High blood pressure is famously dubbed “the silent killer” because it quietly damages blood vessels and raises risk of heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease. But the story isn’t quite black-and-white: there are situations in which a somewhat higher blood pressure might be tolerated, or conversely,...
Introduction A recent dermatological study has uncovered compelling evidence that dietary fiber does more than support digestion—it plays a crucial role in preventing inflammatory skin conditions and chr...
Ultra-processed foods are everywhere in modern diets, and research shows they drive overeating and weight gain in ways beyond pure calorie content. In a controlled NIH study, healthy volunteers were put on two diets for two weeks each: one composed of ultra-processed foods (burgers, packaged snacks, sweetened cereals, etc.)...
High blood pressure (hypertension) is a well-known risk factor for stroke and heart disease, and it also impacts the brain. New research suggests that controlling hypertension might actually slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. In an intriguing animal study, scientists gave pr...
Veggies vs. heart disease. Numerous studies now link plant-heavy diets to healthier hearts. In general, people who eat more vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts and whole grains – and less meat – have better blood pressure, cholesterol and body weight profiles. A key question: how much does this translate to...
Emulsifiers and the gut. Modern foods often contain emulsifiers (like carboxymethylcellulose and polysorbate-80) to improve texture. Recent research raises concerns that these “common” additives may upset our gut microbiome and in turn affect mood. In mice, studies show these emulsifiers can strip away...
Language rewires the brain. Learning and using a language actually changes brain connectivity. Neuroscientists using brain scans have found that bilinguals have more efficient brain networks than monolinguals. For instance, one MRI study showed that people fluent in two languages displayed...
Quick health “reset.” Many people try a month-long break from alcohol (e.g. “Dry January”), and scientific studies confirm real gains even in 30 days. Doctors note that after a month off, sleep quality often improves, anxiety and stress drop, and blood pressure goes down. One medica...
Parkinson’s disease arises when dopamine-producing neurons in the brain die off, causing tremors and movement problems. Two early trials now report that transplanting stem cells can regenerate these neurons. In one study, researchers injected neural precursor cells (derived from stem cell...
A quick breathing exercise. New studies suggest a few minutes of daily targeted breathing can improve cardiovascular health. The technique, called inspiratory muscle strength training (IMST), uses a small handheld device. You take about 30 slow, deep breaths through it – roughly a 5-minute sessio...
