Diet: Low-Fat, Plant-Based Vegan Diet Appears to Reduce Heart Disease Risk in Obese Minors.

Obese children and adolescents can reduce their risk of heart disease by adopting a low fat, plant-based vegan diet. Participants in a new study ate plants and whole grains, consumed no added fat or animal products, and limited consumption of avocado/nuts. This resulted in a reduced intake of animal protein from 42 grams a day to 2.24 grams a day, while their percentage of calories from fat and saturated fat fell to 18% and 3.6%, respectively. The research team found that this diet approach was effective in reducing a number of risk factors for heart disease such as body mass index and total cholesterol. The Journal of Pediatrics, February 2015

Health Alert: Teens Getting Less Sleep.

According to new research, the problem of American teens not getting enough sleep continues to worsen. In 1991, 71% of 15-year-olds reported getting seven of more hours of sleep per night. As of 2012, this percentage has decreased to 63%. The study shows that at age 13, approximately two-thirds of teens get at least seven hours of sleep a night and by age 18, that percentage drops to about one-third. Sleep experts have noted that too little sleep increases the risk of weight gain, poor school performance, depression, and other problems. Pediatrics, March 2015

Wellness/Prevention: Stay Healthier By Avoiding Menopausal Weight Gain.

The health consequences of weight gain during and after menopause can have significant health implications for aging women. The Mayo Clinic notes that women can help avoid menopausal weight gain by getting plenty of aerobic and strength training exercise, reducing calories by eating a healthier diet, and receiving support from loved ones and friends. The Mayo Clinic, February 2015

Quote: “The miracle is this: the more we share, the more we have.” ~ Leonard Nimoy

Chiropractic: Resolution of Shoulder Pain Following Chiropractic Care.

A new case study sheds light on the benefits of chiropractic care for shoulder pain. A 73-year-old woman with a one-year history of shoulder pain presented for chiropractic care. Her working diagnosis included brachial neuritis, cervicalgia, arthritis, and cervical spinal joint fixations. She reported resolution of pain, and improvements in both function and quality of life following just eleven chiropractic treatments over the course of ten weeks. Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research, February 2015

Exercise: Combination of Coconut Oil & Exercise Reduces High Blood Pressure.

Brazilian researchers have discovered that combining exercise and daily consumption of coconut oil can reduce high blood pressure, at least in animal subjects. Using hypertensive rats, the researchers found that the combination of a daily intake of coconut oil and exercise restored baroreflex sensitivity and reduced oxidative stress, resulting in a reduction in blood pressure. Study co-author Dr. Valdir de Andrade Braga explains, “This is an important finding as coconut oil is currently being considered a popular ‘superfood’ and it is being consumed by athletes and the general population who seek a healthy lifestyle.” Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, February 2015

Diet: Follow the Mediterranean Diet to Lower Stroke Risk.

New research suggests that the Mediterranean diet may reduce an individual’s risk of ischemic stroke. The Mediterranean diet includes fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, fish, poultry, and olive oil, with limits on red meat, sweets, saturated fats, butter, and full-fat dairy products. Study author Dr. Paul Wright writes, “Overall, there is strong evidence, based on this study, that strict adherence to a Mediterranean diet significantly reduces stroke risk.” American Stroke Association, February 2015

Health Alert: Smoking Deaths Underestimated.

Smoking may be a bigger killer than currently estimated. The current estimate from the United States Surgeon General is that 480,000 Americans die yearly of smoking-related causes, but researchers from the American Cancer Society claim that the figure may be closer to 540,000 after including at least some deaths caused kidney failure, intestinal disease, heart disease caused by high blood pressure, infections, breathing problems, and breast and prostate cancer. Though these diseases are not typically associated with smoking, researchers found that smokers are more likely to die from these conditions than non-smokers. Thus, they believe these additional deaths should be included in smoking-related mortality calculations.

New England Journal of Medicine, February 2015

Mental Attitude: Mortality Risk Much Higher in People with Mental Disorders.

According to researchers, approximately eight million deaths worldwide annually can be attributed to mental health disorders and the mortality risk of people with mental health disorders is 2.22 times higher than the mortality risk of individuals without mental illness. The researchers write, “People with mental disorders experience a high burden of mortality at the individual and population levels. Reduction of this burden will require a focus on less prevalent but more severe diagnoses and more common mental disorders. Likewise, efforts must be made to prevent and manage comorbid medical conditions and reduce the occurrence of unnatural deaths in this vulnerable population.”

JAMA Psychiatry, February 2015

Wellness/Prevention: Use of Media Devices Affect Teens’ Sleep Significantly.

A Norwegian study has found that if it takes more than an hour for a teenager to fall asleep, there is an almost 50% likelihood that they are spending more than four hours per day outside of school using electronic devices such as computers, TVs, smartphones, and MP3 players. The findings are of concern since the majority of teens in the United States report having at least one electronic device in their bedroom, and poor sleep has implications on school performance. The authors add, “The current recommendation is not to have a TV in the bedroom. It seems, however, that there may be other electronic devices exerting the same negative influence on sleep, such as PCs and mobile phones. The results confirm recommendations for restricting media use in general.” Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, November 2014