Avsnitt
-
Story at-a-glance Smoking before surgery significantly increases complications; current smokers have a 14% higher risk of post-surgical problems like infections and delayed healing Quitting smoking less than six weeks before surgery provides little benefit — patients need at least six weeks for their body to begin recovering from tobacco's damaging effects Young, otherwise healthy smokers are particularly at risk, with the highest smoking rates (26.8%) seen in patients aged 18 to 40 who often underestimate their vulnerability Smoking weakens immune defenses and promotes chronic inflammation by disrupting how immune cells function, creating an environment where infections thrive and healing slows Elective surgeries provide an ideal opportunity for smoking cessation, as the scheduled waiting period allows time for immune function and tissue oxygenation to improve
-
Story at-a-glance A study from Brazil's State University of Campinas found twice-weekly weight training for six months preserved brain regions vulnerable to Alzheimer's in older adults with mild cognitive impairment In this research, five of the 22 people in the resistance training group improved enough to no longer meet clinical criteria for cognitive impairment Exercise protects the brain through multiple mechanisms. It stimulates growth factors like BDNF, reduces inflammation, improves cerebral blood flow, and regulates stress hormones that contribute to cognitive decline For optimal longevity benefits, research suggests limiting strength training to 40 to 60 minutes weekly; exceeding 130 to 140 minutes may reverse health gains and even shorten your life Mind-body exercises like yoga and tai chi also benefit brain health. They lower cortisol, reduce anxiety, and improve executive function, attention, and processing speed
-
Saknas det avsnitt?
-
Story at-a-glance New data from the largest clinical trial on this topic shows no improvement in symptoms, hospitalizations, or survival with fluid restriction in chronic heart failure patients Patients who drank more than the advised limit of 1,500 ml had no higher risk of death, hospitalization, kidney injury, or emergency interventions Fluid-restricted patients reported much higher thirst distress, which contributes to stress hormone release, reduced treatment compliance, and increased emotional strain Over-restricting both water and salt leads to dangerously low sodium levels, while getting enough potassium helps your kidneys manage hydration and prevent harmful fluid buildup Researchers recommend giving fluid goals based on your symptoms, medications, and how you feel — this allows you more control and fewer restrictions
-
Story at-a-glance Balance is a foundational skill your body uses constantly, from standing up and reaching to walking across a room. It’s also a powerful indicator of overall health, especially heart and brain function Research shows that impaired balance predicts future cardiovascular events, including heart attack and stroke, even in adults with no prior heart conditions Poor balance in older adults is also strongly linked to increased dementia risk. Those with lower balance times face significantly higher rates of Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia To assess your balance at home, try doing simple tests like standing on one leg for 10 seconds or completing the “timed up and go” test in under 12 seconds Incorporate activities like heel-to-toe walking, chair-supported squats, stability ball use, gentle tai chi or yoga, and ankle strengthening exercises into your daily workout routine to improve your balance
-
Story at-a-glance Research shows setting smaller, more achievable dietary goals like "eat one more portion" is more effective than the standard "five-a-day" recommendation for increasing fruit and vegetable consumption The perception of how easy a goal feels matters more than the actual goal itself; participants who viewed their target as achievable consumed more produce regardless of which goal they received Simply having any goal improved fruit and vegetable intake compared to no goal at all, highlighting the importance of having a specific target for dietary improvement Awareness of current eating habits, not just instruction, significantly influenced long-term intentions to maintain healthier eating patterns Rather than aiming for perfection, starting with small changes like focusing on one meal or tracking "one more" serving of fruit daily creates momentum that leads to lasting dietary improvements
-
Story at-a-glance Corticosteroids are widely used in medicine, but their safety has long been questioned, with more and more dangers being discovered Understanding the effects of the body’s natural corticosteroids explains many of the common side effects from synthetic steroids like diabetes, fractures, and tissue loss Steroids exemplify a common criticism of modern medicine — treating symptoms rather than addressing the root cause can lead to far more severe chronic health issues While they are frequently misused, in some cases, steroids can also be lifesaving, hence requiring knowledge of their appropriate uses Superior natural and conventional alternatives to steroid therapy now exist, reducing the justification for using these unsafe drugs
-
Story at-a-glance Five major heart risk factors at age 50 (high blood pressure, imbalanced cholesterol, diabetes, obesity and smoking) reduce your lifespan by more than a decade People with none of these risk factors lived significantly longer and had more disease-free years — women gained 14.5 years and men 11.8 years Linoleic acid from vegetable oils damages mitochondrial function and is a hidden root cause of cardiovascular problems that should be largely eliminated from your diet Addressing even one risk factor in your 50s adds years to your life; lowering high blood pressure and quitting smoking offered the greatest benefits in the study Beyond avoiding vegetable oils, healthy carb consumption, daily walking and regular sunlight exposure help restore cellular energy production and metabolic health
-
Story at-a-glance Daily soda drinkers have a 4.69 times higher fracture risk compared to non-drinkers; even one to two sodas weekly increase the risk Soft drinks disrupt calcium-phosphorus balance through phosphoric acid, forcing calcium release from bones even when dietary calcium intake is adequate Diet sodas cause more bone damage than regular sodas, significantly lowering calcium and vitamin D levels and increasing bone breakdown markers The damage to bones happens gradually and silently until fractures occur, making prevention through dietary changes essential Reversing bone damage requires a comprehensive approach: eliminating all sodas, including diet versions, prioritizing mineral-rich whole foods, getting sunlight exposure for vitamin D and incorporating strength training exercises
-
Story at-a-glance A specific gut microbiome pattern was found to help predict future heart attacks in coronary heart disease patients, offering a new tool beyond cholesterol and blood pressure monitoring Researchers identified 10 key bacterial strains tied to heart attack risk and created a scoring system that flags high-risk individuals before symptoms appear Patients with high-risk gut profiles showed more inflammation, insulin resistance, and higher levels of dangerous compounds like trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) and endotoxins Global research confirms gut bacteria influence heart disease through microbial metabolites like short-chain fatty acids, bile acids, and lipopolysaccharide-related immune responses Natural interventions like berberine, dietary shifts, and fecal transplants show promise in reshaping gut health and reducing cardiovascular risk
-
Story at-a-glance Research links microplastic exposure to chronic diseases like high blood pressure, stroke, and diabetes, ranking among the top 10 predictors of these conditions Communities with higher microplastic levels experienced significantly more chronic diseases, with risk steadily increasing alongside higher plastic concentrations A study found microplastics embedded in artery plaque, and affected patients were over four times more likely to experience heart attacks, strokes or death Plastic particles trigger inflammation and immune responses when lodged in tissues, raising disease risk even in people without conventional risk factors Effective ways to reduce exposure include filtering your drinking water, avoiding plastic food packaging, using glass containers, choosing natural fiber clothing and considering natural progesterone supplementation to address related hormone disruption
-
Story at-a-glance Many common vegetables like green onions, bok choy and celery regrow from scraps using just water and sunlight Regrowing kitchen scraps helps cut grocery costs and reduces household food waste with minimal effort You don’t need a garden — just a sunny windowsill, a shallow dish or jar, and a few minutes of care each day Some vegetables regrow in as little as three to seven days; these fast results provide motivation for you to continue regrowing more vegetables Regrowing food at home supports self-reliance, lowers dependence on supply chains and adds fresh nutrition to your meals
-
Story at-a-glance Research shows that 1,848 counties throughout America lack air quality monitoring stations, leaving over 50.7 million citizens unaware of their exposure to harmful pollutants linked to cardiovascular disease Chronic exposure to air pollution significantly increases your risk for high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and heart disease by triggering inflammation and disrupting your body's natural defenses Communities without air quality monitoring are often rural, poorer, or have higher minority populations, meaning the most vulnerable Americans face invisible but severe health threats from unchecked air pollution Simple steps, such as purifying your indoor air, strategically timing outdoor activities, and reducing chemical use at home, will greatly lower your exposure to airborne pollutants Create a pollution-free sanctuary in your bedroom by effectively filtering your indoor air to help your body repair the damage from daily pollution exposure, directly enhancing your overall health
-
Story at-a-glance Cancer is affecting younger individuals more than before. There's even a case wherein a 13-year-old has developed metastatic pancreatic cancer Inflammation plays a central role in cancer development, with poor diet, environmental chemicals, and persistent viral infections contributing to immune system suppression The COVID-19 jab contributes to cancer risk through persistent inflammation from spike proteins Your immune system, particularly T-cells and natural killer cells, is crucial for fighting cancer Practical preventative measures include eating whole foods instead of processed foods, reducing chemical exposure, maintaining proper sleep, and avoiding mRNA shots
-
Research shows that optimizing your vitamin D level can lower systolic blood pressure within weeks People with low vitamin D levels saw the most dramatic improvements, making testing your level a smart first step if you struggle with high blood pressure Vitamin D helps lower blood pressure by reducing fluid retention and relaxing blood vessels Taking vitamin D alongside magnesium and vitamin K2 increases its effectiveness and reduces the dose needed to reach optimal levels Have your vitamin D level checked to establish a baseline. From there, you’ll be able to determine whether you need more sunlight exposure or need to take an oral supplement
-
Story at-a-glance Syngenta agreed to settle thousands of lawsuits filed by farmers diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease after paraquat exposure, signaling growing public outrage over decades of corporate cover-ups Paraquat increases the risk of Parkinson’s disease by about 2.5 times and damages mitochondria, leading to progressive movement disorders and irreversible brain degeneration according to NIH research The EPA is delaying decisive action on paraquat regulation despite mounting evidence of severe health risks, allowing paraquat to remain on the market for at least four more years Despite following safety guidelines, many farmers still developed Parkinson’s, highlighting how protective equipment and labeling failed to shield them from paraquat’s dangers Protect yourself from paraquat and other toxic chemicals by checking local pesticide use, installing air and water filters, eating antioxidant-rich foods, supporting organic farming, and thoroughly cleaning anything exposed to agricultural chemicals
-
Story at-a-glance Alzheimer's disease affects memory and cognition, with the number of cases globally expected to reach more than 150 million by 2050. The disease is primarily driven by inflammation, oxidative stress, and gut-brain dysfunction Kefir consumption significantly improves memory and cognition in Alzheimer's patients by reducing amyloid plaques, tau tangles, and inflammatory markers while protecting neurons C15:0, an essential fat found in grass fed dairy like kefir, protects against neurodegeneration by strengthening cell membranes, protecting mitochondria, and displacing harmful linoleic acid Iron accumulation in the brain accelerates Alzheimer's progression through oxidative damage and ferroptosis; regular blood donation reduces iron overload Daily strategies such as optimizing beneficial gut bacteria, eliminating vegetable oils from your diet, and avoiding gluten offer protection against cognitive decline and neurodegeneration
-
Story at-a-glance According to research, consuming as little as 1 gram of bay leaves daily can lower fasting glucose by up to 26% and reduces LDL cholesterol by 40%, offering natural support for metabolic health Insulin sensitivity improves with regular bay leaf intake, as studies show it protects pancreatic beta cells and enhances the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar Liver and kidney function benefit from bay leaf extract, which reduces inflammation, improves enzyme balance, and prevents diabetes-related organ damage Powerful antioxidants in bay leaves fight oxidative stress and inflammation, lowering the risk of metabolic dysfunction, heart disease, and complications linked to diabetes Try adding bay leaves to your meals, brewing them into tea, or using them in powdered form to provide an easy, natural way to regulate blood sugar and improve overall health
-
Story at-a-glance Microplastics are tiny plastic particles less than 5 millimeters in size, found everywhere in the environment, and capable of accumulating in human and animal lung tissues A 2025 study found microplastic particles in every lung sample from 51 bird species, with an average of 221 particles per bird's lungs. These findings suggest similar widespread contamination in humans Previous research has shown that microplastics are present in human lung tissues, with particles from common plastics like polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) Microplastics disrupt hormone balance, cause chronic inflammation, create oxidative stress, damage gut health, and even cross the placenta and blood-brain barrier To reduce your microplastic exposure, switch to reusable bags, store food in glass containers, avoid using single-use plastics, choose natural home products, and improve your indoor air quality with an air filter
-
Story at-a-glance Knee pain affects one in four U.S. adults and often stems from osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint condition that causes stiffness, swelling, and pain — especially when you’re inactive or avoid movement Falling into inactivity worsens the problem, as muscle weakness adds stress to the knee joint, making everyday movements like walking or standing more painful over time A March 2024 NIH-backed study found strength training throughout life cuts knee arthritis risk, with up to 23% lower odds of knee pain or degeneration — even among light or occasional lifters The right combination of strengthening and stretching exercises is beneficial for your knees, as it eases pain by helping to improve the way the joint moves and functions The sooner you start smart strength training, the better, since it builds resilience, restores mobility, and reduces pain without requiring intense workouts, fancy equipment, or a gym membership
-
Story at-a-glance Research shows constant snacking disrupts children's growth hormone rhythms, reducing bone development by up to 17% compared to structured mealtimes Regular meals trigger natural surges of growth hormone that strengthen bones, while grazing produces flat, ineffective hormone levels In studies with both rats and humans, those eating structured meals had three times more growth hormone bursts compared to those snacking continuously The body's hunger hormone (ghrelin) works properly with scheduled meals, helping trigger growth hormone release essential for skeletal development To support healthy growth in children, implement consistent mealtimes, avoid between-meal snacks and serve nutrient-dense whole foods instead of processed varieties
- Visa fler
