PROTIME-FITNESS HOLISTIC HEALTH AND WELLNESS

LOW ACID DIET: PROMOTES WEIGHT LOSS   A Low-Fat Vegan Diet Cuts Acidity and Promotes Weight Loss, Study Finds Swapping animal products for plant-based foods may do more than just lower your grocery bill—it could help you lose weight and reduce inflammation. In a 16-week study, adults who followed a low-fat vegan diet lost an average of 13 pounds and saw a marked drop in their body’s acidity, while those on a Mediterranean diet did not lose weight. The research, led by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and published in Frontiers in Nutrition, compared the effects of a Mediterranean diet and a low-fat vegan diet in 62 overweight adults. Participants were randomly assigned to follow one diet for 16 weeks, took a four-week break, and then switched to the other diet for another 16 weeks. Dietary records were used to measure “dietary acid load”—a factor influenced by foods consumed and associated with inflammation and weight gain. Results showed that the low-fat vegan die...

  COGNITIVE DECLINE SLOWED BY THERAPY .         A critical new study led by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), and with partnership across several Toronto Dementia Research Alliance (TDRA) sites -- Baycrest, Sunnybrook Health Science Centre, Unity Health Toronto, and University Health Network -- has demonstrated that a combination therapy can slow cognitive decline in older adults at risk for dementia. The study was  published today in  JAMA Psychiatry:  "Slowing cognitive decline in major depressive disorder and mild cognitive impairment: A randomized controlled trial," and reports the primary results of the Prevention of Alzheimer's dementia with Cognitive remediation plus transcranial direct current stimulation in Mild cognitive impairment and Depression (PACt-MD) study. PACt-MD was made possible by a grant from the Canada Brain Research Fund, a unique arrangement between Brain Canada and the Government of Canada through Health...

INTERMITTENT FASTING AND AUTOPHAGY   Intermittent fasting (IF) and autophagy are two ideas that often come together in discussions about health and longevity. Knowing how they work can explain why fasting regularly gets so much scientific attention. What is Intermittent Fasting? Intermittent fasting isn’t about which foods you eat, but when you eat them. Instead of following a set diet, you alternate between periods of eating and not eating. A few popular ways to do this include: Time-Restricted Eating: Eating only during a fixed window each day, such as 8 hours, and fasting for the other 16. This is often called the “16:8” method. Alternate-Day Fasting: Eating normally one day, fasting or eating very little the next. Periodic Fasting: Going without food for longer stretches, like 24 to 48 hours, on a regular schedule (such as once a week or month). During fasting periods, the body switches from using glucose (sugar) as its main energy source to burning fat, which creates molecu...

HOT WEATHER: STAYING SAFE   Extreme heat can be life-threatening, with heat exhaustion and heat stroke escalating quickly if not managed. The research talks about protecting yourself and spotting warning signs. How to Stay Safe in Extreme Heat Staying hydrated is essential. Drink water regularly—even before you feel thirsty—and avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can make dehydration worse (Injury Prevention; The Lancet). Try to avoid strenuous activity during the hottest parts of the day. If you can, stay inside air-conditioned spaces or find shade. Lightweight, light-colored clothing also helps your body stay cool (Injury Prevention; The Lancet). Some people are especially vulnerable in extreme heat: children, older adults, those with chronic illnesses, and people who work outdoors (The Lancet; Safety Science). Public health experts recommend checking neighborhood safety plans, visiting cooling centers, and keeping up with local weather alerts (Weather, Climate, and Society). Recog...

 ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE: A NEW BLOOD TEST A routine blood test could help doctors spot which early Alzheimer's patients are most likely to deteriorate quickly, according to new research presented at the 2025 European Academy of Neurology Congress. The study highlights the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index—a standard measure of insulin resistance—as a potential key predictor. People with high TyG scores were four times more likely to experience rapid cognitive decline than those with lower scores. Researchers from the University of Brescia analyzed medical records from 315 non-diabetic patients with cognitive problems, including 200 with confirmed Alzheimer's. All participants had their insulin resistance measured using the TyG index and were followed for three years. Those in the highest third for TyG in the group with mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's lost more than 2.5 points per year on the Mini-Mental State Examination, a standard cognitive test. No similar a...

PAIN RELIEF:  ULTRASOUND IMPLANT Engineers at the University of Southern California and UCLA have developed a flexible, wireless implant that promises to manage chronic pain without needing opioids, batteries, or wires. This new device, powered by ultrasound and guided by artificial intelligence, could offer real-time, personalized pain relief for millions of Americans struggling with ongoing pain. Chronic pain disrupts daily life for more than 51 million people in the U.S., with over 17 million experiencing pain so severe that it affects their work and routines. Many turn to opioid medications, risking side effects and addiction. While electrical stimulators implanted in the spine have helped some patients, these traditional devices are costly, require invasive surgery, and depend on batteries that need frequent replacement. The new solution, created by USC’s Zhou Lab in partnership with UCLA’s Jun Chen Group, is a thin, flexible implant that attaches to the spine. Instead of rely...

  RECYCLED PLASTICS: CREATING HEALTH CONCERNS   Recycled plastic, often seen as a solution to the plastic pollution crisis, may introduce new risks because of its chemicals. Researchers from the University of Gothenburg and Leipzig have found that a single pellet of recycled polyethylene plastic can leach more than 80 chemicals into water. Their study shows that these chemicals can disrupt hormone systems and fat metabolism in zebrafish larvae, raising questions about the safety of recycled plastics. The team bought recycled polyethylene plastic pellets from various locations worldwide. They soaked these pellets in water for 48 hours and then exposed zebrafish larvae to the water for five days. The fish showed changes in gene expression related to fat metabolism, fat cell development, and hormonal regulation. According to Azora König Kardgar, lead author and ecotoxicologist at the University of Gothenburg, even short exposure times were enough to alter the fish’s physiolo...