health briefs

Exercise More to Counter Risks of Poor Sleep

Poor sleepers can cut their health risks by exercising more, reports a new study of 380,055 middleage people in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. Both physical inactivity and poor sleep are independently linked to a heightened risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer and death, but Australian researchers found that more exercise lowers the consequence of poor sleep. People that ate better, drank less alcohol and were more physically active also tended to sleep better. The lower the sleep score, the higher were risks of death from any cause, including cardiovascular disease and ischemic stroke. Those at the bottom of the scales with both poor sleep scores and little physical activity had a 57 percent higher risk of death from any cause. People that were younger, female, thinner or better off financially tended to have healthier sleep scores, as did those that ate more fruits and vegetables, spent less time seated, had no mental health issues, never smoked, didn't work shifts, drank less alcohol and were more physically active.

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.

Plant-Based Meals Reduce Severe COVID-19 Risks

Eating more plants than meat is not only good for the planet, it might also be protective against COVID-19 severity, reports a new study in BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health. Researchers from Johns Hopkins and other universities analyzed web-based responses from almost 2,900 frontline doctors and nurses in the U.S., France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK that had been significantly exposed to COVID-19, 95 percent of which were doctors and 70 percent males. Those that ate a plant-based diet, described as high in vegetables, legumes and nuts, and low in poultry and meats, were 73 percent less likely to contract moderate to severe COVID-19. Those with pescatarian diets allowing fish were 59 percent less likely. However, those following low-carbohydrate, high-protein diets had 48 percent greater odds of moderate to severe COVID-19. “Our results suggest that a healthy diet rich in nutrient-dense foods may be considered for protection against severe COVID-19,” researchers concluded.