PROTIME-FITNESS HOLISTIC HEALTH AND WELLNESS

STRESS IMPROVEMENT WITH PROPER HYDRATION Ever noticed how you can feel frazzled for no apparent reason? It might be something as simple as not drinking enough water. A new study from Liverpool John Moores University suggests that even mild dehydration can cause your body to react to stress more intensely—raising cortisol levels, the primary stress hormone, by over 50% during challenging moments. The kicker? People in the study who didn’t drink enough didn’t even feel thirstier—yet their bodies were already showing clear signs of strain. They weren’t just more stressed in the moment; the spike in cortisol puts them at higher risk for long-term problems like heart disease, diabetes, and depression. Here’s what the researchers did: They split healthy young adults into two groups. One group drank less than 1.5 liters of fluid a day (that’s about seven cups of tea or coffee—less than the recommended amount). The other group met the daily guidelines: 2 liters for women, 2.5 liters for men. B...

EXERCISE: HOW IT CURBS HUNGER Here’s something to ruminate on: Scientists have uncovered the real reason why a good workout leaves you less hungry. A newly discovered molecule, called Lac-Phe, is produced in your body during intense Exercise—and it’s got a direct line to your brain’s hunger controls. When Lac-Phe shows up, it dials down the neurons that make you want to eat, while turning up those that help you feel full. In recent studies, mice with higher Lac-Phe levels in their system ate less, lost weight, and experienced no unpleasant side effects. This natural appetite-taming trick could be a game-changer for how we approach weight loss and overall health. The research, led by Baylor College of Medicine and Stanford University School of Medicine, along with their partners, has just been published in Nature Metabolism. Their findings add a new layer to what we know about Exercise and weight management. It’s not just that working out burns calories—your body is also making molecul...

ACETAMINOPHEN AND AUTISM: WHAT'S THE LINK? A central review by Harvard scientists has found that taking acetaminophen (Tylenol) during pregnancy could be linked to a higher risk of autism and ADHD in children. Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a developmental condition that affects how a person thinks, communicates, and interacts with others. It often leads to differences in social behavior, communication, and can come with unique strengths and challenges. The research, published in BMC Environmental Health, pulled together data from 46 different studies worldwide. The team, led by Andrea Baccarelli at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and researchers from Mount Sinai, used a rigorous review process to examine whether exposure to acetaminophen in the womb might influence a child’s brain development. Their findings suggest that when Tylenol is used for extended periods during pregnancy, the odds of a child developing autism or ADHD go up. Still, experts are caref...

  RUNNING SHOES: HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST FOR YOU Picking the right running shoe isn’t about chasing the latest trend or sticking with a familiar brand. It’s one of the smartest moves you can make for comfort, performance, and keeping your body injury-free in the long run. Here’s what really matters when you’re shoe shopping, what can go wrong if you get it wrong, and why arch support insoles are more than just an afterthought. How to Find Your Perfect Running Shoe Start with your own feet. There’s no “one shoe fits all”—everyone’s stride, arch, and comfort level are different. Research shows that most runners pick shoes based on how they feel, experience, and most importantly, their unique arch type. That’s why specialty running stores are so valuable: they’ll look at your gait , analyze your foot shape, and help you try on a bunch of styles and brands until you find the one that feels like it was made for you. Two approaches can really make a difference: The “comfort filter”: I...

CANNABIS USE MAY INCREASE DIABETES RISK A sweeping new study from Europe and the U.S. has found that people who use cannabis face nearly four times the risk of developing type 2 diabetes within five years compared to those who don’t. The research, presented at this year’s European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) meeting, analyzed health records from over 4 million adults and uncovered a surprising connection between cannabis and metabolic health. Despite earlier speculation that cannabis might help with inflammation or weight, this massive analysis found the opposite: diabetes rates were significantly higher among cannabis users, even after accounting for factors like cholesterol, blood pressure, and other lifestyle risks. The study took a close look at nearly 97,000 adults with cannabis-related diagnoses and compared them to over 4 million healthy individuals of similar age and health profiles. More than five decades, 2.2% of cannabis users developed diabetes, compared to...

  VEGAN AND VEGETARIANS: AVOIDING NUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES   A vegan or vegetarian diet isn’t just good for the planet—it’s a smart move for your health, too. Studies show plant-based diets can lower your risk of heart disease, reduce inflammation, and help you feel lighter and more energetic. But here’s the catch: eating plant-based food isn’t as simple as “just load up on veggies.” To really thrive, you need thoughtful meal planning and the right supplements. What Nutrients Do Plant-Based Eaters Need to Watch? Vitamin B12 This is the big one. B12 keeps your nerves healthy and helps make red blood cells. Plants don’t make it, so if you’re vegan—or even a vegetarian who skips eggs and dairy—you’ll need B12-fortified foods or a supplement. Most health experts recommend regular B12 supplementation, since deficiency is common and sneaky. Iron Plant-based diets only provide non-heme iron, which is harder for the body to absorb than the heme iron found in meat. To keep your energy up,...

  SEMAGLUTIDE: MOST PEOPLE QUIT USING IT WITHIN A YEAR  A new Danish study has thrown some cold water on the hype around semaglutide, the weight-loss drug that’s been all over the headlines the past few years. Despite its reputation for helping people shed serious pounds, the reality is that more than half of adults without diabetes who start taking the drug in Denmark end up quitting within a year. The main culprits? High costs, nasty side effects, and existing medical or mental health conditions. The numbers are even starker for younger adults and men, who are especially likely to drop out—and unfortunately, stopping the drug often leads to weight gain creeping right back. GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide are being praised as a new era in obesity treatment, but the data suggest a different story in the real world. Researchers looked at health records across Denmark and tracked nearly 80,000 adults who started semaglutide for weight loss between December 2022 and Octo...