My Choices Weekly News

Study reveals beneficial effects of diet and exercise on alcohol-related adverse liver health
“Research in the Journal of Hepatology shows that assessing the moderating effects of two important lifestyle behaviors on liver mortality risk offers a more complete and nuanced view of the risks of drinking.”

Start Enjoying Exercise Using the Peak-End Rule
“Key points: Manifest a peak: Aim for one extraordinary moment every workout. Ignore the slog: The tediousness of a long cardio session will fade. End on a happy note: A satisfying finish can rose-tint bad memories. Follow-up frequency: Positive memories boost exercise adherence.”

State Medicaid Programs Cover Pain but Lack Behavioral and Integrative Services
“Medicaid programs across 5 states provide universal coverage for core pain management medications and procedures but show wide variability in behavioral health and integrative therapy coverage, according to research published in JAMA Network Open.”

How Cuts to the Nation’s Largest Nutrition and Health Programs Will Hurt Families and Young Children
“On July 4th, President Trump signed the budget reconciliation package, H.R. 1, into law. This law makes sweeping cuts to nutrition and health care support for millions of people to pay for tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans.”

The CDC quietly scaled back a surveillance program for foodborne illnesses
“A federal-state partnership that monitors for foodborne illnesses quietly scaled back its operations nearly two months ago. As of July 1, the Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet) program has reduced surveillance to just two pathogens: salmonella and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), a spokesperson for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told NBC News.”

Moderate-to-regular daily sleep patterns are associated with enhanced cognitive function
“Tsukuba, Japan—Daily sleep and activity are fundamental to both physical and mental health. Although previous studies have largely emphasized quantitative aspects such as sleep duration and physical activity time, there is increasing focus on how daily sleep varies among days. Less variable and consistent daily sleep patterns have been associated with decreased cardiovascular risk, lower mortality rates, and protective effects against incident dementia. Nevertheless, whether such associations of daily sleep patterns vary in individuals in the preclinical stage of Alzheimer’s disease or those experiencing subjective cognitive decline remains poorly understood.”

Researchers discover why smoking tobacco helps people with ulcerative colitis
“Researchers led by Hiroshi Ohno at the RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences (IMS) in Japan have discovered why smoking tobacco helps people suffering from ulcerative colitis, a chronic disease typified by inflammation of the large intestine. Published in the scientific journal Gut on August 25, the study shows that smoking produces metabolites that encourage bacteria from the mouth to grow in the large intestines where they trigger an immune response. These findings imply that protection against ulcerative colitis can be achieved through prebiotics like hydroquinone or probiotic therapy with bacteria like Streptococcus mitis, thus eliminating the need to smoke and all the associated risks for other diseases.”

3,000 steps a day at a faster pace may lower cardiovascular risks by 17%
“Increasing daily step counts and walking faster may reduce risk of cardiovascular events in people with hypertension, a recent study has found. Walking more than 3,000 steps each day reduced risk of major adverse cardiovascular events by 17%. The benefits of walking also reduced risk of cardiovascular events in people without hypertension.”

Obesity Risk May Be Driven More by What You Eat Than How Much You Exercise
“Key Takeaways: People across the globe burn similar daily calories, regardless of lifestyle or activity level. The “constrained daily energy expenditure” model suggests that the body has a cap on daily energy expenditure. Easy access to calories and ultra-processed foods likely plays a bigger role in obesity than inactivity.”

The science-backed case for doing nothing: why your brain needs time to drift
“Every day, we’re faced with constant opportunities for stimulation. With 24/7 access to news feeds, emails and social media, many of us find ourselves scrolling endlessly, chasing our next hit of dopamine. But these habits are fueling our stress – and our brains are begging for a break.”

What Is the Planetary Health Diet and Why It Matters
“The Planetary Health Diet (PHD), also referred to as the EAT–Lancet reference diet, is an eating pattern devised by the 2019 EAT-Lancet Commission to align nutritional adequacy with the ecological limits of planet Earth. The overarching aim of the PHD is to promote and preserve human health while keeping global food production within sustainable planetary boundaries by lowering diet-related chronic disease risk and protecting long-term planetary conservation.”

Physically active individuals tend to have slightly better cognitive abilities on average
“A meta-analysis of studies exploring the relationship between physical activity and cognitive performance found a small positive association between the two. The strongest effects were observed for moderate-to-vigorous outdoor physical activity. The paper was published in the Psychological Bulletin.”

New Colon Cancer Data Shows Importance of Exercise Therapy for Survival
“Inclusion of exercise as part of symptom management for patients undergoing cancer treatment is recommended by several national agencies, including the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). Several studies have now shown that exercise during and after cancer treatment improves patient-reported outcomes, treatment-associated adverse effects (AEs), cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), and overall physical functioning. More recently, preclinical evidence has identified mechanisms through which exercise could have direct tumor suppressive effects. New evidence confirms that exercise improves cancer-specific survival for survivors of high-risk colon cancer.”

Food safety officials issue warning against popular yogurt brand sold at supermarkets: ‘Could present a risk to consumers’
“The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced the voluntary nationwide recall of YoCrunch yogurt products after consumers discovered dangerous plastic shards mixed in amongst the included toppings. The FDA warned consumers not to eat the recalled products.”

Cycling may help restore neural connections damaged by Parkinson’s
“Parkinson’s disease negatively impacts the body’s central nervous system, which includes the brain. A new study has found that cycling helps restore neural connections damaged by Parkinson’s disease. This benefit was seen in as little as 12 cycling sessions over a four-week period.”

You Shall Not Pass: Pharmacist Review of Drug-Herb Interactions in Cancer Treatment
“Key Takeaways: Herbal supplements can interact with cancer therapies, affecting treatment outcomes and patient safety. Pharmacists are key in managing these interactions. Common supplements like curcumin and reishi mushroom may inhibit CYP450 enzymes, impacting drug metabolism and efficacy.”

Lower physical activity may impact your heart health 12 years before disease onset
“Several lifestyle changes can help lower the risk for heart disease, including being physically active. A new study found that adults who developed heart disease later in life experienced a decline in their physical activity about 12 years before their cardiovascular event. Scientists also discovered that Black male participants had a more continuous decline in physical activity from young adulthood to middle age, and Black female participants consistently reported the lowest physical activity throughout adulthood, highlighting disparity.”

Study links exercise with decreased mortality and cardiovascular events in people recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes but no previous cardiovascular disease
“New research to be presented at this year’s Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Vienna, Austria (15-19 September) shows, among people recently diagnosed with type with type 2 diabetes and no previous cardiovascular disease, a clear association exists between a person’s self-reported physical activity and their risk of all-cause mortality and major adverse cardiac events (MACE), that include heart attacks and strokes.”

EACH/PIC Releases Results from Patient-Led Survey on Drug Affordability
“August 4, 2025 — The Ensuring Access through Collaborative Health and Patient Inclusion Council (EACH/PIC) has released the findings of its new report, Patient Experience Survey: Prescription Drug Affordability and Unaffordability, which captures how patients and caregivers define and experience prescription drug affordability. The results challenge conventional cost-review frameworks by showing that focusing on the affordability of individual drugs often misses critical patient context about patients’ broader challenges. Policymakers risk overlooking the burdens that make medications inaccessible, including insurance design, cumulative healthcare costs, and complex personal circumstances.”

Specialist Physicians’ Perspectives on State PDABs: Access, Affordability, and Administrative Burden
“Key findings: Specialists report major gaps in communication between PDABs and providers. Physicians anticipate increased administrative burden and disruptions to care. Concerns emerge around treatment access, clinical autonomy, and non-medical switching. Most believe key decisions are being made without adequate clinical input”

Short, Brisk Walks Could Help You Live Longer Than Long, Slow Strolls
“The speed of your steps could make a significant difference in adding years to your life, according to a new study. Researchers led by a team from Vanderbilt University in the US analyzed the physical activity of 79,856 adults in 12 US states, comparing links between time spent walking slowly, time spent walking quickly, and eventual cause of death (where applicable) across an average follow-up period of almost 17 years.”

The One Exercise Every Woman Over 50 Should Be Doing to Stay Strong
“The stats are pretty alarming: muscle mass declines 3-8% per decade after age 30, and the rate of loss accelerates even more after age 60. The good news? It’s never too late to start moving, and resistance training in particular has been shown to increase muscle mass, improve bone density and boost metabolic health in postmenopausal women.”

Placebo effects improve sickness symptoms and drug efficacy during systemic inflammation: a randomized controlled trial in human experimental endotoxemia
“Background: Systemic inflammation triggers a wide range of sickness symptoms, including bodily discomfort and affective symptoms, which are relevant to numerous health conditions. While extensive research in the placebo field demonstrates that positive expectations can improve symptoms, it remains unclear if interventions designed to augment positive treatment expectations can alleviate sickness symptoms in the context of immunomodulatory drug therapies.”

Eating minimally processed meals doubles weight loss even when ultraprocessed foods are healthy, study finds
“People in the United Kingdom lost twice as much weight eating meals typically made at home than they did when eating store-bought ultraprocessed food considered healthy, the latest research has found. “This new study shows that even when an ultraprocessed diet meets nutritional guidelines, people will still lose more weight eating a minimally processed diet,” said coauthor Dr. Kevin Hall, a former senior investigator at the US National Institutes of Health who has conducted some of the world’s only controlled clinical trials on ultraprocessed foods.”

Understanding the importance of B vitamins for health
“Eight different vitamins make up the B complex, and they all play crucial roles in the body, such as producing energy, keeping our nervous system healthy, and supporting cell development. If eight sounds like a lot to keep track of, it might help to know that most research focuses on five in particular: thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), folate (B9), and cobalamin (B12).”

Researchers at University Hospitals and the Cleveland VA Say Long-Term Exercise Programs May Restore Neural Connections in Parkinson’s Patients
“CLEVELAND – It was the early 2000s when researchers first showed that exercise can help relieve the tremors that are common with Parkinson’s Disease. So far, researchers haven’t been able to explain how exercise helps. But they may be getting closer to an answer. A novel study conducted at University Hospitals and the VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System, through its Cleveland Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) Center, provides clues, as it shows that long-term dynamic exercise programs might have wider restorative effects on the brain signals of Parkinson’s Disease (PD) patients than researchers previously thought.”

Colon Cancer and Exercise: Can Physical Activity Reprogram Genes?
“A new study led by researchers at Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah (the U) shows that regular exercise may do more than help colon cancer patients feel better—it may actually change gene activity in both tumors and surrounding fat tissue. “This is about more than fitness,” says Vicky Bandera, a PhD student at the U leading this project. “We’re seeing early indication that exercise might actually change how cancer behaves at a molecular level. This work and the necessary follow-up studies can’t happen without funding at every stage—from basic science to clinical trials and large population studies.””

GLP-1 drugs fail to provide key long-term health benefit, study shows
“Popular GLP-1 drugs help many people drop tremendous amounts of weight, but the drugs fail to provide a key improvement in heart and lung function essential for long-term good health, University of Virginia experts warn in a new paper. The researchers emphasize that weight loss associated with GLP-1 drugs has many clear health benefits for people with obesity, type 2 diabetes and heart failure, including improving blood-sugar control, short-term cardiorenal benefits and improvements in survival outcomes.”

Implications of childhood psychological maltreatment and peer victimization for COVID-19 PTSD symptoms among adolescents: Mindfulness and self-compassion as explanatory mechanisms in trauma transmission
“Conclusions: Early victimization by family members and peers as primary stressors may contribute to subsequent PTSD symptoms in challenging life contexts due to major public health crises (e.g., the pandemic) through proliferating into secondary stressors of impeded mindfulness and self-compassion. Self-care-specific emotion regulation strategies may uniquely matter more above and beyond the general emotion regulation strategies in explaining such associations. Trainings that facilitate mindfulness and self-compassion could be potential avenues to reduce the deleterious implications of early adversities for later psychological well-being.”

Silent Flow, The First VR Meditation Experience for the Deaf, Launches at DeafNation Las Vegas
“LAS VEGAS, July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Nagish, a leader in AI-powered communication tools for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing communities, in collaboration with Moosh, a creative studio specializing in immersive and interactive experiences using AR, VR and emerging technologies, are proud to announce the launch of Silent Flow, the first-ever virtual meditation experience designed specifically for Deaf individuals.”

Counting Steps Doesn’t Add Up to Enough Exercise
“Counting steps as a measure of exercise is misleading and not a useful indicator of daily exercise goals, according to exercise physiologist Alexander Rothstein, Ed.D.”

Welcome To The Musclespan Movement
“Doctors and women are turning to a new metric as the ultimate indicator of longevity—and a powerful motivator for transformation.”

Exercising 150 minutes 1-2 times a week may lower death risk by 33%
“Research has shown that physical exercise can help increase insulin sensitivity and help regulate blood sugar more effectively in people with diabetes. A new study found that people with diabetes who meet current physical activity recommendations through either regular physical activity or a “weekend warrior” type of format have a reduced risk for both all-cause mortality and cardiovascular-related mortality, compared to people who do not exercise. Scientists also found that study participants who were insufficiently active still had a lower risk for all-cause and heart disease-related mortality than those who were completely inactive.”

The Secret Science Behind Feeling Great
“Columbia biologists propose a more holistic framework for measuring health — asking not what ails you, but what makes you thrive.”

The #1 Vegetable to Eat More Of to Reduce Visceral Fat, According to Dietitians
“Key Points: Visceral fat is deep belly fat that can raise the risk of diabetes, heart disease and more. Eating carotenoid- and fiber-rich vegetables may help protect against this harmful fat. Spinach is packed with these compounds, making it a top choice for reducing visceral fat.”

Mayo Clinic researchers discover how ovarian cancer may begin
“Little is known about what causes ovarian cancer, and there is no way to detect it early yet. About 75% of the time when someone is diagnosed with ovarian cancer, it has already progressed to stage 3 or stage 4, which means it has spread to other parts of the body. Mayo Clinic physicians, researchers and patients had been working together to learn more about this devastating disease when a 22-year-old patient, who has two rare genetic conditions that dramatically elevate lifetime cancer risk, came to Mayo Clinic.”

Study Finds Happier People Have Better Memory
“Do you remember your childhood road trips? Your first-grade classmates? Your mail carrier’s name? If so, a new study says there’s a good chance you’re a happy person. Researchers have found that people with more positive emotions tend to have stronger memory recall. The findings suggest that our emotional state may play a key role in how well we retain and retrieve information. Happier individuals, it turns out, may also have sharper minds. So how do you boost your happiness—and possibly your memory?”

How exercise can protect against Alzheimer’s
“Exercise has well-known protective effects in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). More exercise is associated with lower risk of AD, better cognitive function, and less cognitive decline in people with AD. How exercise leads to these effects at the cellular level remains unclear. Knowing this could lead to novel ways to treat AD and other neurodegenerative diseases.”

Early birds get the burn: Early bedtimes are associated with more physical activity
“Going to bed earlier than usual may help to optimize physical activity the following day, Monash University-led research has found. Published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences , the study examined whether sleep duration and sleep timing were associated with the duration of moderate-to-vigorous and overall physical activity the following day.”

I Tried Exercise Snacks for 2 Weeks
“Exercise snacks can help people move more during the day. Some research suggests these small, consistent exercise breaks may have a positive impact on health and well-being.”

The grip secret: it could be the key to a long and healthy life – here’s how to improve yours
“Anyone who has ever dropped their phone in the toilet – and isn’t that all of us? – knows something about the importance of a good strong grip. We come into the world ready to grasp anything placed in our hands, and if we are lucky we leave it the same way. In between, grip lets us cling to our parents, hold our lovers, rock our babies.”

Can a pill replace exercise? Swigging this molecule gives mice benefits of working out
“A molecule made by the kidneys and found in some foods can reproduce some of the myriad benefits of exercise — and slow some signs of ageing — when fed to mice. Betaine is a modified amino acid that plays an important role in metabolism. Results published on 25 June in Cell show that consistent exercise raises levels of the compound, at least in young men. The study also found that feeding betaine to aged mice boosts their immune health and grip strength.”

Acupuncture Can Make IVF More Comfortable, Study Says
“Key Takeaways: Acupuncture may help IVF treatments. The practice significantly reduced pain, stress and anxiety among women undergoing IVF. Other treatments like acupressure and light therapy also appeared to help.”

Mindfulness and Tai Chi Improve Mood in Cancer Survivors
“Both Mindfulness-Based Cancer Recovery (MBCR) and Tai Chi/Qigong (TCQ) significantly improved mood in survivors of cancer, whether participants selected their preferred program or were randomly assigned to either type of program. MBCR had greater benefits in reducing tension and anger, while TCQ was particularly effective in reducing depression and boosting vigor.”

People who keep their cell phones on ‘silent mode’ share similar psychological traits
“A new study from Kyung Hee University explores how phones in “silent mode” may hold the key to healthier minds at work. Researchers examined whether a mobile mindfulness training (MMT) program could improve stress, burnout, and work engagement among office workers.”

Researchers uncover rare gene variants contributing to systemic sclerosis risk
“Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a severe autoimmune disease with complex genetic causes. Some genetic contributors have been identified, but others remain unknown, which has impeded development of targeted treatments. In a new study published in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and collaborating institutions used complementary approaches that integrate exome sequencing and evolutionary action machine learning to identify protein changes and their associated mechanisms in SSc.”

The High Cost of Healthy: How Grocery Prices Shape America Diets and Health
“Key Takeaways: Rising costs of healthy foods are pushing Americans towards ultraprocessed alternatives, worsening health disparities and diet quality. Lower-income individuals face greater challenges in maintaining a healthy diet due to the increased cost of nutritious foods. Ultraprocessed foods are linked to higher risks of mortality, cardiovascular diseases, and certain cancers, necessitating policy interventions. Policy changes, including SNAP benefit updates and improved access to fresh foods, are crucial for addressing food insecurity and health disparities.”

Food insecurity linked to elevated mortality risk among cancer survivors
“Lack of access to healthy food is a threat to the lives of cancer survivors—a significant and often overlooked factor affecting their long-term health outcomes. A new study shows that those experiencing food insecurity had a 28 percent relative increase in risk of death as compared to those who were food secure.”

Finding Calm in the Chaos: Strategies for Mental Resilience
“Research consistently shows that prolonged exposure to crisis-oriented media can elevate stress, worsen anxiety, and erode emotional resilience. For healthcare workers, students, and the broader public alike, it can feel impossible to catch our breath. But evidence also shows that even small shifts in behavior can help buffer our minds from the weight of the world.”

Colon cancer recurrence and deaths cut 28% by simple exercise, trial finds
“Exercise is generally good for you, but a new high-quality clinical trial finds that it’s so good, it can even knock back colon cancer—and, in fact, rival some chemotherapy treatments. The researchers found that the exercise group had a 28 percent lower risk of their colon cancer recurring, new cancers developing, or dying over eight years compared with the health education group.”

Shedding Pounds in Middle Age Could Add Years to Your Life, Study Finds
“Key Takeaways: Losing about 6.5% of body weight in midlife may lower risk of disease and premature death. The benefits were seen even without surgery or weight loss drugs. An overall healthy lifestyle, not just weight loss, played a huge role.”

How Mindfulness Can Help You Avoid Accidents of All Kinds
“Key points: Distraction is one of the major causes of car accidents. A lack of focus can also cause accidents at home. Setting intentions is a present-moment-focusing practice.”

Arizona High School Pilots EgoEase Mindfulness Curriculum to Combat Teen Stress
“In a bold move to tackle teen stress, an Arizona high school is making waves with a groundbreaking mindfulness initiative. Catalina Foothills High School in Tucson has launched a semester-long program called “Mindful Mavericks,” co-designed with EgoEase, marking a significant step for the Arizona EgoEase mindfulness school model. Approved by the district board following a 2024 parent-teacher petition, this curriculum aims to reshape how students handle pressure and interpersonal conflict. Early results are promising, hinting at a potential game-changer for education statewide.”

An anti-inflammatory diet may help colon cancer patients live longer, study says
“Eating food that lowers inflammation in the body may help people with advanced colon cancer survive longer, according to research presented at a meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Chicago.”

Midlife Caffeine Intake Linked to Healthy Aging
“Summary: A long-term study following nearly 50,000 women over 30 years found that drinking caffeinated coffee in midlife is linked to healthier aging. Women who drank regular coffee were more likely to avoid chronic disease, cognitive decline, and physical impairment later in life.”

The impact of dietary interventions on cardiometabolic health
“Obesity and cardiometabolic diseases are leading causes of morbidity and mortality among adults worldwide. These conditions significantly contribute to and exacerbate other major causes of illness and death, including cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and chronic kidney disease. The growing burden of these diseases has increased the interest of modern medicine in understanding metabolic processes and health, with diet emerging as a pivotal modifiable factor, alongside physical inactivity and smoking.”

Vaping cannabis found to expose lung cells to toxic and cancer-linked substances
“Is vaping cannabis less harmful to your health than smoking it? Many people seem to think so. However, two studies conducted at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center (The Institute) suggest that vaping cannabis may (also) pose risks to lung health.”

Mental health among U.S. mothers declines sharply between 2016 and 2023
“A new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine reveals a concerning decline in self-reported mental health among mothers in the United States between 2016 and 2023. Conducted by researchers at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, the study also found modest but measurable declines in self-reported physical health during the same period.”

Exercising earlier in the day, staying consistent can boost heart fitness
“Researchers have come to have a better understanding of how the body’s circadian rhythm impacts their overall health. Past studies show that disrupting the natural sleep/wake cycle can increase a person’s risk for several health conditions. The circadian rhythm also defines the times a person performs activities during the day, such as when they exercise. A new study says that people who work out at the same time every day may improve their cardiovascular and lung health as they age.”

New neuroscientific approaches help overcome unhealthy eating habits
“Scientists at the Mind, Brain, and Behavior Research Center at the University of Granada (CIMCYC) have revealed how, when faced with highly appetizing and unhealthy food stimuli, many overweight people or those prone to binge eating keep their impulsive system hyperactive, while their reflective or conscious thinking system takes a back seat.”

Chronic cannabis use linked to significant cardiovascular risks
“A new study led by UC San Francisco researchers finds that chronic cannabis use – whether it’s smoked or consumed in edible form – is associated with significant cardiovascular risks. The report, published May 28 in JAMA Cardiology, found that people who regularly used marijuana in either form had reduced blood vessel function that was comparable to tobacco smokers. Vascular function in those who used cannabis by either means was reduced roughly by half compared to those who did not use it.”

Endurance exercise shows ‘paradoxical’ link to coronary plaque buildup
“Key takeaways: High-volume exercise was linked to higher coronary artery calcium score in men but not women. Coronary calcium was not different for women at any level of exercise intensity vs. nonathletes.”

Rates of liver injuries rise in the U.S. as supplements grow in popularity
“It started with nausea and loss of appetite. Robert Grafton, of Turnersville, New Jersey, tried to convince himself he was just coming down with something one weekend in mid-March. Then came the itching and dark urine. Grafton, a former interventional radiology technologist whose wife is a nurse, recognized the hallmarks of liver failure.”

Is the online GLP-1 boom prioritizing profit over patients?
“Over the past two years, digital clinics have turned weekly GLP-1 injections into something that can be ordered from the couch, paid for with a credit card and delivered to the doorstep. One recent market forecast sees the entire GLP-1 category growing to roughly $100 billion by 2030, so it is no wonder that a flock of start-ups — and even a few established pharmaceutical giants — now court patients with “all-inclusive” monthly packages.​”

Comorbidities in midlife have distinct associations with cancer development
“Key takeaways: Respiratory, cardiovascular and metabolic conditions increased risk for cancer incidence. All comorbidity types increased risk for at least one cancer type, but some seemed to lower the risk for certain cancers.”

There’s a secret superfood in white rice and pasta: Here’s how to unlock it
“Naughty or nice? That’s often how I think about foods packed with carbohydrates. Whole grains, like brown rice and whole wheat, fall squarely into the nice category, while white pasta and rice, well, they’re more naughty.”

Ultra-processed food boosts addiction and worsens mood, study finds
“New research reveals that UPFs may be consumed more out of emotional distress and addiction than pleasure, challenging assumptions about why we reach for processed snacks.”

Vegetarians may need to watch thyroid health, especially with low iodine intake
“A large UK study reveals that vegetarians, but not vegans, have a slightly elevated risk of hypothyroidism, raising new questions about iodine intake and the role of BMI in interpreting diet-related thyroid outcomes.”

6 Healthy Reasons to Eat More Pineapple
“Nothing can beat the sweet and tangy taste of biting into a slice of pineapple. But what really separates this superfruit from the rest is its equal parts delicious taste and impressive health benefits. “When looking at pineapple’s nutritional profile, it offers a wide range of nutrients,” says Cheryl Mussatto, registered dietitian. “One cup contains around 82 calories, two grams of fiber, 169 milligrams of potassium, 74 milligrams of vitamin C, and 50% of the [recommended daily value of the] mineral manganese.” To help convince you to snag a pineapple (or two) during your next grocery run, we asked registered dietitians for seven healthy reasons to eat more pineapples.”

$2 million gift establishes John and Carrie Hayden Community Learning Kitchen
“Inspired by a deep commitment to the health of the Greater Cincinnati community, John and Carrie Hayden have made a $2 million gift to establish and endow a community learning kitchen that emphasizes the vital role of nutrition not only in the prevention but also the treatment of chronic disease.”

Exercise may lessen cancer treatment side effects, including brain fog, fatigue
“Researchers recently conducted an umbrella-review to examine the impact exercise can have on people undergoing cancer treatment. The results indicated that exercise can mitigate some of the side effects of cancer treatments across a range of cancer types. Both traditional exercise and mind-body exercises showed benefits.”

Black coffee improves insulin sensitivity in women, study finds
“A large Korean study shows that drinking black coffee, especially among women, is linked to better glucose control and reduced insulin resistance, highlighting coffee’s potential role in metabolic health.”

Global analysis ties plastic ingredient to soaring heart disease deaths
“Daily exposure to certain chemicals used to make plastic household items could be linked to more than 356,000 global deaths from heart disease in 2018 alone, a new analysis of population surveys shows. While the chemicals, called phthalates, are in widespread use globally, the Middle East, South Asia, East Asia, and the Pacific bore a much larger share of the death toll than others – about three-fourths of the total.”

What makes us happy? New research challenges everything we thought
“Love, wealth, mindfulness—or something else entirely? Researcher claims happiness is personal, and so should be the solutions.”

Fitness Experts Reveal the Truth About Vibration Plates
“Remember during the mid-20th century when vibrating belt machines were all the rage? They were promoted as weight loss aids that would slim you down. Fast-forward many decades, and now vibration plates are the latest fitness trend. Some claim they are an excellent alternative workout method with several health benefits. However, researchers continue to study the potential benefits of vibration exercise.”

Age-related brain changes linked to declining exercise habits after 49, research suggests
“It’s well-established that as we age, we tend to be less active. Conventional wisdom points to loss of muscle mass, strength and issues of mobility as reasons physical activity declines later in life. But Northeastern University researchers say the reason could also be linked to changes in the brain that occur around the time exercise starts to drop off for most people.”

Human gut fungus reverses liver disease in mice
“Researchers at Peking University have discovered that a filamentous gut fungus, Fusarium foetens, can reverse metabolic dysfunction–associated steatohepatitis (MASH) in mice. These findings have implications for developing microbiome-based therapies to treat fatty liver disease.”

Teaching the teachers to be calm, cool, and collected
““Through my background in health promotion, education, yoga, and mindfulness, I’ve witnessed firsthand how much educator well-being can influence student learning, mental health, and a sense of belonging,” Block says. “Many faculty and instructors on campus shared my interest, which led to the creation of this program.””