18 May 2020
MONDAY, May 18, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Ordering a cheeseburger and fries might literally be a dumb move, new research suggests.
A recent, small study from Ohio State University indicates eating a single meal high in saturated fats may hamper your ability to mentally focus.
Saturated fats are found in red meat, dairy products and tropical oils, including coconut and palm. They can raise cholesterol and clog arteries, according to the American Heart Association.
Study author Annelise Madison, a graduate student in clinical psychology, said it's a common belief that food affects your performance.
"Anecdotally, a lot of people struggle to focus during the time after lunch," she said.
This study looked at what short-term effect a single meal might have, Madison said.
The study...
14 May 2020
THURSDAY, May 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Drinking lots of sweetened soda may increase the risk of developing chronic kidney disease, two new studies find.
"Consumption of 500 milliliters [16.9 fluid ounces] of a commercially available soft drink sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup increased vascular resistance in the kidneys within 30 minutes," the researchers found.
In a second study, the investigators found changes in blood flow in the kidneys was caused by the corn syrup, not the caffeine, in the soda.
The two studies included a total of 25 healthy men and women, with an average age of 22 to 24.
Christopher Chapman, of the University at Buffalo in New York, and colleagues explained that vascular resistance occurs when blood vessels constrict, reducing blood flow in...
14 May 2020
THURSDAY, May 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Older Americans were going hungry even before the coronavirus pandemic short-circuited the nation's food supply, a new poll finds.
Before the COVID crisis, 1 in 7 adults ages 50 to 80 had difficulty getting enough food because of high costs or other factors, according to the National Poll on Healthy Aging conducted by the University of Michigan.
The number unable to obtain needed food in the past year was even higher among blacks, Hispanics and those not yet getting Medicare, researchers said.
"Access to nutritious food and health status are closely linked, yet this poll reveals major disparities in that access," said poll director Dr. Preeti Malani, a professor of internal medicine at Michigan Medicine.
"Even as we focus on preventing...
13 May 2020
WEDNESDAY, May 13, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- If you're worried about developing Alzheimer's disease, new research suggests that eating more fruits or drinking more tea or red wine might help protect your brain.
People who had the lowest amounts of fruits -- like apples and berries -- and red wine and tea in their diets were two to four times more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease or another related dementia, the study found.
"Diet matters. And the good news is you don't have to make dramatic changes. Modest changes like going from not eating any berries to eating a cup or two a week can make a difference," explained the study's senior author, Paul Jacques. He's a senior scientist and director of nutritional epidemiology at the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at...