Monday, September 30, 2019

Examine and comment on Christian and Hindu beliefs about life after death Essay

Death is the most fateful experience of each individual’s life. Whether it is the end of one’s life, or the beginning of a new life, no one knows. Death for the Hindu is merely transition, simultaneously an end to a new beginning. Death for the Christian is destined and is a time of judgement that is made from their former performances in life. These are very different views from two major world religions that both question the different events that may take place after one’s death. The Christian faith believes that the body is resurrected at death and the soul of an individual is immortal and continues after death. The doctrines of the church teach Christians that after one dies, they will rise before God and be judged. They believe that Christians who have been faithful throughout their life by worshipping Christ and helping other who are less fortunate. A quotation from Matthew 25: 31-46, ‘One day we shall be called to account for the way we have used our gifts, our opportunities and our energies. Above all, we shall be required for the way we have behaved in relation to the poor, needy and the marginalised’, supports the belief of the Christian faith and continues to teach these beliefs to mankind. This judgement that is made by God determines whether a person’s soul will spend eternity in heaven or hell. Based on Jesus’ teachings and other sources of revelation, Christians believe that heaven is a place of eternal life, extravagance and luxury, ‘The best and sweetest flowers of Paradise God gives to his people when they are upon their knees. Prayer is the gate of heaven, a key to let us in to Paradise’, ‘There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away’ (Revelation 21:4), these quotations show Christians believe that heaven is a place for those who have worshipped God and have followed the teachings of Jesus. The bible has portrayed heaven as the ‘kingdom of heaven’, where ‘kingdom’ refers to a place of monarchy and sovereignty, where people will be reunited with God. However, Christians can not just enter heaven when they die, but will have to show that they are worthy of entering heaven, ‘For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven’ (Matthew 5:17-20), this quotation alternatively states that a person who thinks of themselves as higher than God, will never enter heaven. The question that then arises is, where do the unworthy of entering heaven, go after death? The complete alternative of heaven is hell, where people who have carried out immoral acts, such as murder and rape which are forbidden according to the sacred doctrines of the bible, along with people who do not believe in God and have not followed the Christian faith will live eternally in the brutal conditions that hell facilitates, ‘The sword which shall pierce them with the greatest sorrow will be the thought of having lost God, and of having lost Him through their own fault’, this quotation gives us a small insight of what hell is portrayed as by Christians. St. Augustine says that in Hell, the damned will be forced to think of nothing but God and that will cause them terrible torment. Biblical quotations such as ‘†¦and shall cast them into a furnace of fire, there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth’ (Matthew 13:42) and In Matthew 25:41, Jesus says ‘Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire’, show that Jesus talks about hel l as being a place of fire and where souls are burnt and tortured for eternity. Jonathan Edwards preached a sermon which was titled Sinners in the hands of an Angry God. This contained a passage with a quotation ‘There will be no end to this exquisite horrible misery’, stating that if a person enters hell, there is no turning back, and they will suffer in the fiery flames of hell. The bible also describes hell as an endless torture scene, with angels and Jesus present either as observers or as officials who are directing the torture of the victims in hell. However, there are two different concepts about the duration of the torture, Annihilationism and traditionalism. Annihilationism is the belief that unsaved individuals will be punished in hell for only a period of time that is appropriate to pay for the nature and frequency of their sins which they were alive on earth. Annihilationists also believe that when a person’s punishment has finished, and they have paid the full penalty for their sins, they will be exterminated and their soul will cease to exist in any form. This mean that the soul will not be tortured for any longer, however, they will never enter the kingdom of heaven, which consequently means that at that point, their life has come to an end. In contrast, traditionalism is simply a belief that unsaved individuals will be punished in hell not only for a year, or a decade, but for eternity without any hope of relief, moderation or cessation of the pain. There are many passages and quotations that appear to describe punishment in hell as lasting forever such as ‘the fire that burns them will never be put out’ (Isaiah 66:24) and ‘And many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt’ (Daniel 12.2). These quotations from the bible clearly support the view of traditionalism which shows that even though God’s wish is for all to be saved, the ones who are not will be punished forever. Although this is the view for many Christians, others including Skeptics, Humanists, Atheists, Agnostics generally believe that there is no afterlife and accept that after death, there is personal annihilation. Roman Catholic Christians also have alternative but similar views as they believe that in between heaven and hell, there is ‘purgatory’. This is where people who have sinned within their lifetime, but have not sinned to the extent that they must enter hell and be tortured for eternity, are punished for their bad deeds until all penalties have been paid. This enables them to be cleansed from sin and can potentially enter heaven where their soul will rest for eternity. Roman Catholics also believe that people who have family and friends to pray for them after they die will be released from purgatory sooner than those who don’t. This is why many Roman Catholics have an overwhelming fear of death as they feel they will certainly suffer, whether it is in hell or purgatory. Pope John Paul issued a piece entitled Incarnationis Mysterium which suggests that Roman Catholics visit certain holy sites to try and reduce the amount of time they will have to spend suffering after death. In this, there is was an appendix called Conditions for Gaining the Jobilee Indulgence which suggested ways for Roman Catholics to attempt to reduce the amount of time spent suffering after they die by carrying out good deeds during their lifetime such as visiting the elderly who live along, the sick, the handicapped etc. Some Roman Catholics carry out these deeds, but the question that has to be asked is, is this being done from the goodness of their heart, or for the goodness of themselves? It is clear that different Christians have different views on life after death, but are similar and can be linked together in some sense, for example, annihilationism is vaguely similar to purgatory in the way that people who have sinned are not punished eternally. However, can this be said for the views on life after death for Christianity and Hinduism? Certainly not, as Hindus have a completely different perspective of afterlife. For Hindus, death is referred to as ‘mahaprasthana’ which means ‘great journey’. Hindus believe in reincarnation, which is the cycle of death and rebirth after a while in spiritual spheres into a new physical body, this is where the soul, which is the true self, remains the same, while the â€Å"vehicle† of the soul to make the needed learning experience changes. Death means nothing else but the loss of a vehicle the soul was using during its many reincarnations, which is a physical body. Saint Tiruvalluvar wrote that ‘death is like falling asleep, and birth is like awakening from that sleep’, this quotation shows that no Hindu should really fear death, as an individual is not the body in which they live, but the immortal soul which inhabits many bodies in its evolutionary journey. ‘Samsara’ is the term referred to by Hindus and means ‘wandering’. They believe that the soul wanders from body to body in one lifetime to another. The Bhagavad Gita, which is the holy text for Hindus, teaches that death should not be feared and there is no reason to grieve, ‘For sure is the death of all that is born, sure is the birth of all that dies: so in a matter that no one can prevent, you have no cause to grieve (Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2 verse 27). This quotation states that all are born again so there is no point grieving over something that cannot be avoided. However, the reason why all living things are continually reborn is based on the Hindu belief in karma. Karma means ‘action’ and the law of karma is the law of cause and effect. Hindus believe that the life they are living may not be the first one, and they may have been born many more times before that. The law of karma states that any good or bad deeds than have been carried out in one’s life will give an impression and will be carried over to the next life, for example evil and selfish actions will consequently results in a life of suffering. Therefore, it is said to believe that ‘everything has a cause and purpose’, ‘What a man becomes in his next life will depend upon his karma’ (Brihad-aranyaka Upunishad. IV. 4.verse 3). For a Hindu, this belief could provide a strong incentive to live a good, moral life so the fear of suffering in their next life is overcome. The law of karma can also explain the differences in circumstances and in equalities between people around the world. Although many Hindus aspire to a good rebirth, the ultimate goal of any Hindu is for the atman (soul) to escape Samsara altogether and this is known as ‘Moksha’. Moksha can be described as perfect peace and happiness, or as the soul ‘losing itself in Brahman’. Brahman means God and moksha is a spiritual state of existence in which there is a union with God, ‘When all desires that rest in the heart are liberated shall a mortal man become immortal and attain Brahman’, which shows that when all thoughts are put to rest and when the atman is truly identified as the equivalent of the reality of Brahman, an individual will be able to make moksha their goal and achieve it. Yoga may be considered as a way of exercise to keep the body healthy and fit where as the true meaning of yoga is unity and integration, and is the means, methods and discipline that will enable an individual to bring union with a personal God, Brahman. There are three recognised ways of doing this and they are ‘karma yoga’, ‘bhakti yoga’ and jnana yoga’. By carrying out these, and using them as a guideline, moksha can be gained. Hindus see their religion as a way of life and many Hindus apply themselves and live their lives wanting to act to the best of their potential in hope that when they die, they will be released from samsara and gain moksha. Christianity and Hinduism are two major religions that are followed worldwide. They also have very contradistinctive views on life after death. However, both Christians and Hindus turn to their religion to find answers for existence along with death. They also hold tenaciously to the beliefs taught by their particular denominations as a way of comfort. One thing that Christians and Hindus have in common is that they both portray religion as a way of life and use scholarly teachings to influence them on which rightful path to follow in life. Death has been questioned for a very long time and no one has been able to answer the question ‘What happens after death?’, which means no one really knows what events will take place after we die, where we will go or what will happen to us. Although we try and answer all of these questions with religious beliefs, until one experiences death, the question that has caused distress to people for over 2 millennia still remains, is there an afterlife?

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Research Methodology, Design and Process: Dementia Care

Abstract The ability to critically analyse literature is an important skill for evidence-based practice. This literature review aimed to critically analysed literature on dementia care. A search of literature was conducted on academic databases such as Pubmed and CINAHL. Three studies were finally retrieved for this literature review. Each of these studies was critiqued using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) tool for qualitative studies and the critiquing framework of Long et al. (2002). Findings of this literature review could be used to inform current and future community nursing practice. Specifically, this review revealed that music therapy could improve the mood of individuals with dementia and show evidence in improving memory function. While findings could not be applicable to a wider population, nurses could utilise findings and tailor these to the individual needs of their patients. Introduction Evidence-based practice (EBP) is heavily promoted in the NHS since this helps nurses and other healthcare practitioners apply findings of recently published literature to one’s current and future practice. The Nursing and Midwifery Council’s (NMC, 2008) code of conduct also emphasises that healthcare decisions should be evidence-based and supported by published literature and current guidelines. Developing the ability to critically analyse literature is essential when developing evidence-based care (Greenhalgh, 2010; Aveyard, 2014). There is a wealth of information from published literature and current guidelines. Determining the relevance and quality of these findings will help inform nurses whether findings are credible and valid before they are applied to current practice. As part of community nursing, I am interested in improving my current practice in order to deliver quality care to my patients. The recent policy on community care from the Department of Health (2013a) emphasises the importance of allowing patients with chronic conditions and their carers to self-manage their conditions, achieve self-efficacy and lessen admissions in hospital settings. This policy, â€Å"Care in Local Communities-District Nurse Vision and Model’ (Department of Health, 2013a) emphasises the role of nurses in supporting patients and their carers to improve their health outcomes. While it is acknowledged that patients with chronic illnesses may never recover from their condition, nurses have the responsibility to help patients or their carers manage signs and symptoms of the chronic illness. As a nurse in community setting, I have cared for patients with dementia. I saw how this condition impacts the patient’s quality of life and even increase the risk of depression amongst their carers (Talbot and Verrinder, 2009). I always had an interest in caring for patients with dementia. However, I noticed that most pharmacologic treatments have little effect in delaying the progression of cognitive impairments amongst these patients (Miller, 2009). These treatments are also costly and place a considerable burden on the family members and the NHS (Department of Health, 2013b). Hence, I thought that familiarising myself with non-pharmacologic interventions and their effects on cognition or memory of the patient would be important in my role as a community nurse. A number of non-pharmacologic interventions to preserve memory or delay cognitive decline have been developed in the last two decades. Studies (Spector et al., 2010; Hansen et al., 2006; Vink et al., 2004; Teri et al., 2003) show that these interventions range from motor stimulation, exercise programmes, sensory stimulation and cognitive training. Amongst these interventions, music therapy has been suggested to be least harmful and relatively effective. Some investigators (Fornazzari et al., 2006; Cuddy and Duffin, 2005) have shown that even in patients with severe dementia, music memory seemed to be preserved. However, some studies (Menard and Belleville, 2009; Baird and Samsom, 2009) suggest otherwise and explain that some patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) suffer from impaired music memory. One study (Baird and Samson, 2009) however, explained that procedural memory, specifically for musical stimuli are not affected in persons with dementia. With the acknowledgement tha t most pharmacologic interventions have limited ability to treat the symptoms associated with dementia, it is essential to consider how non-pharmacologic interventions, such as music therapy, alleviate symptoms of this condition. In order to enhance my current and future nursing practice and to increase my understanding on the relevance of music therapy to dementia care, I have decided to research this topic further. Literature Search A search of literature from academic databases such as the Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) and Pubmed was done to retrieve relevant studies. CINAHL indexes more than 5,000 nursing and allied health sciences journals and contains almost 4 million citations. The depth of research articles indexed in this database makes it a database of choice for research on the effects of music therapy on patients suffering from dementia. Meanwhile, Pubmed was also used to search for academic literature. This database also contains millions of citations and indexes nursing and allied health journals. A quick search for ‘music therapy AND dementia’ was done in Pubmed since this database focuses on nursing and allied health journals. This search yielded 20 articles, most of which were available as full text journals. The same keywords were entered in the CINAHL database. The search yielded 14 articles, with almost all articles available as full text articles. A review of the abstracts of all articles was done to select only primary research studies conducted in the last five years. Polit et al. (2013) state that retrieving journal articles in the last five years will ensure that the most recent evidence is used to inform current and future nursing practice. Literature older than five years old may be outdated. However, this also increases the risk of excluding landmark studies (Aveyard, 2014). For the present review, the selection of studies was only restricted to the last five years to ensure that more recent evidence on music therapy were evaluated and critiqued. The re was also no restriction on the place where the studies were conducted since dementia affects people of different ethnicities. Learning from the experiences of other nurses or healthcare practitioners on the use of music therapy for dementia patients would also help improve nursing practice in the UK. The following articles were chosen for critique and evaluation: Simmons-Stern et al. (2012) ‘Music-based memory enhancement in Alzheimer’s disease: promise and limitations’ Sakamoto et al. (2013) ‘Comparing the effects of different individualized music interventions for elderly individuals with severe dementia’, Dermot et al. (2014) ‘The importance of music for people with dementia: the perspectives of people with dementia, family carers, staff and music therapists’ As previously stated, I am interested in how music therapy could help me assist my patients delay the progression of dementia and help them and their carers self-manage the signs and symptoms of dementia. Hence, all articles are relevant my work as a community nurse. To critique these studies, the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP, 2013) tool for critiquing qualitative studies was utilised. For the quantitative studies, Long et al. (2002) critiquing framework for quantitative studies was used. Both critiquing frameworks are easy to use and help researchers investigate the quality and rigour of research articles. Study 1: Simmons-Stern et al. (2012 A review of the title of the study shows that it reflected the main aim and objectives of the study. The title was concise and provided information to the readers that the study aimed to present the limitations of music-based memory enhancement as well as its possible application to nursing practice. Polit et al. (2013) emphasise the importance of creating a concise and clear title in order not to mislead readers and to inform stakeholders if the article is worth reading. A review was also done on the author’s background and shows that all had extensive background on dementia research and healthcare. This was essential since credibility of the authors’ background could increase the reliability of the findings of the study (Long et al., 2002). However, Hek and Moule (2011) emphasise that the authors’ background is not the sole criterion in assessing the credibility of the findings of the study. The abstract of the study failed to mention the type of study design used. While the abstract summarises the aims and main findings of the study, it did not follow the usual structure of an abstract in a journal article where the methodology or methods used are explicitly stated. Ellis (2010) reiterates that an abstract should provide a brief summary of the study’s background, aims and objectives, methodology, results and conclusion. Although it was difficult to determine why the researchers of this study failed to present the methodology in the abstract, readers of the study could have benefited from an abstract that states the methodology of the study. Reading of the body of the article would show that the quantitative study design was used. The study aimed to investigate the effects of music on the memory of patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, one of the diseases grouped under dementia. Simmons-Stern et al. (2012) made excellent use of literature and related findings from previous studies with the current study. Apart from the excellent use of literature, there was also a very good review of the previous studies and a gap in literature was clearly presented. Hence, the literature review of the study was well written and provided the readers with good background on why there is a need to carry out the present study. Polit et al. (2013) emphasise that a well-written review of literature should be able to provide context to the study’s aims and objectives and argue why there is a need to address the gaps in literature. Importantly, Simmons-Stern et al. (2012) avoided the use of jargon when writing the paper. Burns and Grove (2013) explain that the use of jargon should be avoided since this excludes readers of the article that have no nursing or medical background. A good paper is one that is written for a general audience and not only for a scientific community (Burns and Grove, 2013). A total of 12 participants who were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and 17 healthy controls g ave their informed consents to participate in the study. Brown (2009) states the importance of obtaining the informed consent of participants before commencing the study. This would not only protect the rights of the participants but also ensure that the nurse researchers are observing the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s (NMC, 2008) code of conduct in protecting the patients or participants from harm. Part of obtaining an informed consent is the presentation of the study’s aims and objectives, possible side effects or benefits when participating in the study (Brown, 2009). An informed consent will also ensure that debriefing is provided to the participants to avoid any harm and psychological distress to the participants (Oermann, 2010). Apart from getting the informed consent, it was also crucial that an ethics committee has evaluated and approved the study protocol. An evaluation of the study reveals that this was observed and an ethics committee approved the study. On reflection, the study has a very small sample size (n=12 experimental group; n=17 control group). This would have taken a randomised controlled study design since a control group was used to compare the effects of music therapy on the patients with a healthy control. However, the investigators specifically state that this study was comparative. An inclusion and exclusion criteria were used when recruiting the patients, suggesting that participants were not randomly selected. Since the study was quantitative and employed the experimental study design, random sampling of the participants who have been more applicable (Crookes and Davies, 2004). It should be noted that it would also be difficult to randomise participants since this study was only conduc ted in one healthcare setting and it was crucial that participants have developed AD. While randomisation of participants was not observed, it is noteworthy that the investigators stated how many of the participants were excluded from the study and the reasons of their exclusion. This was essential since failure to explain why participants who gave their informed consents to participate in the study but were later excluded in the actual experiment would make the data collection process unclear (Moule and Goodman, 2009). Despite the small sample size, the demographic characteristics of the two groups were not significantly different when t-test was done. There were no significant differences in prior musical training, formal or informal, years of education and age between the participants of the two groups. This allowed the investigators to determine if there were differences after the study, this might have been due to the intervention employed. After informed consents were taken, the authors of the study declared that they paid the participants for the hours spent during the study. Compensating the participants for the time is considered as ethical since considerable time has been taken away from the subjects for their participation in the study (Hek and Moule, 2011). The interventions were clearly stated. This increased the rigour of the study since a clearly stated research method would help other investigators replicate the methods in future studies and verify whether similar findings are obtain ed (Hek and Moule, 2011). Simmons-Stern et al. (2012) also specifically outlined the lyrics used and where these were obtained and how music memory of the participants was tested. Results section of the study clearly presented the main findings of the study. Appropriate statistical tests were also utilised to test the hypotheses of the research. Polit et al. (2013) emphasise that statistical tests should be appropriate to the study’s aims and objectives and should rule out any biases in interpretation of the findings. Despite having a small sample size, the researchers were able to establish that music in patients with AD enhances memory in terms of familiarisation of sung lyrics but not in spoken stimuli. This suggests that in patients with AD, they can enhance their memory when familiarising with the lyrics or listening to music but not when they hear spoken language. There were also no significant differences in the healthy control and experimental groups in terms of memory after hearing the lyrics of a song compared to hearing the lyrics as a spoken stimuli. Since this study has a small sample size, the applicability of the findings to a larger and more heterogeneous population would be difficult (Burns and Grove, 2013). Although a control was used, it should be noted that participants in the experimental group are in the early stages of AD. This could have affected the findings of the study since it is unclear if patients with severe dementia would also yield similar reactions and results. At present, the findings are applicable to the sample population of the study and importantly, only on individuals in the early stages of dementia. While there were several limitations of the study, findings are noteworthy since these show that music therapy is promising as a non-pharmacologic intervention for enhancing memory in individuals with early stage dementia. The conclusion of the study was clearly presented and summarises the key points presented in the study. Although the discussion states future areas of study, there were no clear recommendations in the conclusion. Specific recommendations could have been made at the end to help future researchers identify areas of investigation. There were also no implications for future nursing and other healthcare practitioners’ practices. Despite the lack of clear recommendations, readers can still read through the study and identify areas that need further investigation. For example, there is a need to replicate the study in a larger and randomly selected sample population to strengthen the validity and reliability of the findings. There is also a need to compare findings with patients suffering from moderate to severe dementia to determine if music still has similar effects on the memory of those in advanced stages of the illness. There are a number of implications of the study in nursing practice. Nurses can use music to help enhance memory or prevent deterioration of memory amongst individuals with early stages of the disease. It is essential to consider the acceptability of music therapy in those suffering from dementia. As a whole, the study was of high quality and effort was made to reduce bias within the study. Although the investigators failed to blind assessors to the study, findings were presented objectively. It is also difficult to blind assessors because of the very small sample size (Burns and Grove, 2013). All investigators were familiar with the background of the participants and blinding them to the intervention was difficult since these investigators were also responsible in implementing the interventions. Finally, there were no conflicts of interest (Polit et al., 2013), ensuring the readers that bias in presentation of findings was avoided. Study 2: Sakamoto et al. (2013) An evaluation of the study’s title reveals that it was concise and clearly reflects the study’s aims and objectives. This was essential (Long et al., 2002) since this would present to the readers the main aim of the study. The type of study design chosen to answer the study’s aims was also appropriate. A quantitative study design would help investigators answer the research aims and objectives through experimentation, surveys or a randomised controlled trial (RCT) (Brown, 2009). In Sakamoto et al. (2013), the randomised controlled study design was used. Compared to other quantitative study designs, a RCT reduces risk of selection bias and bias in interpretation of findings (Moule and Goodman, 2009). Selection bias occurs when participants are not randomly selected and do no have equal chances of being assigned to a control or experimental groups (Crookes and Davies, 2004). This is avoided in RCT since all participants are randomly assigned to an experimental or c ontrol group. On the other hand, bias in interpretation of findings is lessened especially if investigators and assessors are blinded to the interventions and standard treatment (Oermann, 2010). A critical analysis of the study shows all participants in the study were randomly assigned to the treatment and standard care groups. However, a major limitation of this study was its relatively small sample size (n=39). It would be difficult to transfer findings to a larger and more heterogeneous group due to the representativeness of the sample population (Ellis, 2010). While it is difficult to transfer findings to other settings due to the relatively small sample size, community nurses may consider the applicability of the findings to their own practice. It is noteworthy that it would be difficult to recruit participants in the advanced stages of dementia since their ability to give their informed consent is severely limited (Department of Health, 2009). Further, their participation requires that their carers or immediate family members are aware of the study’s aims and objectives and should be able to assist the participants during the the study. While an ethics board app roved the study and informed consents were taken from the respondents or their representatives (Burns and Grove, 2013), involving individuals who suffer from severe cognitive impairment would be difficult. This also carries some ethical issues since their ability to understand the procedures of the study is compromised (Hek and Moule, 2011). Although the Mental Health Act in the UK acknowledges that carers can act in behalf of the individual with mental health condition, ethics regarding their participation in research studies remains debatable (Department of Health, 2009). Despite the possible ethical issues surrounding the study, investigators of this study used other means of evaluation to assess the participants’ responses to the interventions. For example, they used the Faces Scale (Sakamoto et al., 2013) to determine the emotions of the participants. A review of the study’s aims and objective shows that these were clearly presented in the beginning of the study. The introduction and review of literature also made excellent use of previous studies. It is also important to note the gaps in practice in recent studies were highlighted in the literature review section (Ellis, 2010). A good literature also argues why there is a need for the new study and how this could be applied to current healthcare practices (Ross, 2012). Methodology and methods used were also appropriate for the research question. Since the study aimed to determine the effectiveness of music therapy, it is appropriate that a RCT is used to compare music therapy with st andard care. Comparing music therapy with standard care is ethical (Ross, 2012) since all patients in the study received interventions. It would be unethical to withdraw treatment or assign participants to a control group that would receive no intervention (Crookes and Daives, 2004). The evaluation tools used to measure the responses of the patients were appropriate and have been previously validated and standardised. This was necessary to convey to the readers that validated measurement tools were used in the study (Moule and Goodman, 2009). A clear description of the research methods was presented. This would allow future researchers to replicate the present study (Oermann, 2010) and determine if similar findings could be observed. This also increases rigour of the study (Burns and Grove, 2013) since it is essential for other researchers to also test the hypothesis of the study and ensure that results are consistent across different healthcare settings. Results of the study were well presented and appropriate statistical tests were used. The discussion section of the study presented the strengths and limitations of the study. Polit et al. (2013) emphasise that presenting the limitations of a study will help inform other researchers on areas that need further improvement and presents areas for further research. Since weaknesses of the study were presented, readers and other healthcare practitioners can determine the extent in which the findings can be applied to current and future nursing practice (Burns and Grove, 2013) . The conclusion of the study succinctly captures the main points raised in the research study. This helped the researchers identify the main highlights of the study (Ellis, 2010). However, recommendations for other researchers and areas of improvement of the study were not cited. While the discussion section presented these limitations and areas for future studies, brief recommendations at the end of the study could have added rigour to the research study. Importantly, there were no conflicts of interest. This assured the readers that bias in reporting of data was reduced (Ellis, 2010). Findings of this study have important implications in nursing practice. All participants received either the passive or interactive music intervention while the control group received no music intervention. There was careful choice of music in the interactive group. For example, healthcare workers assigned to the interactive group helped investigators choose music for the patient participants. Music played during the intervention all had special meaning to the participants. All interventions were given individually for 30 minutes per session at once a week for 10 weeks. Those in the interactive group were allowed to clap, sing or interact with the music. Meanwhile, those in the passive group only listened to the music. The music chosen for the passive group also had special meaning to the participants. Those in the control group sat in silence for 30 minutes during the once a week session. Interestingly, findings show that music associated with special memories led to significant cha nges in the parasympathetic nervous system of the participants. Investigators note that music significantly increased relaxation of the individuals immediately after intervention when compared to baseline data. However, these were not noted in the control group. Significant changes were also seen on the emotional states of the participants in the interactive and passive music intervention groups. Music appeared to elicit pleasant emotional states. However, when passive and interactive groups were compared, the latter was significantly more relaxed following the music intervention. It should be noted that patients with severe dementia are more sensitive to environmental stimuli and may experience stress when placed in a new environment (Morris and Morris, 2010). Further, patients with cognitive impairments may express feelings of stress and fear through disruptive behaviour (Morris and Morris, 2010). The difficulty in verbalising their emotional needs could aggravate their responses to their surroundings (Department of Health, 2009). Hence, the st udy of Sakamoto et al. (2013) may have important implications in nursing care for patients in community settings. Nurses can encourage family members to play music that have special meaning to their loved ones suffering from dementia to illicit positive emotional states. The calming effect of music could be an advantage for patients cared in home or care settings since this would not only prevent stress but also allow patients to enjoy quality of life. Study 3: Dermot et al. (2014) A review of the study’s title shows that it also reflects the main aims and objectives of the study. Readers could easily understand that the study explored the experiences of individuals with dementia, their carers, staff and music therapists when music interventions are employed. The CASP (2013) tool for qualitative studies contains three screening questions that should be used to determine if a study is worth reviewing. The study of Dermot et al. (2014) suggests that music can help maintain the person’s interconnectedness and their quality of life. Findings have important implications in nursing practice since music intervention (Miller, 2009) is not costly and could yield positive results for patients suffering from early to advanced stages of dementia. Further review of the study shows that aims and objectives of the research were clearly stated. The main aim of the study was to explore the meaning of music in the lives of individuals suffering from dementia. Inves tigators of this study state that there is limited knowledge on why or how individuals find music beneficial to their wellbeing. Understanding the role of music according to the perceptions of the patients and their carers will help inform nursing practice on the relevance of music in the lives of people with dementia. A qualitative research methodology was appropriate for the study’s aims since the research aims to interpret the subjective experiences of individuals with dementia. Parahoo (2006) emphasises that a qualitative study allows researchers to explore the experiences and perceptions of individuals in more detail and depth. Since open-ended questions are used, investigators can use probing questions (Burns and Grove, 2013) to help participants articulate their experiences. One of the strengths of this study was the inclusion of participants’ family members, care home staff and music therapists. Individuals suffering from dementia were recruited from care homes and those living in the community. This allowed Dermot et al. (2014) to compare the perceptions of people with dementia living in care homes or in the community and determine if settings of the individuals impact their experiences with music therapy. Recruitment strategy employed was also appropriate for the research ai ms. There was also a clear explanation on the methods of data collection. Semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions were done. In the former, this would allow researchers to investigate perceptions of participants in more detail (Parahoo, 2006). However, this requires more time to complete especially if there are many participants in a study. A focus group discussion, on the other hand, requires little resources and could be completed in one setting (Polit et al., 2013). However, if a dominant member would be included in a focus group discussion, interactions would be limited (Burns and Grove, 2013). This could be avoided with a facilitator who knows how to redirect the discussion to all members of the focus group. A stregnth of the study of Dermot et al. (2014) is the presentation of a rationalisation on why they used a combination of focus groups and in-depth interviews. It should also be noted that participants with dementia might display cognitive impairments, depending on the stage of their illness. Hence, requiring these patients to explain their experiences in more depth might be challenging. However, the investigators tried to mitigate this challenge by including carers of the patients as part of the study participants. Inclusion of carers could provide researchers with more detailed information on how music impacts the wellbeing and quality of life of the patients since these carers are more acquainted with the individuals suffering from dementia (Miranda-Castillo et al., 2010). It is also noteworthy that music therapy was individualised to the patients in the study. Thi s suggests that comparison of music therapy received by the patients was not done. Instead, investigators focused on the impact of music therapy on the patients’ wellbeing. In addition, the study did not take into account the differences in music interventions and whether this shaped the individual’s reaction to music therapy. Despite the differences in music intervention, it was common for the music therapists to use songs that were well-known to the patients. They also supported active music therapy with exploratory improvisation. Dermot et al. (2014), however, failed to explain what is exploratory improvisation or how this was done during music therapy. There was also an explanation on the content of the guides used for the in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. This was essential to demonstrate the coverage of the interview guides and whether each guide reflects the aims and objectives of the study (Moule and Goodman, 2009). However, the relationship between the researchers and the participants was not thoroughly discussed. If the participants knew the investigators, this might lead to potential bias especially if the researchers hold positions of power (Oermann, 2010). Despite this limitation, Dermot et al. (2014) emphasise that only one facilitator guided the focus group discussions. There were changes in the methods used during data collection. For instance, where a focus group discussion was initially decided, this was then changed to individual interviews in the second group of patients and healthcare workers. Dermot et al. (2014) explain that the severity of dementia of the patients was considered in the choice of d ata collection. In-depth interviews were used when patients had severe dementia. There were also sufficient details on how participants were recruited and whether ethical standards were observed. Polit et al. (2013) state that ethics in research is crucial to ensure that the rights of the participants were observed and they were not subjected to undue stress or negative experiences during data collection. Confidentiality was also observed in the study and all participants remained anonymous. Approval was also sought from an ethics board in the community settings. Data analysis of qualitative data could be extensive and time consuming (Parahoo, 2006). Informing readers how data was analysed would help increase the rigour of a qualitative study. Dermot et al. (2014) provided an in-depth description of how data was analysed. Thematic analysis was also used to present the main findings of the study. There was also a clear description on how categories and themes emerged. For instance, the long-table approach was used during analysis of data. Verbatim transcripts wer e used to support the main themes. This ensures validity and credibility of the main themes generated in the study (Polit et al., 2013). Contradictory data were also taken into account. The researchers also critically examined their own roles in the research process and the potential bias that might arise during analysis of research data. While respondent was not done, validity and credibility of the data were observed through constant comparison of categories and themes. More than one researcher was involved in the analysis of data. Professors and doctoral students of the Doctoral Programme in Music Therapy were also consulted during thematic analysis and were involved in identifying categories. Importantly, findings were discussed with reference to the original research question. A discussion was also made on the relevance of the study to dementia care. Findings of this study suggest that music is a medium that is readily accessible to patients with dementia. Many of the patients, their carers and healthcare staff admitted that music promotes mental stimulation and is an emotionally meaningful experience. Almost all participants also remarked that song lyrics with personal meanings helped patients remember their personal history. It is also perceived to reinforce personal and cultural identity. Music is also perceiv ed to promote connectedness and building and sustaining of relationships. In addition, music has immediate effects on the mood of the patients. Most of the staff members who participated in the focus group discussions remarked that agitation of the patients decreased as a result of music therapy. It is also shown to promote a relaxing environment in the care homes. On the other hand, listening to music in the lounge area could be challenging since care home residents might have different music preferences. Hence, it would be a challenge for healthcare workers to address all the music preferences of the patients. Since the study was qualitative, transferability of the findings to a larger and more heterogeneous population is impossible (Polit et al., 2013). However, other healthcare practitioners could use findings to help build a peaceful environment for patients suffering from dementia. A further review of the study also shows that the conclusion summarises the main points raised in the study and provides recommendations for other researchers to consider in similar studies in the future. Implications of Findings in Nursing Practice Findings of this literature review could be used to improve nursing practice when caring for patients with dementia. All three studies (Simmons-Stern et al., 2012; Sakamoto et al., 2013; Dermot et al., 2014) included in this literature review demonstrate the impact of music therapy on patients with dementia. Music therapy could improve health outcomes and quality of life of the patients from early to advanced stages of the disease. In the latter, patients who have difficulty communicating their needs, react positively to music therapy. Many of the patients with severe dementia show less agitation when exposed to music that was once relevant to them before they suffered from dementia. This suggests that music therapy could even not only promote positive mood of the patients but might even reconnect them to ‘who they are’ (Dermot et al., 2014). This holds important implications in nursing practice in community settings. Music therapy could be introduced to families caring for a loved one with dementia and could be used to calm the patient, reconnect with their family members and create an environment that is less stressful for the individual with dementia. The type of music therapy, however, will be dependent on the preferences of the individual (Sakamoto et al., 2013). This is consistent with patient-centred care (Department of Health, 2009) where patient preferences are considered when creating a care plan or introducing healthcare interventions. It is suggested that interactive music therapy (Simmons-Stern et al., 2012; Sakamoto et al., 2013) might be more effective than passive music therapy in improving memory and mood of the patients with dementia. As a community nurse, I need to be aware of the different non-pharmacologic interventions for people with dementia. I can use findings of this review when caring for patients suffering from dementia. Music therapy is relatively easy to carry out and entails very little cost. Importantly, it has positive short and long-term impacts on patient’s mood, memory and quality of life. Hence, considering this type of intervention could also help ease the burden of carers who provide care to these patients on a daily basis. I could use information from this literature when conducting patient education. I can inform my patients and their family members of the benefits of music therapy and the sustainability of this type of therapy over time. I can also encourage family members to consider music therapy to help alleviate the mood of the patients and provide a calm environment. Conclusion This literature review has shown the feasibility and promise of music therapy in promoting wellbeing, improving memory and quality of life of patients with dementia. As a community nurse, music therapy could be employed with the help of a music therapist in community settings. Families and carers could be taught on how to use this type of therapy to improve the mood of the patient or to calm the individual when agitated. This type of therapy holds some promise in long-term care for people with dementia. As shown in the review, individuals with severe dementia still have the ability to respond positively to music therapy. However, consideration should still be made on the applicability of the findings of the three studies to a larger and more heterogeneous population. All studies recruited a relatively small sample size that might not be representative of the experiences of a wider group of people with dementia. Although this limits applicability, findings can be tailored to the needs of individual patients. Considerations should also be made on the preferences of the patients and their family members on whether music therapy is acceptable to them. Since there is a need to practice patient-centred care, nurses have to determine if patients or their family members are willing to employ music therapy. It should ne noted that this literature review is only limited to reviewing three studies. Literature on the acceptability of music therapy was not evaluated. Despite this gap in the present literature review, the positive responses generated after music therapy should help patients and their family members consider music therapy. References Aveyard, H. (2014) Doing a literature review in health & social care: A practical guide. 2nd ed. Berkshire: Open University Press. Baird, A. & Samson, S. (2009) Memory for music in Alzheimer’s disease: unforgettableNeuropsychology Review. 19(1), p. 85–101. Brown, S. (2009) Evidence-based nursing: the research-practice connection. Sudbury Mass: Jones & Bartlett Publishers. Burns, N. & Grove, S. (2013) The practice of Nursing Research: Conduct. critique and utilisation. 7th ed., St. Louis: Elsevier Saunders. Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (2013) 10 questions to help you make sense of qualitative research. England: CASP. Crookes, P. & Davies, S. (2004) Research into practice. Essential skills for reading and applying research in nursing and healthcare. 2nd ed. Edinburgh: Bailliere Tindall. Cuddy, L. & Duffin, J. (2005) Music, memory, and Alzheimer’s disease: is music recognition spared in dementia, and how can it be assessedMedical Hypotheses. 64(2), p. 229–235. Department of Health (2013a) Care in local communities: A new vision and model for district nursing. London: Department of Health. Department of Health (2013b) Improving care for people with dementia [Online]. Available from: https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/improving-care-for-people-with-dementia (Accessed: 5 December, 2014). Department of Health (2009) Living Well with dementia: A National Dementia Strategy. London: Department of Health. Ellis, P. (2010) Understanding research for nursing students. Exeter: Learning Matters. Fornazzari, L, Castle, T. & Nadkarni, S. (2006) Preservation of episodic musical memory in a pianist with Alzheimer disease. Neurology. 66(4), p. 610–611. Greenhalgh, T. (2010) How to read a paper: the basics of evidence-based medicine. West Sussex, UK: John Wiley and Sons. Hansen, V., Jorgensen, T. & Ortenblad, L. (2006) Massage and touch for dementia. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 4, p. CD004989. Hek, G. & Moule, P. (2011) Making sense of research. 4th ed. London: Sage. Long, A., Godfrey, M., Randall, T., Brettle, A. & Grant, M. (2002) Developing evidence based social care policy and practice. Part 3: Feasibility of undertaking systematic reviews in social care. Leeds: Nuffield Institute for Health. McDermot, O., Orrell, M. & Ridder, H. (2014) The importance of music for people with dementia: the perspectives of people with dementia, family carers, staff and music therapists. Aging & Mental Health. 18(6), p. 706-716. Menard, M. & Belleville, S. (2009) Musical and verbal memory in Alzheimer’s disease: a study of long-term and short-term memory. Brain and Cognition. 71(1), p. 38–45. Miller, C. (2009) Nursing for wellness in older adults. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. Miranda-Castillo, C., Woods, B., Galboda, K., Oomman, S., Olojugba, C. & Orrell, M. (2010) Unmet needs, quality of life and support networks of people with dementia living at home. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes. 8:132 doi: 10.1186/1477-7525-8-132. Morris, G. & Morris, J. (2010) The dementia care workbook. London: McGraw-Hill International. Moule, P & Goodman, M. (2009) Nursing Research: An Introduction, London: Sage Publishers. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) (2009) Depression: The treatment and management of depression in adults. London: NICE. Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) (2008) The Code: Standards of conduct, performance and ethics for nurses and midwives. London: NMC. Oermann, M. (2010) Writing for publication in nursing. 2nd ed., Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Parahoo, K. (2006) Nursing Research: Principles, Process and Issues. 2nd ed. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. Polit, D., Beck, C. & Hungler, B. (2013) Essentials of nursing research, methods, appraisal and utilization. 8th ed., Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Ross, T. (2012) A survival guide for health research methods. Maidenhead: OUP. Sakamoto, M., Ando, H. & Tsutou, A. (2013) Comparing the effects of different individualized music interventions for elderly indivduals with severe dementia. International Psychogeriatrics. 25(5), p. 775-784. Simmons-Stern, N., Deason, R., Brandler, B., Frustace, B., O’Connor, M., Ally, B. & Budson, A. (2012) Music-based memory enhancement in Alzheimer’s disease: promise and limitations. Neuropsychologia. 50(14), p. 3295-3303. Spector, A., Orrell, M. & Woods B. (2010) Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST): effects on different areas of cognitive function for people with dementia. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. 25(12), p. 1253–1258. Talbot, L. & Verrinder, G. (2009) Promoting Health: The Primary Health Care Approach. Australia: Elsevier Australia. Teri, L., Gibbons, L., McCurry, S., Logsdon, R., Buchner, D., Barlow, W., Kukull, W., LaCroix, A. McCormick, W. & Larson, E. (2003) Exercise plus behavioral management in patients with Alzheimer disease: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of the American Medical Association. 290(15), p. 2015–2022. Vink, A., Birks, J., Bruinsma, M. & Scholten, R (2004) Music therapy for people with dementia. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 4, p. CD003477.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

34 Easy High-Protein Breakfasts Thatll Help You Lose Weight

34 Easy High-Protein Breakfasts That'll Help You Lose Weight Jumpstart your results with the right breakfast. Eat breakfast. Eat protein. If youre trying to lose weight—or just eat and live a bit healthier—those are two tips you shouldnt ignore. And, if you combine them by starting each day with a high-protein breakfast, well, youre pretty much unstoppable. Eating at least 30 grams of protein at breakfast can help you feel satisfied and feel less hungry later in the day, explains Amy Goodson, R.D., a registered dietitian and nutrition consultant based in Dallas, Texas. This is great for women looking to lose weight. The trick, she says, is that protein takes longer to digest than traditional carbohydrate-heavy breakfast foods like cereal or muffins. And the longer it takes to digest, the less hungry youll feel and the more youll be able to stick to your healthy eating goals. For example, in one recent study, people who started their days with between 30 to 39 grams of protein ended up eating 175 fewer calories at lunchtime. And, in one Nutrition Metabolism study, dieters who increased their protein intake so that they were getting 30 percent of their daily calories from protein lost about 11 pounds in 12 weeks. Still, if youve ever tried following a high-protein diet, you know that upping your protein intake isnt always easy especially if you dont have your recipe arsenal stocked with high-protein breakfast ideas. Thats why we asked nutrition experts to get creative and share their favorite high-protein breakfast ideas. Whether you like sweet or savory, exotic or comforting, vegan or paleo, on-the-go or sitting down, there is something everyone will love on this list. BLUEBERRY-ALMOND BAKED OATMEAL Oatmeal on its own is a delicious breakfast full of fiber and whole grains, but you can round it out and amp up the nutrition by adding flax meal, chia seeds, soy or almond milk, or protein powder, says Kimberly M. Neva, M.S., R.D., a dietitian and bariatric specialist at Loyola University Medical Center. Thats right, you can stir flavored or unflavored protein powder right into your oatmeal. Top with blueberries and almonds for extra fiber, healthy fats, and vitamins. OAT YOGURT CUPS Another option to increase the protein in your oatmeal is to add a couple of dollops of Greek yogurt, Neva says. Sprinkle with cinnamon for extra flavor. This pack 11 grams of protein per serving and is easy to take on the road with you, she says. Plus, you get filling fiber and healthy probiotics. MINI EGG FRITTATAS If eggs for breakfast sounds boring, try these individual frittatas, Neva says. Mix whole eggs and extra egg whites together with sautà ©ed vegetables. For even more protein, add some turkey sausage or cheese. Simply pour the mixture into muffin tins and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until you can insert a knife in them and it comes out clean (in a standard-size muffin tin, that will be about 20 to 25 minutes). These are a perfect option if youre not a morning person, as they can be made ahead and then reheated quickly on your way out the door, she adds. TURKISH FRIED EGG Looking for an exotic flavor? Try this modified version of a popular Turkish dish, courtesy of Marina Rà ¶sser, a nutritionist and recipe author. Sautà © red onion, garlic, frozen spinach, and sliced chili peppers in a little olive oil. Once the veggies are soft, add an egg or two and finish cooking. Top with full-fat Greek yogurt, lemon juice, salt. The combination creamy yogurt, fragrant olive oil, spicy chili and lemon is irresistible, she says. COTTAGE CHEESE BOWL When it comes to increasing your protein intake, low-fat cottage cheese is an option many people overlook. The nutrition, taste, cost, and ease of preparation make it a great addition to your breakfast rotation, Rà ¶sser says. (Note: Low-fat cottage cheese has more protein per serving than full-fat, although both are great options.) She recommends filling a bowl with cottage cheese, mixing in some beans, and topping with tomatoes, paprika, salt, pepper. CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER PORRIDGE Sometimes you just have to have something sweet for breakfast and with this simple dish you can have your protein and the taste you crave, Rà ¶sser says. Mix together cooked oats, natural peanut butter, dark cacao, and sweet banana. Top with yogurt or your choice of milk. MINTY QUARK SHAKE Never heard of quark? Its a German-style yogurt, similar to Greek yogurt, but with more protein and a texture like cheesecake. This thicker consistency makes it ideal for whipping up a decadent, creamy protein shake. And remember a protein shake doesnt always have to be sweet, Rà ¶sser adds. Her favorite concoction: Quark, cucumber, mint, a splash of milk, and a pinch of salt. SHASHUKA This egg, onion, and tomato dish is a breakfast staple in Israel. In fact, the name literally means breakfast, Rà ¶sser says. Simply cook a sauce of sliced onions, red bell peppers, tomatoes, and paprika. Place two cooked eggs on a slice of whole-grain bread and smother it in the sauce. Top with parsley leaves, chili flakes, salt, and pepper for more flavor. CRUNCHY SCRAMBLED EGGS Take your basic scrambled eggs to the next level by adding pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, flaxseeds, cherry tomatoes, and arugula. This combo adds protein, fiber, flavor, and a satisfying crunch to an otherwise ordinary dish, Rà ¶sser says. SMOKED SALMON TOAST Fish is an excellent breakfast food. Not only does it have a ton of protein, but the healthy omega-3 fats can help everything from your skin to your brain. Breakfast is all about simplicity, so Rà ¶sser recommends keeping things easy by buying smoked salmon or trout and eating it on whole-grain toast. Optional toppings include cottage cheese, grated horseradish, dijon mustard, chopped parsley, chopped dill, chopped chives, lemons, or salt and pepper. YOGURT PARFAIT Start your morning off right with a simple parfait made of yogurt, berries and muesli, suggests Sonja Kukuljian, Ph.D., R.D., group general manager nutrition at Freedom Foods. Muesli is a whole grain cereal often eaten uncooked. There are lots of variations, so pick one high in fiber and low in sugar; Kukuljian suggests one containing barley, since its got both fiber and protein. POACHED EGGS ON SOURDOUGH Put a twist on standard eggs by poaching an egg in a little vinegar, Kukuljian says. Add a slice of whole-grain sourdough toast (a source of pre- and probiotics) and a drizzle of olive oil, and youve got a healthy, filling meal. VEGAN PROTEIN MUFFINS Protein has an important place in the vegan diet, and you can still get plenty of it without ever touching an animal product, says Rebecca Cafiero, a certified holistic health and integrative nutritionist and a TEDx Speaker. Her favorite plant-based breakfast is muffins made by cooking gluten-free oats in pea protein milk and adding a dash of coconut oil, almond butter, flaxseed, cinnamon, and blueberries. Mix to muffin-batter consistency. You can eat it right then or scoop into muffin tins and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 20 minutes for a portable breakfast. (Hit the reset button—and burn fat like crazy with The 2 Week Diet: Melt Away 6 Pounds Unwanted Stubborn Body Fat in Just 14 Days) VEGAN SMOOTHIE Protein smoothies are a tried-and-true healthy breakfast, but vegans may feel left out of the smoothie love as they dont do whey or egg proteins. No problem, Cafiero says, there are plenty of vegan-friendly protein powders. She likes to blend brown rice and pea protein powder with coconut oil, flaxseed, pea protein milk, spinach, blueberries, and a small amount of stevia and cinnamon. This provides a healthy serving of protein along with vital fats, vitamins, fiber, and micronutrients. CRUSTLESS MINI QUICHES You cant go wrong with eggs and veggies in the morning, and you can get both in these grab-and-go crustless quiches, says Jennifer Clemente, M.S., a board-certified nutritionist. Simply mix eggs with any type of vegetables you like—chopped sweet potato, asparagus, kale, and red onion are her favorites—add seasonings like garlic, sea salt, parsley, and cilantro. Bake in the oven until you can insert a knife in them and it comes out clean. These are loaded with fiber, protein and an incredibly wide range of nutrients including vitamins A, C, E, K, B1, B2, B6, and B12, as well as folate and chromium, she says. COLLAGEN SHAKE In the world of protein powders, collagen deserves more love, Clemente says. Collagen powder is pure protein thats cheap, flavorless, and dissolves well in shakes. She likes to blend it with plant milk, berries, chia seeds, and nut butter. The best part? Collagen is no ordinary protein—it may help give you plump glowing skin, reduce joint pain, strengthen nails, hair and teeth, and can improve intestinal conditions and digestion, she adds. AMPED-UP AVOCADO TOAST Avocado toast is the trendiest breakfast food right now, and with good reason. It provides a healthy dose of fats and fiber. But it can be improved, says Alana Kessler, M.S., a certified dietitian nutritionist. Give yours a nutritional boost by adding an egg or two and a sprinkle of nutritional yeast. This adds filling protein and B vitamins. PROTEIN PANCAKES Now you can still have your favorite breakfast dish and get your protein too with this recipe, courtesy of Charlie Seltzer, M.D., a doctor specializing in weight loss. Simply blend until smooth 1/2 cup each of egg whites, oatmeal, and 1% cottage cheese along with 1 teaspoon baking soda. Cook the batter like a pancake [FOR HOW LONG?]. These pancakes may help lower your risk of cardiovascular disease and contain lots of protein for the number of calories. Plus, he promises that the finished product doesnt taste like eggs or cottage cheese! PROTEIN BREAKFAST SANDWICH When you hear breakfast sandwich, you probably think egg McMuffins. Seltzers sandwich recipe, however, packs in the protein and fiber for minimal calories without sacrificing taste. Start with a toasted high-fiber English muffin. Add an egg, a slice of cheese, and two slices of Canadian bacon or ham. Feel free to wrap it in wax paper if youre missing that fast-food feeling. EGGS-N-GREENS Leafy green vegetables are one of the best foods you can eat for your health, but most of us dont fancy them plain. So try them as a nest for eggs, as recommended by Brooke Alpert, R.D., author of The Diet Detox. Grab several large handfuls of greens (spinach, kale, mustard, etc.), and put in a hot pan. Stir until wilted, about one minute. Top with two eggs cooked to runny-yolked perfection. Add a little salt and pepper, and enjoy. OMELETTE How are we this far down the list and have not even mentioned the classic omelette yet? Consider it fixed. Omelettes are a great way to combine eggs with flavorful veggies, meats, and cheeses for a protein-packed nutritious breakfast. My favorite omelette is two eggs cooked with mushrooms, onions, and cheese, topped with basil and tomatoes, says Elin Ãâ€"stman, Ph.D., nutrition researcher and founder of Good Idea. Eggs are a great source of protein, the different colored veggies are packed with polyphenols, and the cheese provides calcium and flavor. TOFU SCRAMBLE Surprise: Scrambles dont have to be eggs. You can still get the flavor and protein by subbing tofu in for eggs, says Shahzadi Devje, R.D., a certified diabetes educator. Not only does tofu provide protein, but its also a great source of calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc, she says. All you do is mash firm tofu and stir in a mixture of sautà ©ed onion, garlic, and red bell pepper (or your veggies of choice). Then cook on the stove. She recommends serving your scramble with either sprouted grain bread, roti, or breakfast potatoes. ALMOND BUTTER CRACKERS Want something simple, protein-packed, and filling that doesnt require any prep or cooking? Devjes favorite super-easy breakfast is rye crackers spread with almond butter and sprinkled with nuts and dried fruits. Add a glass of soy milk and you have a serving of protein in less time than it takes you to look up a recipe. VANILLA ALMOND CHIA PUDDING Chia seeds are packed with protein and fiber, but thats not what makes them special—foodies love them for their ability to add a pudding-like texture to sweet treats. Try this recipe from LA-based dietitian, Danielle Judson: Combine 3 tablespoons chia seeds with 1 cup unsweetened almond milk (or any other plant-based milk of choice), 2 tablespoons almond butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and a dash of cinnamon in a mason jar. Stick the entire thing in the fridge overnight. In the morning, add a sprinkle of blueberries and almonds, and youve got breakfast pudding to go. CHOCOLATE POMEGRANATE OVERNIGHT OATS If even cooking oatmeal is beyond your abilities in the mornings (and youll get no judgement from us!), overnight oats are the perfect solution. Try this nutrient-rich, protein-packed variety, courtesy of Lauren Harris-Pincus, M.S., R.D.N., author of The Protein-Packed Breakfast Club. Combine oats, unsweetened almond milk, plain Greek yogurt, chia seeds, chocolate protein powder, and pomegranate seeds. The balance of protein and fiber from the oats and fruit will delay digestion and help to keep your energy levels up much longer than a high-carb meal, plus the chia seeds absorb up to 10 times their weight in water to help keep you full, she says. BREAD PUDDING IN A MUG Bread pudding is the ultimate comfort food in the morning, but it doesnt have to be a calorie bomb. Indulge with this healthy version from Harris-Pincus. Mix one egg, 2 tablespoons vanilla whey protein powder, a packet of stevia, and 2 tablespoons milk. Fold in a chopped apple and two slices of cubed whole-grain bread. Pour in a mug, and microwave for one minute. Top with syrup and cinnamon. BREAKFAST WRAP Smoked salmon on a paleo wrap with roasted vegetables, greens, and avocado is the go-to breakfast for Elizabeth Trattner, chef and integrative medicine specialist. This yummy wrap is high in healthy fats and fiber, which keep you full longer and helps you lose weight and lower cholesterol, she says. The best part, however, is how customizable this is. Swap out the low-carb wrap for a whole-grain wrap, trade the salmon for chicken or eggs, and use any type of veggies you like. HARD-BOILED EGGS AND QUINOA Make a big batch over the weekend: Bring water to rolling boil on stove, place eggs in pan, cover, and remove from heat. Let it sit for 12 minutes. If you have a few more minutes, Goodson suggests pairing your hard-boiled eggs with cooked quinoa, which is also high in protein, and berries. BREAKFAST TACOS Tacos are an anytime food, as shown by this recipe for breakfast tacos, courtesy of Jerlyn Jones, M.S., R.D.N. Take a whole-grain wrap or taco shell, add black beans, scrambled eggs, lettuce, salsa, and avocado slices. The beans and eggs provide protein, while the avocado provides healthy fats and the veggies bring the vitamins. Plus, its perfectly portable. CRUNCHY TOAST Who doesnt love toast in the morning? But the regular butter-and-jam variety is little better than a doughnut when it comes to nutrition. Add protein and nutrients with Jones toast. Start with whole-grain bread, spread it with a nut butter of your choice, and sprinkle with chia seeds. This combo provides protein along with a hefty dose of fiber and fats. PROTEIN MOCHA Good news for coffee lovers: Upping your protein at breakfast can be as simple as adding a scoop or two of protein powder to your large coffee. This genius trick comes from Adrienne Daly, a nutrition coach based in Houston,. Her favorite is to get a grande sized Cold Brew from Starbucks and a serving of chocolate protein powder to make it a mocha. TURKEY AND SALSA Just because its a dinner food doesnt mean you cant eat it for breakfast. In fact, last nights leftovers can make some of the most nutritious breakfasts, Daly says. Meat and vegetables, dinnertime staples, can easily be reheated and enjoyed. Her go-to is ground turkey topped with a little salsa for extra flavor. TURMERIC EGGS Scrambled eggs turn into a whole new meal by adjusting the spices and other add-ins. Think beyond shredded cheese and include superfood spices like turmeric, cayenne, and cumin, says Josh Axe, certified nutritionist, author of Eat Dirt, and co-founder of Ancient Nutrition. Its a simple way to add more nutrition to your protein. If you’ve never incorporated benefit-rich turmeric into your morning meals, prepare for a life-changing experience, he says. This powerful herb has shown to help regulate cholesterol and manage blood sugar. MEDITERRANEAN MUFFINS Eggs, canned salmon, and feta are the only ingredients in the Mediterranean breakfast muffins that Rima Kleiner, M.S., R.D., author of Dish on Fish, makes. They may be simple—simply combine and bake in muffin tins (set your oven to 350 degrees) for about to 20 to 25 minutes—but theres nothing basic about their nutrition. They pack plenty of protein and healthy fats, all in a portable, tasty package. Make a large batch and freeze extras to be microwaved on busy mornings.(Hit the reset button—and burn fat like crazy with The 2 Week Diet: Melt Away 6 Pounds Unwanted Stubborn Body Fat in Just 14 Days)8.4k Views  ·

Friday, September 27, 2019

Informed Decisions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Informed Decisions - Essay Example They use the philosophical base of Karl Marx, the tactics of Adolph Hitler and the rhetoric of the Sierra Club. The American people have been assaulted from all directions by rabid environmentalists. School children have been told that recycling is a matter of life and death. There is nothing happening that is not the result of natural occurrences and that is that. 2. The earth does go through natural cycles of cold and warm. These can just be repeating patterns, or they can be triggered by catastrophic events like a meteor strike or major volcanic eruptions. What we see now, which has never been seen before, is the fact that a species on earth now has enough power to trigger one of these catastrophic events. That means us...So, while some of what we see happening to the climate is part of natural cycles, we are now adding to the problem at a remarkable rate - the natural rate of change would be much slower and less dramatic. My viewpoint is that global warming does exist. It is a matter of urgency because we have the ability to slow down a natural process by modifying our own behavior. Maybe one would argue that it's not a problem. Try that on the inhabitants of Tuvalu - it's the first island in the Pacific which is actually beginning to go under water as the sea level rises. Others are going to go under too, but it's happening to the Tuvalans right now. Many of the younger people are leaving, but older people feel they have nowhere else to go and are just appealing to the world to pay attention and change their carbon emissions now. D. Justification Through Evidence. The atmospheric levels of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide, have increased since pre-industrial times from 280 part per million (ppm) to 377.5 ppm (2004 Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center), a 34% increase. Carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere are the highest in 650,000 years. Carbon dioxide is a by-product of the burning of fossil fuels, such as gasoline in an automobile or coal in a power plant generating electricity. Levels of atmospheric methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, have risen 145% in the last 100 years. Methane is derived from sources such as rice paddies, bovine flatulence, bacteria in bogs and fossil fuel production. The year 1999 was the fifth-warmest year on record since the mid-1800's; 1998 being the warmest year. According to Thomas Karl, director of the National Climatic Data Center (NOAA), the current pace of temperature rise is "consistent with a rate of 5.4 to 6.3 degrees Fahrenheit per century." By comparison, the world has warmed by 5 to 9 degrees Fahrenheit since the depths of the last ice age, 18,000 to 20,000 years ago. F. Three Specific Examples. Disappearing Glaciers: Ice is melting all over the planet. Glaciers are melting on six continents. If present warming trends continue, all glaciers in Glacier National Park could be gone by 2030. The park's Grinnell Glacier is already 90% gone. Pictured here is the glacier prior to its meltdown. Because of global warming, the glaciers of the Ruwenzori range in Uganda are in massive retreat. The Bering Glacier, North America's largest glacier, has lost 7 miles of its length, while losing 20-25%

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Integrative Conclusion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Integrative Conclusion - Essay Example Throughout this process I have been consistently surprised at how much my work has taught me, and how much my present and my past tie into each other. Prior to this portfolio I had never considered why I chose the path I did for my career. At the time, it felt like I was bouncing from one situation to another, and perhaps at first I was. Certainly, my very first job was more about finding a way to earn money than it was any conscious decision. However, looking back through the eyes of experience, I am beginning to understand where the passions that drive my interests have come from. I have grown considerably from the time that I first started working to the present day, as I have worked my way through the store to my current role as the head of the Security and Loss Department. At first, my involvement in the store was relatively little. I worked on checkouts, and while I saw security doing their job, I had no involvement in them and little interest. I moved from this role because of an increasing interest in becoming more involved in the store. This eventually led me to the security department, where I felt both more comfortable. I think that as I started to work in security I was fulfilling some of my deepest passions, ones that I hadn’t fully been aware of. As I have become more involved in security, I have continued to grow, and my role has moved from being an employee under someone else’s instruction to being management myself. In my introduction essay for this portfolio, I examined my own past and how it has shaped my life. I considered the way that my life had developed, what my passions are and where I thought they came from. I chose loss prevention as a theme because it seemed the most logical. After all, loss prevention is the central focus of my job. However, it was not until I started to examine my past that I understood why I enjoyed my work so much, and where that interest and passion had sprang from. Two factors that strongly influe nced me in my younger years were my uncles’ role in law enforcement and my father, a firefighter who risked his own life to save others. These influences strongly convinced me of the value of the law, of what was right and just. I believe that these morals have resulted in me finding great satisfaction from helping others, and from working to preserve the law. I think now that it was this passion and interest that has meant I have immensely enjoyed my role in the Security and Loss department, and also driven me to become part of it in the first place. For example, I had always held a great deal of respect for my uncles and their work, and wanted to eventually become involved in something of a similar nature. This was part of the reason for wanting to do a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice, but I didn’t feel that I was ready to give up my job in order to earn the degree. Hence, I am balancing the two by working on the course online, while holding my job at Be st Buy. It was also the reason that I took on an internship at the Bergen County Prosecutors Office. I hope that completing my degree will bring me a few steps closer to ultimately becoming involved in Law Enforcement, although for now I am content where I am. In my first

The Interaction between My Birth Order and My Personality Essay

The Interaction between My Birth Order and My Personality - Essay Example According to Sulloway, the birth order of an individual ‘‘is a good predictor about one’s revolutionary creativity where firstborns are conservatives while the lastborns are more likely to become freethinkers’’ (Boynton 72). An individual’s personality is a replica of the strategies used by siblings in competing with each other, in securing a place in the family and surviving the tribulations of childhood. The Darwin’s theory is replicated in the family dynamics where ‘‘children use adaptive tactics to differentiate themselves’’. Based on the differences of ‘‘birth order, physical traits, gender and temperament; children define their different roles in the family. From Sulloway’s perspectives, some persons are born to rebel based on their birth order’’ (Boynton 72). This paper seeks to assess the impacts of my birth order as a firstborn in the family to my personality and is base d on the belief that I am the way I am due to interactions with my siblings and parents and my birth order. Generally, I am assertive, responsible, dependable and kind-hearted. Relationship between My Personality and Birth Order and Interactions with the Family I am an introverted sensing feeling judging (ISFJ) person judging from my results of a Human Metrics test I carried out. As an ISFJ person, I am a nurturer of others and this can be traced back to my childhood when I had to take care of my younger siblings whenever my parents were away (Human Metrics 1). I am kind-hearted and warm which I feel I learnt during my childhood as I always had to let my younger siblings have a share of presents brought by our parents before I could have my share. Moreover, I am and have always been willing to share what I have with my siblings. As I grew up, my parents shaped my personality given that they always required that I take care of my sibling in school and at home especially when playing. This made me come to value the good of all. According to Human Metrics, an ISFJ person lives in a world that is kind and concrete (Human Metrics 1). Moreover, they value cooperation and harmony and are likely to become sensitive to the feelings of others. This fits into my personality given that I feel that sometimes I get too protective of others which can be traced to my birth order and interaction in the family. This is supported by what Sulloway found where he argued that firstborns are defensive than children later in the family (Boynton 73). I am also assertive where I belief that my ideas are always varied and I always defend them to the end. This was also identified to be a character of firstborns by Sulloway and this may be attributed to the fact that firstborns have their ideas given much consideration and sometimes have to make decisions for the younger siblings. My sense of self confidence is usually high and get no problems whenever putting across my ideas. I belief th is can be attributed to the fact that from an early age, my younger siblings had much trust on everything that I tell them boosting my confidence. Moreover, my parents would tell the younger siblings to get guidance from me in case they set out to carry out a particular task. Consequently, from an early age I knew I had the desired skills and knowledge to influence and guide others. I learn a new idea best through practical

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Early years in the uk context Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 2

Early years in the uk context - Essay Example This England framework is goal based and outlines large number of goals, which children should achieve in their early education. In this essay, there is an outline of comparison of England and Scotland framework of early education. This comparison gives different aspects on various themes. For instance, the education approach of early childhood in England focuses on the individual child- centered approach. On the other hand, in England all children in a class should adhere to uniform approach. In order to make a comparison between the two curriculum policies one needs to consider the aspect of flexibility. This flexibility includes teacher’s interpretation of the framework and guidelines, which appears to be the identifiable difference between these two curriculum policies. In Scotland, the mode of early year’s education, which applies, is 0-8 program while National curriculum is the mode, which applies in England, North Ireland, and Wales. There are some similarities b etween the process of National Curriculum guidance of England and Scotland. In both nations, curriculum activities follow a subject-oriented system (CLARK, 2012:14). In England, educational syllabuses followed decisions from isolated educational working groups, which include everything covering all curricular activities. Contrastingly, in Scotland each review group gave out its ideal decisions in which some were complex map of primary education. Another similarity between the two aspects of early years curriculum is how the isolated working groups were confident, had tight timetables, and fast introduction to pre-schools. Apart from these similarities, the England National Curriculum has been more effective and has more central development than Scotland 0-8 curriculum. A great difference has been due to political influence in England arising from involvement of government in Curriculum policy. However, due to lack of good approaches to National Curriculum assessment in the year 1988 through 1993 led to the establishment of slimmed down curriculum in the year 1995. During this time, the England National Curriculum differed fro Scotland (0-8) assessment program. This was due to the separation primary and secondary stages. There was first and second stage of the 0-8 Scotland Curriculum Assessment program (DELORENZI & ROBINSON, 2005:41). Stage 1and 2 involves five to seven years and seven to eleven years for primary schools and major stages 3 and 4, which involves eleven years to fourteen years and fourteen years to sixteen years for secondary schools. This Scottish form of 0-8 Curriculum and Assessment Program covers a longer time span compared to the England policy of early year’s curriculum. Another difference occurs when comparing the curriculum coverage at each stage of education. The Scotland 0-8 Curriculum and Assessment programme covers all the required concepts of curriculum with the exception of a core curriculum. On the other hand, the England Na tional Curriculum concentrates on subjects such as mathematics, English, and Science as the key subjects. Subjects like technology, history, art, music, geography, and PE are the foundation subjects at first and second stage with an addition of a National language as foundation subject at the third stage. The nature of early years study program of the two systems is of a fussy interest. In En gland, teachers and education officers

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Data versus information Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Data versus information - Essay Example When the electric circuit is on it represents a â€Å"1† and when it is off it represents a â€Å"0†. Thus when a computer is processing data the trillions of small electric circuits within the microprocessor are in various patterns of on and off states. Information, on the other hand, is knowledge that is communicated (Millar, 1999). Given that humans find it difficult and time-consuming to work with binary digits, computers are able to store, process and deliver data in various formats that are much easier for humans to comprehend. Some of the data formats that computers give as output are: numbers, characters, graphics, digital audio and video, animation and multimedia (Scanlan, 2002). It from this combination of data formats that humans are able to derive meaning from the computer’s output. Of course before giving output, computers perform combinations, permutations or any other instructions that have been input by the user to manipulate data and create

Monday, September 23, 2019

The Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) isn't wrong. It just doesn't go Essay

The Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) isn't wrong. It just doesn't go far enough. Discuss - Essay Example The cpitl sset pricing model (CPM) theory ssumes tht n investor expects yield on certin security equivlent to the risk free rte (sy tht rte chievble on six-month Tresury bills) plus premium bsed on mrket vribility of return X mrket risk premium. In Winter 1991, the mrket risk premium on listed U.S. common stocks ppers to hve been bout 6.5%, ccording to sttistics published in the Qurterly Review, Winter 1991, by the Federl Reserve Bnk of New York (though the Ibbotson study found it to exceed 8% from the mid 1920s through 1987). Thus in period of 4% infltion, the T-bill rte might be ppropritely 4.5 to 5%; four- or five-yer Tresury note should hve yield of 5.5 to 6%; Tresury bonds should yield percent higher thn this; nd corporte bond yields should hve even higher returns to compenste for their dditionl credit or business risk. The cpitl sset pricing model for this scenrio suggests tht nnul returns on low-bet electric utility might be .05 + .50 bet (.065) = 8.25%. bout 75% of this might come from dividends nd the blnce from expected growth in dividends over n extended time period. By contrst, n verge stock with bet of 1.00 should provide rte of return of 4.5 to 5.0% plus the mrket premium of 6.5% or between 11 nd 12%. high-bet stock (one operting in cyclicl industry, for exmple) with bet, or reltive mrket voltility in price, of 1.50 should provide mrket return of 5.0% + 1.50 (0.065) or bout 15%. We could convert these from ernings price rtios to price-ernings (P-E) rtios nd determine tht the electric utilities, in this scenrio, should trde t bout 12 P-E rtio nd the high-bet stock should trde t P-E rtio of bout 6 to 7 . Three-yer verge (smoothed) ernings for these type firms hve, in fct, provided bout these P-E levels for highly cyclicl stocks during recent yers. The problem is in how to evlute bove verge or super growth rte for non- or low-dividend-pying stocks, topic of mjor concern to investment fundmentlists. Since stocks re bought on the bsis of expected returns for the next yer (or for severl yers into the future), perceived shift in the rte of infltion (or of the interest rte level), will send most common stocks to higher or lower levels. Strength of the overll economy, the sector in which the firm opertes, its own industry's strengths nd weknesses, nd individul firm's chrcteristics likewise hve bering on the ssessed mrket vlue of equity issues. In fct, this hypothesis is greed on by most fundmentlists nd technicins. The pproch recommended by most investment fundmentlists moves from the mcro to the micro nlysis. First of ll, we should determine if the overll stock mrket is the plce to be. Next, we should zero in on the industries tht re showing bove-verge strength. Next, we should select individul firms tht re likely to led others in their respective industries. In generl, the security mrket line, t given point in time, ppers to do resonbly efficient job of explining differences in expected yields on lterntive types of finncil issues. The cpitl sset pricing model is merely grph showing the nticipted yields on securities trded in money nd cpitl mrkets with vrying degrees of finncil risk. The trend line tht joins the points on the grph is referred to s the security mrket line. Mrket yields re shown on the y (verticl) xis nd the vribility of return on the x (horizontl) xis.

Sunday, September 22, 2019

The sound and the fury by William Faulkner Essay Example for Free

The sound and the fury by William Faulkner Essay The sound and the fury by William Faulkner Introduction            The Sound and the Fury is an intransigently notorious and difficult novel that has received much acclaim and criticism in equal measure globally. Indeed, this is understandable of a book that literally transients the callous southern American tradition of slavery and racial profiling. Besides, the books depiction of a family that descents from acclaim to desolation and finally live in shadows of its past is one that most people would not love to read. Most importantly, the book traces the deterioration of an intelligent southern adolescent who, living by the traditions of the south, carries along racial conventions to his final plunge in water where he commits suicide. This paper trails Quentin along with his racism to Harvard, his new insights into racism and his family’s contribution towards his racist believes.            Indeed, Quentin Compson is the eldest of the Compson offspring. As thus, he feels inordinately obliged to carry on the family’s responsibilities and suffice its traditions of prestige and greatness. Quentin is first encountered in Chapter 2 where is currently pursuing studies at the Harvard, Massachusetts. It is through his prose that the reader develops an attitude towards him and the Compsons. Quentin is crucial because he presents the Compsons traditions and through him, the reader understands the racial profiling in the South. Interestingly, Quentin carried along the southern traditions with him to the university in the north. He, therefore, encountered feelings of abashed shame, hateful or blase. However, the university in the north is potential crucial because, through his encounters with other southern, he learns insightful details about the race.            Spoade represents one of the southerners at the university who taught Quentin on race. He was a senior student at the university and saw pride for â€Å"never [running] for chapel†. Besides, he is proud because he never wore a shirt till noon. Therefore, he did not fall into the traditions of the â€Å"Northern University†. In so doing, Spoade adhered to the mythological grace and slowness characteristic of the Southern life. Interestingly, Spoade had â€Å"five names that also bore the current English ducal house† indicating that he was a detached and self assured person. Spoade boasts in being a gentleman causing jitters of shame into Quentin because the latter lacked sexual experiences. Perhaps, this is meant to infer that Quentin was possibly a gay. Indeed, â€Å"Spoade, [called] Shreve my husband.† Shreve was Quentin’s roommate at Harvard University.            Other than Spoade, racial sense was taught into Quentin at the North by the Blands. This was an ostensibly wealthy family from Kentucky, in the south. Considering that this family shunned joining the confederacy, it distanced them from the â€Å"Lost Cause† idea. An assessment of this family’s lifestyle reveals that they are extremely arrogant and ungracious, perhaps worse than Spoade. Firstly, the she in the family is a dotty seeking her son. Mrs. Bland took an apartment at Harvard on rent to be close to her son. Her motives are questionable as she goes to great lengths to fancy her son. For instance, she sources his clothes from New York.            In addition, Mrs. Bland takes pride in the â€Å"Gerald’s niggers and Gerald’s horses and Gerald’s women†. According to her, Gerald reflected the splendid specimen that was a replica of the Old South Plantation boss. She is extremely snobbish and overly hateful and valueless to â€Å"these ignorant low class Yankees†. She shows some value only to the Southern Whites. It is through Mrs. Bland that Quentin learns of the disdain characters in Gerald, another white. Gerald features as a dashing handsome young brute who also turns out to be a virile womanizer. Gerald uses his physique to lure white women into his lair. It emerges that he is a viciously rudimental schemer who has no respect for women.            Quentin initiated a fist fight with him absentmindedly, and he ended up thrashing Quentin. This portrays Gerald in a bad light as an ungentle and respectful man as is Quentin. This is because he materialistically exploited his women rather than keep them safe and protected. Mrs. Bland inspires Quentin to think on issues of race. Her extreme obtrusiveness and condescending attitude disqualify her as a Southern lady. Quentin also questions the source of the bulk of wealth that the Blands have. Spoade’s mild hatred for the family coupled with their showiness reflects an upstart family in the guise of the Old South. Quentin is emphatic that Spoade’s image of the aristocratic family effectively concealed his mercenary and aggression Yankee antitype. Moreover, Quentin observes the imminent difference between Spoade and his ancestors who were parvenus.            Quentin takes racial insights on the insensitiveness of the Blands and Spoade. Each of them appears shallow, unkind and unsympathetic towards each other. For instance, the white Blands are detached from a fellow white, Quentin, and only the Yankee, Shreve shows sympathy, friendship and concern towards him. Interestingly, Quentin is from the South just like the Blands and only Shreve the Yankee from Canada showed interest. However, it is observable that Quentin secretly envies the Bland and Spoade for their masculinity and nonchalance. Quentin is attached to their opinions and envies their free sense of self. Therefore, he feels awkward and ashamed in their presence.            Quentin’s encounters with the blacks at the Northern University was seldom but impactful. For instance, he encountered the Deacon who was acquainted with the South’s social customs. According to Quentin, the, â€Å"Deacon could easily identify a Southerner at a glance†. Quentin expresses the dexterous skill that the Deacon had by continuing that, â€Å"once he heard one speak, the Deacon could identify your state.† This reveals that the Deacon probably resided in the South. Quentin is emphatic â€Å"de old nigger† sufficed their expectations by casting the slave role accurately and just perfect. Quentin believes that the Deacon managed to fool the inexperienced freshmen, but he had realized of his duplicity although he could not resist condescending him, although curiously. Quentin’s admiration for the black â€Å"old nigger† is evident because he searched him out and donated an old suit although he claimed to dislik e him.            In the street car, Quentin sat next to a black man who wore â€Å"a derby and shinning shoes†. He â€Å"[held] a dead cigar stub† replica to a normal, autonomous citizen. His passive demeanor of Quentin, the white, seated next to him brings Quentin to appreciating the equality between the whites and the black. It is until he is about to alight that he acknowledges Quentin by politely signaling request to pass. The incident retracts Quentin to an earlier episode in which he called a black man on a mule, in Virginia â€Å"uncle’. Quentin gladly offered a gift to him, and he humbly accepted. The two incidences with the black are a learning experience for Quentin on race issues. It irks him that he questions the stereotyping of the blacks whereby he realizes that the Northerner’s expectations influenced him. Therefore, his acquired insights were not natural but rather learned.            Quentin’s family played a major role in his build up to committing suicide. Quentin spent his early years in prestige and wealth. His family owned huge and expansive property, the plantation. He grew up observing the southern doctrines and traditions, and he became indoctrinated into them. He held the doctrines close to his heart, idealizing nebulous and abstract concepts of virtue, honor and feminine purity. The south traditions enunciated strict code of conducts and Quentin grew into these same codes. Therefore, he was stereotypic of the southern perception of the blacks.            As a Compson, Quentin thrived in the lives of commoners who owned lands and maintained plantations as well as several black servants. The commoners were aptly affluent and elite. For instance, Mr. Compson held a law degree and had an office in town. However, the Compson family degrades, deteriorates and their wealth reduces as Quentin grows into adolescence. His father had to sell off part of their plantation in order to raise money for the young Quentin to school at Harvard.            Quentin is absorbed by his sister Caddy. He is affectionate towards her and is willing to cover up for her mistakes. Quentin is thrown into disarray when he realizes the promiscuity that her sister has been exercising. He is disparaged when she turns out to be pregnant. He is infuriated and disappointed by her acts because it tarnished the family’s name. His absorption with sanctifying the family in line with the southern traditions leads him to claiming incest. He tells his father that he and Caddy committed incest, therefore, resulting to the offspring.            On realizing her sister’s promiscuity, Quentin turns to his father, Mr. Compson for guidance. However, this is a tragic because; the man who instilled the virtues of the south disregards the very pedestals that he raised him. Quentin, therefore, feels betrayed and cheated by both his father and his sister for failing to uphold the codes of the south. This torments him coupled with the deteriorated family statue. On his return to campus, he is a thoughtful, troubled and mentally ill person. He starts having disdained thoughts such as committing suicide. He thinks of eloping with his sister to indulge her into his suicide plan. His hatred and obsession with Caddy’s promiscuity made him draw a knife and lung for her throat ,sometimes when they quarreled. Worse stills, he was obsessed with Candy and the thought of Caddy sharing sexual intimacy with another man gnawed him overtly. He had occasionally threatened to kill her. His lover for her is disastrous as he draws a man into a conquest and he is willing to fight for her. Therefore, her forsaking of the south traditions by her promiscuity and out of wedlock pregnancy were unacceptable to Quentin drawing him into despondency and, finally committing suicide. References Faulkner, William. The sound and the fury. Modern Library ed. New York: Modern Library, 1992. Print. Source document