PROTIME-FITNESS HOLISTIC HEALTH AND WELLNESS

  HAIR LOSS PILL LINKED TO DEPRESSION AND SUICIDE It’s a pill millions have taken for the promise of a fuller head of hair. But for years, warnings about finasteride—the go-to treatment for male pattern baldness—have quietly grown louder. Now, a sweeping review by Prof. Mayer Brezis at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem is shining a harsh light on the drug’s hidden side: a long, troubling link to depression, anxiety, and even suicide. The evidence isn’t just a few scattered stories. Brezis’s analysis pulls together two decades of health records and adverse event reports from around the world, revealing a pattern that’s hard to ignore. Men who use finasteride are far more likely to struggle with mood disorders and suicidal thoughts than those who don’t. These trends appear in national databases across various countries, including Sweden, Canada, Israel, and the United States. So why hasn’t anything changed? Despite mounting reports and years of scientific concern, both Merck (the dr...

  Human Metapneumovirus: What You Need To Know If you’ve heard the phrase “human metapneumovirus ” thrown around lately—or noticed more folks coughing on the subway—you’re not imagining things. This respiratory virus, usually flying under the radar, has suddenly become a topic of conversation. So, what’s all the fuss about, and should you be paying attention? What Is Human Metapneumovirus? First identified in 2001, human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a respiratory virus that infects people of all ages. It’s a viral cousin of RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), and it tends to cause the same set of symptoms: cough, runny nose, sore throat, fever, and, in some cases, trouble breathing. For most healthy adults, an hMPV infection looks and feels a lot like a cold. But for young kids, older adults, and anyone with a weakened immune system, it can be more serious—sometimes leading to bronchitis or even pneumonia. Why the Sudden Buzz? Searches for “human metapneumovirus” have shot up this year...

MUSCLE PROTEIN SYNTHESIS: THE SCIENCE OF MUSCLE BUILDING   Proteins play a central role in building muscle through a process known as muscle protein synthesis (MPS). When you consume protein, your body breaks it down into amino acids , which are then used as the building blocks to repair and grow muscle tissue—especially after resistance exercise or weight training . The combination of resistance exercise and increased protein intake is the most effective strategy for promoting muscle hypertrophy , or growth in muscle size (Nutrients, 2020) [ https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/7/2023 ]. Research has shown that muscle protein synthesis is maximized in young adults with an intake of about 20–25 grams of high-quality protein per meal (Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 2018)[ https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1186/s12970-018-0215-1 ]. Spreading protein intake evenly across meals throughout the day stimulates greater 24-hour muscle protein synthesis compare...

  MANGOS HELP MANAGE DIABETES A new study out of George Mason University found that eating one mango every day led to better blood sugar control and less body fat compared to supposedly “healthier” low-sugar snacks. Nutrition researcher Raedeh Basiri and her team conducted a six-month clinical trial, dividing volunteers with prediabetes into two groups: one group snacked on a fresh mango daily. At the same time, the other reached for a low-sugar granola bar. At the end of the study, those in the mango group weren’t just enjoying a sweet treat—they had improved their blood glucose, increased their insulin sensitivity, and trimmed down their body fat. The granola bar group? Not so much. What’s going on here? It turns out that sugar isn’t just sugar—at least, not when it comes in a whole food package. Mangos, like other fruits, deliver their natural sugars alongside fiber, vitamins, and nutrients. That combination seems to make all the difference, helping the body process sugar more e...

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...