health briefs

Avoid Infant Formulas with Added Sugar

Early exposures to certain foods shape preferences that endure through adulthood, studies show, which is why research from the University of Kansas Medical Center and the University of Buffalo has raised concerns about the added sugar prominent in many baby formulas, especially cows’ milk formulas. The researchers tested 97 infants and 44 toddlers that were either breastfed or given various formulas for up to 15 months. The infants given formulas with added sugar had significant weight gain compared to infants that were breastfed or given formulas without added sugar. The sugar in formulas was found to be almost double the amount of sugar in breast milk. The researchers theorized that the added sugar not only raised the risk of weight gain, but also made it likely the children drank a greater amount. “Efforts by policymakers and pediatricians to educate mothers on lower-sugar options when breastfeeding is not feasible may enhance preventive measures of childhood obesity,” write the authors.

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Reliable Gut Health Test Available Through Teeming Health

by Michelle Martin

What can you do in 90 days? Maybe you could learn a new language or how to dance, or become a yoga instructor, singer, computer programmer or even a gourmet cook. However, if you have poor gut health, you may not feel well enough to even think about taking on a new challenge. That’s because this condition causes food intolerance, “leaky gut”, digestive issues, weight fluctuations and skin problems. It affects sleep, cognitive ability and can even make you feel depressed. When you have a healthy gut, you not only have effective digestion, which properly metabolizes the nutrients from the foods you eat with no discomfort, but you also experience heart and brain health, sleep better, have a stronger immune system and an improved mood. Research also indicates having a healthy gut may help prevent some cancers. And that is why I am excited to bring the Ixcela Internal Fitness test to you as a reliable way to measure your present gut health, take corrective measures and see real results in as little as 90 days. If you are committed to feeling better, having more energy, losing weight, sleeping better and improving your mood, contact Michelle Martin, of Teeming Health, at Michelle@TeemingHealth.com for more information.

Drink Green Tea to Ward Off Flu

Green tea, a staple of Japanese culture now enjoyed in many American homes, contains compounds called catechins that have significant antiviral activity against influenza, report researchers from Thailand’s University of Phayao in the journal Molecules. They analyzed eight studies involving 5,048 people and found that gargling or drinking green tea reduced the risk of influenza by 33 percent in randomized controlled trials and by 48 percent in longitudinal cohort studies.

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Eat Strawberries to Improve Blood Vessel Health

A new study from Chicago’s Illinois Institute of Technology demonstrates that strawberries increase flow in blood vessels and reduce systolic blood pressure. In the randomized, controlled, double-blind trial, overweight and obese adults anete lusina/Pexels.com with moderately high cholesterol were assigned to drink either a beverage containing 25 grams of freeze-dried strawberry powder or a similar drink without the strawberry powder twice daily for four weeks, followed by a four-week washout period. An hour after consumption, the strawberry powder improved flow-mediated dilation, indicating healthier blood pressure function; systolic blood pressure was lower even four weeks later.