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Death in Boom Times. Historically, when economies expand, death rates increase for both middle-aged and older people; however, when economies head for recession, the death rates among these groups decrease. For every 1% point increase in GDP, death rates appear to rise by 0.36% among older people, and by 0.38% among the middle-aged. Two popular…
Read MoreEinstein’s Brain. The left and right hemispheres of Albert Einstein’s brain were unusually well connected to one another, which may have contributed to his brilliance. This study is the first to detail Einstein’s corpus callosum, the brain’s largest bundle of fibers that connects the two cerebral hemispheres and facilitates interhemispheric communication. Brain, October 2013
Read More5 Meals a Day? A regular five meal pattern – breakfast, lunch, dinner and two snacks a day – was associated with a reduced risk of being overweight or obese. Skipping breakfast was associated with a greater BMI and waist circumference. PLoS One, October 2013
Read MoreOsteoarthritis of the Hip. 118 patients with diagnosed unilateral hip osteoarthritis received either patient education (PE) with or without manual therapy (MT, performed by a chiropractor), or a minimum control intervention (MCI) consisting of an at-home stretching program. The study found that the combination of patient education and manual therapy to be the most effective…
Read MoreExercise and Esophageal Cancer. Observational research indicates that those who regularly exercise have 19% reduced risk of esophageal cancer. According to Dr. Siddharth Singh, a gastroenterologist at the Mayo Clinic, “Esophageal cancer is a deadly disease. On average only 1 in 6 people survive to 5 years, and that’s with chemotherapy and radiation as well…
Read MoreWalnuts vs. Olive Oil. Adding walnuts (a healthy plant source of omega-3 fatty acids) to a high-fat meal appears to benefit the arteries of people with high cholesterol. Researchers compared how arteries were affected by five teaspoons of olive oil versus eight walnuts when added to a fatty meal. While both walnuts and olive oil…
Read MoreGlobal Warming and Toxic Metal? Scientists have observed that the appetites of some species of fish can increase in warmer water. Rising ocean surface temperatures caused by climate change could result in some fish accumulating greater concentrations of mercury in their bodies, posing a health risk to people who eat seafood. PLoS ONE, October 2013
Read MoreSport Stars and Junk Food? The majority of foods that star athletes promote are nutrient-poor, which may encourage young people to adopt bad eating habits. The top 100 athletes endorsed 512 brands, with sporting goods and apparel representing the largest category at 28.3%, followed by food and drinks at 23.8%. Most of the food and…
Read MoreCitrus for the Kidneys! Regular consumption of naringenin, a component found in grapefruit and other citrus fruits, may successfully block the development of kidney cysts. British Journal of Pharmacology, October 2013
Read MoreLack of Motion and the Nervous System. The negative effects of immobilization (lack of proper motion) begin as soon as four hours after injury! The direct effects of deconditioning on the nervous system include decreased proprioception (ultimately affecting balance and joint coordination) and a decrease in central neuromotor control of movement and posture. Journal of…
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