Health

You probably know fruit and vegetables are good for you, and most of us don’t eat enough of them.

Studies of alcohol’s effects on health have offered contradictory findings, with some suggesting a glass of red wine a day is beneficial and others saying even a drop of booze is too much. A new review attempting to clarify the risks finds more than 60 diseases, based on the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Diseases, are 100% attributable to consuming alcohol. But the review also finds that some of the damage can be slowed or reversed by cutting down or quitting drinking.

Getting enough exercise is one of the most important things we can do for our health. Yet many people around the world are not active enough. Around 1 in 3 adults fail to meet the recommended levels of physical activity, while 4 in 5 children ages 11–17 do not achieve the recommended average of 60 minutes a day.

Prehabilitation can help the elderly recover better and suffer fewer complications from spinal fusion surgery, a new study says.

Americans spend more than $1 billion annually on fish oil supplements, in part because of purported cognitive benefits from the omega-3 fatty acids they contain, essential nutrients that help form brain cell connections needed for cognition.

For the first time, researchers at King’s College London have discovered a link between chewing sugary gum after consuming vegetables high in nitrate, such as beetroot, spinach and kale, and lowering blood pressure. The study is published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.

Physical activity, particularly walking, is a common recommendation for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, carrying out this activity in polluted areas may increase exposure to airborne contaminants. A study published in the journal Thorax and conducted by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), links black carbon (soot) to an increase in certain respiratory symptoms in people with COPD.

Sunscreen is overwhelmingly promoted in popular TikTok videos, but content containing health misinformation about sunscreen attracts disproportionately high audience engagement, according to a new study published June 18 in the open access journal PLOS Digital Health by Alessandro Marcon of the University of Alberta, Canada, and colleagues.

Menopause is associated with a number of adverse health effects, some of which can be mitigated by an array of modifiable health behaviors (MHBs), including diet, exercise and sleep duration. A new study sought to determine whether menopause and hormone therapy status had any association with MHBs. Initial results suggest that a link exists. Results of the study are published today in Menopause.

Could your barber help prevent skin cancer? A new study by the University of Portsmouth suggests that barbers could play a significant role in the early detection and prevention of skin cancer among men, opening a new community-based approach to tackling the U.K.’s most common cancer.

A pilot study suggests that a simple program combining exercise and protein supplementation may help older adults with frailty recover more successfully after hospitalization, with 80% of participants discharged from skilled nursing facilities back to the community rather than to long-term care or the hospital.