Latest / Morning Medical with Dr. Chow / Resistance Training for Sleep, FDA Challenges, and Travel's Cognitive Benefits

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Resistance Training for Sleep, FDA Challenges, and Travel's Cognitive Benefits · Morning Medical with Dr. Chow

• 0:00
  Welcome to Morning Medical with Dr.
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  Chow, your daily update on the latest medical and health news from around the world.
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  I'm Dr.
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  Chi-Ming Chow, your host for today's episode.
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  As always, we're bringing you insights and updates that matter to your health and
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  well-being.
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  Today, we're diving into a fascinating topic that could make a significant difference in the
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  lives of older adults struggling with insomnia.
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  A recent study has found that resistance training might just be the best form of
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  exercise for older adults dealing with insomnia.
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  This study was published in the journal BMJ Family Medicine and Community Health, and it
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  highlights the potential benefits of incorporating resistance exercises into the
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  routines of seniors.
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  Insomnia, as many of you know, is a common issue among older adults, with between 30% and
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  48% experiencing sleepiness and 12% to 20% dealing with insomnia problems.
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  The study was a meta-analysis, which means it gathered data from 25 different studies
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  conducted between 1996 and 2021.
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  This analysis included information from 2,170 individuals who were at least 60 years old.
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  The researchers found that while all forms of exercise can improve sleep quality, resistance
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  training was the most effective in combating insomnia, followed by aerobic exercise and
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  combination exercises.
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  Dr.
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  Jade Wu, a sleep psychologist, explains why resistance training can be particularly
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  beneficial.
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  Sleep is essentially a time for the body to recover from the wear and tear of the day.
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  Resistance training puts stress on the muscles, which need to be repaired and grown during
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  sleep, effectively "earning" the rest that's so vital for recovery.
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  Moreover, learning new movements during resistance training can also build new pathways
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  in the brain, which encourages better sleep.
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  Dr.
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  Shalini Paruthi, a sleep medicine expert, notes that resistance exercises have additional
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  health benefits, such as reducing blood pressure, improving blood sugar levels, and
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  increasing leg strength.
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  These exercises also help reduce depression and anxiety, which are often linked to insomnia.
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  While Dr.
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  Rachel Salas from Johns Hopkins Center for Sleep and Wellness suggests that the key is
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  finding an exercise routine you can stick with consistently, resistance training might be
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  particularly appealing as it's not too intense and carries a lower risk of falls for older
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  adults.
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  If you're struggling with sleep, it's important to consider your sleep environment as well.
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  Ensuring your bedroom is dark, quiet, and cool, and putting away electronics 30 to 60 minutes
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  before bedtime can make a big difference.
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  Maintaining a consistent sleep schedule and engaging in light stretching before bed can
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  also help signal your body that it's time to wind down.
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  However, if sleep issues persist for more than two weeks, it's crucial to seek advice from a
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  primary care physician or a board-certified sleep physician.
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  They can help diagnose any underlying conditions such as obstructive sleep apnea or
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  restless legs syndrome that might be affecting your sleep and recommend appropriate
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  treatments.
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  Today, we're looking at the current administration's approach to the Food and Drug
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  Administration, and why this might pose a significant threat to public health and safety.
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  Recently, Reshma Ramachandran, a family physician and policy researcher, alongside
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  Joseph Ross, a general internist and health services researcher, shared their insights on
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  this matter.
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  Following the confirmation of Robert F.
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  Kennedy Jr.
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  as Secretary of Health and Human Services, there was a dramatic dismissal of thousands of
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  government scientists, technical advisors, and staff across federal public health agencies.
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  This move was not unexpected, as Kennedy had previously indicated his intention to
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  significantly reduce the workforce at the Food and Drug Administration and the National
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  Institutes of Health.
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  The core issue here is the sudden and massive loss of scientific and technical expertise
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  within these critical agencies.
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  This is the first wave of what appears to be a larger plan to reduce the federal public health
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  workforce, as directed by an executive order.
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  This order instructs agency heads to collaborate with the Department of Government
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  Efficiency to develop plans for large-scale reductions and identify parts of agencies that
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  can be eliminated or consolidated.
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  The potential impact is dire, as it could severely impair the nation's ability to manage
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  and improve healthcare for all Americans.
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  The Food and Drug Administration plays a crucial role in safeguarding the health of
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  Americans.
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  It's responsible for regulating a wide array of products, from drugs and vaccines to food,
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  cosmetics, and even bottled water.
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  Despite its extensive responsibilities, the Food and Drug Administration's budget, while
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  over seven billion dollars, is largely funded by fees from the industries it regulates.
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  Last year, Congress contributed three and a half billion dollars to the Food and Drug
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  Administration's funding, which amounts to around ten dollars per American, ensuring the
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  safety and efficacy of medicines and food.
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  Physicians and researchers recognize the Food and Drug Administration's critical role in
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  overseeing the medical product industry.
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  Before any drug, vaccine, or medical device reaches the public, manufacturers must prove
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  its safety and effectiveness.
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  Food and Drug Administration staff, including doctors, scientists, and engineers,
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  meticulously review data, oversee clinical trials, and inspect production facilities
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  worldwide.
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  The agency also monitors product safety after approval, ready to take action if significant
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  harms are identified.
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  The Food and Drug Administration's role in health innovation has expanded significantly.
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  Applications for new medical products have surged over the past two decades, with
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  breakthroughs in cell and gene therapies and artificial intelligence-driven medical devices.
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  This growth necessitated an expansion in the Food and Drug Administration's regulatory
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  capacity and workforce.
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  From just under eight thousand employees in 1990, the agency now has nearly twenty thousand
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  staff members.
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  Despite criticisms of inefficiency, the Food and Drug Administration has modernized its core
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  programs, improved data infrastructure, and embraced public accountability.
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  Reforms at the Food and Drug Administration are necessary but should be approached with
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  caution.
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  Firing thousands of employees contradicts the administration's goals of rigorous safety
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  evaluation and transparency.
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  The loss of key staff, including biostatisticians, pharmacologists, and
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  scientific reviewers, undermines the agency's ability to ensure product safety and efficacy.
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  The administration's focus on reducing regulatory costs, while seemingly efficient,
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  overlooks the critical need for clinical trials to verify product benefits and identify safety
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  issues post-approval.
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  Cutting the Food and Drug Administration's staff as a cost-saving measure could have
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  ripple effects.
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  The agency's budget heavily relies on "user fees" from regulated industries, which are
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  contingent on the Food and Drug Administration maintaining a certain level of appropriated
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  funding.
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  Significant staffing cuts could jeopardize the agency's ability to accept these fees, further
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  weakening its capacity to protect public health.
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  Historically, the Food and Drug Administration gained regulatory authority in response to
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  public health crises, and reducing its workforce now risks repeating past mistakes.
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  As the administration pursues a deregulatory agenda under the guise of government
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  efficiency, the public health workforce faces decimation.
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  At recent confirmation hearings, Congress should question the Food and Drug
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  Administration commissioner nominee on how they plan to uphold the agency's mission of
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  promoting public health and safety amidst efforts to diminish its capacity.
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  Traveling to remote destinations can offer more than just breathtaking views and a sense of
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  adventure.
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  According to a recent article from Vogue, exploring these isolated places can
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  significantly enhance mental well-being.
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  The article highlights how stepping into a place as remote as Antarctica can initially
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  feel overwhelming due to its vastness and isolation.
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  Yet, this quickly transforms into awe and excitement as you take in the unique colors and
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  vibrant life that contrast with the ice and snow.
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  This sense of wonder can be transformative, boosting confidence and creativity while
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  fostering a deeper connection to nature.
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  Alice McGuin, a psychotherapist, explains that traveling to such destinations forces you to be
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  present with yourself in a way that's different from everyday life.
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  The novelty of being in a new place activates the brain's reward centers, promoting a sense
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  of well-being.
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  By being more attuned to our own rhythms, we can enhance our relationships, as connecting
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  with others requires first connecting with ourselves.
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  This self-awareness can be particularly rewarding when we travel to places that are off
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  the beaten path.
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  Moreover, the article cites research from the Greater Good Science Center at the University
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  of California, Berkeley, which links the sense of awe experienced in these remote areas to
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  greater generosity, humility, and compassion.
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  The uncertainty and novelty of these environments stimulate critical thinking and
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  creativity, as they challenge us to focus and adapt.
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  A study in the Netherlands found that workers who traveled abroad showed increased cognitive
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  flexibility, which is crucial for generating creative ideas.
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  The benefits of traveling to remote destinations also include a deeper connection
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  with nature.
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  The article recounts a story of a traveler caught in a rainstorm in Tahiti, which turned
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  into a meditative experience.
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  Being surrounded by organic materials and living things can reconnect us with a primitive
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  part of ourselves, often lost in modern society.
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  This connection with nature is not only calming but also invigorating, offering a sense of
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  peace and perspective.
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  Despite the challenges of reaching these remote areas, the rewards are plentiful.
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  Places like Rangiroa in French Polynesia, the Lofoten Islands in Norway, and Mongolia offer
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  seclusion and natural beauty that can transform how we see the world and ourselves.
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  These destinations encourage us to let go of conventional expectations and embrace the
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  unpredictability, which can be both nerve-wracking and rewarding.
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  As we wrap up today's episode, remember that while traveling to remote destinations might
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  seem daunting, the potential benefits to your mental health are immense.
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  Whether it's the creative boost, the deeper connection with nature, or simply the joy of
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  discovering something new, these experiences can be profoundly enriching.
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  Thank you for joining me on Morning Medical with Dr.
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  Chow.
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  Until next time, stay curious and take care of your health and well-being.