Wellness at CWRU

09/24/2026

Hope Barkoukis, professor and chair of the Department of Nutrition at the CWRU School of Medicine, said fiber is especially important as people age because it supports healthy gut microbes, reduces constipation, and may ease common gastrointestinal complaints. She recommends gradually increasing fiber intake and drinking plenty of water. She highlighted chickpeas and raspberries as particularly beneficial, nutritious, easy-to-digest fiber sources. More fiber sources:

Chickpeas, raspberries, chia seeds, and other fiber-rich foods can help combat constipation, gas, and other digestive issues that worsen with age.

09/23/2026

Lisa Damour, a senior adviser at the Schubert Center for Child Studies at CWRU, argued that various factors play larger roles on youth mental health than technology. Imagine a pie chart of what impacts youth mental health. Digital technology is a fairly small slice, Damour said. The bigger slices include genetics, parental mental health, what’s happening at home, school pressures, and marginalization. Read more:

Psychologists weigh the benefits and drawbacks of adolescents' tech use.

09/22/2026

Spend Saturday at the University Farm in Hunting Valley! The annual Farm Harvest Festival will be held this Saturday, Sept. 26, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the farm (37125 Fairmount Blvd.). Open to students, faculty, staff, postdocs, alumni, and their families, the Farm Harvest Festival features entertainment, hayrides, a field maze, a pumpkin trebuchet, self-guided hikes, yard games and more. Learn more and register to attend this free event on campus groups: https://cglink.me/2cS/r2280815

09/21/2026

Looking for tips on building a nutritious lunch? Catherine Rogers McManus, a registered dietitian and assistant professor at the CWRU School of Medicine, said she recommends building nutrient-dense grain bowls with foods from at least three food groups—including protein, healthy fats, and carbohydrates—to provide balanced nutrition, sustained energy, and an easy way to use leftovers while accommodating individual tastes. Discover more recommendations:

Nutritionists share the best foods for packed lunches that deliver lasting energy. Try these options to power through without an afternoon slump.

09/18/2026

Gabriella Wolff, assistant professor of biology at the College of Arts and Sciences at CWRU, said researchers have found no evidence that ultrasonic repellents effectively deter mosquitoes, and offered scientifically backed tips to avoid falling prey to the buzzing pests.

Mosquitoes can breed in a bottle cap, bite in broad daylight, and sneak through your back door. Here’s how experts avoid becoming dinner.

09/17/2026

How often do we really need to wash our bedding? Shanina Knighton, research associate professor at CWRU’s Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, explained that we should do so even more often during the summer. "Wash your sheets and pillowcases at least once a week: but those with skin conditions, an active lifestyle, or allergies will need to change them more frequently," said Knighton. Read more here:

Allergens are thriving on your bed during these heatwaves, with the chance of fungal growth rising on microfiber pillows and sheets that you sweat in regularly.

09/16/2026

Have you ever heard that you should refrain from drinking alcohol while taking Tylenol? Seth Sinclair, hepatologist and assistant professor of medicine at CWRU, said that when too much Tylenol is taken over the course of a few hours, the liver’s protective stores of glutathione are depleted, and then the toxic breakdown product from Tylenol accumulates. "This is already dangerous enough, but drinking alcohol taxes the liver even more, making it worse," said Sinclair.

Here's why it's so dangerous.

09/15/2026

Even a simple plant in the room, or pictures of nature, can make you feel less anxious, angry, and stressed. But it’s better if you get out of that room and go out. Exercise is good for anxiety too. But it’s even better if you do it outside, compared to inside a gym. Sunlight helps keep your serotonin levels up. This helps raise your energy and keeps your mood calm, positive, and focused. https://wb.md/4xqPxAw

09/04/2026

Lindsay Malone, assistant professor at the CWRU School of Medicine, said she advises parents to skip heavily marketed “healthy” packaged snacks, which often contain lots of sugar, refined grains, and oils. She recommended simple, affordable ingredients such as fruits and vegetables, homemade snacks, and involving children in lunch preparation to encourage healthier choices. Read Malone's full contribution plus tips for packaging an affordable healthy lunch:

Remember when a school lunch used to cost $1.50? Not anymore, with many children's lunches now $7 per day. A nutrition expert shows ways to eat healthy for less.

09/03/2026

Jose Salvado, visiting professor of urology at the CWRU School of Medicine, explained that as we age, our sense of thirst becomes less reliable and at the same time, kidney function gradually declines, so it's important to stay hydrated. "Even if you don’t feel thirsty, it’s still important to drink water throughout the day, especially if it’s hot out, you’re feeling sick, or you’re doing any physical activity," said Salvado.

It’s important to take this sign seriously year-round, too.