White peas, also known as Safed vatana, or Navy Peas are healthy, highly nutritious, and rich in vitamins. These are dried peas, which are starchy and have a tougher texture, but have a more delicate feature. Since green peas are not available throughout the year, white peas make a perfect substitute, a healthy and nutritious replacement indeed. However, they are not same as the chickpeas or garbanzo beans, but because of their small size, spherical shape, and white color, they can be easily differentiated from the larger ones and are slightly beige or yellow. Due to the rich nutrition, they are also one of the superfoods for pregnancy.

What are the benefits of white peas?

This is known as the pregnancy superfood as white peas are source of many important micronutrient. It is rich in iron, folate and contains B vitamins, which are healthy for the mother and the baby.

Beans are an excellent source of protein, providing 16 grams per cup. White peas also deliver at least 25% of the daily recommended intake of essential nutrients like thiamine, folic acid, iron, copper, potassium, phosphorus, manganese, and magnesium. A one-cup serving has 255 calories and just 1.1 grams of fat.

Benefits include:

A great source of protein: White beans are an excellent source of protein. When combined with regular exercise and a balanced diet, they can help promote healthy muscle mass. Amino acids, the building blocks of protein, play a vital role in processes such as muscle building, nutrient transport, and hormone production.

Fiber-rich: White beans are loaded with dietary fiber. Women should aim for at least 25 grams of fiber daily, while men need about 38 grams. High-fiber diets are linked to better digestive health and help maintain bowel regularity by increasing stool mass and shortening the time between bowel movements.

Great for weight management: With their high nutrient density and relatively low calorie count, white beans are ideal for maintaining a healthy weight. Their fiber and protein content promote satiety, helping you feel full longer and reducing the likelihood of overeating.

Lowers cholesterol levels: White peas contain cholesterol-lowering fiber that can reduce total and LDL cholesterol levels. Additionally, vitamins and minerals like vitamin B, potassium, and magnesium in white peas support heart health by increasing good cholesterol.

Glucose levels: Rich in fiber, protein, and phytochemicals such as flavonoids, tannins, and alkaloids, white peas have antidiabetic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. These help regulate glucose levels and protect the pancreas from free radical damage, reducing the risk of diabetes or aiding in its management.

Eases bowel movements: Fiber-rich foods like white peas are excellent for maintaining bowel movements and supporting healthy gut bacteria. They bulk up stools and lower the risk of constipation. Additionally, their mineral, vitamin B, and protein content supports digestive health, reducing issues like gas and bloating.

Heart Health: White peas contain phenolic compounds such as flavonoids and isoflavones, which act as antioxidants and protect the heart from oxidative stress-related conditions like atherosclerosis and stroke. Their fiber content also helps lower cholesterol and control blood pressure.

B Vitamins: White peas are a great source of vitamin B1 and B3. Vitamin B1 supports energy production, muscle strength, vision, and mood regulation, while vitamin B3 improves cell function, enhances brain performance, and strengthens bones.

Great for bones and teeth: White peas are rich in phosphorus, essential for maintaining strong bones and teeth, especially in children. Adequate phosphorus intake also prevents symptoms like stiff joints, weak bones, and poor appetite.

Only about one in four mothers in the United States now say they are in “excellent” mental or physical health, according to a new study that reveals a sharp decline in maternal well-being over the past several years. The findings, published in JAMA Internal Medicine on Tuesday, underscore growing concerns around the mental health crisis affecting American families—especially mothers.

A Steep Decline Over Time

The study analyzed health data from 198,417 mothers with children under the age of 18, tracking changes from 2016 to 2023. Researchers found a significant drop in self-reported mental health among mothers during this period, with a smaller but still notable decline in physical health.

Using a four-point scale (excellent, very good, good, and fair/poor), the study revealed that the percentage of mothers reporting “excellent” mental health plummeted from 38.4% in 2016 to just 25.8% in 2023. At the same time, those reporting “good” mental health increased from 18.8% to 26.1%, while “fair/poor” mental health rose from 5.5% to 8.5%.

Physical health scores also declined. The proportion of moms reporting “excellent” physical health dropped from 28.0% to 23.9%. Meanwhile, the percentage describing their physical health as “good” grew from 24.3% to 28.1%, while those in the “fair/poor” category remained relatively stable.

Vulnerable Groups Hit Hardest

The mental health decline was seen across all socioeconomic groups, but it was most pronounced among single mothers, women with lower levels of education, and those whose children are covered by public insurance. These findings echo long-standing concerns about disparities in health access and outcomes among women and underserved populations.

While the study also looked at male parents and noted similar downward trends in physical and mental health, fathers consistently reported better overall health than mothers. In 2023, the gap was particularly stark, with female parents 4 percentage points more likely than male parents to report “fair/poor” mental health.

Parenting Under Pressure

This latest research builds on earlier warnings from public health officials. In 2023, former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy released an advisory titled "Parents Under Pressure," which called attention to the toll caregiving takes on mental health.

“The work of parenting is essential not only for the health of children but also for the health of society,” Murthy wrote. “The well-being of parents and caregivers is directly linked to the well-being of their children.”

The authors of the JAMA study echoed that sentiment, linking their findings to broader national health trends, including rising rates of depression and anxiety among reproductive-age women.

What’s Behind the Decline?

While the study did not explore specific causes, researchers cited several possible contributors to the ongoing decline in maternal mental health. These include:

• Limited access to mental health services
• Social isolation
• Increased substance use disorders
• Broader societal stressors such as inflation, systemic racism, gun violence, and climate change

The authors also referenced a growing body of research suggesting that maternal health may be an early warning sign of declining public health overall, writing: “Our findings are supportive of the claim made by some scholars that maternal mortality may be a canary in the coal mine for women’s health more broadly.”

As concerns around maternal mental health intensify, the study highlights the urgent need for more targeted policies and accessible support systems to improve the well-being of mothers—and by extension, their children and families.

Men's Mental Health Week is a movement that highlights the unique mental health challenges men face. It encourages open communication, emotional connection, and breaking the stigma over vulnerability. Through early intervention, emotional literacy, and support structures, the week seeks to empower men towards prioritizing mental health without shame.

We make men out of boys to be tough, bold, and brave, but at what expense? Studies reveal that stifling emotions early in life can have long-term effects. Anxiety, depression, addiction, and anger disorders tend to stem from childhood environments where emotions were discouraged. Yet, the world still encourages boys to be emotionally stoic, confusing silence with strength and holding things in as bravery.

Men's Mental Health Week highlights these problems, providing an international forum to break down the cultural, psychological, and emotional barriers that isolate men from themselves and from others. This year, the theme is concise but powerful: emotional fluency is strength. With mental health specialists, educators, and parents uniting, a message emerges clearly—change begins early. And it starts not only by instructing boys what not to feel, but by demonstrating them how to feel, express, and process what's inside.

When Boys Are Taught to Suppress, Men Struggle to Cope

A lot of adults nowadays are products of a childhood in which emotional expression was discouraged—particularly among boys. The "man up" culture instructed them to swallow their tears, muzzle their fears, and cover up their insecurities. But emotions don't go away just because they're suppressed. Unaddressed emotions seep through later in life as anxiety, irritability, depression, drug and alcohol abuse, or aberrant relationships. Men who weren't instructed in emotional skills become men who chase emotional anesthetization because they never learned to feel safely to begin with.

One of the most prevalent emotional coping strategies for men is blame—an outward deflection of internal conflict. When painful emotions such as fear, sadness, or shame are not worked through internally, they start to spill over. Rather than labeling or working with such feelings, men tend to resort to blaming others: their girlfriends, their coworkers, or even themselves.

Blame is an easy release valve—a means of pushing off discomfort instead of dealing with it. It tastes invigorating for a moment but has permanent harm. In one anecdotal example, a man describes how his unaddressed anger ultimately poisoned the people he loved the most. It wasn't until he noticed this pattern and the hurt behind it that healing and authentic connection started for him.

Why Emotional Awareness Isn't Soft

Educating boys about emotional awareness isn't about making them "soft." Instead, it makes them better decision-makers, more accomplished relationship-builders, and more resilient grown men. When men know what they feel, they gain the power to decide how to react, rather than blindly reacting.

This emotional intelligence does not only assist men in dealing with conflict—it assists them in flourishing. Whether selecting a profession that would value their principles, establishing supportive partnerships, or being emotionally available dads, emotional fluency opens doors, instead of closing them.

Teaching Boys the Language of Emotions

So, how do we start? Body awareness is the foundation. Emotions appear initially in the form of bodily sensations—tightness in the chest, lump in the throat, flutter in the belly. It is important to teach boys to identify these warnings and link them with emotional events.

Then parents and teachers can help enable safe emotional expression. When a boy tells you how he's feeling, don't correct him or tell him to "toughen up." Instead, respond with curiosity and compassion. Ask questions such as, "What do you think made you feel that way?" or "What do you need in this moment?" This both affirms his experience and builds his emotional vocabulary.

Along the way, this establishes trust—with oneself and others. Someday, when these boys become men and find themselves with other men—maybe in locker rooms, workplaces, or group texts—they won't tumble into emotionally dysfunctional patterns such as teasing, denial, or aggression. Instead, they'll have the skills to respond in ways that demonstrate emotional maturity.

Restoring masculinity doesn't involve abandoning it—it involves redefining it. The most powerful men aren't the ones who never weep or get wounded. They're the ones who notice when they have, own up to it, and learn from it.

True masculinity, in the best possible way, is based on empathy, responsibility, and self-mastery. When boys are instructed that emotions aren't vulnerabilities but indicators—like hunger or tiredness—they no longer fear exposure and begin to cherish authenticity.

Parents play a critical role here. Modeling emotional openness, apologizing when you’ve overreacted, or simply sharing your own feelings openly can set a powerful example for your sons. Remember- when boys feel safe being emotionally honest at home, they carry that strength into every part of their lives.

Ever notice how a happy home makes everything feel better? Well, a new study suggests that a happy family life can actually help kids between the ages of 9 and 12, what we call tweens, get more sleep.

A happy and healthy home environment is necessary for proper growth and well-being of children. While you may think that parents not interacting with their children may not affect them as much, the truth of the matter is that children intentionally seek their parents for acknowledgement and approval. These play an important role in helping children learn life skills like socializing and interpersonal relations, while also helping them gain confidence, healthy mindset, etc. However, could their home environment, also affect their physical health directly?

Experts are going to present this research at the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM). What they found is that kids with strong family connections and parents who are really involved in their lives tend to sleep for longer periods.

Strong Family Ties Promote Longer Sleep

The study looked at almost 5,000 kids in that 9-to-11 age range. It found some really interesting things about what helps kids sleep more:

Involved Parents: If parents were highly involved in their kids' lives, over half (51%) of those kids got enough sleep.

Family Dinners: Eating dinner together as a family also seemed to help, with 48% of those kids getting enough sleep.

Planning Tomorrow: When families talked about their plans for the next day, 48% of those kids slept well too.

Neighborhood Fun: Even simple things like kids joining in activities in their neighborhood were linked to more sleep.

Importance of Sleep for Tweens

You might think adults need a lot of sleep, but kids actually need even more! The experts at the AASM say that kids aged 6 to 12 should get 9 to 12 hours of sleep every night. This is super important for their overall health and for how well their brains and bodies grow.

The researchers gathered information during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. They knew the pandemic had messed with kids' sleep, so they wanted to see if having strong family connections could act as a kind of shield, protecting their sleep.

Researchers found a few things that could influence the child’s sleep habits or cycle negatively, which are:

Too Much Screen Time Socializing: Kids who used screens a lot to connect with friends (like on social media or games) got less sleep, with only 40% of them sleeping enough.

Little Parent Interaction: If kids didn't talk much with their parents, only 42% of them got enough sleep.

Future Implications for Child Well-being

These findings really highlight that having a good social life and strong family bonds is important for healthy sleep. Researchers hope these results can help create future campaigns or programs that encourage positive social connections, ultimately making kids healthier and happier.

One thing you should keep in mind is that these findings are being shared at a medical meeting, so they're considered early results. They'll need to be published in a scientific journal after being reviewed by other experts before they're considered final.