Louisiana universities could get ‘fail safe' for students in mental health crisis
The Louisiana Legislature is advancing a measure that would allow colleges and universities to contact the parents of students experiencing a mental health crisis.
House Bill 202 by Rep. Delisha Boyd, D-New Orleans, would require colleges and universities to offer privacy waivers to students that would allow the schools to contact a pre-designated person in the case of a mental health crisis or situation in which the student poses a risk to themselves or other.
The measure is necessary because colleges are currently not able to contact parents under privacy laws that protect adult students, Boyd said. Students would be given the option to fill out the waiver.
Legislators on the House Committee on Education described the proposal Wednesday as a 'fail safe.' It comes on the heels of several high-profile deaths on college campuses.
'Just recently, we had a student at Xavier University that committed suicide about a month ago,' Boyd told the committee. 'Imagine if someone had paid attention to the change in attitude, the personality or what have you, it could have ended in a different way.'
Boyd's bill will next be discussed on the House floor.
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Chocolate Yogurt and Fruit If your sweet tooth rears its head in the evening, a decadent yogurt dessert might be just the trick. 'Stir a tablespoon of cocoa powder (not hot chocolate mix) into ½ to ¾ cup of vanilla low-fat or non-fat Greek yogurt, [topped] with fresh raspberries,' McIndoo says. 'Cocoa powder is a good source of heart-healthy flavanols that improve blood flow and lower blood pressure and raspberries are a great source of fiber.' If you want to further healthify this creative dessert, opt for plain yogurt and sweeten it with a little bit of honey—a natural sweetener full of antioxidant plant compounds and prebiotic fiber. 'A small drizzle of maple syrup (another nutrient-added sweetener) to sweeten the yogurt is still less sugar than pre-sweetened flavored yogurts,' House adds. Veggies and Hummus As a classic and easy-to-assemble snack, veggies and hummus bring the crunch that many people seek from less healthy options like chips or pretzels in the evening hours. 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Dark Chocolate-Covered Fruit Dark chocolate is the perfect way to satisfy that evening hankering for chocolate without all the added sugar. Plus, it pairs perfectly with fruit, as options like bananas, berries, apples, or dried (unsweetened) apricots naturally sweeten the final dish. 'Melt dark chocolate (the higher cacao percentage, the better) and dip fresh strawberries or banana slices in it,' McIndoo says. 'Dark chocolate contains antioxidants that benefit heart health, whereas berries contain fiber and phytonutrients that can help lower LDL cholesterol and inflammation.' Chia Pudding Our final heart-healthy late-night snack suggestion is chia pudding! 'Chia seeds may decrease cardiovascular disease risk by decreasing triglycerides and cholesterol,' House says. Plus, these tiny seeds offer a satisfying texture to your pudding, making late-night snacking a sensory experience. You can make this pudding by combining chia seeds, low-fat milk of your choice, a dash of honey or maple syrup, cinnamon, and nut butter for a high-fiber and antioxidant-rich evening treat. What to Include in a Heart-Healthy Snack There are a few hallmark nutrients to include at snack time when heart health is top priority—namely heart-healthy fats, fiber, and antioxidants. 'Unsaturated fats do double duty in promoting heart health,' McIndoo says. 'They can help raise levels of HDL (high-density lipoprotein or 'healthy' cholesterol) in the bloodstream and lower levels of LDL (low-density lipoprotein or 'unhealthy' cholesterol).' Plus, unsaturated fats also help reduce bodily inflammation—key for keeping heart disease at bay. Generally, unsaturated fats are found in fatty fish, nuts, seeds, avocados, olives, and the oils of any of these options. Omega-3 fatty acids are also included under this umbrella as they carry out many of the same functions and are particularly concentrated in walnuts, chia seeds, flaxseed, seaweed, leafy greens, and fatty fish like salmon, sardines, tuna, trout, and anchovies. 'Fiber, especially soluble fiber that is in fruits, veggies, seeds, and whole grains, helps grab cholesterol in your digestive system so it can be removed from your body instead of being absorbed into your bloodstream,' McIndoo adds. Fiber can also be found in other plant-based foods like nuts and legumes including beans, peas, and lentils. What to Avoid in a Heart-Healthy Snack On the other side of the coin, there are a few nutrients that we want to steer clear of when assembling a heart-healthy late-night snack. These include trans fat, saturated fat, dietary cholesterol, sodium, added sugars, and alcohol. 'Saturated fats, usually solid at room temperature, tend to raise your blood levels of LDL cholesterol,' McIndoo says. 'Trans fats do as well, but they also lower levels of HDL cholesterol.' Dietary cholesterol may also increase blood cholesterol levels. However, both dietary cholesterol and saturated fats have been found in certain studies to not be as correlated to heart disease as once thought. That said, it's still a good idea to use caution around them when focusing on heart health, as they have been found in some circumstances to increase cholesterol levels. High cholesterol levels over long periods of time can contribute to atherosclerosis (or plaque build-up on veins and arteries) development—a hallmark feature of many heart diseases. 'Consistent high-sodium intake can increase your blood pressure,' McIndoo says. 'This excessive force can stretch and damage your blood vessel walls and increase the build-up of the waxy, sticky plaque that can lead to clogged vessels (atherosclerosis) which can lead to strokes and heart attacks.' High levels of sodium can be found in ultra-processed foods, condiments, processed meats, and canned foods. Meanwhile, added sugars and alcohol promote inflammation in the body, which can contribute to chronic disease development—including heart disease. Desserts, ultra-processed foods, candy, and soda are notorious sources of added sugar, and alcohol can be found in boozy beverages like beer, wine, and cocktails. Read the original article on Real Simple
