Author: Avisoscuba

You have a new reason to drink a hot cup of chamomile tea before bedtime. The humble yellow flower was recently revealed to control or even prevent diabetes. In an article on The Conversation, a British researcher who specializes in historical textile dyes has identified the specific diabetes-fighting compounds found in the herb. Professor Richard Blackburn is the leader of The Sustainable Materials Research Group at the University of Leeds (Leeds). He and his partner Chris Rayner have spent the better half of two decades studying natural colorants that were used to give textiles their color since ancient times. Most of…

Your friends influence what you eat, according to a new study. Researchers say that if your friends eat unhealthily, most likely you will too. This is because human social networks greatly influence lifestyle choices. Researchers at the University of Southern California (USC) came up with a comprehensive algorithm that evaluated the effect of peer influence on how much a person leads their life. Bryan Wilder, a USC Viberti Ph.D. candidate in computer science, and Kayla de la Haye, an assistant professor of preventive medicine developed the RECONNECT model. This model is a comprehensive algorithm that offers health practitioners the tool to…

It’s common knowledge that a good night’s sleep helps our body recover at the end of a long day. But did you know that getting enough sleep at night can help curb suicidal thoughts among people with depression? According to a breakthrough study by researchers from the University of Manchester, “a bad night’s sleep is associated with suicidal thoughts the next day in people with depression.” The paper, which was titled “Short sleep duration and poor sleep quality predict next-day suicidal ideation: An ecological momentary assessment study,” was published in Psychological Medicine. Donna Littlewood, a researcher from the university, cautioned that…

Living in the big city isn’t all that it’s cut out to be – mainly because of pollution, which adversely affects the health of millions of people each year. However, according to Dr. Lilian Calderón-Garcidueñas of the University of Montana (UM), children and young adults living in these megacities are at an increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease and suicide, in a study that was published in the Journal of Environmental Research. In the study, Dr. Calderón-Garcidueñas and her team examined over 200 autopsies – whose ages ranged from 11 months to 40 years – of people who lived in Mexico City. In particular, Mexico…

Roseanne Barr might be a polarizing figure, but if anything good has come from the recent Twitter fiasco that culminated in the cancellation of her TV show, it’s the fact that the sleeping drug Ambien has been thrust into the spotlight and people are talking about just how crazy it can make them act. In case you’re not familiar with the story, the comedienne sent out a Tweet in which she made some tasteless comments about Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett’s appearance, saying she looked like “Muslim brotherhood & planet of the apes had a baby.” ABC responded swiftly by canceling…

Bayer is expected to finish off its $62.5 billion purchasing deal with Monsanto this week — and plans to retire the infamous “Monsanto” name are already in gear. But even if the name Monsanto becomes a thing of the past, the company’s dirty deeds and hazardous products will continue to live on. Bayer certainly knows a thing or two about re-branding to save face; once known as I.G. Farben, the company engaged in a number of disgusting acts back in the day, including using Jewish slave laborers during the Holocaust. Changing their name to Bayer has not mitigated this fact…

Depression is a crippling disease that affects more than 300 million people across the globe, according to the World Health Organization. Fortunately, researchers have found that even a little exercise can significantly reduce the risk of depression, according to a study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry. The study revealed that physical activity can prevent a person from becoming depressed. “Systematic reviews have suggested that physical activity is a protective factor for depression onset, with even small amounts of physical activity decreasing the incidence of future depressive episodes,” the researchers wrote in the report. Researchers used a systematic review to gather information from…

Adults who have an unhealthy lifestyle are often diagnosed with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). But according to a study, there is an alarming link “between childhood obesity and juvenile liver health problems.” The study on children involved researchers from Harvard Medical School based on Project Viva of Massachusetts. It confirmed a connection between childhood obesity and liver health in eight-year-old children. Data from the study showed that a larger waist circumference at age three may increase the chance that when the child turns eight years old, they could exhibit the symptoms of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. More than 80 million Americans have NAFLD, and…

Toddlers in child-care centers in Seattle may be at risk of exposure to toxic chemicals. This is because a study found toxic chemicals in some nap mats in child-care centers in Seattle. In a small pilot study published in the journal Environmental Pollution, seven child-care centers in neighborhoods from the University District and Wallingford, to South Seattle and the Central District were included. The researchers aimed to determine if replacing nap mats with flame retardants with mats without the chemicals would change the levels of flame retardants in the air and dust. They analyzed the mats and collected dust and air…

Your immune system is an incredible thing; it defends your body against pathogenic bacteria on a daily basis, and it functions without you ever even having to think about it. And, let’s be honest, it’s kind of a thankless job. Many people don’t even remember to think about their immune systems until they’re sick. But new research shows that your immune system may be doing a lot of “remembering” for you, and that inflammation can have a profound effect on the immune system’s memory, especially the brain-specific immune cells known as microglia. Scientists say these new findings could shed light…

A study published in the journal Nutrients found gaps in nutritional content of several weight loss diet plans. The study, conducted by a team of researchers from Cornell University and Nature’s Bounty Co., evaluated three top-reviewed weight loss diet books on Amazon. The chosen plans in the diet analysis were Eat to Live-Vegan, Aggressive Weight Loss; Fast Metabolism Diet; and Eat, Drink and Be Healthy. The first two titles were chosen to represent two genres of commercial weight loss diets, hypocaloric vegan, and high-animal-protein low-carbohydrate diets. The third diet plan, meanwhile, represented weight maintenance diets. Researchers then examined seven single-day menus of every diet…

Growing up, a lot of people were led to believe the myth that only milk contains the right amount of nutrients to make their bones strong. Most studies, in particular, only showed how calcium benefits our bones; however, these would not delve into the details of bone health. Scientists from the University of Surrey in the U.K. sought to debunk this myth as well, setting out to determine the association between some nutrients found in fruits and vegetables and bone health, in a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. In total, 62 women, aged 45 to 55 years (as researchers noted…

For over half a century, the relationship between wheat consumption and the development of certain mental disorders was unclear. This, despite previous reports that indicate that the connection is due to the presence of a variety of pharmacologically active properties in wheat. More recently, however, researchers have discovered that due to the gluten component of this grain, blood flow to the frontal cortex of the brain is cut off – which could explain its link to conditions such as schizophrenia. In 1997, a case study was conducted involving a 33-year-old patient who was diagnosed with schizophrenia. At first, the patient came…

There are at least 1,000 different kinds of bacteria and 40 million microbial cells found in our gut. A balance in the gut microbiome is really vital to keep not just our physical health well, but also our mental and emotional well-being. To be able to maintain a healthy balance of bacteria in the gut, it is essential to regularly consume foods that are high in vitamins, minerals, and micronutrients – more particularly, foods high in fiber. In a study conducted by Justin Sonnenburg, a microbiologist at Stanford University, his wife Erica, and a graduate student named Samuel Smits, they tried to find out…

One of the challenges that older medical systems have is being recognized in a world filled with Western medical procedures and medication. A classic example is Ayurveda (or Ayurvedic medicine): It has been used for over 3,000 years in India, but its potential benefits have been largely ignored in conventional medicine. However, an article in the Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine described that while the methods in Ayurveda may be ancient, it still is sound, based on modern scientific concepts. In the article, the researchers looked at Mahamrutyunjaya rasa (MHR), an ayurvedic formulation used to treat cardiovascular disorders, to determine the physical and chemical…

Turns out, the part of the egg that we don’t eat can actually help relieve our joints. In a study published in Clinical Interventions in Aging, the authors revealed that NEM, a proprietary eggshell membrane ingredient from Stratum Nutrition, may have the potential to help with joint recovery after an exercise. According to researchers, the study was also the first of its kind to use CTX-II, a cartilage degradation marker, as a benchmark for effective joint health intervention. In the company’s website, NEM is touted to “support joints against pain, stiffness, and cartilage breakdown.” According to Dr. Jason Theodosakis, the contributing author…

Yogurt is a popular probiotic-rich food, but did you know that kefir, a cultured and fermented beverage, is also good for your gut? According to a study, kefir can even help lower blood pressure. A team of researchers from Auburn University worked together with researchers from the University of Vila Velha to study the effects of kefir on high blood pressure – or the health condition known as hypertension. The scientists involved in the study posited that consuming kefir can have “a positive effect on blood pressure by promoting communication between the gut and brain.” Kefir is a fermented probiotic milk drink that…

People who are overweight should lose some weight even if they do not have high blood pressure or any other heart disease risk, according to scientists. This is because a study has found that people who are 30 pounds or more overweight are more likely to develop metabolic syndrome within 10 years. This also increases their risk of getting cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. In the study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, the research team aimed to identify if metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) at baseline remained stable or resulted in metabolic syndrome and raised the risk of…

Legend has it that the Queen of Sheba, made infamous by her wealth and association to King Solomon, declared pistachios a delicacy exclusive for royal consumption. Modern research indicates the ancient monarch may have had it right, with numerous studies touting this nut’s healing properties and many health benefits. The pistachio’s small size belies its hefty nutritional content. It contains high levels of B vitamins, namely thiamin (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5), and pyridoxine (B6). These nutrients help your body convert the food you eat into energy. It is also rich in vitamins A, C, and E…

Struggling with an insecure attachment style can make it virtually impossible to have truly healthy relationships with the people you care about most. Whether its anxious attachment or avoidant, perhaps you’ve been reading about attachment styles and have come to realize you’ve got insecurities that you need to overcome in order to be happy. Either way, it is possible to “rewire” your brain and revolutionize your relationships with other people. Writing for Psychology Today, Dr. Hal Shorey explains how the brain works — and how you can change your own negative perceptions with just a few simple tweaks. Transforming negatives into…

Fructose means fruit sugar — but it’s not only found in fruit these days. High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is found in an overwhelming majority of processed foods and beverages, from sodas to snacks, cakes and fast food. You could say that corn syrup is as ubiquitous in the food industry as it gets. But despite assurances that corn syrup is no different to any other kind of sugar, the truth is that high-fructose foods are not so benevolent. In addition to a number of health consequences associated with over-consumption, experts now suspect that HFCS may be as addictive than alcohol…

More than just a solution to overcome one’s daily dose of stress, researchers have found that the benefits of regular meditation can affect one’s life for at least seven years. According to a study conducted at University of California, Davis, the effects of joining an intensive meditation program can be expected to last for years. This was based on research where 60 participants were asked to join at least one of two three-month meditation retreats held at the Shambhala Mountain Center in 2007. Those who participated were placed in group meditation sessions and were also taught to practice Buddhist mindfulness meditation that lasted six hours…