How Exercise Can Boost Brain Health
“Growing evidence supports the idea that exercise is beneficial for both the body and mind. According to a new study published in the journal Neuroscience, the relationship between physical activity and brain health may be even more closely linked.”

Is Mindfulness a Trait, a Path, or a Process?
“Mindfulness is in the news again. Forbes is asking whether mindfulness makes us selfish. USA Today is encouraging us to start a mindful practice for health benefits. And Literary Hub is chronicling the failure of one seeker to integrate mindfulness into their life.”

Eating more fruits and vegetables may help reduce your risk of death from chronic kidney disease
“Individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD) face a gradual loss of kidney function. More than 1 in 7 adultsTrusted Source in the United States have CKD, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Since there are often no symptoms in its early stages, CKD often goes undetected until the condition is advanced.”

Why is it so hard to lose weight?
“There is no “one size fits all” solution for weight loss. Regular physical activity and following a healthy, balanced diet almost always play a role. However, managing medical and mental health conditions can also affect a person’s weight.”

Apple is working on an AI health coach that will track your emotions
“Apple Inc. is working on an artificial intelligence-powered health coaching service and new technology for tracking emotions, its latest attempt to lock in users with health and wellness features. The new coaching service — codenamed Quartz — is designed to keep users motivated to exercise, improve eating habits and help them sleep better, according to people with knowledge of the project.”

10 popular diets scored for heart-healthy elements; some need improvement
“DALLAS, April 27, 2023 — Many popular dietary patterns score high for heart health; however, a few contradict the American Heart Association’s dietary guidance and did not rank as heart healthy, according to a new scientific statement published today in the Association’s flagship, peer-reviewed journal Circulation.”

A Team Approach to Improving Public Health
“A new study by researchers at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University and others shows how bringing together coalitions of individuals from government, public health, healthcare, public education, and other arenas to address a public health issue can result in better policies, systems, and environments for change.”

HHS Announces $2.5 Million for Produce Prescription Programs in Indian Country
“The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through the Indian Health Service agency, is announcing the availability of $2.5 million in funding to support the development of produce prescription programs in Native communities. Produce prescription programs help individuals and families who are experiencing food insecurity and/or diet‑related health problems more easily obtain fresh fruits and vegetables by receiving a prescription from a health care provider. Launching these programs in Native communities will support the Administration’s efforts to reduce food insecurity and improve their health outcomes among American Indian and Alaska Native people by increasing their access to fresh produce and other healthy traditional foods.”

Empowering Patients And Caregivers: A Solution To Healthcare’s Looming Crisis
“If you think it’s already hard to get the medical care you need – just wait. Experts are predicting doomsday. More people need care as our population skews older (the 65+ group was the fastest growing age group between 2010 and 2021, with its population increasing 38%).”

Neuroimaging identifies early life nutrient intake and brain maturation associations
“Myelination of axons is an indicator of brain structural maturation, and myelin imaging has become a viable means of monitoring brain development in early infant life.  The impact of nutrient intake on myelin development has been investigated previously, however, the work did not capture the longitudinal interactions between nutrients and myelin formation during infancy.  A study by Schneider and colleagues reported in the March 2023 issue of The Journal of Nutrition explores this relationship.”

Adding exercise into treatment may reduce substance use, study shows
“One key to fighting addiction may be exercise, according to a new study. Researchers undertook a review of the existing literature on physical activity and its relationship to substance use, and they found that regular exercise was associated with lowered use in about 75% of the studies investigating that question, according to the analysis.”

Could Long COVID Change Brain Activity?
“MONDAY, May 1, 2023 (HealthDay News) — Scientists report that brain scans of long COVID patients show abnormal activity in areas related to memory. The scan results validate the concerns of these patients, who feel like they’re experiencing fatigue, trouble concentrating and memory issues, even though their scores on thinking tests don’t show it.”

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New research suggests that french fries may be linked to depression
“French fries — they’re greasy, starchy and a comfort food for many. But reaching for fried foods may have a negative impact on mental health. A research team in Hangzhou, China, found that frequent consumption of fried foods, especially fried potatoes, was linked with a 12% higher risk of anxiety and 7% higher risk of depression than in people who didn’t eat fried foods. The link was more pronounced among young men and younger consumers.”

Potentially dangerous doses of melatonin and CBD found in gummies sold for sleep
“Testing of over two dozen melatonin “gummies” sold as sleep aids found some had potentially dangerous amounts of the hormone that helps regulate sleep, according to a new study. “One product contained 347% more melatonin than what was actually listed on the label of the gummies,” said study coauthor Dr. Pieter Cohen, an associate professor of medicine at the Cambridge Health Alliance in Somerville, Massachusetts.”