5 minute read

health front

Next Article
healthy strategies

healthy strategies

a social-media breather may boost mental health

A weeklong break from Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Twitter, and the like freed up nine hours of time for participants in a recent British study. It also reduced their symptoms of anxiety and depression and improved their sense of wellbeing, the researchers found.

Advertisement

The study group included 154 people ages 18 to 72 who used social media daily. The researchers took baseline scores for the participants’ anxiety, depression, and well-being. They put half into a control group that did not change their scrolling habits and half into an intervention group that agreed to stop using all social media for one week.

At the end of the break, people in the control group reported using social media for an average of seven hours, while those in the intervention group reported an average of 21 minutes over the course of the study. The intervention group also had significant improvements in well-being, anxiety, and depression as compared to the control group.

“Many of our participants reported positive effects from being off social media with improved mood and less anxiety overall,” lead researcher Jeff Lambert, PhD, said in a press release from the University of Bath. “This suggests that even just a small break can have an impact.”

SOURCE “Social media break improves mental health, study suggests,” University of Bath, 5/6/22

sleep may be key to maintaining weight loss

A study from the University of Copenhagen found that getting good quality sleep can support people’s attempts to maintain weight loss after a diet.

The researchers analyzed results from a controlled trial that investigated changes in sleep length and quality in adults following a weight-loss diet. The participants, 195 people ages 18 to 65 with obesity, lost an average of 12 percent of their body weight during an eight-week lowcalorie diet. They were then randomly assigned to an exercise group, a group given a weight-loss drug, a group that exercised and took the drug, or a placebo group, and followed for a year.

The study measured sleep duration of all participants, who also self-rated their sleep quality.

The study found that sleep quality and duration improved for all participants after the eight-week diet. But after a year, those in the exercise groups maintained their improved sleep quality, while those in the nonexercise groups did not. Also, those who averaged under six hours of sleep per night gained weight as compared to those who slept more than six hours.

One way to achieve a good night’s sleep every night? The research indicates that about two hours of vigorous physical activity a week can support sleep quality and duration.

SOURCE “Poor sleep may undermine people’s attempts to keep weight off,” European Association for the Study of Obesity, 5/4/22

healthy eating lowers diabetes chances

Regardless of genetic risk factors, eating a healthy diet is associated with a lower risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, a team of Boston-based researchers determined.

The scientists aimed to explore whether diet and genetic factors interacted in terms of Type 2 diabetes risk. They analyzed data from three studies including 35,759 people and found that a low-quality diet linked to a 30 percent increased risk of developing the disease, irrespective of family background of Type 2 diabetes.

Alter Eco Truffle Thins and Granola

Alter Eco is expanding their chocolate offering with decadent Truffle Thins. Rich Ecuadorian cacao surrounds a thin and smooth truffle filling for an everyday indulgent treat. Deep, dark, and oh-so-satisfying. And new granola offers a way to have chocolate for breakfast. Dark Chocolate Granola is one of the new granola offerings. Crunchy, mouthwatering, flavorful granola that is sweetened naturally with fruit, not sugar.

Green + Lovely Better-than-Butter Pregnancy Belly Oil

This nourishing oil is formulated to prevent stretch marks, and to moisturize, and revitalize your skin. It contains a blend of organic olive oil, organic unrefined virgin coconut oil, almond oil, and sunflower oil so that when you apply the oil, it seeps into the deepest layers of your skin, keeping you moisturized all day long. It also contains non-GMO vitamin E oil, which works to heal the skin and increase its elasticity. Perfect for sensitive skin!

LastObject LastSwab Basic

As many as 500 billion single-use cotton swabs are used every year. LastObject seeks to end the use of single-use swabs by introducing the world’s first reusable cotton swab. LastSwab Basic is perfect for basic swab use and ear cleaning, and it is reusable 1,000+ times. After use just hand wash with soap and water. LastSwab comes in a quality case made of Recycled Ocean-Bound Plastic making it easy to store in your bathroom or bring on travels. Terry Naturally Cortisol Rescue

This blend supports healthy levels of cortisol for a more balanced response to life’s challenges.* Healthy cortisol levels can help support stress resistance, daily energy, positive mood, and weight management.* It combines a blend of bioactive B vitamins and vitamin C which are used up quickly during stressful situations. It also supplies DHEA to help support cortisol balance.*

Jarrow Formulas NMN 125 mg

Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (NMN) is a precursor to the vitamin B3 metabolite, NAD+, which in turn is essential to cellular energy production and mitochondrial function.* NAD+ is a cofactor for sirtuins (SIRT), enzymes that promote healthy aging by regulating gene expression, DNA repair, mitochondrial biogenesis, and energy metabolism.*

Daiwa Brain Health

Introducing an innovative brain blend formulated with a unique and thoroughly researched natural compound, HSOP Hokkaido Scallop Oil Plasmalogen. This compound has been found to reduce oxidative stress on the brain’s cells and reduce neuroinflammation, helping to improve memory, cognitive function, and slow the aging process.*

Sunfood Superfood Hydration

These whole food formulas are perfect for hot summer days, working out, and working outside. Made with coconut water, lemon, sea salt, and coconut palm sugar, they help provide rapid hydration with electrolytes from food. Renew formula supports the body’s immune system and provides sustainable energy.* Energize formula contains B vitamins and supports endurance and no-crash energy.*

This article is from: