2020-07-01 Reader's Digest Canada

ORAL CARE

TOOTHPASTE made with
ingredients you can TRUST

© 2020 P&G

STTUHHPMVWAEEEITROROGANFGRROCEIEKEOLADSSEDI,L!ESLT&Y CANADA’S JULY/AUGUST 2020
MOST-READ
MAGAZINE

WHY HELPING
STRANGERS

IS GOOD
FOR YOU

PAGE 66

Saving for
Retirement in

a Pandemic

PAGE 80

Beware This
Email Scam

PAGE 40

Funniest
Town Names

in Canada

PAGE 104

Where Did All
My Hair Go?

PAGE 22

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reader’s digest

CONTENTS

COURTESY OF ERIC AND ROSE McMILLAN Features 40 compound from the
marijuana plant can
30 society cure anxiety, chronic
pain, sleeplessness
cover story Scammed and a thousand other
ailments. I decided
THE NEW BASICS OF Even the most savvy to give it a try.
HEALTHY EATING among us can fall for a
con and lose hundreds BY LEAH RUMACK
Small changes to your of dollars. I learned FROM CHATELAINE
diet can make a big dif- this first-hand when
ference. Ten ways to an imposter’s plea 56
improve your health arrived in my inbox.
and save the planet crime
while you’re at it. BY BRUCE GRIERSON
FROM THE WALRUS The Watcher
BY REBECCA PHILPS
48 The Broaddus family
on the cover: couldn’t wait to move
photo by liam mogan health into their new dream
house—until sinister
CBD & Me letters began arriving
in the mail.
Some experts believe
the non-intoxicating BY REEVES WIEDEMAN
FROM NEW YORK

88 rd.ca 1

reader’s digest

66 72 80

health drama in real life life lesson

The Benefits of Bitten! When the Rainy
Being Nice Day Arrives
Doctors raced to find
Acts of kindness can an antidote as the The COVID-19 pan-
boost our health, lower snake’s venom spread demic also poses a
our stress and help us through Shalabha Kalli- threat to retirement
live longer. ath’s body, attacking savings. Here’s how you
her organs and inching can bounce back.
BY MARTA ZARASKA her closer to death.
FROM GROWING YOUNG BY BRYAN BORZYKOWSKI
BY STACY LEE KONG
86

humour

Mom Needs IT
Help Again

I’ve become her always-
on-call tech assistant.

BY CRAIG BAINES

88

editors’ choice

Play Time

When it opened in
1972, there was nothing
quite like it. How one
Ontario playground
reinvented the way kids
everywhere have fun.

BY NICK HUNE-BROWN
FROM THE LOCAL

12 JAIME HOGGE

104

(KALLA) LAUREN TAMAKI; (VULCAN) KYLE METCALF Departments Humour reader’s digest
book club
4 Editor’s Letter 15
10 Contributors Life’s Like That 100 2020 Summer
11 Letters Reading List
20 Points to Ponder 39
47 World Wide Weird Laughter, the Best Looking for an
escape? These
big idea Medicine newly released
novels, memoirs
12 In It Together 55 and story collec-
Down to Business tions will do
How one Facebook the trick.
group inspired 64
thousands of As Kids See It BY EMILY LANDAU
Canadians to help
each other through 79 watch list
the pandemic. Laugh Lines
102 What Eight
BY COURTNEY SHEA 13 things Canadians Are
Streaming During
ask an expert 18 What You Should the Pandemic
Know About
16 Are Opioids Summer Heat curiosities
Ever Safe?
BY ANNA-KAISA WALKER 104 You’re From
We ask ER doctor Where?
Daniel Kalla. health
The incredible-
BY COURTNEY SHEA 22 A Hairy Situation but-true origins of
Canada’s strangest
16 Sudden bald town names.
patches can have
many causes, BY ROSIE LONG DECTER
but most can
be treated. 106 Brainteasers

BY VANESSA MILNE 108 Trivia

24 News From the 109 Word Power
World of Medicine
111 Sudoku
BY SAMANTHA RIDEOUT
112 Crossword
27 What’s Wrong
With Me?

A medical mystery
resolved.

BY LISA BENDALL

rd.ca 3

reader’s digest

EDITOR’S LETTER

Gone to Seed

You know it’s extraordinary times World Wars. The impulse driving them (PUPO) DANIEL EHRENWORTH; (SEEDS) MICHAEL NEELON/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO
when packets of vegetable seeds is bright and optimistic: together we
are a hot commodity. But we’re can overcome this crisis by reconnect-
now all backyard farmers, even if your ing with the earth.
plot, like mine, is no bigger than a
postage stamp. We trade tips over As this issue’s cover story (page 30)
fences on how to avoid overwatering argues, the best way to combat stress
and what bugs are good (almost and anxiety, and protect your overall
none!). We take solace in our personal health, is a diet high in vegetables,
produce section. fruit, nuts and seafood—and smaller
portions of meat. Follow its 10 steps,
A few theories explain this sud-
den spread of green thumb-itis. and you’ll greatly reduce your risk of
One is a need to take some control most diseases. After all, the more
over what, during this terrible we care for ourselves and for each
year, seems beyond our control— other, the stronger we’ll be once
namely, a reliable supply of the world returns to normal.
food. Theory number 2 is
that many people have time P.S. You can reach
on their hands and find it me at [email protected].
therapeutic to work the soil.
My favourite explanation is
we’ve revived the Victory
Garden—the community-
run farming efforts that
offset rations during the

4 july/august 2020

SPECIAL FEATURE

2020

VOTED BY CANADIANS

Today, Canadian consumers are overloaded
with competing product messages and
choices in-store and online. How do you
decide which product to buy over the
next? How do you push through the noise
and clutter to determine which brands will
provide you the best quality and price?
The Reader’s Digest Trusted BrandTM
study is the answer. Celebrating its 12th
year in 2020, the Canadian Reader’s Digest
Trusted BrandTM study looks at 31 product
and service categories. More than 4,000
votes were tallied to identify which brands
Canadians trust most. Curious to find out
what brands came out on top? Turn the
page to find out!
So, when you are shopping or researching
your next purchase, look for the Trusted
BrandTM seal. A symbol of trust. Voted by
Canadians.

SPECIAL FEATURE

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ABOUT THE STUDY

For the past 12 years, Reader’s Digest
Canada has conducted an annual
Trusted Brand™ Study, which – in
2020 – polled Canadians about the
brands they trust the most across 31
product categories, such as consumer
packaged goods, financial institutions,
and Canadian retailers. Respondents
are asked to identify their most trusted
brand within each category in an
open-ended question format. To learn
more about the 2020 Trusted Brands™
study, visit rd.ca/trusted-brands

PUBLISHED BY THE READER’S DIGEST MAGAZINES CANADA LIMITED, MONTREAL, CANADA

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digital Robert Liwanag contributors: Diane Baher, Craig Baines, Mathias Ball,
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senior researcher Lucy Uprichard Emily Chu, Rosie Long Decter, Daniel Ehrenworth, Taryn
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VOL. 197, NO. 1,171 Copyright © 2020 by Reader’s Digest Magazines We acknowledge
Canada Limited. Reproduction in any manner in whole or in part in with gratitude the
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rd.ca 9

reader’s digest

CONTRIBUTORS

LIAM MOGAN BRYAN BORZYKOWSKI

Photographer, Toronto Writer, Winnipeg

“The New Basics of “When the Rainy
Healthy Eating” Day Arrives”

Mogan used to specialize mostly in A 10-time National Magazine Award
fashion photography, until a chance nominee, Borzykowski was named
assignment took him to a Toronto the Financial Journalist of the Year
restaurant and he soon became the by the CFA Society of Toronto last
“food guy.” His work has since been year. He currently writes a weekly
published in Cottage Life and column for MoneySense, where he
Maclean’s, and he has won several breaks down complicated financial
photography accolades, including issues readers want to better under-
two National Magazine Awards. See stand. Pick up his tips on weathering
his photo on page 31. a financial crisis on page 80.

LINDA BESNER ANSON CHAN

Writer, Toronto Illustrator, Markham, Ont.

“Word Power” “The New Basics of
Healthy Eating”
Besner is both an
accomplished poet and a journalist. Last summer, Chan was selected to
Poetry allows her to engage with lan- create a poster to promote an album
guage, while journalism is where she by the Canadian rapper Shad—as a
turns to engage with people and their hip-hop fan, it was a dream opportu-
stories. Both her poetry and non- nity. His illustrations in this month’s
fiction writing have been published Reader’s Digest mark the first time
in The Atlantic, New York Times Chan’s work has been published in a
Magazine and The Walrus, among magazine—another dream opportu-
other places. Check out her latest nity. Take a look at his editorial debut
work on page 109. on page 33.

10 july/august 2020

LETTERS

PUBLISHED LETTERS ARE EDITED FOR LENGTH AND CLARITY SAFE AT HOME REQUIRED READING
I just finished the April 2020 issue of I was moved by “Written on the Body”
Reader’s Digest. As usual, it was packed (January/February 2020). What a beau-
with a great variety of stories and funny tiful letter to medical students! I hope
anecdotes. I found “The 2020 Home many health-care workers in training
Safety Checklist” particularly timely read this story and that it touches them
and informative, given that we’re all in deeply, too.
the midst of quarantine. I was shocked — LYNN McPHEE, Glace Bay, N.S.
to learn that there can be mites in bed-
ding, and that candles and air freshen- VERY PUZZLING
ers can worsen the air quality in our I’m a big fan of your Sudoku puzzles
homes. I’ll certainly be applying the and normally finish each one before
tips I’ve learned as I spend more time the next issue arrives. One of the puz-
than usual at home. zles in June had me stumped, though.
The oddly shaped Sudokus are frus-
In the March 2020 issue, I caught tratingly hard to do. I don’t mind them
another piece of writing that’s more once in a while, but I much prefer the
timely than you likely intended. This usual fare.
joke: “Spring break is all about family
togetherness… meaning we’re all shar- — CATHY KETTLE
ing the same disgusting virus.” How
chillingly prescient is that!
— ANDY KLEMENSOWICZ, Courtice, Ont.

CONTRIBUTE FOR SERVICE TO SUBSCRIBERS Pay your bill, view your account
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rd.ca 11

reader’s digest

BIG IDEA

How one Facebook group inspired thousands of
Canadians to help each other through the pandemic

In It Together

BY Courtney Shea

photograph by jaime hogge

WHEN THE COVID-19 pandemic emptied and the entire country went
hit in March, 53-year-old into lockdown. Along with her 46-year-
Toronto disability support old friend Valentina Harper, who works
worker Mita Hans worried that her in e-commerce, Hans launched a Face-
elderly neighbour might have trouble. book group called “CaremongersTO.”
Hans asked if she could help out. At They imagined the group would con-
first, the neighbour was more annoyed nect a few dozen neighbours with oth-
than appreciative, curtly telling Hans ers who needed help.
to stop “scaremongering” her. “I’m not
trying to scare you; I care about you,” Within two days, hundreds of vol-
Hans responded. A few days later, she unteers had signed up. Soon the group
dropped off groceries and has done so numbered in the thousands, as spinoffs
several times since. “She’s my biggest launched in Hamilton and then Hali-
fan now,” Hans says. fax. By April, it had gone interna-
tional. As proof of their impact, the
Hans knew her neighbour wasn’t term caremongering is now used to
the only person who’d require an extra describe thousands of mutual-aid-
hand in the coming weeks, as shelves style groups that have sprung up

12 july/august 2020

Co-founder
Mita Hans
sparked a
movement
to be kind.

reader’s digest

during the global pandemic. Both Most #ISO posts are answered
Justin Trudeau and Barack Obama have within hours, and many volunteers say
tweeted their praise. helping others during the pandemic
has boosted their own well-being.
While Hans jokes she didn’t set out Toronto’s Abigail Millar is one of them.
to invent a verb, she’s always been She saw an #ISO post for protective
invested in giving back to her commu- gear in late March from a health care
nity. Raised Sikh, she and her siblings worker and got to work transforming a
performed regular sevas, or selfless bed sheet into masks. She has since
services. She now devotes most of her made more than 3,000. Being a care-
hours away from her full-time job monger, says Millar, has helped her
working with disabled adults at Com- through the hard time: “Having a sense
munity Living Toronto to the caremon- of purpose has been really great. I get
gering cause. She says the only way up, I have my tea, and I get sewing.”
she’s been able to do it all is thanks to
the group’s 23 volunteer moderators Hans says this reciprocal positivity
and admins. is an essential part of caremongering’s
model. So too is amplifying marginalized
VOLUNTEERS SAY voices. Her advisory team includes four
HELPING OTHERS Indigenous people and members of the
THROUGH COVID-19 University of Toronto’s Black Medical
BOOSTED THEIR OWN Students Association. And while she has
no plans to turn caremongering into a
WELL-BEING. full-time job, she sees endless potential
in expanding the mutual aid frame-
The movement has helped thousands work. “What’s happening right now,”
left vulnerable as a result of COVID-19. she says, “is sparking all sorts of conver-
To ask for help, a person simply posts sations about how our world operates,
a request with the hashtag “ISO” (in who benefits from our economic struc-
search of ) on their community’s care- ture and what we mean by essential.”
mongering page. People have asked
for everything from groceries and She hopes that the basic principle
masks to help filling out government underlying caremongering—giving
funding forms. Volunteers will then according to ability and taking accord-
meet requests in the comments or ing to need—will outlive the pandemic.
post messages that they have goods She says the caremongering model will
and services to share. come in handy as we face the next
major crisis. “We’ve got climate change
coming,” she notes. “What we’re expe-
riencing now is just a test run.”

14 july/august 2020

LIFE’S LIKE THAT “Where were you
born?” “Aquarium!”
All That Jazz I told him.

— Financial Times, SHARED ON TWITTER BY @DBROGAN — DOUGLAS PETERS,

I asked my grandpa why A Fishy Tale North York, Ont.
he wrote his cellphone When we immigrated
number on the back of to Canada in 1966, one Growing up in the ’70s
the phone. “So if it gets of the first things we as the youngest of 11
lost, someone can call wanted to do was visit children, I used to beg
that number and find Niagara Falls, and we my dad to get a TV with
me,” he said. especially wanted to a remote control. He
see the aquarium on would reply: “Why do
— SARAH CROWTHER- the U.S. side of the bor- you think we had kids
der. While preparing for in the first place?”
MUHUSEEN, Spruce the trip, our friends
Grove, Alta. warned us that at the — PAUL LAROCQUE,
border we would be
Just did my own taxes. asked, “Where are you Tecumseh, Ont.
So should be in jail going?” I practised my
by Friday. answer: “Aquarium.” My local Costco is out of
The day arrived, and Eggo waffles. A man and
— @YELLOWBONEMAMA while we were in the a woman reached for
checkpoint queue, I the last box at the same
It’s been six months kept repeating, “Aquar- time. Though he was
since I joined the gym, ium, aquarium.” Finally, there first, by about two
and no progress. I’m we got to the front and seconds, the woman
going there in person the guard asked me, insisted they should go
tomorrow to see what’s to her and her children.
really going on. I kid you not, the man,
who had his two teens
— @_CAKEBAWSE with him, replied,
“Ma’am, leggo my Eggo.”

— @EMILY_R_KING

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rd.ca 15

reader’s digest

ASK AN EXPERT

Are Opioids
Ever Safe?

We ask ER doctor
Daniel Kalla

BY Courtney Shea

illustration by lauren tamaki

We hear so much about opioid mis- When did opioid abuse in Canada go
use and abuse, but is there a safe way from a problem to a crisis?
to use these drugs? About six years ago, we started to see
Absolutely. We give fentanyl to people the overdose levels spike. At St. Paul’s
in the hospital for things like draining an Hospital in Vancouver, arguably the
abscess or if they’ve had their gallblad- epicentre of the opioid crisis in this
der out and need to get through the country, I went from seeing three to
operative pain. It’s safe when controlled. four overdoses a day to 10 to 20.
The problem is that doctors were pre-
scribing opioids too liberally as a way to The game changer was fentanyl,
manage long-term pain. After a while, which is 50 to 100 times stronger than
there was no pain—just addiction. morphine, and the street versions can
Then, when people are no longer able
to get what they need legally, or they
aren’t getting the same high and
require something stronger, they tran-
sition to street drugs.

16 july/august 2020

be 100 times more potent than that. opioid abuse—genetics, poverty, men-
In the ER, we’ve provided primary tal health issues—it’s important to
care to “familiar faces”—long-term understand that nobody is immune.
opioid users—who would come in on
a semi-regular basis. But when fentanyl Outside of your experience in the ER,
arrived, a lot of them disappeared. what other research did you do for
your book?
You also write novels on the side. How A friend of mine, who is an undercover
does that fit with your day job? cop, gave me a crash course in the
Writing is a release for me, a way to vent underground world that fuels the opi-
some frustrations with my work. My oid crisis. He described the cavalier
latest—The Last High—is about the opi- attitude among dealers and criminal
oid crisis, and I’ve had a front row seat organizations. Because they have no
to this tragedy for 20 years. It’s hit me regard for life, supply is not something
hard both personally and profession- we’re ever going to be able to fix.
ally, so I was very inspired to tackle it.
IT’S IMPORTANT
A lot of people think, “Opioid abuse TO UNDERSTAND
could never happen to me.” Is that
part of the problem? THAT NOBODY
Absolutely. People have their own IS IMMUNE TO
vision of what someone addicted to OPIOID ABUSE.
opioids looks like, and it’s not usually
them or the people in their family. This What can we do? Do you support
is dangerous because it diminishes harm reduction strategies?
empathy and can lead to a sense of One hundred percent. We can’t treat
imperviousness that could make you a medical condition with a criminal
more susceptible. solution. Very few people who abuse
opioids would choose to be in the posi-
Is this addressed in your book? tion they’re in. We need to focus on
Yes, it’s one of the reasons I chose an decreasing demand by managing the
emergency doctor who specializes in people living with addiction, including
toxicology as the protagonist. Her back- legal access to the drugs they need
story is that she and her partner used and government-subsidized access to
hospital-based fentanyl—and he died detox and rehab. None of that involves
in her arms. the police.

Although there are risk factors that
can make people more susceptible to

rd.ca 17

reader’s digest

13 THINGS 1 Canadian scientists
forecast that climate
What You Should change will mean lon-
Know About ger, hotter summer
Summer Heat heat waves (defined as
three or more days with
BY Anna-Kaisa Walker temps above 30 degrees
Celsius). By 2051, major
illustration by clayton hanmer Canadian cities such
as Ottawa could experi-
18 july/august 2020 ence heat waves of
17 days or more.

2 “One of the most
important ways to
prevent heat-related ill-
nesses is to drink plenty
of fluids,” says Ian Fitz-
patrick, Prevention and
Safety, Canadian Red
Cross. Aim for eight
250 mL glasses of fluid
a day.

3 You can trick your-
self into drinking
more water. You can
easily add at least three
cups a day by drinking
a glass of water before
your morning coffee,
right before lunch, and
another as you’re get-
ting ready for bed.

4 Spicy food will help
you beat the heat.
Capsaicin, a compound

in chilies that gives and loose-fitting light alone, take certain
them kick, triggers a clothing that allows medications or have
response in your nerv- sweat to escape. cardiorenal disease.
ous system that makes
your face sweat and 8 Never leave your 11 Early symptoms of
cools you down. child or pet in a heat-related illness
parked car, even for just in elderly people don’t
5 Sleep better by tak- a few minutes—deaths always include thirst.
ing a warm bath an have been recorded Check in with those who
hour or two before bed. with outside tempera- may be isolated; head-
The warmth of the tures as low as 21 ache, confusion, dizzi-
water sends blood to degrees Celsius. ness or nausea may be
your extremities, allow- signs they need imme-
ing body heat to dissi- 9 Cracking a window diate medical attention.
pate more quickly. won’t help. “Vehi-
Your core temperature cles are an enclosed 12 Planning an espe-
will gradually decline, space with a metal cially long bike
cueing the start of your outer shell,” Fitzpatrick ride? Ease into it. Prior
body’s sleep cycle. says. “They heat up very to a major event in the
fast and have little, if heat, let your body
6 Save energy and any, air movement gradually acclimatize.
cool your house by when the windows are Expose yourself to one
setting your air condi- closed.” Even with the to two hours of heat
tioner as close to the windows ajar, the inside exertion a day for at
outside temperature as temperature can least eight days.
you can comfortably quickly increase to
stand, supplementing dangerous levels. 13 Although a frosty
with ceiling fans if margarita might
needed. Keep windows 10 Age can make you seem like just the ticket,
shaded during the day, more vulnerable alcohol is a diuretic,
and turn off sneaky to heat stress. “Babies, meaning it dehydrates
heat-producing devices children and the elderly you. For every unit of
like incandescent are less able to sweat alcohol you consume (a
bulbs, PCs and laptops. and adjust to changes shot of liquor, half a pint
in temperature,” Fitz- of beer or half a glass of
7 Dress for success. patrick says. The risk wine), you urinate
When under the becomes even greater 80 mL extra on top of
sun, wear a light hat for seniors who live your normal output.

rd.ca 19

reader’s digest PHOTOS: (TAMAKI) MARIKOTAMAKI.COM; (BIEBER) IMAGE PRESS AGENCY/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO; (ALIU) HC LITVÍNOV; (O’HARA) DFREE/SHUTTERSTOCK.

POINTS TO PONDER

I’m sure the little girl I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED
in me who wanted AIRSTREAMS. I LOVE THE
an invisible jet and
VINTAGE LOOK. I LOVE
lasso is pleased. THE SILVER ALUMINUM. I
LOVE THE SHAPE OF THEM.
–Author Mariko Tamaki,
–Under the Influence host
ON WRITING A WONDER Terry O’Reilly, ON WHERE
WOMAN COMIC BOOK
HE RECORDS HIS SHOW

I’M WASHING MY HANDS, BUT I STOPPED
SHOWERING, AND THERE’S NOTHING I,
YOU OR THE GOVERNMENT CAN DO ABOUT IT.

–Comedian Nour Hadidi

YOU CAN’T SIT AND Indigenous peoples know what
WALLOW. YOU CAN GRIEVE, it is to face the end of the world.
BUT YOU HAVE TO REPLACE
THAT PAIN WITH THE LOVE Our stories give us guidance,
and also speak to a life beyond
THAT YOU REMEMBER.
the despair of the now.
–Tragically Hip bassist Gord Sinclair,
–Daniel Heath Justice, AUTHOR OF
ON THE DEATH OF HIS FRIEND GORD DOWNIE
WHY INDIGENOUS LITERATURES MATTER

I think it’s up to Hailey,
because it’s her body.

–Justin Bieber, ON HOW MANY KIDS HE AND HIS WIFE WANT,

ON THE ELLEN DEGENERES SHOW

20 july/august 2020

I always tell everyone it’s a
beautiful game, it’s the best game
in the world, but I feel like it could
change a little bit for the better.

–Former NHLer Akim Aliu, ON RACISM,

TO RON MacLEAN ON HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA

I’VE OFTEN HEARD CONRAD BLACK DOESN’T
PEOPLE SAYING PAY DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR
ON HIS HIGHEST LEVEL OF
THEY’RE HUMBLED INCOME. WHY WOULD WE
WHEN RECEIVING ASK OUR LOWEST INCOME
AN AWARD, BUT I’M CANADIANS TO BE PAYING
NOT SO SURE THAT’S
TRUE. MY HEAD TAX AT THAT LEVEL?
IS GETTING BIGGER
–Former Conservative senator
AS I SPEAK. Hugh Segal, ON CANADA’S WELFARE SYSTEM

–Catherine O’Hara, ON RECEIVING A If you’re grateful for what you
have and you focus on the
GOVERNOR GENERAL’S PERFORMING ARTS positives, it has tremendous
LIFETIME ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
benefits for heart health, mental
health and reducing stress.

–Neuroscientist Daniel Levitin

You almost forget that what the
audience looks for is a really

genuine performance; they want
to see who you are onstage.

–Ballerina Jillian Vanstone

rd.ca 21

reader’s digest

HEALTH

A Hairy
Situation

Sudden bald patches can
have many causes, but

most can be treated

BY Vanessa Milne

H AIR LOSS IS often begrudgingly growth cycle of healthy hair. Usually, ISTOCK.COM/ALEXANDRBOGNAT
accepted as a natural part of most of your hair is in a growing phase,
life. After all, most people, during which strands lengthen by
women included, will lose some or all about 1.25 centimetres a month. This
of their hair as they get older. But when part of the cycle carries on for between
hair loss happens suddenly—handfuls two and eight years.
coming out in the shower or while
brushing—it can be truly distressing. After that, there’s a middle phase,
It can also be a signal of a health issue lasting about three weeks, during which
that needs to be addressed. the hair isn’t getting longer but also
isn’t falling out. Finally, strands enter a
To understand why unexpected hair resting phase, where the hair is loos-
loss happens, it’s useful to know the ened but sits in its follicle. Then, when

22 july/august 2020

the follicle begins to grow a new hair, the Scarring from other autoimmune
old one drops out. conditions—including eczema, psori-
asis and lichen planopilaris—can lead
Due to this cyclical process, we all to patches of hair loss. Similarly, ring-
lose up to 100 strands of hair each day. worm, a fungal infection, can affect the
“At any one time, about 10 per cent of part of the head that it appears on.
our hair is in the falling out phase,”
explains Jennifer Jones, a dermatolo- Some people on prescription drugs
gist who practices in London, England, also experience a disruption of their
and is an advisor to the British Associ- growth cycle. For instance, hair loss is
ation of Dermatologists. a known side effect of some blood
pressure medications, statins and hor-
When that balance is disrupted, a mone replacement therapy, among
person can have too much hair in the others. “If you notice hair loss, dis-
resting phase—and a few months later, cuss it with your doctor,” says Jones.
he or she might find that a large amount “We can often switch medications.”
comes out all at once.
ABOUT
One of the main triggers for this
disturbance is hormonal changes in 90%
the body. Estrogen keeps hair in the
growth phase, while androgens OF WOMEN EXPERIENCE
shorten the growth cycle. For this rea- SOME HAIR LOSS AFTER
son, giving birth and thyroid issues—
both of which shift the balance more GIVING BIRTH.
toward androgens—can cause hair
loss. “Stress is also a massive trigger,” Treatment depends on the under-
says Jones. “So life events like divorce, lying cause. To discover that, a doctor
bereavement or even moving house might order blood tests, perform a
have this effect.” small skin biopsy or examine the hairs
under a microscope. If the loss is hor-
Another common culprit is auto- mone- or stress-related, it is usually
immune conditions, most notably alo- temporary, and resolves within a few
pecia. This condition, which affects months without any intervention.
two per cent of people worldwide, runs
in families and can be activated by a For cosmetic solutions, topical ster-
stressful event. In some cases, alopecia oids can help thicken hair, and hair
is subtle; other times, sufferers lose all transplants are another option. Some
their hair—including their body hair, people, of course, simply embrace
eyebrows and eyelashes. Patches of their baldness.
alopecia tend to grow back, while full-
body loss is usually permanent.

rd.ca 23

reader’s digest

News from the Osteoarthritis: ISTOCK.COM/VISIT ROEMVANITCH
There’s an App
WORLD OF for That
MEDICINE
The first-line treatments
BY Samantha Rideout for osteoarthritis
(OA) include tailored
MEET YOU AT THE exercise, which can
MEMORY CAFÉ strengthen the muscles
around the affected
When a person shows symptoms of dementia in joint, enhance its func-
public, others around them may not know how to tioning and reduce
react. As a result, many people living with dementia pain. However, frequent
withdraw from society, along with their caregivers. visits with a physiother-
To help them feel less isolated and stigmatized, apist can be inconven-
hundreds of memory cafés have opened up around ient for OA patients.
the world—non-judgmental places where families A Swedish trial investi-
affected by dementia can meet. Each memory café gated whether the same
is a bit different, but they typically offer games, kind of guidance could
music, snacks and opportunities to share stories. be provided online.
Their main goals are to provide enjoyment and After six months of
boost social support—for both the person with using an app called
dementia and the caregivers who share their lives. Joint Academy, OA suf-
ferers improved their
mobility and cut their
pain almost in half, on
average. “The app’s
program is delivered in
a structured way on a
daily basis, supported
by a physiotherapist,”
explains researcher
Håkan Nero of Lund
University. The app’s
US$89 per month cost
is sometimes covered
by public and private
health insurance.

24 july/august 2020

Erratic Sleep-Wake Who Should
Patterns Raise Get Tested for
Heart Disease Risk Hepatitis C?

(PERSON SLEEPING) ISTOCK.COM/MACTRUNK; (TOOTHBRUSH) ISTOCK.COM/GAWRILOFF Having established that Healthier Mouth, Hepatitis C is a liver
the amount of sleep you Healthier Body infection that often goes
get makes a difference undetected for years,
to your health, scientists In a recent study of over until serious complica-
are now looking at the 185,000 Koreans, tooth tions such as liver
effects of sleep timing. brushing at least three scarring arise. The U.S.
In a study of Americans times per day was asso- Preventive Services
over age 45, the partici- ciated with a lower risk Task Force recently
pants without a usual of developing diabetes. recommended hep-C
bedtime and wake time This could be more than screening for everyone
were nearly twice as a coincidence, since aged 18 to 79, given that
likely to develop cardio- gum disease involves medication now exists
vascular disease, com- long-term inflamma- to offer a safe and quick
pared to people who tion, which is known to cure. The Canadian
more or less stuck to a increase insulin resist- Association for the
schedule, even on ance. Previous studies Study of the Liver sug-
weekends. An irregular have connected poor gests a one-time test for
sleep pattern remained dental health to other people born between
a significant risk factor inflammation-related 1946 and 1975. Mean-
even after the research- problems, including while, the European
ers accounted for other heart attack and stroke. Centre for Disease Pre-
influences, such as the Besides brushing and vention and Control is
average number of flossing every day, you focused on the highest-
hours slept. Harmful can also reduce your risk groups, such as
disturbances to the risk of serious diseases people who received
body’s circadian rhythm by visiting the dentist blood transfusions,
may help to explain this as regularly as you can. organs or underwent
apparent link. surgery before hep-C
safety regulations were
enforced in their coun-
tries. Regardless of
where you live, you can
request testing if you
think you’re at risk.

rd.ca 25

reader’s digest

Lessons in Happiness Cannabis Might ISTOCK.COM/GLOBALSTOCK
Interact With
There are plenty of classes claiming they can make Your Meds
you happier, but few are backed up by the gold
standard of evidence: a randomized controlled Cannabis use is on the
trial. Investigators from the London School of Eco- rise among seniors,
nomics conducted such a study for an eight-week the majority of whom
curriculum called Exploring What Matters, devel- are also on prescrip-
oped by the international charity Action for Happi- tions. (In 2019, seven
ness. The course’s themes, which are rooted in per cent of Canadians
positive psychology studies, include how to foster over 65 reported recent
good relationships, cope with adversity, make the cannabis use, compared
workplace happier and build caring communities. to less than one per cent
in 2012.) “If you take
The trial looked at 146 people who’d registered cannabis—or are con-
for the course. For the participants who completed sidering taking it—have
it, self-rated life satisfaction rose from an average a conversation with your
of 6.4 out of 10 before the course to 7.4 afterwards. pharmacist or doctor
This one-point increase is bigger than what happi- about the risk of interac-
ness researchers usually measure when an unem- tions,” advises Tony
ployed person finds a job or a single person enters Antoniou, co-author
a new relationship. The course participants also of a Canadian Medical
reduced their anxiety and depression, going from Association Journal
mild to minimal symp- report. It warns that can-
toms, on average. nabis could affect how
you metabolize some
The course is run by drugs, making them too
volunteers, and anyone strong or too weak. For
can sign up on Action instance, it might dan-
for Happiness’s website gerously increase the
to learn how to offer it effects of warfarin (a
in their own cities. Par- blood thinner). And
ticipants pay by donat- certain drugs, such as
ing what they can ketoconazole (used for
afford, making it finan- fungal infections),
cially accessible to all. could make cannabis’s
So far, over 6,000 peo- effects more potent
ple in 250 locations than intended.
around the world have
tried it out.

26 july/august 2020

HEALTH

WHAT’S WRONG
WITH ME?

BY Lisa Bendall

illustration by victor wong

THE PATIENT: Davi*, Andre earned a meagre wage work-
a five-month-old boy ing on a fruit farm, and Carla was
THE SYMPTOMS: Wheezing, swelling unemployed. Like many low-income
and a widespread skin rash Brazilians, the family didn’t have a phy-
THE DOCTOR: Dr. Edna Lucia Souza, sician or pediatrician. Instead, over the
pediatrician at Hospitalar Universitário next month they visited a series of
Professor Edgard Santos, Salvador, Brazil clinics. Each time, a new diagnosis was
offered, along with a treatment. Davi’s
DAVI WAS THE picture of health parents were told their son might be
when he was born in the sum- experiencing eczema, an allergic reac-
mer of 2010 near the city of Sal- tion to something in the environment
vador, Brazil. He was a chubby, full- or scabies from skin mites. Following
term baby and breastfed easily, to the the doctors’ instructions, Carla and
delight of his young first-time parents, Andre diligently applied antifungal
Carla and Andre. But when Davi was cream, antibiotic ointment and then
just four months old, a red, blotchy a corticosteroid to Davi’s chest. But
rash began to spread across his chest. none of it helped.

*IDENTIFYING DETAILS HAVE BEEN CHANGED. In fact, the rash began to spread,
with widening areas of scarlet, and

rd.ca 27

reader’s digest

angry bumps that would peel and turn The rash was so severe now that it
raw. Davi was in pain and became covered Davi’s face, limbs, stomach and
increasingly fussy. back, even his buttocks. New lesions
opened up while others scabbed over.
As the rash took over most of his Each swollen thigh looked almost as
body, Davi displayed more symptoms. wide as Davi’s waist. The uncomfort-
He began coughing and wheezing. able baby was inconsolable.
Desperate, his parents consulted yet
another doctor; this one suggested Davi At first, to Souza, this looked like a
had a bacterial infection and gave him severe reaction to the oral antibiotic
an oral antibiotic. Carla and Andre anx- he’d recently finished: his blood tests
iously waited for their baby to improve. even showed low levels of the protein
Instead, his legs began to swell. albumin, which can be caused by a
drug reaction.
DAVI’S RASH BECAME
SEVERE AND PAINFUL, Davi, however, had fat droplets in
COVERING HIS ENTIRE his stools. That was a possible sign of
BODY. THE BABY WAS malabsorption, in which nutrients
aren’t properly taken into the body.
INCONSOLABLE. The swelling—called edema—can also
be an indicator of poor nutrition. In
With matters steadily worsening, fact, so can low albumin. Was Davi
Davi’s distressed parents were begin- undernourished? He wasn’t particu-
ning to think they would never figure larly small or underweight, but the
out what was wrong with their son, edema could mask any weight loss.
now five months old. But Carla spoke
to a second cousin who suggested they There are a few conditions, Souza
try the Salvador teaching hospital says, that her team considers when
where her own son, who lived with a infants appear to have inadequate
chronic illness, received care. nutrition. One is cystic fibrosis (CF),
a genetic lung disease. It restricts the
At the Hospitalar Universitário Pro- normal movement of salt compounds
fessor Edgard Santos, the family met and water in the body and can cause
Dr. Edna Lucia Souza, who immedi- thick mucus to build up in the lungs,
ately started running tests. “The par- causing infections. Often, the pancreas
ents were very worried and sad,” she doesn’t produce sufficient enzymes for
recalls. “They didn’t have a hope that digestion. Respiratory symptoms can
we could help them.” burn up calories. But a widespread skin
rash is not a typical CF symptom.

Nevertheless, Davi had been in hos-
pital for seven days with no diagnosis,

28 july/august 2020

and his coughing and wheezing gave 70,000 other people around the
Souza pause. Cystic fibrosis is genetic, world—Davi had cystic fibrosis. In
and it just happened to be the disease fact, bacterial cultures of his lungs
that Davi’s distant cousin was being showed three active infections.
treated for. “He wasn’t a close relative,”
says Souza. “But it helped us to think The diagnosis explained his respira-
it could be CF.” tory symptoms and nutrition status,
but what had caused the severe rash?
DAVI’S DISTANT Only 30 or so cases like this in patients
COUSIN HAD CYSTIC with CF have been reported world-
FIBROSIS, WHICH IS wide. Souza suspects the skin changes
GENETIC. HIS DOCTOR may have been connected to the
nutritional deficiencies.
RAN A TEST.
Davi stayed in hospital for another
In many countries, babies are tested five weeks. He was given vitamins,
for CF at birth. But Davi, born three enzymes and a drug to clear his air-
years before his Brazilian state brought ways. “When he was discharged, he
in screening, hadn’t been. Cystic fibro- was very well, and since then, he hasn’t
sis causes higher levels of salt chem- had any hospitalization,” says Souza.
icals in sweat, so Souza ran a test in When Davi’s younger sister was born
which the sweat glands are stimulated with CF a couple of years later, she was
by a mild electrical current, and sweat able to start treatment at an even ear-
is collected in a tube and analyzed. lier age, thanks to prompt testing.

The test turned out to be positive. Today, Souza still sees Davi and his
Like his distant cousin—and about sister. “We have a close relationship
with the mom and dad,” she says. “I
think that they feel very safe. They
know that we are trying to do the best
for their children.”

Funny Runners

Jogging is very beneficial. It’s good for your legs and your feet.
It’s also very good for the ground. It makes it feel needed.

CHARLES M. SCHULZ

My doctor told me that jogging could add years to my life.
I think he was right. I feel10 years older already.

MILTON BERLE

rd.ca 29

COVER STORY

THE NEW

Small changes to your diet can make a big
difference. Ten ways to improve your health

and save the planet while you’re at it.

BY Rebecca Philps

photograph by liam mogan
illustrations by anson chan

30 july/august 2020

reader’s digest

1. The Mediterranean diet nearly 26,000 women found that those
will help you live forever who followed the Med diet had 25 per

cent lower risk of developing heart dis-

Think of the Med diet as your healthy- ease and high blood pressure over the

planet-healthy-me creed. It won’t make course of 12 years. It’s even prescribed

you count calories or restrict meals. You by doctors as a cost-effective interven-

also don’t have to ban meat and dairy tion for high blood pressure, diabetes

from your plate. Eat like they do in and obesity, and to decrease the risk of

southern Italy and France, Greece and developing depression and dementia.

Spain: lots of vegetables, fruits, herbs, One long-term analysis of the eating

nuts, beans, olive oil and More habits of 10,000 middle-
whole grains with moder- veggies aged U.S. adults who were
ate amounts of dairy, poul- every day monitored between 1987
try, seafood and eggs. Half and 2016 showed dramatic
your plate should be filled results. None of the partic-

with a variety of veg and equals ipants had cardiovascular (FISH) ISTOCK.COM/VIKIF; (FOOD) ISTOCK.COM/RUDIGOBBO
fruit, a quarter with whole fewer disease at the start of the
grains (whole wheat bread, study. The researchers then

ailments.whole wheat pasta, brown categorized the partici-

rice) and a quarter with pants’ eating patterns by

healthy proteins like beans, nuts, fish the proportion of plant-based foods

or poultry. Red meat is an occasional they ate, as espoused by Med-style diets,

indulgence—once or twice per month. versus animal-based foods.

Sweet treats should be limited, too (you People who ate the most plant-based

had to know that was coming). Light foods overall had a 32 per cent lower

daily exercise, like walking, and eating risk of dying from a cardiovascular dis-

together socially are also key to reap- ease and a 25 per cent lower risk of

ing the benefits of this approach. dying from any medical cause com-

The Med diet is effective in reducing pared to those who ate the least amount

the risk of overall mortality as well as of plant-based foods. In other words,

cardiovascular diseases: a study of the benefits are real.

32 july/august 2020

2. Cut back on meat and plus the usual suspects: meats, fish,
still max out on protein poultry, eggs, milk, cheese and yogurt.
Fruit and veg also add small amounts
Yes, you’ll absolutely get enough pro- of protein to your diet, and even more
tein if you cut back on meat—and you importantly, eating protein from a wide
really don’t need that much (an adult variety of food sources will help you
weighing 70 kilograms needs about meet your needs for nutrients like
56 grams per day, or 0.8 grams per kilo iron, zinc, vitamin B12 and calcium.
of body weight). “Many
of us still falsely associ- But plant-based sources
ate animal food as the aren’t as concentrated
only source of protein, in protein, so a sprinkle
when there are so many of chickpeas won’t cut
plant foods that contain it—you need to eat three-
enough protein to sus- quarters of a cup in order
tain ourselves on,” says to get 11 grams of pro-
Desiree Nielsen, regis- tein. “The biggest mis-
tered dietitian and author of the best- take I see people mak-
selling Eat More Plants cookbook. ing is they remove the meat from their
Whole grains have a lot more protein plate and don’t replace it with a plant
than you might think, along with many that offers a similar amount of pro-
other vital nutrients. Protein is found tein, plus some healthy fat,” says Niel-
in peas, beans and lentils, nuts and sen. “Then they’re hungry and filling
seeds and their butters, soy products, up on starchy convenience foods and
not feeling their best.”

(BEANS) ISTOCK.COM/PICTUREPARTNERS 3. The humble bean is a miracle food

Why are dietitians so gaga for lentils and beans? They’re high in
protein and fibre and low in fat; plus, they’re inexpensive to buy
and easy to prepare. And they’re a great source of iron, which is
important for vegetarians. Think beyond beans on toast and look
to Indian, Mexican and Middle Eastern cuisines for hundreds of
rich and flavourful ways to prepare them.

Legumes are also climate-smart because they can adapt to rough
weather, restore degraded soil by converting nitrogen in the air
into fertilizer for soil, and even make cattle feed more digestible
(meaning the cows burp less methane).

rd.ca 33

reader’s digest 5. Fill your plate with (CURCUMIN) ISTOCK.COM/KAANATES
these 10 trendy superfoods
4. Bugs are
coming to dinner Nutritionists and dietitians generally
recognize superfoods as anything with
Guess what else is high in protein, high levels of nutrients, particularly
low cost and eco-friendly? Bugs. vitamins and minerals, and antioxi-
They’re nutritional powerhouses: dants, which help prevent disease and
rich in essential amino acids, shield our bodies from cell damage.
omega-3 fats, iron and calcium. “Just remember,” cautions Nielsen, “no
Approximately two billion peo- one food is going to be the key to over-
ple, more than one-quarter of the all health. To reap the benefits, you
world’s population, eat them as need to eat a variety of whole plant
part of their standard diet. Round foods every day.”
these parts, they remain a tough
sell. That hasn’t prevented Cana- Studies show that curcumin—the
dian entrepreneurs dedicated to active antioxidant in turmeric—may
entomophagy—the human con- help protect heart, immune and met-
sumption of bugs—from experi- abolic health. Combine it with black
menting with snacks and flours pepper, which increases the body’s abil-
made from dehydrated insects. ity to absorb curcumin by 2,000 per
Even President’s Choice carries a cent, and a simple veg curry goes super-
powder of Canadian-farmed crick- nova. Or blend a quarter teaspoon of
ets that adds a blast of protein ground turmeric with some cinnamon
and B12 to smoothies, sauces, and ginger into warm milk and espresso
chili, curries and baking batters. for a healthful latte.

Bugs are entering our food All berries are good for you, but fresh
chain, even if you aren’t keen on raspberries have twice as much fibre
crunchy mealworms as a salad as blueberries, and the frozen ones
topper. Two Canadian companies contain three times the vitamin C of
are already breeding insects in frozen blueberries (no disrespect to the
vertical farms (factories where antioxidant-rich blues). Blackberries
food is grown in stacks) as feed for
chickens and fish. Creepy-crawlers
may just be the way forward.

34 july/august 2020

(HEMP HEARTS) ISTOCK.COM/LINDA HALL; (SESAME SEEDS) ISTOCK.COM/CHICTYPE; (KELP) ISTOCK.COM/HAWK111 get their colour from anthocyanins, and magnesium. Blend them with olive
and there’s promising research that oil, chickpeas and lemon juice for
this phytonutrient may help delay age- homemade hummus.
related cognitive decline.
The amino acids found in pea pro-
Sprinkle hemp hearts into a smoothie tein support muscle repair, which is
or onto a salad: the plant-based pro- what makes it so popular with vegan
tein contains all nine essential amino athletes. Mix it in smoothies, puréed
acids, omega-3 essential fatty acids, soups or pesto. Initial studies show pea
plus calcium, iron, zinc, magnesium, protein may help reduce blood pres-
potassium, and vitamins A, C and E, as sure and lower cholesterol and tri-
well as B vitamins. Plus, they’re grown glyceride levels. Plus, it’s eco-friendly:
in Canada, so you’ll support a local farm peas grow in concert with bacteria in
economy. Boom. the soil to take nitrogen from the air
and convert it into a natural fertilizer.
Not only are prunes packed full of
fibre (hello, GI health), but eating 100 All seaweeds are mineral-rich and
grams per day has been shown to help climate friendly, but kelp in particular
prevent bone loss. You can also purée is a nutritionally dense superhero: it’s
them for a healthier sugar substitute in loaded with potassium, iron, calcium,
baked goods. fibre, iodine and a bevy of vitamins.
Use it in pasta sauce, stir-fries, or to liven
Sesame seeds are a great source of up a sheet pan of roast vegetables.
polyunsaturated and monounsaturated
fats (the good ones that provide essen- Dietitians agree that consuming food
tial fatty acids and deliver fat-soluble that’s rich in different types of fibre
vitamins), fibre, protein, calcium, iron helps maintain the balance of good
bacteria in your intestines, as do fer-
mented foods like kimchee and miso,
which contain naturally occurring pro-
biotics that feed that good bacteria.
Add kimchee to a grilled cheese sand-
wich for a tangy, slightly spicy twist
on the classic.

rd.ca 35

reader’s digest

6. Pick the right
milk substitute

There are now about a gazillion milk flax are good locally produced alterna- (SOY MILK) ISTOCK.COM/PHIVE2015
substitutes at the grocery store and tives. Hazelnut is especially virtuous in
local coffee shop, which is good news terms of sustainability. The nuts grow
for anyone going dairy-free. But milk on trees that pull carbon from the
replacements aren’t always good for atmosphere, and they’re pollinated
your health. “Some of these plant-based by the wind rather than stressed-out
beverages have no nutritional value bees. Plus, they grow in wet climates,
and are packed with sugar,” warns such as the Pacific northwest, where
Nielsen. “Make sure the alt-milk you water is less of an issue. The downside:
choose has been fortified with calcium hazelnut milk is still a niche product
and matches the amount found in a and not yet widely available (check
cup of cow’s milk: 30 to 35 per cent of your local health food store).
your daily needs. Opt for unsweetened.
Flavoured or even ‘original’ flavoured And give cow’s milk a second chance.
plant-based milks can contain twice “If you aren’t vegan and can tolerate it,
the sugar of a cup of cow’s milk.” And consider sticking with dairy,” says Bar-
know that of all the alt-milks, soy milk bara Seed, a registered dietitian. Milk is
is the only one that’s nutritionally com- local to most places in Canada, and it
parable to cow’s in terms of its protein helps to keep farmers farming and to
content (important for small children). preserve agricultural land. And we
can work with the producers to keep
The environmental benefits of giving reforming practices to improve envi-
up milk are decidedly mixed. While ronmental impacts.
Oxford researchers concluded that pro-
ducing a glass of cow’s milk has at least
two times the environmental impact of
producing a glass of any non-dairy milk,
there are drawbacks to the demand
for milk replacements, including the
exploitation of tropical workers and
rainforests, extreme pressure on pol-
linating bees, excessive use of irriga-
tion water and waterway pollution
from fertilizers.

So what’s the answer? As far as plant-
based options go, soy, oat, hemp and

36 july/august 2020

7. Grow your own salad

Seriously! If that sounds like too much work, relax: lettuce
is one of the easiest and most forgiving vegetables to grow,
and provides fibre, vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals
for few calories. These greens don’t need deep soil to take
root, so you can plant them in just about anything: an
upcycled metal colander, an old tire, a garbage pail or, the
Rolls-Royce treatment, an elevated VegTrug planter. You’ll
save money and reduce waste (no more chucking out
those half-full clamshell boxes). Plus, studies show that
gardening reduces stress and improves cognitive function.

STEP 1 one-quarter inch deep garden centre and plop
Step outside. Is it spring in loose garden soil. To it into the container.
or fall? Perfect. You can keep fresh lettuce com-
grow lettuce. Find a spot ing in, plant more seeds STEP 3
in your yard that gets a every 10 to 14 days until Wait a few weeks and
bit of sun and a bit of the weather heats up; harvest! Looseleaf
shade, or tuck a con- then wait until things varieties will mature in
tainer in the corner of cool off to plant fall sal- 40 to 45 days, while
a deck or balcony. ads. Or, even easier, romaines and butter-
pick up a pot filled with heads peak between
STEP 2 pre-grown mixed 55 and 70 days.
Sow some seeds greens from your local Congrats: you did it.

(MEAT-LESS BURGER) FUDIO/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO 8. Avoid plant-based “meats” short, no. Plant-based meats contain
similar amounts of saturated fat and
You’ve seen plant-based burgers at the protein, and often more sodium and
grocery store, on fast food menus and carbohydrates than a beef burger.
at your neighbour’s backyard party. “Most of these new plant-based prod-
They’re made with either pea protein ucts are highly processed,” says Seed,
(like the products from Beyond Meat “meaning they’re full of added ingre-
and Maple Leaf’s Lightlife) or soy
(like the Impossible Burger, dients. If you’re looking to make
which was approved for sale a healthy choice, look for grain-
in Canada early in 2020). or veggie-based burgers with
fewer calories and less satu-
But are they healthier? In rated fat.”

rd.ca 37

reader’s digest

9. Lab-produced food
is coming sooner
than you think

Can you make dairy without a cow? That would’ve been easy to write off
Now we can, with cellular agriculture, as Franken-science even a decade ago,
the science of producing animal and except now we’re in dire need of an
plant foods in laboratories. Last sum- alternative to counter the outsize envi-
mer, Canadian scientist Isha Datar and ronmental effects of large-scale dairy
fellow co-founders of the Silicon Valley operations. Cellular agriculture won’t
startup Perfect Day introduced the first replace meat and dairy, but it has the
animal-free ice cream produced in a potential to shrink livestock farming’s
lab without a cow. To put an incredibly environmental footprint, address the
complex process in simple terms, the crisis of antibiotic resistance and
scientists use cow’s milk DNA to gen- improve animal welfare by offering alter-
etically alter micro-organisms such as natives (and competition) to big indus-
yeast. Then they use fermentation to try operations. That’s a win-win-win.
convert those micro-organisms into
the milk proteins whey and casein,
which can be combined with water to
create dairy products. The startup is
currently working to create the other
crucial ingredient in dairy: milk fat.

10. Choose better (VEGETABLE BASKET) ISTOCK.COM/FCAFOTODIGITAL

The idea of choosing better for your own health and
the planet’s means different things for different people.
“In Canada, it may mean supporting local farms and
food businesses,” says Seed, “or supporting farms at
all scales who are making proactively sustainable
choices—reducing fossil fuel use and food waste,
increasing biodiversity, land and water use efficien-
cies on the farm, etc.—or simply choosing legumes as
a protein source more often.” There’s no best or right
way to do it; just do something. Be flexible. Be open
to new ideas. And enjoy every last bite.

38 july/august 2020

LAUGHTER Community Support
Me ordering delivery
the Best Medicine regularly:
-lazy
Inventing the Soul Patch Me: I’m going to sleep -needlessly expensive
Friend: You missed in today. -pathetic
a spot. The 500 birds outside Me ordering delivery
Guy: I don’t care. my window: Lol. during the COVID-19
pandemic:
— @DONTTOUCHJAMES — @GROOVYTASIA -heroism
-singlehandedly
Two in One Taking Chances keeping every small
The opposite of formal- One out of every three business afloat
dehyde is casual- blueberries is an abso- -Nobel Prize in
dejekyll. lute nightmare. Economics

— @BROWTWEATEN — @CHASE__CHASE — @ORANGE_PAULP

THE BEST JOKE I EVER TOLD Drive-thru attendant:
Would you like to try
By Ophira Calof the chicken club?
Me: [Imagining chick-
In a medical emergency, I recommend you: ens getting down on
1) Call 911. the dance floor] Hell
2) Unlock the door. yes I would.
3) Summon every last
ounce of strength you — @PRUFROCKLUVSONG
have to shove your dirty
dishes in the sink so that Might as well go ahead
the paramedics don’t and get in the pond if
see your shame. you’re going to keep
acting like a silly goose!
Ophira Calof is a Toronto-
based comic and — @LOWENDFURY
co-creator of the sketch
comedy revue Generally Send us your original
Hospital. Find her online jokes! You could earn $50
at www.ophira.ca. and be featured in the
magazine. See page 11
or rd.ca/joke for details.

rd.ca 39

SOCIETY

Even the most savvy
among us can fall for a
con and lose hundreds
of dollars. I learned
this first-hand when
an imposter’s plea
arrived in my inbox.

BY Bruce Grierson FROM THE WALRUS

illustration by jackie lee

40 july/august 2020

reader’s digest

reader’s digest

the email popped up on my screen at “Let me know when you’ve sent it,”
6:45 a.m. on December 24 last year. I’d he wrote. “God bless.”
already been up for a couple of hours,
working to deadline. It was from some- God bless? We’re Unitarians. Opti-
one I know quite well: the minister of mistic agnostics at best. The “G” word
West Vancouver’s North Shore Unitar- doesn’t come up much. Totally weird
ian Church, which my family attends. sign-off there. I assumed Ron’s mind
was still on the dire circumstances of
“I need a favour from you,” the mes- his friend Sharon, who was evidently
sage said. “Email me as soon as you get a Christian.
my message.”
“I can pick up the card around noon
“Ahoy Ron,” I replied. and engineer this by tonight,” I replied.
A friend was in the hospital battling
cancer, he said, and he’d just learned WORD OF MY GIFT
she was scheduled for surgery that CARD APPARENTLY
night. Could I possibly pick up some CIRCULATED AROUND
iTunes gift cards? “She needs the cards THE HOSPITAL. THEY
to download her favourite music and WANTED $500 MORE.
videos to boost her confidence on her
next phase of surgery.” He’d do it him- He was super grateful, he replied six
self, but he was tied up, he explained. minutes later, but that would be too
“I will surely reimburse you as soon late. “Can you please send them to her
as I can.” by noon so she could be able to use
No one else in the house was up, so them before her surgery?”
there was no one to run this by. But
then, I probably wouldn’t have asked for This was awkward timing. But hey,
a second opinion anyway. It didn’t really what was my slight inconvenience
occur to me that this might be a scam. against this woman’s cancer fight—on
“OK,” I emailed back. Christmas Eve, no less? I drove to the
“Thank you so much, Bruce,” my grocery store and purchased four gift
correspondent replied. Then he got cards. The clerk activated them at the
down to business. I was to buy $300 till. At 9:30, I emailed pictures with
of iTunes credit. (That is quite a lot of the following message:
music, I thought.) “I need you to
scratch the silver lining at the back of Dear Sharon,
each card to reveal the redemption The codes on the cards below will buy
code, then take a snapshot and send you music via iTunes.
them directly to Sharon’s email.” He Everybody is pulling for you.
gave the address.

42 july/august 2020

a busy christmas eve day then unfolded. it, is now so common it’s practically a
I forgot all about this until, around 4:30 demonstration sport at the fraudster
p.m., while waiting for takeout fish and Olympics. Indeed, reports of this exact
chips, I checked my email. A follow-up scam I’ve just described can be found
message—one that contained some on the Internet in five seconds. But it
odd grammar—was sitting in my inbox. never occurred to me to check. The
question is, Why?
“Sharon just emailed me now saying
she got the cards. I want to really appre- Near the end of the film The Sixth
ciate you for that. I’m sure it’s going to Sense, director M. Night Shyamalan
go a long way in her fight over cancer.” springs his trap. And you go: Wait. Bruce
Willis is . . . dead? I remember feeling
But now there was a new develop- stung. Disoriented. And yet, in retro-
ment. Apparently, word of the gift cards spect, the evidence was there all along.
had made its way around the cancer
ward. Other patients were asking Ron It was exactly the same experience
for the same thing. when Ron—the real Ron, that is—said
over the phone: “It’s a scam.” There
“Could you please get me additional was the sudden reframe, the forehead-
$500 worth of iTunes gift cards right smacking denouement.
away? I will be paying you back $800.
I’m so sorry for the inconvenience.” That is the brain on a well-crafted
fiction, says Vera Tobin, a cognitive
This was a bridge too far. The per- scientist at Case Western Reserve Uni-
sonal friend was one thing, but ran- versity in Ohio and the author of Ele-
dom strangers on the ward? ments of Surprise: Our Mental Limits
and the Satisfactions of Plot. The
I called Ron. sympathies and attention of the “vic-
“Hey Bruce. What’s up?” tim” are expertly manipulated by nar-
“Are we too late to help those other rative sleight of hand.
patients?” I asked.
Silence. Then: “Um, I don’t know The stakes start small. In my case, the
what you’re talking about.” initial contact was modest and believ-
“Those other patients on the ward able. There were the shoe-shuffling
who now also want music,” I said. apologies, the thanks in advance. From
“Bruce.” A long beat. “It’s a scam. there, the story unfolded. Next thing I
Somebody has been impersonating knew, I was putting on my jacket.
me. I put out a warning on Facebook.”
“I didn’t . . . see that.” Scammers exploit thinking errors in
the same way storytellers do. We are
phishing, “the easiest and the most “cognitive misers,” says University of
productive attack vector used by crim- Toronto psychologist Keith Stanovich,
inals,” as one security consultant put taking mental shortcuts and jumping

rd.ca 43

reader’s digest

to conclusions wherever possible. I have been there—I was at my father’s
That’s why Stanovich insists that gull- bedside when he died of cancer.
ibility isn’t a sign of low intelligence.
It’s a sign of “low rationality,” which is All these factors together may incline
different. The front brain never has a scam victims to overlook what should
chance; the horse has already left the be glaring red flags. My minister didn’t
barn with that first snap judgment. use my name in the first email. Then
again, maybe he was in a hurry? (The
Scammers take advantage of other scammer didn’t use my name because
cognitive errors, too, like “optimism he didn’t have it. Until, with my
bias.” Most people think they’re a little response, I gave it to him.) And the
bit charmed, a little luckier than aver- grammatical errors from a person I
age. We harbour a personal fable that knew to be fastidious with language?
things are likely to go well for us. The I chalked it up to stress. Basically, I
possibility that we’ve been hood- read those emails through a filter that
winked just isn’t as “available” as a cleaned up the language and imputed
happy ending. only good motives.

And then there’s “consistency bias,” THERE’S EVIDENCE
which says people tend to act in accor- THAT CON ARTISTS
dance with whom they believe them- DISPROPORTIONATELY
selves to be. When I received the first TARGET RELIGIOUS
email it spoke to my sense that I’m a
nice guy, and here’s an opportunity to GROUPS.
prove it. “You were on a goodwill mis-
sion,” said the cop at a North Shore if successful scams exploit these uni-
RCMP detachment who dutifully took versal cognitive biases, why don’t all of
down my report. “And that kind of put us fall for them? Around 20 per cent
blinders on you.” of the population is especially vulner-
able to scams, says Stephen Lea, a psy-
Lastly, behavioural economists chologist at the University of Exeter.
coined a term, “anchoring,” which psy- And of the folks who receive phishing
chologists also use—the act of relying emails like mine, only around three
too heavily on one piece of informa- per cent actually bite, according to a
tion. “It’s hard for people to set aside recent study by telecom giant Verizon.
something they already know,” says So we few, we sorry few, we band of
Tobin. “And that, then, constrains our schlemiels: What’s different about us?
ability to reason.” The scammer had
fixed in my mind the image of a cancer
ward, and to make matters worse, I
could see Sharon in my mind because

44 july/august 2020

There’s a widespread perception that his apartment to “get the camera,” never
scam victims are predominantly older to be seen again.) She started enumer-
folk. But that isn’t quite right. Millenni- ating the scams she could remember; it
als are actually scammed more than took two hands.
any other group, according to Federal
Trade Commission data from the Perhaps gullibility, as Stanford psy-
United States. But they lose less money chiatrist David Spiegel believes, is a
than seniors because they have less. “neural trait” in the way that hypno-
(Curiously, seniors are more likely to tizability is. (Brain scans of “very hyp-
get scammed face-to-face. One theory notizable” people reveal distinct activ-
is that older people are less likely to ity patterns, Spiegel found.) Whether
notice visual cues of insincerity.) that proves true, there are other char-
acter traits that we scam victims
The stereotype that the lonely are sit- demonstrably share.
ting ducks is true. Lonely people are
more likely to let scammers get their We are decisive. Okay, impulsive.
foot in the door; they open unsolicited Deficient “depth of processing” is
mail and stay on the line with those another way to put it, and mine was
bogus Canada Revenue Agency officers. abysmal in this case.

I’m not lonely nor a millennial. But “Naive” or “trusting” could also
I was randomly phished in a pool that apply, although social scientists prefer
is viewed as promising for scammers: the descriptor “unsuspicious.” And we
a minister’s congregation. There’s evi- are “risk takers,” physically, financially
dence that con artists disproportion- and emotionally. Psychologist Ste-
ately target religious groups—although phen Lea found that self-reported risk
it’s less clear whether “people of faith” takers were much more likely to be
are actually more gullible to such victims of scams.
scams. Most Unitarians, I’d venture,
are of the “trust but verify” variety. And You’d think ignorance would be a
sure enough, I learned that no one else precondition of getting bilked. But
in my congregation was fooled. This weirdly, the opposite may be true.
scammer was lucky to have found me. Sometimes the problem isn’t knowing
too little but too much. One of Bernie
“Remember the time you almost Madoff ’s victims was a psychiatrist
bought a car with a lien on it?” my wife named Stephen Greenspan, who lost
reminded. “Or the time you went to the about a third of his retirement savings
Downtown Eastside to pay the guy who to Madoff’s Ponzi scheme. Just two days
said he’d found your stolen camera his before he learned he’d been hood-
promised finder’s fee?” (He collected winked, Greenspan had published a big
the fee up front, then disappeared into authoritative tome, the fruit of decades
of research in his area of expertise. It’s

rd.ca 45

reader’s digest

called The Annals of Gullibility: Why We is against the merchant. But the mer-
Get Duped and How to Avoid It. chant didn’t do anything wrong here.
You willingly purchased those gift
Overconfidence, it turns out, can certificates.”
produce a kind of unwarranted swag-
ger, an almost comically obtuse mis- Wait, what? I didn’t willingly pur-
reading of events. The more we know, chase them. Or did I?
the less likely we are to second-guess
our initial take on something. what distinguishes fraud from all other
crimes is that it demands cooperation
I had actually been in the middle of from the victim, notes Lea. Or, in other
editing some articles on how to avoid words, the dupe is always complicit.
scams when the first email arrived. But what could possibly be the payoff
This should have made me be able to in getting robbed?
smell a ruse at 50 paces. But here’s the
thing: while I had a solid general Maybe the answer is not so different
knowledge, I’d never encountered this from why we go to magic shows, or
particular scam. There was no Nigerian The Sixth Sense–style movies with whip-
prince, no one claiming to be from the crack endings. It’s weirdly pleasurable
Canada Revenue Agency or Microsoft to suspend our disbelief and then have
or Apple. It didn’t even involve money the rug pulled out from under us. “That
directly. Why would a crook want ‘aha’ moment,” says Tobin, “is some-
music? (The answer is, of course, that thing humans like a lot.” The tension
they don’t. The reason scammers ask and release, after being expertly led into
for iTunes gift cards is simple: the jeopardy, is something I’ve probably
codes are hard to trace. And, once they been missing on the flat sea of midlife.
have them, they can resell them.)
And of course, for a writer like
“I’m afraid there’s nothing we can myself, drama is its own kind of payoff.
do,” said the agent from Visa’s fraud What did I get out of the whole ordeal?
department after silently hearing out Well, I got a “moment”—a frisson of
my whole story, back on shift after aliveness, a memory to distinguish this
Christmas break. day from all others, forever. And, not
least, a story.
“Why not?”
“Because it’s not fraud,” he said. © 2020, BRUCE GRIERSON. FROM “HOW A GOOD SCAM
“When we dispute a charge, our claim CAN BYPASS OUR DEFENSES,” THE WALRUS (FEBRUARY
11, 2020), THEWALRUS.CA

Not Just Skin Deep

Beauty is being the best possible version of yourself, inside and out.

AUDREY HEPBURN

46 july/august 2020

WORLD WIDE WEIRD

BY Rebecca Philps

pierre loranger Work(out) From Home mystery when he visited Dear Diary
Restaurant server Elisha Alberta’s Vermilion Her- In late January, 50-year-
Nochomovitz of Balma, itage Museum last May. old Robert Shull God-
France, intended to In the basement sat a dard smashed the glass
compete in the Barce- 2,000-pound sealed on the back door of a
lona marathon on safe, which had been Nashville home and
March 15, but COVID- donated in the 1990s. stole a television and
19 disrupted his plans. Everyone from profes- firearm but accidentally
He decided he would sional locksmiths to the left behind incriminat-
run anyway—42 kilo- safe manufacturer had ing evidence. City police
metres back and forth unsuccessfully tried to arrested the orderly bur-
on his 23-foot balcony. crack the combo. After a glar after he dropped a
The journey took six tour guide told him the notebook full of identi-
hours and 48 minutes— tale, Mills jokingly spun fying clues. The journal
significantly slower than the dial in a random contained a list of other
his three-and-a-half- combination: 20-40-60, targets—including the
hour marathon best. three times right, two address of a house a few
Nevertheless, he shared times left, one time miles away that was
the feat on social media right. To everyone’s sur- robbed that same day.
and inspired house- prise, the door creaked It also featured a note
bound runners around open. Sadly, there were from his daughter—as
the world to take to their no gold bars or precious well as her home
stairs, gardens or balco- jewels inside—just a address. Goddard was
nies to stay in top form. few papers from a wait- convicted of aggravated
ress’s order book dated burglary in late March
Safe Breaker 1977, and a pay sheet and sentenced to 12
Stephen Mills, a for around $9.95 from years in prison, proving
machinist and welder 1978. Solving the crime can sometimes be
from Fort McMurray, 40-year mystery, a little too organized.
Alberta, unwittingly though, was priceless.
solved a decades-old

rd.ca 47