Even if you’re not an animal lover, a new study published from Washington State University may have you changing your mind about adding a fur baby to the family. The study, which was published in AERA Open, an open-access journal, found that spending a small amount of time petting a dog or cat can help with stress reduction.

The university studied the common “Pet Your Stress Away” programs that many institutions are using, in which students can spend time with cats or dogs to alleviate stress. While the research specifically studied students, the results are much more far-reaching.

photo: Paul Hanoaka via Unsplash

Researchers studied 249 students split into four groups who were able to interact directly with animals, watch others interact, view a slide show or wait their turn. The results showed that the students who interacted directly with the pets showed much less cortisol in their saliva measurement (the tool used to determine cortisol levels) after the interaction.

The results were consistent for students with varying high and low levels of cortisol going into the study––proof that some time with your fuzzy friends is good for your health.

Patricia Pendry, an associate professor in WSU’s Department of Human Development states, “What we wanted to learn was whether this exposure would help students reduce their stress in a less subjective way. And it did, which is exciting because the reduction of stress hormones may, over time, have significant benefits for physical and mental health.”

Student or parent, a little time with your furry friend can only help when it comes to ditching the stress.

––Karly Wood

 

RELATED STORIES

Here’s What Science Says about Women, Alcohol & Mental Health

New Study Sheds Light On How Toddler’s Develop Language Skills

Are Restroom Hand Dryers Harmful to Kids Ears? An 8th Grader Has the Answer

 

Photo: pixabay 

Believe it or not, when it comes to trying to conceive there is a “sufficient” way to ovulate. You probably already know that ovulation is needed for pregnancy. After all, without an egg, it is impossible to get pregnant. But there’s a “right way” to ovulate? It may sound strange but making sure you are ovulating sufficiently is critical to increasing your chances of successfully conceiving.

 

What Is Sufficient Ovulation?

Sufficient ovulation is a phrase used to indicate the fact that a woman is not only ovulating, but she also has enough progesterone to support conception. Progesterone is the hormone released by the corpus luteum or empty follicle after the egg is released. Its presence confirms ovulation, as, without an empty follicle, the body won’t produce progesterone. Progesterone is critical to preparing the uterine lining, so it is ready to receive a pregnancy. Without enough progesterone, the embryo either cannot implant at all or implantation is insufficient to support it. So low progesterone can lead to lack of conception or miscarriage.

But when a woman both ovulates AND has sufficient progesterone to support conception, she is ovulating sufficiently—meaning that she not only has an egg present for fertilization, but she also has enough progesterone to support implantation should the egg be fertilized. To successfully conceive, it is critical that a woman has both an egg AND enough progesterone to support implantation of a fertilized egg.

 

Can I Tell If I’m Ovulating Sufficiently?

It’s not that difficult to figure out if you are ovulating sufficiently, which is great news! But since there are so many ovulation testing options—which can get confusing—it’s important to take a moment to explain the differences.

Predicting Ovulation: Predicting ovulation is very important because it helps couples trying to conceive find the fertile window and therefore better time intercourse. There are actually only 5-6 days each cycle when a woman is fertile so it’s really important to time intercourse correctly when trying to conceive. Methods include: Ovulation predictor kits (luteinizing hormone or LH tests), cervical mucus monitoring, or saliva ferning patterns

Confirming Ovulation: Although it may seem like you’re good to go if you’ve predicted ovulation, prediction does not always mean something will happen. For example, a weather forecaster may predict that a storm is coming (using sophisticated scientific tools, I might add), but we don’t know if the storm actually happened until we observe it. And we can probably all agree weather forecasts aren’t always accurate. As such, much like the weather, confirming ovulation is an important next step. Methods include:  Basal body temperature tracking, single progesterone test

Confirming Sufficient Ovulation: As we mentioned earlier, sufficient ovulation—meaning that a woman is ovulating AND has enough progesterone to support implantation—is critical when trying to conceive. While basal body temperature is great for confirming ovulation, it falls short of being able to confirm “sufficient ovulation.” That’s because basal body temperature looks for a slight spike in temperature – 0.5 – 1 degree Fahrenheit but the temperature spike does not correlate with the amount of progesterone present. So, getting a spike of 0.5-degrees does not necessarily mean you have low progesterone and getting a spike of 1-degree also does not mean you are good to go.

To confirm sufficient ovulation, it’s critical to ensure that progesterone levels are elevated to 10ng/ml in the blood—the level widely accepted as the minimum threshold to support conception—throughout the 3-4 day implantation window. This means it’s important to test progesterone multiple times during the luteal phase, or second half, of the cycle to make sure progesterone rises and stays elevated at a sufficient level such that conception can occur. Methods include: Multiple days of progesterone testing

When trying to conceive, making sure you are ovulating is good, but it may not be enough. Confirming sufficient ovulation can get you one step closer to ruling out what may be causing issues and to successfully conceiving. Testing progesterone can help you make sure you are ovulating properly and that you have enough progesterone to support conception!

Amy Beckley is the founder and CEO of Proov, the first at-home rapid response urine progesterone test, a hormone critical to fertility and general wellness. Proov was developed from Beckley’s personal infertility experience. Using her PhD in Pharmacology and passion for helping others, Proov empowers women with the knowledge to better understand their bodies.

Teaching your kids about your family history and ancestry is important, but what if you’re unsure about your own family tree? Ancestry DNA kits have grown in popularity over recent years and there’s never been a better time to buy one than this big sale.

Just in time for DNA Day, Ancestry.com is offering a deep discount on its AncestryDNA kits. While the kits usually sell for $99, for a limited time you can get one for just $69.

So what do you get with that kit? You’ll be sent a small test tube to collect your saliva and send it back to a lab for testing. Within six to eight weeks your results will be viewable online. The results include a genealogical map of each of the ethnicities that make up your DNA, as well the approximate percentage of each.

This special sale is only available until Apr. 25, however, so if you’re hoping to learn more about your family history, act fast.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

Featured photo: iStock

 

RELATED STORIES

The History of Mother’s Day: What You Didn’t Know About the Holiday

How Much Time Should Kids Spend with Grandparents?

Psst…1 in 5 Grandparents Don’t Like Their Grandchildrens’ Names

You’re about to have a close encounter of the wolf kind! In the pine-dotted hills of the high desert 90 minutes from LA, lies Shadowland Foundation, a facility dedicated to the preservation and re-population of the wolf species.  This is a one-of-a-kind educational experience for kids, families, and everyone who loves the wolves. You’ll be ready to join the pack of ten Alaskan timber wolves and have a whole new understanding of animal conservation after a visit to the foundation.

Skip Saturday Morning Cartoons
Tours are currently held at 10 a.m. on Sat. only. This is due to protecting the eerily beautiful nocturnal eyes of the wolf. Founders and “wolf parents” Paul and Collette Pondella are using donations to complete work on their barn—once that opens they can host meet-and-greets year round.

Sit Tight, Learning First
Your session begins with a seated presentation inside a warm, in construction yet still gorgeous, sprawling, red barn. Collette presents a thorough and interesting round-up of everything you never knew about how important wolves are to our ecosystem and how they have been systematically targeted for eradication. You’ll see a short documentary called Freedom of the Pack created by Thomas Durant (famous for “The Deadliest Catch”) who was inspired by a visit to Shadowland. The presentation takes about an hour and a half and questions are welcomed. While Collette speaks you can hear the wolf pack piping in like impatient children saying “Come on! Come meet us! We’re waaaiitttttinnnng!”

Meet the Pups
Once the presentation concludes, purses and bags are stashed, and there’s time for a bathroom break. If there’s a large group, it’s split up into two where one group goes with half the pack and vice versa. Everyone is instructed on safety and how to meet the wolves (fingers tucked in, offering the back of your hand to smell). Then you’ll be led into a staging area (a.k.a. Paul and Collette’s side porch of their ranch house) where you’ll sit down and let the pack meet them/sniff and get to know you.

Inside the wolf enclosure, the pack (Shadow, Wahkahn, Takoda, Freedom, Alaska, Tehya, Cochise, Chenoa, Keme, Kachina, Ogin) all know what to do. They hop up on a viewing platform and wait for the awe-filled attention. Like children, they all have different personalities. Some are shy, some are affectionate, and some—like Wahkahn, who even as a puppy towers over some of the full-grown adult wolves—is feisty and playful.

Swap Spit!
You’ll have plenty of time to get to know each wolf, with Collete and Paul constantly teaching as you do. Perhaps the most fun part of the meet and greet is the opportunity to feed them. You’ll hold little bits of kielbasa sausage and be shown exactly how to offer it up for a nibble. Wolf spit is shockingly thicker than a dog’s. Wipes are ready for you after the saliva-fest.

If you aren’t eating your packed lunch there on the pretty grounds, stop by the Heart and Soul Café for howlin’ good (couldn’t resist that joke!) burgers, macaroni & cheese and a homemade chocolate chip ice cream sandwich on your way back down the hill.

What to Know Before You Go (And we’re not “crying wolf!” Sorry, last pun.)

  • Wear closed-toe shoes and jeans or pants that you don’t mind getting hair and wolf slobber on.
  • Be prepared for 20 degrees chillier (and windier) weather than in LA.
  • Park to the left of the red barn and head inside to be checked in.
  • Empty your pockets before meeting the wolves; anything sticking out is fair game for a nibble!
  • Bring lunch to enjoy with your group afterward on Shadowland’s lovely grounds.
  • While there are no age restrictions and the wolves have met everyone from newborns to 100-year-olds, it’s recommended for 8 & up.
  • Tours of groups over 10 must donate ahead of time to secure their tour date. Recommended donations are $50 per adult and $35 per child. Tours book up well in advance, so call a month or so before you’d like to go.

18832 Pine Canyon Rd.
Lake Hughes
818-766-1825
Online: shadowlandfoundation.org

To see what Red Tricycle Editors are up to this month, follow us on Instagram!

—Shannon Guyton

RELATED STORIES:

15 Hidden Secrets of Disneyland

10 California Road Trips You Gotta Take Before They’re 10

100 Must-Do Things in Los Angeles with Kids

Photo: Theresa Martell via Flickr

You might FEEL like you’re running yourself into an early grave, but new research from Simon Fraser University in BC suggests that moms that have multiple children have healthier DNA. The study conducted surveyed 75 women from two rural communities in Guatemala. Their telomere lengths were measured through cheek and saliva swabs taken twice 13 years apart. What the heck are telomeres, you may ask? Well, a telomere is a repeating DNA sequence (for example, TTAGGG) at the end of our chromosomes. As we age, and our cells divide, the ends of our telemeres shorten.

The research suggested that women who had multiple children showed a slower pace of telomere shortening, which increases longevity. The study leader Pablo Nepomnaschy, a health sciences professor from Simon Fraser, has a theory: “the slower pace of telomere shortening found in the study participants who have more children may be attributed to the dramatic increase in estrogen, a hormone produced during pregnancy. Estrogen functions as a potent antioxidant that protects cells against telomere shortening.”

Professor Nepomnaschy also suggests that a supportive environment, meaning encouragement and assistance from family members and friends, may contribute to the moms longevity. “Greater support leads to an increase in the amount of metabolic energy that can be allocated to tissue maintenance, thereby slowing down the process of aging.”

All that to say: go make more babies (apparently).

What do you think? Tell us in the comments!