Research shows healthy home cooking equals a healthy mind
Edith Cowan University (Australia), March 21, 2022
Research from Edith Cowan University (ECU) has found being confident in the kitchen is not only good for your taste buds: it's also good for your mental health. In total, 657 participants undertook the seven-week healthy cooking course. At the same time, ECU Institute for Nutrition Research academics measured the program's effect on participants' cooking confidence and s...
Research shows healthy home cooking equals a healthy mind
Edith Cowan University (Australia), March 21, 2022
Research from Edith Cowan University (ECU) has found being confident in the kitchen is not only good for your taste buds: it's also good for your mental health. In total, 657 participants undertook the seven-week healthy cooking course. At the same time, ECU Institute for Nutrition Research academics measured the program's effect on participants' cooking confidence and self-perceived mental health, as well as their overall satisfaction around cooking and diet-related behaviors. Researchers found those who participated in the program saw significant improvements in general health, mental health and subjective vitality immediately after the program which remained six months after completing the course, when compared to the study's control group. Improvements in cooking confidence, the ability to easily change eating habits and overcome lifestyle barriers to healthy eating were also reported. Also, the mental health benefits were equal among participants who were overweight or obese, and those in a healthy weight range.
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Resveratrol can help to reduce inflammation, study finds
Georgia State University September 28, 2021
A component of red wine and grapes can help control inflammation induced by a bacterial pathogen that is linked to upper respiratory tract inflammatory diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) and middle ear infection (otitis media), according to a study by researchers at Georgia State University. The findings, published in the online journal Scientific Reports, identify a novel mechanism that resveratrol, a compound found naturally in some plant foods such as grapes, uses to alleviate inflammation in airway disease. The results suggest this compound could offer health benefits and be used to develop new, effective anti-inflammatory therapeutic agents. This study found for the first time that resveratrol decreases NTHi-induced expression of pro-inflammatory mediators in airway epithelial cells and in the lungs of mice by enhancing MyD88 short, a negative regulator of inflammatory signaling pathways. MyD88 short is considered a "brake pedal protein" because it can tightly control inflammation induced by this respiratory pathogen. It could be a critical target with significant therapeutic potential for suppressing inflammation associated with chronic airway disease.
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Psoriasis Linked to Low Vitamin E Levels
Dalian Medical College (China), March 21, 2022
Struggling with psoriasis? If so, you might need to increase your vitamin E intake. A meta-analysis published in December 2021 links this condition, along with other dermatologic grievances including acne and vitiligo, to low serum levels of vitamin E. Vitamin E has long been known to be essential for biochemical processes that are linked to psoriasis, including its involvement in immune system function, fatty acid metabolism and free-radical regulation. The results from this new analysis showed that the average person with psoriasis had 2.7-fold lower serum vitamin E levels compared to the average person in the controls, which was a stronger relationship than any of the skin disorders included.
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The secret to staying young: New research highlights power of life long exercise to keep muscles healthy
University of Copenhagen, March 21, 2022
Lifelong physical activity could protect against age-related loss of muscle mass and function, according to research published in The Journal of Physiology. Individuals aged 68 and above who were physically active throughout their life have healthier ageing muscle that has superior function and is more resistant to fatigue compared to inactive individuals, both young and old. This is the first study to investigate muscle, stem cell and nerve activity in humans. The researchers from University of Copenhagen, Denmark, found that elderly individuals who keep physically active throughout their adult life, whether by taking part in resistance exercise, ball games, racket sports, swimming, cycling, running and/or rowing had a greater number of muscle stem cells, otherwise known as satellite cells in their muscle. These cells are important for muscle regeneration and long-term growth and protect against nerve decay.
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Could a shot of orange juice boost brain power for men?
University of Reading (UK), September 23, 2021
Data published in the European Journal of Nutrition indicated that a 240 ml glass of the flavonoid-rich orange juice was associated with significantly improved scores for attention, executive function, and psychomotor speed in healthy middle-aged men without mild cognitive impairment six hours after consumption, compared with placebo. The researchers recruited 24 healthy men aged between 30 and 65 to participate in their randomized, double-blind, crossover study. The men were randomly assigned to consumer orange juice containing 272 mg of flavonoid or a calorie-matched placebo, with the interventions separated by two weeks. A battery of tests revealed that, compared to placebo, the flavonoid-rich orange juice was associated with significantly better performance on tests of executive function and psychomotor speed. Alertness was also reportedly improved following orange juice consumption.
