Friday, 10 March 2023

How healthy are you? Try the 'sit to stand' test.

March 10, 2023 | VIEW IN BROWSER

This is TODAY

The risky activities an ER pediatrician keeps her kids away from, and tips from sleep experts to help your body adjust to the time change when the clocks spring forward on Sunday. Plus, the Gulf cartel apologizes for the recent deadly kidnapping incident at the border.

The Latest

The Gulf cartel apologizes after Americans are kidnapped and killed in Mexico.

The Gulf cartel apologized in a letter yesterday after two Americans were killed among a group of four friends who were kidnapped in a Mexican border town last week. A law enforcement official told NBC News that cartel gunmen targeted the group in a case of mistaken identity. "The Gulf Cartel Grupo Escorpiones strongly condemns the events of Friday, March 3 in which unfortunately an innocent working mother died and four American citizens were kidnapped, of which two died," a translation of the letter says, according to The Associated Press. The letter said the cartel handed over the men responsible to Mexican authorities and that they acted "under their own determination and indiscipline." The remains of the two Americans were handed over to U.S. authorities in Texas yesterday. Here's the latest.

🤕 I'm an ER pediatrician. These are 7 things I never let my kids do.

We all know accidents can happen with kids, but there are certain everyday activities that pediatricians know have a much higher risk of serious injury. We spoke to emergency medicine pediatricians who are also parents about risky behaviors they make sure their kids avoid in order to keep them safe and out of the hospital. Trampolines, ATVs, riding anything without a helmet, swimming alone — all a bad idea. See their tips here.

⏰ Daylight saving time starts Sunday. Here are 4 ways to help your body adjust to the time change.

An extra hour of sunlight? Yes! One less hour of sleep? (sad trombone) Don't let daylight saving time on Sunday leave you sleep-deprived with these 4 tips from sleep specialists. Watching your diet, avoiding naps and making sure you don't work out too late in the day can all help you make the transition. Plus, it may be the last time we have to deal with it since a bill to make daylight saving time permanent has new momentum in Congress. But if you still feel zonked Sunday, here are 6 ways to deal with sleep deprivation.

👄 Dermatologists explain why your lip balm could actually be making your lips more chapped.

If you've found yourself needing more and more lip balm to combat the winter dryness, the brand you're using may actually be doing more harm than good. We spoke to a pair of dermatologists about how certain lip balms can actually worsen chapped lips. "Anything that makes your lips tingle, cold, soothes with that menthol-y (feel), that's bad news because it means that there's an ingredient in there that is a potential irritant," one told us. Instead, look for balms with beeswax, olive oil, castor oil, coconut oil or shea butter. Plus, here are 6 of the best lip balms to shop right now.

Live Better TODAY

Achieve your life goals with easy tips.

Can you pass the "sit to stand" test? This simple test can quickly determine how healthy you are because it requires strong cardiovascular fitness, good balance, flexibility, and core and leg strength to complete it, according to our own Dr. Natalie Azar. To perform the test, begin by standing up. Next, sit down cross-legged on the ground, and then stand up again. The catch is that you can't use your hands or any other part of your body; just your legs and core. See the research behind the test, how to interpret your results and workouts that can improve your strength and agility.

What's for dinner?

Allow us to do the meal-planning for you.

Level up your Caesar salad with a recipe from "Top Chef" champion Jeremy Ford that features a buttery steak and sugar snap peas. Too cold to grill? No problem. Jeremy shares how to properly pan roast beef tenderloin with smashed garlic, herbs and butter. Plus, lemon, garlic, Dijon and anchovy (don't be afraid of the anchovy!) give the homemade dressing just the right zing. Get the recipe here.

Daily Delight

A little pick-me-up before you go.

Decades after losing her father to AIDs when she was only 6, Marisa Sullivan gained the older sister she always wanted. Marisa, 43, (above, right) shared in a moving essay for Today.com how she survived breast cancer and then learned she had a sister she never knew about. Carol Simpson, 58, (above, left) discovered Marisa was her sister from an at-home DNA test and eventually wrote her a lengthy email about how they shared the same dad. The two siblings finally met up, marveling at how much Carol's son looks like their father. They also noted how each of them has different traits from their dad. "Carol inherited his warmth," Marisa wrote. "She's also very wise. When I'm struggling with a decision, she's one of the first people I call." See more photos of the sisters and their family here.