My Choices Weekly News

For better brain function, have a healthy diet starting young. But don’t worry, it’s never too late to start.
“Here’s some food for thought: How you eat is linked to better brain function. New research finds that people who eat healthily throughout their lives are mentally sharper than their peers, starting at age 4 through their 60s. Of the study’s subjects, those with the poorest diets remained consistently in the lowest ranks for cognitive function.”

Medically tailored meals show promise for reducing healthcare costs
“According to new research looking at every U.S. state, programs that deliver medically tailored meals (MTMs) to people with diet-sensitive conditions such as diabetes and heart disease along with limitations in the ability to perform daily activities could lead to substantial savings in healthcare costs. Using computer models to estimate the benefits of such programs minus the expense of implementing them, researchers found significant variation between U.S. states but an overall net cost savings in almost every state.”

How can you reduce health effects of endocrine-disrupting chemicals?
“National Institutes of Health (NIH) scientists recently gathered with researchers, clinicians, and community members to discuss emerging research focused on interventions — simple, accessible, and safe steps people can take — to mitigate exposures to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). These chemicals interfere with hormones produced by the endocrine system, which controls metabolism, heart rate, growth, reproduction, and other biological processes.”

How to Stop AI From Rewiring Your Brain Without Consent
“We live in an attention economy. That’s no surprise, given how recent statistics show that the average daily time spent with media in the United States is 454 minutes, or more than 7 1/2 hours a day. By itself, that might raise some concerns. But perhaps more worrisome are the thousands of hidden algorithms used by artificial intelligence (AI) in our devices and apps to monitor us, as well as to shape and rewire our brains.”

Study warns of possible bacteria in tattoo inks
“In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers detected bacteria in commercial tattoo and permanent makeup inks, demonstrating that they could cause human infections.”

Diet that limits ultra-processed foods isn’t automatically healthy, study shows
“NEW YORK, June 30 (UPI) — A diet that limits ultra-processed foods isn’t automatically healthy, and the types of foods people eat may matter more than the level of processing used to make them. a new study suggests.”

The Low-Impact Exercise That Can Prevent Bladder Leaks
“An unexpected bladder leak can have you hightailing it for the bathroom, or shifting around uncomfortably in your chair as you try desperately to avoid that damp spot in your underwear. Thankfully, we don’t have to be left at the mercy of our bladder. Experts at the National Health Service (NHS) explain that low-impact exercises targeting our pelvic floor muscles may help minimize the risk of leakage, which includes the ever popular Pilates.”

What Americans want from food: Energy, muscle strength, better health and less stress
“What’s for dinner? It’s a deceptively simple question, asked millions of times each day. But consider the myriad factors that go into answering it—from cost to convenience to climate change—and it’s no wonder we spend so much time thinking about the food we eat.”

Best Diet Plans for People with Diabetes, Reviewed by Experts
“We had experts weigh in on the best diets for people with diabetes. Read our summary of the top research-backed diets that can benefit your blood sugar and more.”

Mindfulness Improves Sleep and Reduces Stress
“Summary: A new study reveals that mindfulness helps improve sleep quality and reduce stress by focusing on the present and minimizing negative thoughts. The study tracked 144 nurses over two weeks, highlighting how mindfulness influences emotion regulation and overall well-being.”

Large-scale study assesses the short-term impact on stress of self-administered mindfulness exercises
“Mindfulness practices, derived from ancient meditative traditions, have become increasingly popular in modern society. Past studies have found that these practices, which encourage people to intentionally direct their attention to the present moment, can have a multitude of benefits, such as reducing stress, aiding emotional regulation and improving concentration.”

Gut-Skin Axis: How the Magical Powers of the Gut Microbiome Extend to Skin Health
“Our “gut health” remains one of the hottest topics under the wide umbrella that is all things wellness, and for good reason: Your gut microbiome, and all the “good” and “bad” bacteria living in it, is like its own little city or ecosystem. How well it functions has been linked to many other measures of your overall health, including immunity, mental health, our environment, medication history and more.”

Wegovy, Ozempic Are Overpriced By 400-500%: Here’s A Quick Solution
“A whopping 1 in 8 U.S. adults have taken GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic for weight loss and related conditions. Their popularity and efficacy have sparked a prescription-writing frenzy in recent years, leaving both medications on the FDA’s drug shortage list since May 2023.”

FDA Commissioner Says ‘We’re Failing’ People With Type 2 Diabetes
“Key takeaways – In the keynote address at the American Diabetes Association annual conference, FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf expressed concerns about the rising rates of diabetes in the U.S. Though revolutionary medications and technologies for diabetes and weight loss continue to emerge, these treatments are vastly underused. The silver lining lies with type 1 diabetes therapies, which are showing great promise in clinical trials.”

My Doctor Emailed Me The Worst Possible News. It Sent Me Into A Tailspin — And Changed My Life.
“I don’t know if it was cowardice, lack of bedside manner, or just laziness that prompted my doctor to notify me by email. One assumes this kind of news is best delivered in person or at least via the phone, but in any case, it put a crimp on my weekend.”

Study: Physical activity in the evening lowers blood sugar levels
“New research reveals that moderate to vigorous physical activity in the evening for sedentary adults with overweight and obesity is most beneficial in lowering daily blood sugar levels, according to a study titled “Impact of Lifestyle Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity Timing on Glycemic Control in Sedentary Adults with Overweight/Obesity and Metabolic Impairments” appearing in the journal Obesity.”

How “Carewashing” Alienates Employees
“Summary.   Too many organizations with unsustainable “work hard, play hard” cultures believe that checking the well-being box by offering mindfulness training or yoga classes qualifies them as having a positive and safe culture when, in fact, they’re merely “carewashing.”

Why Oprah’s medical weight loss message is still so muddled
“Oprah’s recent “apology tour” has elevated drugs like Ozempic above other weight loss strategies while ignoring the societal pressures that push so many people to try them.”

Expert suggests a more integrated approach to treating people with eating disorders
“Health services should teach patients with eating disorders psychosocial skills to help more people recover and avoid relapse, according to an expert. Anorexia, bulimia and other eating issues affect millions of people, and eating disorder specialist Bethany Crowley warns that eating disorders are often misunderstood. She suggests a more integrated approach to treating people is needed, to focus on the whole person rather than just the disordered eating.”

Alarming trends call for action to define the future role of food in nation’s health
“New public opinion poll and expert analysis reflect crucial need to make healthy food accessible to avert projected crisis in cardiovascular disease incidence, costs”

Planetary Health Diet linked to lower risk of death from cancer, heart disease
“The Planetary Health Diet emphasizes fruits and vegetables as well as protein from plant-based sources. In a new study, researchers said the diet can lower the risk of premature death by 30%. They added that the diet also has environmental benefits for the planet.”

Drug Used to Treat Eczema May Provide Relief for Patients with Intensely Itchy Skin Diseases
“A drug approved to treat eczema provided significant improvement in the symptoms of patients with severe itching diseases that currently have no targeted treatments, according to a new study published in JAMA Dermatology. The drug, abrocitinib, was found to cause minimal side effects during a small 12-week study led by University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) researchers. It was beneficial for those with an itching disease called prurigo nodularis as well as for those with chronic pruritus of unknown origin, a condition that causes chronic unexplainable itching symptoms.”

Ultrasound offers a new way to perform deep brain stimulation
“Deep brain stimulation, by implanted electrodes that deliver electrical pulses to the brain, is often used to treat Parkinson’s disease and other neurological disorders. However, the electrodes used for this treatment can eventually corrode and accumulate scar tissue, requiring them to be removed.”

New test detects more cases of cervical cancer
“Researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and the University of Innsbruck in Austria have developed a simpler and more effective screening method for cervical cancer than the method used today. The comprehensive study published in Nature Medicine shows that the test detects significantly more cancers and precancerous stages.”

Women who follow Mediterranean diet live longer
“In a study that followed more than 25,000 U.S. women for up to 25 years, researchers from Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women’s Hospital found that participants who closely followed the Mediterranean diet had up to a 23 percent lower risk of all-cause mortality, with benefits for both cancer and cardiovascular health. The researchers found evidence of biological changes that may help explain the longevity gains. Results are published in JAMA.”

DIP YOUR TOES INTO FOREST BATHING
“More than a thousand studies (and growing) show that time spent in nature can have a reset effect, washing away the anxieties and stresses of everyday life. A 2019 study published in Current Directions in Psychological Science, for instance, found that exposure to natural environments improves memory, cognitive flexibility, and attentional control, while a 2022 study published in Cities & Health found that walking in an urban park can improve mood. There’s even a name for time intentionally spent in nature—forest bathing.”

Step aside BMI, body composition tests are on the rise. Here’s what to know
“The scale has never been a friend to Mana Mostatabi. Even back in high school, when she ran a quick 100m on the varsity track team, her BMI – a ratio of weight to height – put her in the overweight category. “My dad always joked that I should be a wrestler,” Mostatabi says due to her build. Many professional athletes flunk BMI tests. Some are considered obese despite their fitness, and many doctors say it isn’t a helpful metric to focus on.”

Experts Recommend These 6 Foods to Boost Your Hydration
“It’s important to prioritize drinking water every day, especially as summer approaches. But water on its own isn’t enough; you need electrolytes in your diet, especially if you spend a lot of time in the heat. Electrolytes are found in sports drinks, supplements and certain foods to keep you hydrated and replenish any minerals lost through sweat.”

Eating Certain Emulsifiers Linked to Increased Type 2 Diabetes Risk, According to New Study
“A new study found a link between certain types of emulsifiers and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. Emulsifiers are used in a variety of food products to improve texture and consistency. The researchers only found an association between emulsifiers and type 2 diabetes, but experts say the best way to avoid emulsifiers is to limit intake of ultra-processed foods.”

Regular use of fish oil supplements and course of cardiovascular diseases: prospective cohort study
“Conclusions Regular use of fish oil supplements might be a risk factor for atrial fibrillation and stroke among the general population but could be beneficial for progression of cardiovascular disease from atrial fibrillation to major adverse cardiovascular events, and from atrial fibrillation to death. Further studies are needed to determine the precise mechanisms for the development and prognosis of cardiovascular disease events with regular use of fish oil supplements.”

If you have a mind to drink less, mindfulness can help
“Mindfulness is having a moment, but is it worth all the hype? Researchers at CU’s Center for Health and Neuroscience, Genes, and Environment (CUChange) say the answer is yes—particularly when it comes to drinking behavior. A team including Carillon Skrzynski, a faculty research associate at CUChange, has published research building on the growing body of evidence suggesting mindfulness plays a significant role in influencing alcohol use.”

Altered states of consciousness common in meditation, study finds
“Yoga, mindfulness, meditation, breathwork, and other practices are gaining in popularity due to their potential to improve health and well-being. The effects of these practices are mostly positive and occasionally transformational, yet they are known to sometimes be associated with challenging altered states of consciousness. New research by a team including investigators from Massachusetts General Hospital, a founding member of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system, reveals that altered states of consciousness associated with meditation practice are far more common than expected.”

Tattoos linked to higher risk of malignant lymphoma, study finds
“In a recent study published in the journal eClinicalMedicine, researchers determined the relationship between tattoo ink exposure and malignant lymphoma and lymphoma subtype risk. Tattoos have recently gained popularity, although their long-term health repercussions are unknown. Tattoo ink includes carcinogenic substances such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), primary aromatic amines (PAA), and metals. Tattoo inks elicit an immune reaction, resulting in the migration of tattoo inks from injection sites. Although the presence of tattoo pigments within lymph nodes is proven, their long-term consequences on health are unknown. The global growth in malignant lymphoma incidence is unexplained, and it is critical to discover any link to lifestyle variables. Lymph nodes contain growing cells and are vulnerable to carcinogenic substances. Studies associate exposure to solvents, flame retardants, pesticides, and hair dyes with immunologic disturbance, which plays a role in malignant lymphoma development.”

Biden-Harris Administration Makes History Launching New Suite of Summer Nutrition Programs to Help Tackle Hunger and Improve Healthy Eating for Millions of Children
“WASHINGTON, May 21, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced today the launch of “SUN Programs: USDA’s Summer Nutrition Programs for Kids,” to help improve nutrition security during the summer months. Through the suite of SUN Programs, families now have more choices and convenient ways to get summer nutrition support for their children and teens with new SUN Bucks, SUN Meals, and previously launched SUN Meals To-Go. Collectively, these programs continue the work of the Biden-Harris Administration in promoting food and nutrition security.”

90% of U.S. Adults Have CKM Syndrome. Here’s What That Means
“Key Takeaways -Cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome highlights the link between heart diseases, kidney dysfunction, and metabolic disorders like diabetes and obesity. These conditions often coexist and exacerbate each other, significantly increasing overall health risks. Regular health screenings can help in early detection of CKM syndrome and timely intervention to reduce the progression of the syndrome.”

Western diet could impact gut inflammation, leading to chronic conditions
“Chronic conditions are on the rise, and frequently involve metabolism and the immune system. The gut microbiome plays a role in both, and potentially plays a causative role in the development of some of these conditions. It is also a potential therapeutic target. The Western diet, though poorly characterized, could play a role in the disruption of the microbiome, but exactly how it may do that is not entirely understood. Researchers have reviewed the evidence around certain dietary patterns and the effect it has on certain bacteria found in the gut, and their roles in specific mechanisms in the human body.”

Can Diet Help with Advanced Breast Cancer? All Indications Are Positive, Researchers Say
“Women with breast cancer who exclusively ate a whole-foods, plant-based diet lost weight, improved cholesterol levels and other key metabolic factors, had less fatigue, and perceived that they felt sharper mentally and generally more well.”

NIH initiative to ‘rigorously evaluate’ benefits, harms of evolving cancer screening technologies
“The prospect of screening for multiple cancer types simultaneously through a blood draw or other simple methods has generated tremendous excitement. Multicancer detection tests — often called liquid biopsies — measure circulating tumor cells, tumor DNA or other substances in the blood, urine or other body fluids that can identify the presence of cancer.”

Tracking Exercise by Steps or Minutes? Study Finds Either Method Boosts Health
“Key Takeaways: Counting steps or tracking exercise minutes both help people become healthier. Either method lowered risk of premature death and heart disease. Future physical activity guidelines should consider including steps as well as exercise minutes.”

These 7 Breakfast Staples Are Ultra-Processed. How Should You Decide Which Ones to Avoid?
“Key Takeaways: Consuming high amounts of ultra-processed foods is associated with a 4% increased risk of early death from all causes, according to a 30-year study. Ultra-processed foods typically contain additives, added sugar, and saturated fats. Small dietary changes, like choosing plain oatmeal over flavored instant oatmeal, can help reduce intake of ultra-processed foods while maintaining a nutritious breakfast.”

Low-fat diets significantly reduce lung cancer risk in older adults, study finds
“Study findings reveal that adherence to low-fat dietary regimes significantly reduced lung cancer risk across cancer subtypes. These findings and the observed beneficial outcomes were most substantial for participants currently engaged in smoking practices. In contrast, the consumption of high saturated fatty acids was observed to increase lung cancer risk in the studied cohort.”

Biking over your lifetime is associated with less knee pain or arthritis, study suggests
“Bicycling, whether outdoors or in a spinning class, may help prevent knee arthritis and pain. People who biked at any point in their lives were 17% less likely to develop knee pain and 21% less likely to develop arthritis with pain in the knee joint, according to an analysis of data from more than 2,600 people in their 60s. The report was published earlier this month in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.”

Clinical trial testing licorice root for prostate cancer begins this spring
“A new clinical trial studying whether a compound derived from licorice root will affect prostate cancer in patients is now open at the University of Illinois Chicago. The study will be the first to assess whether the natural product has anti-cancer effects that could benefit patients as they await surgical treatment.”

Significant gaps between science of obesity and the care patients receive
“DALLAS, May 20, 2024 — As research continues to produce evidence about the underlying causes of obesity and optimal strategies to treat and manage obesity have evolved, there are disparities in application of the latest scientific advances in the clinical care that people with obesity receive. Widespread adoption of current findings, consistency of care and expertise in obesity care varies by health care professional and institution. These findings are detailed in a new American Heart Association scientific statement, “Implementation of Obesity Science Into Clinical Practice,” published today in the Association’s flagship scientific journal Circulation.”

A long-term ketogenic diet accumulates aged cells in normal tissues, a UT Health San Antonio-led study shows
“SAN ANTONIO, May 17, 2024 – A strict “keto-friendly” diet popular for weight loss and diabetes, depending on both the diet and individual, might not be all that friendly. A new study led by researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio) found that a continuous long-term ketogenic diet may induce senescence, or aged, cells in normal tissues, with effects on heart and kidney function in particular. However, an intermittent ketogenic diet, with a planned keto vacation or break, did not exhibit any pro-inflammatory effects due to aged cells, according to the research. The findings have significant clinical implications suggesting that the beneficial effect of a ketogenic diet might be enhanced by planned breaks.”

Building mindfulness skills into curricula can help keep students focused
““Reducing stress and increasing wellness and joy, I believe, will need to become more a central aspect of daily life in schools — not just something teachers do for the students before exams, but something all members of the community engage in, something woven into the culture and daily routines,” Aronson said.”

How Herpes Hijacks a Ride into Cells
“Northwestern Medicine scientists have discovered how herpes viruses hijack cellular transport processes to infiltrate the nervous system, as described in a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.”

Study underscores the importance of providing nutritional and weight management support to smokers
“New research being presented at this year’s European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Venice, Italy (12-15 May), suggests that smokers tend to eat less and have less healthy eating habits than non-smokers, which could help explain why smokers often gain weight when they quit.”

The Role of Complementary and Integrative Health Competency in Pharmacy
“Complementary and alternative medicine, also referred to as complementary and integrative health (CIH), is used widely around the world as well in the United States. CIH has been defined as “a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine” by the National Institutes of Health.”

Link between diet and disease depends on measuring the right data
“May 9, 2024 – In the 1970s, researchers first noticed an interesting trend in cancer data: disease rates in countries around the world varied greatly, even when taking into account biological differences between populations. One hypothesis was that the differences in cancer rates occurred due to environmental factors—in particular, variations in diet. Indeed, when researchers compared population-level data about food intake, they found that consuming fats and oils was associated with developing cancer.”

Overall diet quality may be more important than how much ultra-processed foods you eat
“Researchers say overall dietary quality may have a larger influence on risk of death than the consumption of ultra-processed foods. In their 30-year study, they report that some ultra-processed foods such as ready-to-eat meat products were major contributing factors to mortality. The researchers add that their work highlights that ultra-processed foods don’t need to be universally restricted, but certain foods should be limited for longer term health.”

ACR integrative guidelines for RA make sense of ‘messy’ data on diet, wellness
“DESTIN, Fla. — The 2022 American College of Rheumatology recommendations on integrative therapy in rheumatoid arthritis can help make sense of “messy” data on diet and other wellness behaviors, according to a speaker.”

Complementary and Alternative Medicine to Treat Fibromyalgia Symptoms. A Systematic Review
“Our systematic review showed that there is a wide range of CAMs used to treat FM. Most of the clinical trials have shown significant results for the effectiveness of these interventions in both physical and mental health outcomes of FM as compared to control groups. However, the heterogeneity of the interventions and outcomes warrants further studies on this topic.”

Can Zinc Really Shorten a Cold?
“Every cold and flu season, folks are flooded with ads for zinc lozenges, sprays and syrups that promise to shorten their sniffles. Zinc might indeed reduce the duration of common cold symptoms by about two days, a new evidence review says.”

Acupuncture as complementary care can ease pain, side effects of cancer medications
“The National Institutes of Health reports an analysis of 20 studies with 6,376 patients shows it may specifically help work against pain, help the immune system and work against some of the side effects of breast cancer medications.”

ACS Inaugural Report Shows Mortality for Preventable Cancers Among Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islanders in U.S. is 2-3 times as High as White People
“ATLANTA, May 1, 2024 — The American Cancer Society (ACS) today released a first-of-its-kind Cancer Facts & Figures for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, & Other Pacific Islander People, 2024-2026. This report shows that despite limited disaggregated data, there is wide variation in the cancer burden among ethnic groups that make up this fast-growing population. Cancer is the second-leading cause of death in the United States nationally but ranks first in Chinese, Filipino, Korean, and Vietnamese individuals, with lung cancer the leading cause of death in men of every Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Other Pacific Islander (AANHPI) ethnic group. Death rates for other largely preventable cancers like liver, stomach, and cervical cancers in Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander people are about 2-3 times as high as White people.”

A Massive Study Is Revealing Why Exercise Is So Good for Our Health
“We all know that exercise is good for us. A brisk walk of roughly an hour a day can stave off chronic diseases, including heart or blood vessel issues and Type 2 diabetes. Regular exercise delays memory loss due to aging, boosts the immune system, slashes stress, and may even increase lifespan.”

Mindfulness training reduces dropout rates and relapses in opioid addiction treatment
“Supplementing standard opioid addiction treatment with Mindfulness Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE) -; an intervention that incorporates mindfulness training, savoring skills, and cognitive reappraisal -; cuts program dropout rates by 59 percent and relapses by 42 percent, according to Rutgers-led research.”

Linking Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Severity With Metabolic Syndrome Features: An Integrative Study on Clinical and Radiological Fronts
“Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become a widespread cause of chronic liver disease, ranging from simple steatosis to severe conditions like non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and cirrhosis. Despite its similarity to alcohol-induced liver damage, NAFLD affects individuals with no significant alcohol consumption. This study explores the association between NAFLD, bone mineral density (BMD), insulin resistance, and subclinical inflammation, focusing on the Asian Indian population.”

“We know what we should be eating, but we don’t always do that.” How and why people eat the way they do: a qualitative study with rural australians
“There is evidence that most people are aware of the importance of healthy eating and have a broad understanding regarding types of food that enhance or detract from health. However, greater health literacy does not always result in healthier eating. Andreasen’s Social Marketing Model and Community-Based Social Marketing both posit that, in order to change health behaviours, it is crucial to understand reasons for current behaviours and perceived barriers and benefits to improved behaviours. Limited research has been conducted, however, that explores these issues with general populations. This study aimed to help address this gap in the evidence using a qualitative methodology.”

Oprah Winfrey, 70, Opens Up About Weight Loss and How to ‘Dismantle the Current Diet Culture’
“Oprah Winfrey plans to “dismantle the current diet culture” beginning with an upcoming special in partnership with WeightWatchers. Making The Shift: A New Way to Think About Weight will air on WeightWatchers’ YouTube May 9 at 6 p.m. EST. The star opens up about weight loss and shame.”

Raw meat-based diet for pets linked to drug-resistant bacteria, prompting concerns over public health risks
“In a recent study published in the journal Eurosurveillance, researchers investigated the potential role of the increasingly popular ‘raw meat-based diets (RMBDs)’ as reservoirs and human and pet infection risks for bacteria such as Salmonella sp. and pathogenic Escherichia coli.”

Survivor’s guilt: what it is and how to manage it
“The emotional impacts of cancer can last long after treatment is completed. Guilt is just one of the many emotions that may come up for cancer survivors. If you feel this way, you’re far from alone. “Experiencing survivor’s guilt is incredibly common,” says Catherine Powers, Ph.D., a licensed clinical psychologist in Palliative, Rehabilitation & Integrative Medicine. Ahead, our experts talk more about survivor’s guilt, why it occurs and how to cope.”

A 20-Minute Anti-Pharma Rant You Probably Need to See
“There isn’t much to say about Bernie Sanders’ announcement that he is going to investigate Novo Nordisk around the pricing of its GLP-1 medicines. You can read his press release here. The media coverage is pretty shallow. You can probably skip it.”

Healthy diet linked to positive changes in brain structure
“We’ve long understood the impact of diet on our weight, heart health, and risk of diseases like diabetes. However, a growing body of research, including a landmark study from the University of Warwick emphasizes a lesser-known but equally vital connection – the profound relationship between what we eat and the health of our brains.”

Why Eating the Right Foods Fuels Your Leadership
“Key Points: One of the first compromises leaders make is deprioritizing nutrition, which negatively impacts leadership. Eating the right foods provides a huge source of energy and is foundational to leading at your best. As standard approaches to health goals often don’t work, learn a different approach for long-term progress.”

Dietary Supplements Can Reduce Cancer Mortality but May Increase Cardiovascular Mortality
“Postmenopausal women who took calcium and vitamin D supplements demonstrated reduced cancer mortality but increased cardiovascular mortality after a 20-year follow-up period, according to post-hoc analysis results published in Annals of Internal Medicine.”

Eating more avocados could lower risk of Type 2 diabetes in women, study says
“BOSTON – Eating more avocados could help women stave off Type 2 diabetes, a new study found. Avocados contain antioxidants that can reduce inflammation and cell damage, which might increase the risk of chronic illness. They are also high in fat and fiber and don’t trigger spikes in glucose and insulin.”

Listening to mindfulness audios during radiation improves physical, emotional side effects
“It’s a ‘twofer’: Helping men manage side effects, receive cancer treatment at same time. Men with cancer rarely participate in oncology supportive care: ‘You build it, and they don’t come’. First study to deliver mindfulness during radiation therapy while patients were ‘a captive audience.’”

DEA, FDA And Other Agencies To Discuss Marijuana’s Potential To Treat Pain At Upcoming Federal Research Meeting
“A division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced it will hold an open meeting this summer to discuss the use of cannabis components to treat pain, with a special focus on minor cannabinoids and terpenes found in marijuana.”

Cardio-fitness cuts death and disease by nearly 20%
“Running, cycling, or swimming – if you regularly exercise, you’re well on track for a long and healthy life, as groundbreaking new research from the University of South Australia finds that an increased cardio fitness level will reduce your risk of death from any cause by 11-17%.”

Smokers, Former Smokers May Gain From Switch to Plant-Based Diet
“MONDAY, April 29, 2024 (HealthDay News) — Current and former smokers might lower their risk for emphysema if they adopt a highly nutritional plant-based diet, a new study shows. People with a history of smoking who adopted a plant-based diet had a 56% lower risk of developing emphysema, compared to those who ate more meat, researchers report.”

Study finds only 2% of TikTok health and nutrition advice is accurate
“The fitness app MyFitnessPal, partnering with Dublin City University, conducted a study on TikTok in which it used artificial intelligence to analyze over 67,000 health and nutrition videos posted on the app. Preliminary findings found that just 2.1% of the content analyzed was accurate, based on public health and nutrition guidelines.”

Watching *This* On TV May Actually Boost Your Well-Being, New Study Finds
“Watching television has traditionally been considered an activity that undermines wellness. Many people even associate it with laziness and view T.V. as a “guilty pleasure” that should be minimized for the sake of optimizing your health—but is that always the case?”

Exercise may reduce heart disease risk by changing how the brain reacts to stress
“Physical activity can help reduce the chances of cardiovascular disease by affecting stress responses in the brain, according to a new study. The researchers found that those who met the recommended levels of physical activity had a 23% lower risk of heart disease. People with depression saw a much larger benefit from physical activity. Experts say that the relationship between depression and heart disease can work in both directions, with heart disease developing from behaviors associated with depression or anxiety-related conditions.”

Exercising between 6 p.m. and midnight may be more beneficial for people with obesity
“Obesity increases a person’s risk for several medical conditions including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain types of cancer. Scientists have been trying to determine what time of day is best to aid weight loss in people with obesity. Researchers at the University of Sydney have found that getting the majority of daily physical activity during the evening offers the most health benefits for people who have obesity.”

Exercise shown to curb appetite in diabetes and prediabetes patients
“The study observed that the effects on appetite varied in people with T2DM or prediabetes following acute exercise, whereas appetite ratings declined or were unchanged after chronic exercise. In acute intervention studies, the most consistent finding was increased perceived fullness in T2DM patients after exercise. Overall, the findings provide more evidence for the appetite-reducing effect of (chronic) exercise in prediabetes or T2DM subjects.”

Study shows exercise can reverse age-related lipid accumulation
“Scientists have discovered that a type of fat accumulates as tissue ages and that this accumulation can be reversed through exercise. Researchers from Amsterdam UMC, together with colleagues from Maastricht UMC+, analyzed both mice and human tissue before and after exercise allowing them to draw this conclusion. The results are published today in Nature Aging.”

Annual COVID-19 vaccine proves to be a wise investment for personal health and pocketbook
“In a recent study published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases, a team of researchers from the United States (U.S.) attempted to understand whether individuals experienced any economic benefits in getting an annual coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine, given that the morbidity and mortality rates associated with the disease have decreased and the government no longer covers the vaccine costs.”

Addressing public health challenges through behavioral interventions
“The concept of “One Health” – which emphasizes the relationship between human, animal, plant and environmental health – has been gaining ground in scientific discussions in recent years. Brazilian and North American researchers developing research using this approach presented their work on Tuesday (April 9th), in Chicago (United States), during FAPESP Week Illinois.”

Misinformation Persists in Complementary Health: Evaluating the Reliability and Quality of YouTube-Based Information on the Use of Acupuncture for Chronic Pain
“Discussion: As patients increasingly depend on platforms like YouTube for trustworthy information on complementary health practices such as acupuncture, our study emphasizes the critical need for more higher-quality videos from unbiased healthcare institutions and physicians to ensure patients are receiving reliable information regarding this topic.”

A doctor to help patients thrive in life after cancer
“A cancer diagnosis 20 years, even 10 years ago, meant something different than it does today. With today’s advanced treatment options, including chemotherapy and radiation, Proton therapy, CAR T cell therapy, and other forms of immunotherapy, patients with a cancer diagnosis are living longer. However, even when cancer is in remission, side effects, or other health concerns left unattended during cancer treatment, can still affect patients’ health. That’s where Jennie Barbieri, MD, FACP, enters the picture. Barbieri is the first director of Bridging Oncology Care and Wellness Recovery at the Ann B. Barshinger Cancer Institute of Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health.”

Health Insurance Mandates for Nonpharmacological Pain Treatments in 7 US States
“There has been recent interest by legislative bodies in increasing access to nonpharmacological pain therapies as a nonopioid alternative for pain. Prominent clinical practice guidelines recommend the use of nonpharmacological pain treatments such as acupuncture, cognitive behavioral therapy, psychotherapy, chiropractic care, massage, osteopathic manipulation, and physical therapy. Despite these recommendations, health insurance coverage for nonpharmacological pain treatments among both commercial and public plans, such as Medicare and Medicaid, is inconsistent. This study (1) documents the extent to which states have introduced or enacted mandates for coverage of nonpharmacological pain treatments and (2) describes and characterizes variation in such mandates. The findings from this study may help inform policy makers and relevant stakeholders considering legislation related to nonpharmacological pain treatments at the state and federal level.”

Take it from the rats: A junk food diet can cause long-term damage to adolescent brains
“A new USC-led study on rats that feasted on a high-fat, sugary diet raises the possibility that a junk food-filled diet in teens may disrupt their brains’ memory ability for a long time. “What we see not just in this paper, but in some of our other recent work, is that if these rats grew up on this junk food diet, then they have these memory impairments that don’t go away,” said Scott Kanoski, a professor of biological sciences at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. “If you just simply put them on a healthy diet, these effects unfortunately last well into adulthood.””

Mouse study shows how a father’s diet can shape the health of his offspring
“New research published in Nature Communications finds that the macronutrient balance in the diet of male mice affects the level of anxiety-like behavior of sons and the metabolic health of daughters.”

Seafood is a potentially underestimated source of PFAS exposure, study shows
“The findings stress the need for more stringent public health guidelines that establish the amount of seafood people can safely consume to limit their exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, the researchers report in the journal Exposure and Health. This need is especially urgent for coastal regions such as New England where a legacy of industry and PFAS pollution bumps up against a cultural predilection for fish, the authors write.”