When people talk about cholesterol, many think of the total cholesterol level, but doctors also look at several other measurements.
Cholesterol consists, among other things, of LDL, HDL, and triglycerides.
LDL is often referred to as the “bad” cholesterol because high levels can contribute to the narrowing of the arteries.
Triglycerides can also increase the risk, while HDL has a neutral role in relation to atherosclerosis, according to Netdoktor.
The targets are not the same for everyone
The recommended cholesterol levels depend on a person’s health.
People without cardiovascular disease or diabetes should generally have an LDL cholesterol level below 3.0 mmol per litre and a total cholesterol level below 5.0 mmol per litre, according to Netdoktor.
For people with cardiovascular disease or diabetes, the targets are lower.
In these cases, an LDL cholesterol level below 1.4 mmol per litre is recommended. People with inherited high cholesterol also have specific treatment targets.
Why cholesterol levels should be checked
Many receive treatment to reduce the risk of diseases caused by narrowed arteries.
High cholesterol is not a disease in itself. The risk arises because elevated LDL cholesterol and high triglyceride levels can contribute to the narrowing of the arteries, which can lead to blood clots in the heart or brain, among other conditions.
Because the condition does not cause noticeable symptoms, a blood test is necessary to detect it, according to Netdoktor.
When the summer heat really sets in, many people experience fatigue, headaches, and a lack of energy.
As a result, some turn to coffee, soft drinks, or energy drinks. However, the effect often lasts only a short time before the tiredness returns.
Instead, a simple homemade drink has gained popularity on social media, according to Ireceptar, as cited by Dagens.dk.
Many people use it as a way to replenish fluids and minerals throughout the day.
Three ingredients are enough
The recipe requires only three ingredients: 200 ml of orange juice, a pinch of salt, and 50 to 100 ml of coconut water.
The ingredients are mixed together and served cold. The mixture has become known as a cortisol cocktail.
It is particularly used on hot days or after physical activity, when the body needs fluids and minerals.
For this reason, it has attracted significant attention as a simple alternative to sugary soft drinks.
Why so many people are talking about it
Experts emphasize that the drink is not a miracle cure and does not directly affect the body’s cortisol levels.
According to WebMD and iDnes, interest in the drink is largely due to the fact that it contains ingredients that may help replace fluids and minerals lost through sweating.
Coconut water contains potassium, while salt provides sodium. Orange juice contributes vitamin C and natural sugars.
The drink has also become popular because it does not contain caffeine.
Researchers from Bispebjerg Hospital and the University of Copenhagen analyzed 803,829 pregnancies among 475,312 women in Denmark between 2004 and 2018.
Miscarriage affects around 15 percent of pregnant women.
Known risk factors may include age, smoking, night work, air pollution, and exposure to chemical substances.
The study is observational, meaning it cannot prove that workplace movements directly cause miscarriage.
Movement during pregnancy
In the study, 81,307 pregnancies ended in miscarriage.
The researchers found an association between a higher risk of miscarriage and spending more time bending forward, walking, and standing at work.
The strongest association was found for forward bending of at least 30 degrees.
Each additional hour spent bending forward during a workday was associated with a 36 percent higher risk.
An additional hour of walking was associated with an 18 percent higher risk, while an additional hour of standing work was associated with a 3 percent higher risk.
The researchers emphasize that the findings should be investigated further before they can be used to develop specific workplace recommendations.
Participants were regularly assessed using the BrainHealth Index, which measures multiple aspects of brain function.
Among other things, the tool evaluates the ability to think logically, process information, regulate emotions, and maintain healthy sleep and overall well-being.
Small daily exercises
Participants spent between five and 15 minutes a day on targeted mental exercises.
The training did not focus on simple memory tasks but on activities that required planning, problem-solving, and the ability to recognize connections.
The researchers found that regular training had a greater impact on outcomes than age, gender, or educational background.
Surprising result
The study also showed that individuals with the lowest initial scores achieved the greatest improvements.
This finding could have implications for future interventions aimed at people experiencing early cognitive challenges.
In addition, participants improved their cognitive abilities across all age groups. This included individuals in their 80s and 90s.
The researchers found no upper age limit for when the brain can continue to develop through regular and targeted mental training.
Vegetables can develop exceptional flavor on the grill because high temperatures bring out rich, caramelized notes.
Chef and cookbook author Linus Kanfall has highlighted several vegetables that are particularly well suited to summer grilling to the Danish media DR.
Broccolini is a favorite
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Broccolini is among Linus Kanfall’s preferred vegetables for grilling.
It resembles broccoli but also has hints of asparagus and is often sold in smaller pieces, making it easy to prepare.
A short grilling time gives the best result
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Broccolini only needs four to six minutes over high heat.
According to Linus Kanfall, it is important that the vegetable retains a slight bite without being undercooked.
A skewer can help
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To determine whether vegetables are cooked properly, Linus Kanfall uses a standard metal skewer.
It makes it easier to check the texture during cooking.
Pointed cabbage is in season
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Fresh pointed cabbage is available in supermarkets.
Its mild flavor makes it a good option for people who do not usually eat much cabbage.
Grilling enhances the cabbage’s sweetness
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When pointed cabbage is grilled, it develops a caramelized surface and a deeper, sweeter flavor, which the grilling expert considers a clear favorite.
Start with the oven
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Linus Kanfall recommends baking pointed cabbage in the oven for about 15 minutes before grilling.
Otherwise, there is a risk that it will burn on the outside while remaining undercooked on the inside.
Five minutes on the grill is enough
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After its time in the oven, the cabbage only needs around five minutes on a hot grill before it is ready to serve.
Simple serving works well
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Pointed cabbage can be served with lemon, salt, and pepper.
If there is more time available, it can be complemented with a green salsa or an oil-and-vinegar dressing.
Corn on the cob can be elevated with a marinade
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Corn on the cob is a classic barbecue side.
Linus Kanfall recommends making cuts in the husks, folding them back, and marinating the corn before grilling.
Let the corn marinate before grilling
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The marinated corn can sit for a couple of hours or even a full day before cooking.
It should then be grilled with the husks on for 15 to 20 minutes.
Burnt husks are a good sign
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When the corn is finished, the husks should be completely charred.
According to the grilling expert, this is part of the recommended cooking method.
Mushrooms are an alternative to meat
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Linus Kanfall highlights mushrooms as an excellent choice for the grill.
In particular, oyster mushrooms work well when threaded onto skewers and grilled.
Brush the mushrooms at the end
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The mushrooms should be brushed with barbecue sauce during the final two minutes of grilling.
They are cooked over medium to high heat after first being coated with rapeseed oil.
Onions can be part of a filling grilled salad
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Shallots and mushrooms can be combined with pearl barley in a warm salad.
The dish is presented as a satisfying grilled alternative.
Vegetables gain more flavor on the grill
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According to Linus Kanfall, vegetables are especially suitable for grilling because the high temperatures create rich, caramelized flavors that make them exciting ingredients to work with.
For many people living with depression, progress can feel slow and unpredictable. Even with medication and professional support, finding additional ways to improve mental well-being remains a major focus for both patients and researchers.
Increasingly, scientists are looking beyond the brain itself and turning their attention to a surprising place: the digestive system.
According to research published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society and reported by Wiley, a daily probiotic supplement may provide extra support for older adults receiving treatment for depression, reports Science Daily.
Looking beyond the brain
Scientists have become increasingly interested in the so-called gut-brain connection, a complex relationship between the digestive system and mental health. The trillions of bacteria living in the gut are believed to influence everything from immune function to mood and behavior.
To investigate whether probiotics could help improve mental health, researchers recruited 58 adults aged 60 and older who were living with moderate depression. All participants continued taking their prescribed antidepressant medication throughout the study.
Half of the volunteers received a daily probiotic supplement, while the remaining participants were given a placebo.
Promising results
After 12 weeks, both groups showed improvements in their symptoms. However, the participants taking probiotics experienced slightly greater reductions in both depression and anxiety symptoms compared with those receiving the placebo.
Researchers also examined biological markers associated with brain health and analyzed changes in the participants’ gut bacteria. The findings suggested that probiotic therapy may help support existing treatments rather than replace them.
While the differences were modest, the results add to growing evidence that gut health may play an important role in emotional well-being.
More research ahead
The researchers emphasize that this was a relatively small pilot study, meaning larger clinical trials will be needed before firm conclusions can be drawn.
Still, the findings offer another piece of evidence supporting the idea that mental health is influenced by multiple systems throughout the body. As research into the gut-brain connection continues, probiotics may emerge as a simple and accessible addition to traditional depression treatment for some patients.
Plastic surrounds us from the moment we wake up until we go to sleep. It is found in food packaging, household products, toys, medical equipment and countless everyday items. While most people rarely think about the chemicals used to make these products, researchers are increasingly examining whether some of them could have lasting effects on health.
New research presented at ENDO 2026, the annual meeting of The Endocrine Society, has drawn attention to one such chemical. Scientists from the University of Buenos Aires School of Medicine investigated DEHP, a plastic additive commonly used to make plastics softer and more flexible, reports Science Daily.
A closer look
DEHP can be found in a wide range of products, including medical devices, raincoats, shower curtains and children’s toys. Previous studies have already linked the chemical to effects on several body systems, leading researchers to examine whether it could also influence behavior.
To explore the issue, scientists exposed pregnant rats to DEHP during pregnancy and early development. Once the male offspring reached adulthood, they were evaluated using established behavioral tests designed to measure anxiety-related responses.
Lasting effects
The results showed clear differences between exposed animals and those that had not encountered the chemical. Rats exposed to DEHP early in life were less willing to explore open areas and spent more time in enclosed spaces.
Researchers also observed increased periods of immobility, another behavior commonly associated with anxiety in animal studies. The findings suggest that exposure during critical stages of development may influence brain function long after the chemical itself is no longer present.
What comes next?
The study also found that certain treatments appeared to reduce the behavioral changes seen in the exposed animals, offering scientists new clues about the biological mechanisms involved.
Although the research was conducted in rats and cannot be directly applied to humans, experts say the findings highlight the need for further investigation into how common environmental chemicals may affect long-term mental health.
As concerns grow about the impact of endocrine-disrupting chemicals, studies like this continue to raise important questions about the hidden effects of everyday plastic exposure.
The market for weight-loss medications is developing rapidly.
Several pharmaceutical companies are working on new treatments, including both tablets and new types of medicines that may offer greater weight loss than current options, according to iForm.dk.
Wegovy is now available as a pill
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Novo Nordisk has launched Wegovy in tablet form on the US market.
Previously, the treatment was only available as a weekly injection.
Daily treatment with Wegovy
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The Wegovy pill is taken once daily on an empty stomach.
According to available information, it can result in weight loss of up to 17 percent of body weight.
Wegovy and Rybelsus contain the same ingredient
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Both the Wegovy pill and Rybelsus contain semaglutide.
Rybelsus was developed for people with diabetes, while the Wegovy pill is specifically intended for weight loss.
Higher dose in the Wegovy pill
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One of the differences between the two products is that the Wegovy pill is administered at a higher dose than Rybelsus.
Eli Lilly’s pill project
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Eli Lilly is developing Orforglipron, which is intended for the treatment of both obesity and diabetes.
Like Wegovy, the drug is a GLP-1 receptor agonist.
Weight loss with Orforglipron
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A previous study published in The New England Journal of Medicine involving people with obesity showed weight loss of up to 12.4 percent after 72 weeks of treatment.
Pill without fasting requirements
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Unlike the Wegovy pill, Orforglipron does not necessarily need to be taken on an empty stomach.
CagriSema combines two substances
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CagriSema combines semaglutide with the compound cagrilintide.
Cagrilintide mimics the hormone amylin, which has properties similar to those of GLP-1.
Rapid results with CagriSema
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In a study involving people with type 2 diabetes, CagriSema produced weight loss of 15.6 percent after 32 weeks, according to Clinical Trials Arena.
Retatrutide activates three hormone systems
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Retatrutide, developed by Eli Lilly, is described as a triple agonist that targets receptors for GIP, GLP-1 and glucagon.
Record-breaking weight loss in early studies
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In a phase II study published in The New England Journal of Medicine, participants without type 2 diabetes achieved average weight loss of 17.5 percent after 24 weeks.
Some participants lost more than 30 percent
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A quarter of participants in the retatrutide study reduced their body weight by more than 30 percent.
Zenagamtide is a new candidate from Novo Nordisk
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Zenagamtide, previously known as amycretin, is another drug currently under development at Novo Nordisk.
The treatment is based on a single molecule capable of activating both GLP-1 and amylin receptors.
Up to 24 percent weight loss in trials
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A previous study published in The Lancet demonstrated weight loss of up to 24 percent over 36 weeks.
May become available as both a pill and an injection
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Zenagamtide is being investigated both as a daily tablet and as a weekly injection.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia and affects millions of people worldwide.
As a result, researchers are constantly searching for new ways to slow the progression of the disease.
A research team from Monash University in Australia has now examined a potential new treatment that targets the brain’s own waste-clearing mechanisms, SciTechDaily reports.
The brain’s waste disposal system
The researchers focused on the blood-brain barrier, which acts as a filter between the brain and the bloodstream.
This barrier contains specialized transport proteins that help remove waste products from the brain.
In Alzheimer’s disease, these proteins become less effective.
This can lead to the accumulation of beta-amyloid, a protein associated with the disease.
Promising results
The study, published in the journal ACS Chemical Neuroscience, examined a copper-based compound called Cu(ATSM).
In laboratory experiments, the researchers found that the treatment increased the levels of transport proteins that help remove waste products from the brain.
At the same time, lower levels of beta-amyloid were observed, and the test animals performed better in memory and spatial orientation tests.
According to the researchers, Cu(ATSM) appears to restore an important part of the brain’s waste disposal system, allowing harmful proteins to be removed more efficiently.
Since the compound has already undergone safety testing in connection with diseases such as Parkinson’s disease and ALS, the researchers believe that the next step could be human trials.
