Instead of adding salt to their meals, older adults can use spices to give their food more zip and keep their blood pressure under control, new research suggests. “We were working specifically with a population of older adults to see if we could reduce the amount of salt in a product and then tailor it… read on > read on >
All Food:
How Calling a Food ‘Light’ in Calories Can Backfire
If the label says your food is “light,” will you eat more to fill up? Quite possibly, a new study suggests. Researchers invited 37 men and women to a simple lunch of penne pasta, snack tomatoes, pesto, oregano and basil. One time, the meal was described as “light” and not designed to fill them up.… read on > read on >
Drills Key to Making Dental Appointments COVID-Safe
The type of drill your dentist uses just might determine your chances of catching COVID-19 while in the chair. So claims new research that suggests dentists can significantly improve patient safety during the pandemic by switching the type of drill they use. British researchers used a harmless virus similar in size and structure to SARS-CoV-2,… read on > read on >
CDC Backs Full Approval of Moderna COVID Vaccine
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday gave its full approval to Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine for use in people 18 and older. This follows a similar move made Jan. 31 by its sister agency, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The vaccine, which had before been available for that age group only… read on > read on >
A Better Clot-Buster Drug When Strokes Attack?
A newer type of “clot-busting” medication might be safer than the one long used for treating strokes, a preliminary study hints. Researchers found that among nearly 7,900 stroke sufferers, those treated with the drug — called tenecteplase — were less likely to suffer life-threatening brain bleeding as a side effect, compared to those given the… read on > read on >
Could a Chewing Gum in Pregnancy Help Prevent Premature Deliveries?
Gum disease has been linked to an increased risk for preterm birth, and now new research suggests that chewing sugar-free gum with xylitol during pregnancy may lower this risk. The study took place in Malawi, Africa, which has one of the world’s highest rates of preterm delivery. Experts are quick to caution that it’s too… read on > read on >
Stroke Rate Rises Among Young Americans, Even as It Declines for Seniors
Although there’s been a marked decline in rates of stroke among older adults over the past 30 years, growing numbers of young Americans are having strokes. Obesity may be one reason why, experts say. “The decline in strokes in people aged 50 and older is likely due to better stroke risk factor control, such as… read on > read on >
Gruesome Warning Images on Soda Labels Could Cut Consumption
Images of fat-laden, diseased hearts and blackened, rotting feet might be the last thing you expect to see on the label of a can of soda that your child desperately wants, but would such drastic health warnings about the long-term dangers of sugar stop you from buying it? Yes, suggests new research that finds parents… read on > read on >
Melatonin’s Popularity Rises, Along With Hidden Dangers
Americans have tossed and turned their way through the pandemic, and a new study shows they are increasingly turning to melatonin in an attempt to get some good rest. But the researchers also issued a warning, because some folks are using amounts that pose a risk to their health. In 2018, Americans were taking more… read on > read on >
Piling on Excess Weight Might Harm Your Thinking Skills: Study
Being overweight or obese has long been linked to poor heart health, but could it also impair your thinking? New research out of Canada suggests it very well might. Working with thousands of young, middle-aged and older adults, the new study highlights what appears to be fat’s direct harm on one’s ability to think quickly,… read on > read on >