Antioxidants are substances in food that may delay or prevent some types of cell damage. Fruit and vegetables are prime sources of antioxidants, which include vitamin C, selenium and beta-carotene, the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) says. While antioxidants haven’t been shown definitively to prevent disease, studies have shown that people who eat more… read on >
Chemicals used to preserve, package and enhance food can harm children’s health, a leading pediatricians’ group says. A growing mound of scientific evidence has linked these chemicals to changes in children’s hormone systems, which can alter their normal development and increase their risk of childhood obesity, the new American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) policy statement… read on >
Gluten-free foods are one of the latest nutritional trends, with many parents assuming foods with a gluten-free label are healthier than foods with gluten. But new research says that’s just not true, unless your child truly must avoid gluten — a protein found in wheat, barley and rye — due to celiac disease or other… read on >
The average American gets more than 200 calories a day from sugary drinks, Harvard University’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health says. That’s more than four times the average amount in 1965. The thirst for sugary drinks is contributing to the diabetes and obesity epidemics, the school says. Here are its suggestions for getting less… read on >
A modified type of botulinum toxin — botox — gave mice long-term pain relief and may someday be a safer alternative to opioids as a treatment for chronic pain, according to British researchers. They “deconstructed” the botulinum molecule and reassembled it with an opioid called dermorphin. The resulting compound — called Derm-BOT — silenced pain… read on >
The Great Recession continues to take a grim toll: Since 2009, a growing number of Americans have died from liver disease and liver cancer. The increase among 25- to 34-year-olds is especially troubling because the deaths are due to cirrhosis, a disease caused by excessive drinking, the authors of a new study said. The researchers… read on >
Using sulfonylurea drugs with or instead of metformin to control blood sugar increases type 2 diabetics’ risk of serious complications, a new study finds. Metformin is a first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes, meaning it is the first drug that will be tried. But sulfonylureas are the most often-used second-line treatment, commonly along with metformin.… read on >
Fizzy, fermented kombucha tea is the hot new health drink. But experts say it’s not clear whether the bacteria-laden beverage lives up to all of its health claims. Proponents say kombucha’s powerful probiotics can help improve digestion, promote your immune response and reduce inflammation in your body by introducing healthy bacteria into your gut. “Kombucha… read on >
Having a late dinner and heading straight to bed may boost your risk of breast or prostate cancer, a new study suggests. Spanish researchers analyzed data from 621 prostate cancer patients and 1,205 breast cancer patients, as well as 872 men and 1,321 women without these cancers. People who ate their evening meal before 9… read on >
Chemicals used to cure meats like salami and hot dogs may be linked to a mood disorder called mania, researchers report. Those chemicals, known as nitrates, are frequently added to processed meats to prevent bacteria growth. “There’s growing evidence that germs in the intestines can influence the brain,” said study lead author Dr. Robert Yolken.… read on >
