are pedestrians, and half of the pedes- And less cars meant less money. Less car cleared for cars. trians killed are children. sales, less car repairs and less members By 1929 “America’s love affair” with Cities held parades and built monu- for the burgeoning motor-clubs, like the the car was a real thing. The first clover- ments in memory of children who had Auto Club. So, a strategy was born–You leaf interchange was built in the United been struck and killed by cars. As far as can’t blame the car if you blame the driver. States, and the country’s future with the the public was concerned, it’s like they Motordom changed the discussion from automobile became permanent. died in a war. “The automobile looms up as “How do we control cars and drivers?” Coincidentally, that’s around the time a far more destructive mechanism than into “How do we make streets places that you find people stopped objecting to the machine gun... the man in the street where cars belong, and where pedestrians the term ‘jaywalker’–including the jay- seems less safe than the man in the don’t belong?” walkers themselves. 99percentinvisible.org SearchLight_Winter2020.v1a.qxp 3/3/20 10:54 AM Page 5

OOff-beatff-beat newsnews storiesstories aboutabout crimecrime andand such...such...

Baby Shark–Shark Get the Message? PD Bromance The three were just strolling though Police in Boynton Beach, Florida, ar- Anthony Akers of Richland, Washing- the San Antonio Aquarium – pushing rested a young woman after ton, was on the local police’s “Wanted’ their baby in a stroller and enjoying the an officer spotted her list for violating terms of his parole. day. swerving in late-night traf- The Richland Police department It wasn’t until about an hour after fic, while doing 60 in a 45 posted a photo of Akers asking for they left that the aquarium staff noticed zone. The woman failed a tips on his whereabouts. a baby shark was missing. Turns out that field test and was taken to “Calm down, I’m going to turn baby in the stroller was no human! the Breathlyzer unit, where myself in,” was what they got in The three crooks had made their way she recorded a blood-alcohol reply. Seems Akers just loved to chat to an open air tank, staked out the area level of 0.105. about himself. for about an hour, then when the time So what’s the best thing you can do if When there was no sign of Akers the was right, wrapped the baby shark in a you are the breathlyzer technician? How next day, officers tried to send him a di- towel, put it in a stroller and proceeded to about hitting the suspect up for her rect message: “Hey Anthony! We haven't simply leave the premises without being number, and texting her later to go out seen you yet. Our business hours are noticed. for drinks? Well, that’s exactly what 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Monday through Fri- In the pro- James Biggs did. day. Of course if you need a ride you can cess of stealing This so freaked out the woman, (who call... and we will pick you up.” the shark , the declined the offer, now that she was Akers was kind enough to respond: group dumped sober) that she went immediatly and told “Tying up a couple loose ends since I will a disinfect solu- her attorney. Smart move on her part. probably be there for a month. Should be 5 tion used for Biggs’ inappropriate actions jeopard- there in the next 48 hours.” But, not sur- tools into the ized the breath-test findings, and thus the prisingly, he didn’t show. filtration sys- entire case, forcing prosecutors to reduce So now the police started messing with tem. The solu- their original plea offer: from 12 months his emotions, sounding like a friend who’s tion caused probation to no probation and just $457 been stood-up. “Is it us?” officials won- “harm to other in fines. palmbeachpost.com dered. “We waited, but you didn't show ... wildlife” but The weekend came and went. We are be- fast acting Get the Message ginning to think you are not coming.” staff managed While every story has two sides, this It was enough to cajole Akers into to stop major Photo: Amazon may be a good reminder to work-it-out if sending a longer, heartfelt note: “Dear damage. you get in a dispute. Especially with a RPD, it’s not you, it’s me. I obviously have Surveillance cameras caught the thiefs house painter. commitment issues. I apologize for standing in the parking lot getting into their you up, but let me make it up to you. I will be truck, and investigators quickly tracked there no later then lunchtime tomorrow, I them down. know you have no reason to believe me after In an odd, but fortunate turn of events, what I did to you, but I promise that if I the mastermind of the theft was actually don’t make it on my own by lunchtime to- a marine enthusiast. His home was “al- morrow I will call for a ride to assist me with most a mock-up” of the aquarium. my commitment issues. Thank you in ad- “He very much knew what he was vance to your response if you are patiently doing and kept that animal alive and was giving me another chance with us, I know I able to continue to see that animal don’t deserve it. P.S. You’re beautiful” thrive, which is pretty shocking to all of Terry Taylor of Derbyshire, England, Did Akers follow through with turning us,” said Leon Valley Police Chief Joe Sal- had just about enough of the client which himself in? You bet. vaggio. He added they believe the baby kept changing their mind and refusing to As he was walking into the police de- shark was stolen to replace one that had pay. “He kept saying, ‘I’ll pay you tomor- partment he took a selfie and posted recently died. foxnews.com; clumseycrooks.com row,’ but tomorrow never came.” “Here for our date sweetheart.” odditycentral.com npr.com; clumseycrooks.com SearchLight_Winter2020.v1a.qxp 3/9/20 11:56 AM Page 6

MHA & YOU The Benefit Trust Fund, along with the CCPOA are taking an with carefully developed content from experts with practical and active role in promoting mental health for all our members. We clinical experience in this field. call it “Mental Health Awareness.” The events will focus on help and assistance to our fellow officers who may be facing mental WHEN, WHERE AND HOW hard-ships. Here is the tentative event schedule: • Ontario – April 21st: Morning Session WHAT ARE THESE • Tehachapi – April 22nd: Morning Session EVENTS ALL ABOUT? • Bakersfield – May 19th: Morning Session Beginning in March, the • Fresno – May 20th Trust is launching this Two ½ Day Sessions: Morning or Afternoon year’s series of free, re- • Fresno – May 21st: Morning Session gional events to provide • Crescent City – June 9th: Morning Session tools geared towards Cor- • Susanville – June 11th rectional Officers in an ef- Two ½ Day Sessions: Morning or Afternoon fort to offset the many • San Quentin – July 14th: Morning Session impacts of working in the stressful prison environment. • Salinas Valley – July 15th: Morning Session The Trust has pulled together a top-notch group of dynamic • San Luis Obispo – July 16th: Morning Session speakers. Topics presented during the trainings presented by ex- • Sacramento – August 11th: Morning Session perts in a variety of fields, while teaching real-time techniques to • Stockton – August 12th: Morning Session be used on the job, and at home: • Fairfield – August 13th : Morning Session • Identifying Sources of Stress • Tools & Tips for On the Job Wellness While dates and times are subject to change, we will keep you • Peer-to-Peer Support up to date two ways - Ẅ About a month before each event we • Addressing Stigma will mail out postcards to members within about a half-hour • Wellness Resources & Best Practices radius of the event location. ẅ We will have the most current lis- 6 You will hear from custody staff, health care and legal profes- ing on our website, with a link on the home page. sionals, prison chaplains, and citizens committed to mental The events are FREE, but we do request you sign-up online so health and wellness in the world of corrections. we have an idea of how many people will attend. Our goal is simple: we want to create an open, safe, judgement ATTENDENCE DATA IS NEVER SHARED WITH ANY STATE free forum to provide each attendee with tangible tools and AGENCY. We look at these events as part of our Medical Program, strategies to aide in their personal health and overall wellness and as such your information is confidential.

We See You Retired Medical Did you know that every month, the Trust has a team of I'm retiring; where do I go to make sure I get signed up for Benefit Specialists traveling around the state, going from institu- medical? A question we get all the time. When you retire, Cal- tion to institution? Did you also know that we post where they’ll PERS becomes your health benefit officer. Give them a call at be each month? 888-225-7377 as soon as you begin your retirement planning to Many of you have met Joe Gonsalves and his team. At any find out what steps you need to take. Your personnel specialist given time up to seven of his Benefit Specialists are in the field, will also assist you in filing your retirement paperwork. answering questions and assisting members in educating, signing This does not necessarily mean you need to give up your up, or resolving benefit issues. CCPOA Medical Plan. While much of California is covered, there These field reps are also the way members can sign up for are some more rural areas where our plan is not available. If you Combined Insurance–which is a plan that pays members directly. are a CCPOA retiree living in a covered zip code area you can en- • You can learn more about Combined Insurance on our roll in the CCPOA Medical Plan or our Medicare Supplement. website, under “Programs.” Also, be sure to check out the Trust's retirement planning sec- • Click on “Events Calendar” to see when and where the field tion, linked on our homepage, and then call the Trust's Eligibility reps will be each month. Department at 800-468-6486 to get your Trust retirement bene- • Click on “Our Providers” for a way to reach out to the fits ready. Many of the Trust’s plans and programs can carry- Combined crew directly. over into retirement, but remember, you must be a member of Combined Insurance is an official partner of the CCPOA Benefit Trust Fund. Their Benefit CCPOA Retirement Chapter to qualify for any CCPOA benefits. Specialists visit Institutions across the state on our behalf. SearchLight_Winter2020.v1a.qxp 3/3/20 10:54 AM Page 7

Junk Food, ing awareness that junk food really can be • Eat enough protein. A study in the jour- addictive will be helpful for those who nal Obesity found that overweight men wonder why it is so difficult to resist that were able to reduce their cravings by up Crack Food last piece of pizza or chocolate cake. to 60 percent by getting 25 percent of You’re in withdrawal. You have mood their daily calorie intake from protein. swings. Anxiety. Headaches and insomnia. IT’S JUST A CRAVE The same study found that a high pro- Did you quit smoking cigarettes? Or pot? For most people, it might not be an add- tein diet helped reduce the desire for Or maybe, just maybe, you’ve cut back on iction, but all of us have experienced THE nighttime snacks by 50 percent. those greasy fries, burgers, and other CRAVE. Maybe for you it’s chips or fries, or • Drink plenty of water. Hunger and thirst highly processed food. you just need a slice of pizza NOW. Every can produce very similar sensations in A study published in the research jour- person experiences food cravings differently. the mind, causing it to become confused. nal Appetite reported that people who re- Cravings are often for foods high in sugar, One of the easiest ways to reduce food duced their consumption of highly salt, and fat. (BTW: Sugar, Salt, Fat and Grease are NOT cravings is to make sure the body is hy- processed foods experienced some of the the four food groups.) drated throughout the day. Drinking same physical and psychological withdra- So, can you fight the crave? Scientifically, plenty of water helps clean out toxins wal symptoms as those quitting smoking. cravings can result from many different fac- from the body, which may also benefit a Seems cigarettes, marijuana and highly tors, everything from hormones to stress. person's overall well-being. processed foods all have similar reactions (The stereotype that a sad woman will eat a • Chew gum. Studies show that most crav- on our bodies. box of chocolates is not just a myth, accord- ings will pass in 3-5 minutes, which is Because withdrawal occurs when reduc- ing to the National Institue of Health study just about as long as the flavor in a piece ing junk-food consumption, researchers Sweet Craving and Ghrelin and Leptin Levels in of gum lasts. Plus, it keeps your mouth theorize that highly processed foods might Women During Stress.) busy. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov; medicalnewstoday.com; actually be physically addictive. There does appear to be some real steps psychcentral.com More research is needed to further ex- that anyone can take which may help your plore the information gleaned from this will power, and your chemistry, crave junk study. In the meantime, perhaps just rais- food a bit less:

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Explosive Religion On Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) the young men head out to the edge of town, bringing with them pouches of home-made explo- Every February, the town of San Juan de la Vega celebrates sives and long-handled sledgehammers. The explosives are the Festival of Exploding Hammers. And yes, as the name usually a mixture of potassium chlorate and sodium. (Potassium implies, it is a rather unusual festival. chlorate is a widely used chemical, and can be found in disinfec- tants, smoke grenades, match heads, and the purple color in fire- works.) Packed tightly and often wrapped in packing tape, they are attached to the head of a sledgehammer. On the day of the festival, those brave enough, bang their sledgehammers against steel beams, causing explosions strong enough to cause serious injuries. Police and other local authorities have tried to ban the explo- sions in the past, but the people of San Juan de la Vega love their tradition too much. “We do this out of devotion,” said one local. “You have faith in a Saint and you must demonstrate that.” The problem with the exploding hammers is that the size of Photo: YouTube screengrab the explosives has increased substantially over the years. In the While no one today knows the real origin of the festival, the beginning small, thumb-sized packs only caused a bang and a bit tradition is so popular in San Juan de la Vega that locals will risk of smoke, but today it’s all about who has the bigger bomb at- life and limb to keep it going. tached to their sledgehammer. According to local legend, Juantito de la Vega was a wealthy Hammer wielders regularly get burns on their hands and miner and rancher. When bandits stole his gold he looked for other parts of their bodies, a few years back a young man got his help, and was aided by Saint John the Baptist. From here, the hand blown up by an explosion, and catching some sort of shrap- particulars get a little fuzzy; the modern day celebration at San nel is not uncommon. Considering that about five tons of explo- Juan de la Vega is a “reenactment” of the skirmish between San sives are detonated every year, also serious injuries are Juantito and the local dons. Which side possessed the original relatively rare. Maybe the Saints approve. hammer bombs is forever lost in the smoky haze of history. odditycentral.com; atlasobscura.com SearchLight_Winter2020.v1a.qxp 3/3/20 10:54 AM Page 8

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