Exercise Helps Foster Brain Growth

CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS —A recent study conducted at Harvard Medical School found that exercise could foster growth of new brain cells.

It is noted that the hippocampus, which is associated with learning and memory is receptive to new brain cell growth in response to endurance exercise. So, endurance training can help improve your learning and memory skills.

The study examined how different types of exercise affected your brain. They found that when you do workouts that improve your endurance (running, cycling, walking) and your body works up a sweat, you begin producing a protein known as FNDC5 into the blood stream. This protein activates the production of another brain protein known as BDNF; this protein helps new nerves grow in the brain and helps the survival of existing brain cells.

According to Mayoclinic.com you should workout moderately for about 150 minutes per week (about 20 minutes per day). And according to Livestrong.com, working out and increasing your endurance also has the following benefits:

·         Increased metabolism

·         Reduced Fatigue

·         Fewer back problems

If you are interested in fostering the growth of new brain cells, you might want to consider working out moderately for about 20 minutes per day.


Have a great day.

Vitamin E And Alzheimer’s Disease

NEW YORK —A recent study conducted at Mount Sinai Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that consuming vitamin E could help delay or prevent Alzheimer’s disease.

The study included 613 participants. They were monitored for 5 years, and were given vitamin E along with other Alzheimer’s medication.

The team found that consuming vitamin E could help delay the progression of the disease by 20 percent. In other words, slowing the progression also means slowing the rate at which you would lose functional activity (preparing meals, or handling finances).

According to the director of the Mt. Sinai Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center , Mary Sano:

"We also saw a very nice effect on the amount of time a caregiver needs to take care of these individuals. There, we saw a difference of about two hours a day."

According to webMD, vitamin E can be found naturally in the following foods:

·         Vegetable oil

·         Green leafy vegetables (spinach)

·         Eggs and nuts

If you are interested in preventing or delaying the onset of Alzheimer’s disease, you might want to consider adding vitamin E to your diet.

Have a great day.

Food that Helps Fight off Cancer

CANADA—A recent study conducted at the University of Waterloo and published in the journal Cancer Research found that Avocado could help fight off cancer.

The researchers analyzed the effects of different nutrients found in avocados had on cancer prevention. They focused on a specific compound called avocatin B; they analyzed how this compound affected cancer stem cells, particularly leukemia stem cells.

The team found that avocatin B helped eliminate the source of where the cancer begins by targeting and destroying the cancer cells, while leaving healthy blood untouched. Furthermore, they found that this compound helps make the cancer less toxic to the body.

In addition to fighting off cancer, according to WebMD, the following are additional health benefits associated with consuming avocados:

·         High in potassium, which helps control blood pressure

·         High in B vitamins, which help fight off disease and infections

·         They are low in sugar and high in fiber, which helps you feel full longer

If you are interested in fighting off cancer or receiving some of these other health benefits, you might want to consider adding avocado to your daily diet.


Have a great day.

Physical Activity Helps you Sleep Better

PENNSYLVANIA —A recent study conducted at the University of Pennsylvania and presented at the annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies found that being physically active could help you sleep better at night.

The study included more than 429,000 participants who completed surveys that went over their daily physical activity. In addition, the participants completed questionnaires regarding their sleep habits.

The team found that people who performed almost any type of physical activity had a better night sleep. Some of these physical activities include walking, bicycling, running, gardening, yoga, and golfing.

According to study leader and psychiatry instructor at the University of Pennsylvania , Michael Grandner:

"Not only does this study show that those who get exercise simply by walking are more likely to have better sleep habits, but these effects are even stronger for more purposeful activities, such as running and yoga, and even gardening and golf."

If you are interested in sleeping better and feeling well rested, you might want to consider adding physical activity to your daily routine.


Have a great day.

Recommended Ways to Strengthen Your Bones

CAMBRIDGE , MASSACHUSETTS —A recent study conducted at Harvard University and published in The Community Voice found different ways that help strengthen your bones as you age.

The researchers analyzed previous studies that looked at health benefits associated with different exercise activities as well as different types of foods. They specifically focused on bone health and strength.

The team found that weight-bearing exercises are overall better for your bone health and strength. This is because the force of the activity stimulates your bones, which causes their density to increase. Weight-bearing activities include jogging, walking, jumping, climbing stairs, and dancing.

In addition, the researchers found that the following foods also help promote bone health and strength:

Kale
Collard greens and cabbage
Yogurt
Broccoli

If you are interested in keeping your bones strong and healthy you might want to consider staying active and adding some of these foods to your daily diet.


Have a great day.

Diet Soda Can Cause Heart Attack and Stoke

WASHINGTON D.C. —A recent study presented at the American College of Cardiology’s 63rd Annual Scientific Session found that consuming diet soda could be associated with an increased risk for heart attack and stroke.


The study analyzed data compiled from questionnaires of nearly 60,000 participants, regarding the foods they ate, the drinks they consumed, and other life style factors. All of the participants were followed for an average of 9 years.


The team found that those who drank two or more diet sodas per day had an 8.5 percent increase in health issues compared to those who did not consume any diet sodas. Some of these health issues include heart attack, stroke, heart failure, and heart disease.


According to the researchers, since both artificially sweetened and sugary beverages are detrimental to our health, the following drinks are better for us and even provide health benefits:


·         Black and green tea sweetened with raw honey. Studies have proven both types of tea promote heart health.

·         Coffee in moderation (1-2 cups per day), studies have also shown coffee is good for your heart and can even help prevent type-2 diabetes.

·         Water with fresh lemon or lime juice contains high amounts of vitamin C, enzymes and other nutrients beneficial to your health.


If you are interested in reducing your risk of heart attack or stroke, you might want to consider cutting diet soda out of your diet and add some of these better alternatives.

Have a great day.

Vitamin B3 Can Reduce Risk of Skin Cancer

AUSTRALIA—A recent study conducted at the Dermatology University of Sydney found that vitamin B3 could help prevent or reduce your risk of skin cancer.

It is noted that over 2 million Americans are diagnosed with skin cancer every year.

The study included 400 participants. The subjects were either given vitamin B3 or a placebo every day for 1 year.

The team found that those who consumed vitamin B3 every day for one year were nearly 25 percent less likely to be diagnosed with skin cancer. In addition, those who had pre-cancerous lesions saw a 20 percent reduction in the lesion size after 9 months of consuming vitamin B3.

According to study leader and professor at the Dermatology University in Sydney :

“This is the first clear evidence that we can reduce skin cancers using a simple vitamin, together with sensible sun protection. We hope that these findings can be immediately translated into clinical practice.”

The researchers noted that vitamin B3 is naturally found in meat, yeast, beans, and cereal.

If you are interested in reducing your risk of skin cancer, you might want to consider adding vitamin B3 to your daily diet.


Have a great day.

Green Veggies Boost Heart Health

ENGLAND —A recent study conducted at the University of Cambridge and published in The FASEB Journal found that eating green vegetables could boost heart health and reduce your risk of obesity.

The study included a group of participants, they were told to consume green vegetables at least 2 times per day. The researchers analyzed the health benefits associated with consuming these vegetables.

The team found that eating green vegetables, especially spinach, lettuce, and celery boosted heart health, and helped prevent diabetes as well as obesity. They noted these health benefits were from the chemical called nitrate found in the vegetables. In addition, they found that nitrate helps convert “bad” fat cells into “good” fat cells; this is what helps prevent obesity and diabetes.

According to lead study author, Dr. Murray:

“These studies represent three further ways in which simple changes in the diet can modify people's risk of type 2 diabetes and obesity as well as potentially alleviating symptoms of existing cardiovascular conditions to achieve an overall healthier life."

If you are interested in increasing your heart health and preventing obesity or diabetes, you might want to consider adding green vegetables to your daily diet.


Have a great day.

Health Benefits of Asparagus

PAKISTAN —A recent study conducted at the University of Karachi and published in the Indian Journal of Pharmacology found several health benefits associated with consuming asparagus.

The study analyzed numerous previous studies that looked at health benefits associated with certain vegetables, focusing on asparagus.

The team found several health benefits associated with adding asparagus to your daily diet. Some of these health benefits include:

1.      Anti-cancer properties: Compounds found in asparagus, known as shatavarins were proven to fight and eliminate cancer cells.

2.      Helps prevent diabetes: Studies have shown that daily asparagus consumption had a positive effect on the production of insulin. In addition, a British study found an 81 percent increase in the absorption of glucose.

3.      Could boost heart health: A compound called rutin found in asparagus helps prevent blood clots, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes. Also, asparagus is rich in folic acid, which has been proven to improve overall heart health.

If you are interested in some of these health benefits, you might want to consider adding asparagus to your daily diet.


Have a great day.

Caffeine Can Help Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease

BONN, GERMANY —A recent study conducted at the University of Bonn and published in the journal Neurobiology of Aging found that caffeine could help fight off Alzheimer’s disease.

The study analyzed mice. It is noted that the bodily functions of a mouse are very similar to humans. The researchers evaluated the effect of regular, persistent caffeine intake and compared that to the development of plaque in the brain (tau protein), which clog up the insides of brain cells and is directly associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Another group of mice were not given caffeine (control group).

The team found that the mice that were given caffeine did not develop the memory impairments that the control group developed. In addition, they found that caffeine helped improve memory by reducing the amount of tau protein in the brain.

According to Mayoclinic.org, caffeine should be consumed in moderation. It is recommended to consume no more than 200mg per day (about 2 cups of coffee). You can also find caffeine in black and green tea (hot and cold).

If you are interested in preventing memory loss associated with Alzheimer’s disease, you might want to consider adding caffeine (in moderation) to your daily diet.

Have a great day.