PROTIME-FITNESS HOLISTIC HEALTH AND WELLNESS

  HYPOTHALAMIC MENIN LOSS ASSOCIATED WITH AGING Cognition, bone mass, skin thickness, and lifespan are all affected by Menin's decline. Decline in the hypothalamic Menin may play a key role in aging, according to a new study published on March 16 in the open-access journal  PLOS Biology  by Lige Leng of Xiamen University, Xiamen, China, and colleagues. The findings reveal a previously unknown driver of physiological aging and suggest that supplementation with a simple amino acid may mitigate some age-related changes. The hypothalamus has been recognized as a critical mediator of physiological aging through increased neuroinflammatory signaling. In turn, inflammation promotes multiple age-related processes in the brain and periphery. Recently, Leng and colleagues showed that Menin, a hypothalamic protein, is a crucial inhibitor of hypothalamic neuroinflammation, leading them to ask what role Menin may play in aging. Here, they observed that the level of Menin in the hypoth...

  AFIB RISKS: STRESS, INSOMNIA, AND MENOPAUSE         After menopause, an estimated 1 in 4 women may develop irregular heart rhythms -- known as atrial fibrillation -- in their lifetime, with stressful life events and insomnia being major contributing factors, according to new research published today in the  Journal of the American Heart Association , an open access, peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association. Atrial fibrillation may lead to blood clots, stroke, heart failure, or other cardiovascular complications. According to the American Heart Association, it primarily affects older adults, and more than 12 million people in the U.S. are expected to develop atrial fibrillation by 2030. "In my general cardiology practice, I see many postmenopausal women with picture-perfect physical health who struggle with poor sleep and negative psychological and emotional feelings or experiences, which we now know may put them at risk for developing atria...

  FEED YOUR GUT MICROBIOME WITH FIBER TO PROTECT AGAINST DISEASE The human gut evolved to thrive on fermentable fibers.         That vast array of dietary fiber supplements in the drugstore or grocery aisle can overwhelm a consumer. They also make all health claims without FDA review and approval. So, how do you know which supplement works and would be best for you? A rigorous examination of the gut microbes of study participants fed three different kinds of supplements in different sequences concludes that people who had been eating the least amount of fiber before the study showed the most significant benefit from supplements, regardless of which ones they consumed. "The people who responded the best had been eating the least fiber to start with," said study leader Lawrence David, an associate professor of molecular genetics and microbiology at Duke University. The benefit of dietary fiber isn't just the easier pooping that advertisers tout. Fermentable fiber ...

  IMPROVE OVERALL HEALTH: EAT MORE VEGETABLES AND FRUITS         People at increased risk for cardiovascular disease who participated in produce prescription programs increased their consumption of fruits and vegetables, which was associated with improved body mass index (BMI), blood sugar and blood pressure levels, as well as a decrease in food insecurity. This new research was published today in  Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes , a peer-reviewed American Heart Association journal. Prescription programs enable doctors to prescribe fruits and vegetables in addition to medications. Patients receive electronic cards or vouchers to access free or discounted produce of their choice at retail grocery or farmers' markets, explained study lead author Kurt Hager, Ph.D., M.S., an instructor at UMass Chan Medical School in Worcester, Massachusetts. Although previous research has examined the effects of small, individual produce prescription programs,...

  HERBS AND SPICES ARE HEALTHY ALTERNATIVES TO SALT AND SATURATED FATS         In response to the low-fat craze of the 1990s, many food companies removed saturated fats from their products, only to replace them with sugars to maintain their palatability. Unfortunately, the resulting products were no healthier than the originals, and the average person consumes too much-saturated fat today. Now, a team of Penn State researchers has figured out how to remove some saturated fat, sugar, and salt from popular American foods while maintaining their tastiness. The trick? Replacing these overconsumed nutrients with a dose of healthy herbs and spices. "Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death globally, and limiting saturated fat and sodium intake are key recommendations for reducing the risk of developing this disease," said Kristina Petersen, associate professor of nutritional sciences at Penn State. "Yet, we know that one of the key barriers to reducing int...

  IMPROVE YOUR MOOD WITH KINDNESS We all have a remedy -- a glass of wine or a piece of chocolate -- for lifting our spirits when we're in a bad mood. Rather than focusing on ways to make ourselves feel better, a team of Iowa State University researchers suggests wishing others well. "Walking around and offering kindness to others in the world reduces anxiety and increases happiness and feelings of social connection," said Douglas Gentile, professor of psychology. "It's a simple strategy that doesn't take a lot of time that you can incorporate into your daily activities." Gentile, Dawn Sweet, senior lecturer in psychology, and Lanmiao He, graduate student in psychology, tested the benefits of three different techniques intended to reduce anxiety and increase happiness or well-being. They did this by having college students walk around a building for 12 minutes and practice one of the following strategies: Loving-kindness: Looking at the people they see a...

  HEART ATTACK WARNINGS IN MEN AND WOMEN Smidt Heart Institute investigators found that 50% of individuals experienced warning signs before cardiac arrest.         Investigators from the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai are one step closer to helping individuals catch a sudden cardiac arrest before it happens, thanks to a study published today in the peer-reviewed journal  Lancet Digital Health . The study, led by sudden cardiac arrest expert Sumeet Chugh, MD, found that 50% of individuals who experienced a sudden cardiac arrest also experienced a telling symptom 24 hours before losing heart function. Smidt Heart Institute investigators also learned that this warning symptom differed for women than men. For women, the most prominent sign of an impending sudden cardiac arrest was shortness of breath, whereas men experienced chest pain. Smaller subgroups of both genders experienced palpitations, seizure-like activity, and flu-like symptoms. Out-of-hospit...

  HEART DAMAGE IN YOUNG ADULTS LINKED TO SEDENTARY CHILDHOOD         Hours of inactivity during childhood could set the stage for heart attacks and strokes later in life, according to research presented at ESC Congress 2023. The study found that sedentary time accumulated from childhood to young adulthood was associated with heart damage -- even in those with average weight and blood pressure. "All those hours of screen time in young people add up to a heavier heart, which we know from studies in adults raises the likelihood of heart attack and stroke," said study author Dr. Andrew Agbaje of the University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland. "Children and teenagers need to move more to protect their long-term health." This was the first study to investigate the cumulative effect of smartwatch-assessed sedentary time in young people and cardiac damage later in life. It was conducted as part of the Children of the 90s study, which began in 1990/1991 and is o...