QIA study help - Qualified Internal Auditor Updated: 2023

In a relaxed environment, these student-led, question and answer sessions provide you with encouragement and support while permitting you to come and go as needed. Remember, all ASC services are free!

Please check with individual departments for up-to-date drop-in group help/study session offerings. Additional information will be available shortly after the start of each semester.

Certain types of music can help people feel less pain, according to a new study.

Earlier this week, the study, which was published in the journal Frontiers in Pain Research, highlighted that listening to favorite songs can reduce an individual's perception of pain.

The study gathered 63 healthy young adult participants at the Roy pain laboratory at McGill University in Canada, where researchers used a device to heat an area on their left arm that created a sensation that researchers described as being similar to a hot cup of coffee being held against their skin.

As the device heated their skin, the participants listened to either two of their favorite songs, relaxing music selected for them, scrambled music or silence. As the selected track played, the study participants were then asked to rate the "intensity and unpleasantness" of the pain.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

In their findings, researchers discovered that participants rated the pain as less intense when listening to their favorite tracks, as compared to when they listened to silence or scrambled sounds.

Relaxing music selected for them, meanwhile, did not produce a similar less intense effect, according to the study.

“We can approximate that favorite music reduced pain by about one point on a 10-point scale, which is at least as strong as an over-the-counter painkiller like Advil under the same conditions," Darius Valevicius, one of the study's authors said, per The Guardian.

Valevicius added that emotional or "moving" music may have potentially had "an even stronger effect" on those who participated in the study.

The fight to find a cure or preventative for cancer has been ongoing for decades. We’ve made some great strides towards possible treatments for cancer but finding a way to prevent it in the first place is always going to be important. Now, a new paper suggests that eating unripe bananas may actually help prevent cancer.

Eating slightly unripe bananas may help prevent cancer

Image source: Yaruniv-Studio / Adobe

Previous research has shown that a balanced diet high in fiber can reduce your risk of chronic diseases later in life. Now, researchers have discovered evidence that a diet of slightly unripe bananas may help prevent a hereditary type of cancer.

To study the effects that certain diets can have on an inherited syndrome that makes people more susceptible, researchers looked at data gathered over 30 years. This research began with a worldwide study of roughly 1,000 people with Lynch syndrome. This disease causes people to inherit a defective copy of a gene that encodes for DNA repairing proteins.

As damage to DNA is a fundamental cause of cancer, people with Lynch syndrome are more likely to be diagnosed with certain cancers, like colorectal, stomach, ovarian, pancreatic, prostate, and uterine cancer. However, the researchers found that eating legumes, potatoes, and even slightly unripe bananas can prevent cancer in these individuals.

Finding the hack

Image source: chokniti / Adobe

The hack is resistant starch. All of the food noted above is somewhat high in resistant starch. And, the researchers thought that there was a good reason to look at it. However, Inverse notes in its report that the team’s original hypothesis wasn’t right.

John Mathers, one of the authors of the paper, told Inverse that there was already evidence resistant starch could have biological effects that might be protective against cancer.

Initially, they thought that protection came from a molecule produced by resistant starch. Instead, it seems that secondary bile may be the cause of the protective element.

It’s an intriguing find. And it could make sense for people with Lynch syndrome to incorporate more resistant starch into their diets. It won’t prevent all cancer, either. But it could decrease the risk of several others, which is better than taking no preventative measures at all.

More science coverage: See how a radioactive gel can kill skin cancer painlessly.

Have a challenging goal ahead? Some anger could help you achieve it, according to new research.

For the study, published recently in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, researchers analyzed the role of anger in different scenarios, including a variety of challenges and a survey. One experiment, for example, focused on participants' completion of word puzzles after being shown images designed to elicit specific emotional responses.  

Across all the experiments, researchers found anger improved the participants' ability to reach challenging goals compared to a neutral emotional condition. In some cases, anger was associated with higher scores or faster response times — while in one experiment, they found, it increased the rate of cheating to win prizes.

Anger did not, however, seem to Strengthen outcomes when the goals were easier instead of challenging. In certain experiments, amusement or desire were also associated with increased goal attainment, but anger was associated with increased success across the board.

"People often believe that a state of happiness is ideal, and the majority of people consider the pursuit of happiness a major life goal," lead author Heather Lench, a professor at Texas A&M University, said in a news release. "The view that positive emotion is ideal for mental health and well-being has been prominent in lay and psychological accounts of emotion, but previous research suggests that a mix of emotions, including negative emotions like anger, result in the best outcomes."

Researchers also analyzed survey data collected from the 2016 and 2020 U.S. presidential elections, where people were asked how angry they'd be if their candidate didn't win. Though it had no effect on who they voted for, those who said they would be angry were more likely to vote in the election. 

"These findings demonstrate that anger increases effort toward attaining a desired goal, frequently resulting in greater success," Lench said.

Nicholette Leanza, a licensed professional clinical counselor with mental health care company LifeStance Health, who was not involved in the study, told CBS News that the findings didn't surprise her. 

"Often with my own clients, I've noticed when they move from being sad about something that didn't happen for them to feeling angry about it, they're more likely to take action to make things better for themselves," she said. "Their anger about the situation is the motivator behind moving them forward."

Alyssa Mairanz, owner and executive director of Empower Your Mind Therapy, who was also not involved in the study, explained how emotions can be strong motivators.

"In Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) we like to look at emotions as neither good nor bad; they are the reality," she says. "In DBT we also talk about emotions having three main functions: Emotions can communicate to and influence others; they can organize and motivate for action, which is what the study showed; and they can be self-validating and indicators of our needs."

While any emotion, including anger, is valid, Mairanz says, they should be used as guidance on how to proceed — but this can be done effectively or ineffectively.

"Impulsively acting on an emotion can lead to negative consequences if we don't act in our best interests," she says. "Anger is an especially risky emotion because it tends to be the one where people act most impulsively. Acting on anger without thought can cause someone to lash out verbally or even physically. Generally, that is not the most effective action in the situation."

Even if anger can help with certain goals, prolonged states or intense bouts of it can be unhealthy for your mind and body. It has also been linked to mental health challenges including depression.

"As we can see from the study, anger can be a motivator. But if a person stays angry for extended periods of time, that is not helpful or healthy at all," Leanza says. "We often say anger turned inward is depression, and we definitely see this when people struggle to manage their anger over long periods of time. So, anger can be positive for short blasts of motivation, but long periods of it can really turn a person toxic."

And because of the connection between brain and body, anger can also impact our physical health.

"Like other emotions, (anger) is accompanied by physiological and biological changes; when you get angry, your heart rate and blood pressure go up, as do the levels of your energy hormones, adrenaline, and noradrenaline," according to the American Psychological Association.

A free food sign sits on a corner in the West End neighborhood of Atlanta during a free food bank held by the Metro Atlanta Urban Farm on July 25, 2023. (Natrice Miller/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

(Tribune News Service) — A new University of Georgia study found one in eight military families with children have visited a food bank in a recent 12-month stretch.

The research, published recently by the Public Health Nutrition journal, also showed that Asian, Black and multiracial military families were roughly 50% more likely to use food assistance than white families. The survey was conducted in 2021, about a year into the COVID-19 pandemic. It included 8,326 families across the country with an active duty member of the U.S. Army or Air Force.

A family’s chances of going to a food pantry jumped by 35% for each dependent child, according to the study.

“If we look at the American population in general, about half of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck,” said Catherine O’Neal, the study’s lead author and a UGA assistant professor, in a written statement. “So it’s not really all that surprising that what we’re seeing with the military reflects the broader population.”

The study’s authors wrote that understanding more about food insecurity among military families “is vital” because it has implications for retaining service members. About a quarter of military families experience some food insecurity, according to previous research, meaning more families may need help with food than are currently receiving it.

“Broadly, the relatively small number of families in the current study who utilized such resources may indicate the need to grow resource utilization. It may be that those who need the resources are not using them,” states the study.

O’Neal pointed to stigma as a reason why some may not use food pantries.

The study found that Army families were more likely to visit a pantry than those in the Air Force. Families with two income-earners were less likely to seek food assistance than those with just one.

The authors suggested that community service agencies partner to spread awareness of available resources. They suggested that childcare centers provide a list of food distribution sites and educate the families they serve about those offerings, while food banks “can cross-promote other community supports.”

They also said efforts to help spouses obtain employment “can Strengthen military families’ financial well-being and reduce food insecurity.” The authors said that “targeted information campaigns” could inform those most in need, such as single-income families, of available resources.

Visit at ajc.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

The Mediterranean diet could be the key to blasting belly fat.

A new study from the Prevención con Dieta Mediterránea-Plus (PREDIMED-Plus) revealed that the Mediterranean diet, partnered with physical activity, can counter aging-related body changes suchh as fat gain and loss of muscle mass.

The study, published in JAMA Network Open on Oct. 18, was designed to determine whether the diet could prevent cardiovascular disease — but in the meantime, a subgroup was evaluated to measure the impact on body composition after a three-year period.

DRINKING A GALLON OF WATER PER DAY: DOES IT REALLY HELP WITH WEIGHT LOSS AND FITNESS?

The results showed that an energy-reduced (lower-calorie) Mediterranean diet and increased physical activity appeared to reduce aging-related weight gain and muscle loss.

A total of 1,521 middle-aged and older participants, who were either overweight or had obesity and metabolic syndrome, were separated into two groups.

The first group followed a Mediterranean diet while reducing their calorie intake by 30% and increasing their physical activity.

The second group followed a Mediterranean diet without calorie restrictions or changes in physical activity.

RUNNING 1 MILE A DAY IS GAINING POPULARITY ONLINE: HOW IT CAN Strengthen YOUR HEALTH 

The participants in the first group experienced "clinically meaningful" changes in body composition throughout the three-year experiment, according to the researchers.

This included a 5% or greater improvement in fat mass, visceral (belly) fat mass and loss of lean muscle mass after only one year of following the diet.

Fox News Digital reached out to the researchers for comment.

Nutritionist and registered dietitian Ilana Muhlstein, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital that the Mediterranean diet has been "touted for many years as the healthiest diet in the world."

She added, "And while that may be true, it is extremely arbitrary advice for a health professional to provide to an average person."

THE CANCER PREVENTION DIET: 6 SMART TIPS FROM A NUTRITIONIST ON WHAT TO EAT AND WHY — AND WHAT TO AVOID

The diet encompasses a "broad array of advice" beyond just emphasizing whole foods, Muhlstein said.

The "great aspects" of the diet include beans, legumes, whole grains, healthy fats, seeds, nuts and fish-centered entrées, the nutritionist said.

An energy-reduced Mediterranean diet differs from the original by incorporating more protein, having less added sugars and containing higher volumes of fresh vegetables or fruit instead of dried fruit.

"Yet the healthiest part of the Mediterranean diet that so many Americans overlook is the absolute obsession with veggies and fresh herbs," Muhlstein said. 

MEDITERRANEAN, MIND DIETS SHOWN TO REDUCE SIGNS OF ALZHEIMER’S IN THE BRAIN, STUDY FINDS

"These high-volume, nutrient-dense, low-calorie ingredients are the heart and soul of the true Mediterranean diet that sadly get dismissed."

Countries that have a "much better cardiovascular health status compared to America," like Israel or Greece, have an "abundance" of vegetables present at every meal, according to the dietitian.

"These countries don’t just eat vegetables — they celebrate them and would never think to have a meal without them," she said. 

"When they serve dips, like hummus, and tzatziki, they are always accompanied by a tray of sliced cucumbers or a mixed salad." 

She added, "However, in the United States, I see people devour high-calorie Mediterranean delicacies, like pita, shawarma and falafel, with almost no veggies in sight, which misses the point."

BARBIE BOTOX GOES VIRAL: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE NECK-SLIMMING PLASTIC SURGERY TREND

Muhlstein said people in these other countries "tend to live healthier" since they "easily maintain a healthy body weight by filling up on lots of low-starch veggies every single day."

She encouraged Americans to limit the pita bread and fill half of their plates with Mediterranean diet staples like roasted eggplants, pickled turnips and chopped salads.

As far as physical activity is concerned, Muhlstein recommended about 45 minutes of exercise six days a week to align with the "naturally active lifestyles" of people living in the Mediterranean.

Participants in the study were contacted by trained dietitians three times a month throughout the study, which Muhlstein said most likely led to "significantly improving" their relationship with food.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

"Sadly, in America, our view of food has become really unhealthy," she said. 

"We’ve been encouraged to seek carbs and sugar for emotional comfort, and only turn to vegetables if we have to go on a diet."

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

She noted, "This is a type of unhealthy mindset that can result [in] poor health and obesity … Giving the participants an opportunity to meet with a dietitian and to regularly and steadily Strengthen their eating behaviors and relationships with food is key for creating results that last."

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.