Verily Magazine – Madison Ayers Writes

Women Are Being Coerced into Birth Control in Their Most Vulnerable Moments

“When Crystina Hughes, a thirty-five-year-old Black woman, went to the University of Alabama Birmingham Hospital to give birth, she wasn’t considering birth control.

Immediately after giving birth to her daughter, a doctor asked if she wanted to get an IUD inserted. After all, her cervix was already dilated. Hughes said no, but once her husband left for the neonatal ICU with their newborn, the doctor asked again: Could he insert an IUD?

In her vulnerability, Hughes assumed that it must be important to have the IUD inserted now, so she relented. Around six weeks postpartum, her milk dried up, and she had to have the IUD removed after her uterus prolapsed.”

Read more at Verily Magazine.

A Beginner’s Look at Home-Fermentation

“You might be aware of the fact that you are not quite alone in your body—you are also the home to trillions of bacteria and other microbes that make up what’s called the gut microbiome. These many microbes are crucial for countless aspects of our health, including our brain function, immune system, digestion, heart health, and metabolism. . .

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with taking a probiotic supplement, but they’re simply not necessary if you’re aiming to improve your gut health. Humans have been feeding their microbiomes practically since we began feeding ourselves; we just didn’t understand the immense benefits we were receiving.

Fermented foods have long been a staple of the human diet, as fermentation (the process of microorganisms like yeast or bacteria breaking down sugars in food and producing carbon dioxide, as well as either alcohol or acid) is a means of preserving perishable food. Fermented foods can provide even more benefit than an expensive probiotic supplement—plus, they’re delicious!”

Read more at Verily Magazine.

Five Science-Backed Daily Habits to Improve Your Summer Routine

“Although New Year’s Day is the typical time of year for resolution-setting, life often gets in the way of our plans. But losing momentum toward achieving a specific goal doesn’t have to mean that all hope is lost! Mid-year is also a great time to reevaluate your routines and goals, especially with shifts in lifestyles as we enter into summer.

Longer days mean more time to introduce and get comfortable with healthy habits. I’ve slowly implemented the following five habits into my days and have found vast improvement in both my physical and mental health. This list isn’t aimed at any specific end goal, but instead includes evidence-based, common-sense choices that are quick and easy to fold into the busiest of days. Plus, they can be completely free.”

Read more at Verily Magazine.

Verily’s “While You Were Out”

Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of contributing to issues of “While You Were Out”, Verily Magazine’s weekly news roundup. I was able to write on the GOP primaries, Supreme Court decisions, immigration, and more. You can read these news blurbs from Verily here:

How to Start a Garden: Tips for Beginners

“Imagine entering your backyard to find a perfectly ripe tomato, warmed by the sun. You pluck your fruit from the vine and savor a bite, or plunge your hands into the earth to reveal a perfectly (or imperfectly) formed carrot, dirt still clinging to its tiny white root hairs. While the offerings of your backyard garden might look similar to the grocery store vegetables you have stored in your crisper drawer, they taste anything but. A fresh tomato has a sweetness unmatched by anything wrapped in plastic, and while homegrown lettuce lasts only hours or days once picked, it brings a tenderness that makes the simplest of salads taste gourmet.”

Read more on starting a garden for beginners at Verily Magazine.

Gen Z’s Search for Fulfillment: Less Sex and More Porn—and a Deep Desire for Friendship

“Contrary to the oversexualized depictions of teenagers in shows like Euphoria and Riverdale, Generation Z (born between 1997 and 2012) is tired of seeing sex on screen. According to “Teens and Screens 2023,” a recent report from UCLA, nearly half of Gen Z respondents say that showing sex is not necessary to the plot of a movie or TV show. Many of them also believe romance is “overused” in media. What do these young people want to see on screen instead?

Friendship.”

Read more at Verily Magazine.