An international research review published in BMJ Nutrition Prevention & Health examined the relationship between diet and the risk of hypertension.
The analysis was based on 12 observational studies from the United States, Europe, and Asia involving up to 88,475 participants.
Researchers evaluated the intake of legumes such as lentils, chickpeas, beans, and peas, as well as various soy-based products.
According to the analysis, there were significant differences between people with high and low consumption of these foods.
International dietary habits
The study found that average legume consumption in Europe and the United Kingdom remains far below official dietary recommendations.
Researchers noted that many people consume only between 8 and 15 grams per day.
At the same time, the analysis highlighted that nutrients such as potassium, magnesium, and dietary fiber may influence blood vessel function.
The researchers also suggested that the fermentation of soluble fiber may contribute to a more relaxed vascular structure.
People with the highest intake of legumes had a 16 percent lower risk of high blood pressure, while high soy consumption was associated with a 19 percent reduction in risk compared with those with the lowest intake.
According to SciTechDaily, Professor Sumantra Ray of the NNEdPro Global Institute for Food, Nutrition and Health said the findings strengthen the evidence supporting plant-based dietary patterns in the prevention of cardiovascular disease.
Limitations of the study
However, the researchers emphasized that there are uncertainties in the data.
The studies differed in areas such as preparation methods, definitions of high blood pressure, and the participants’ overall dietary habits.
In addition, the researchers called for larger studies to establish causal relationships more precisely.
Sources: SciTechDaily and BMJ Nutrition Prevention & Health.
Vitamin B12 is important for the body. Among other things, it supports the nervous system and the formation of red blood cells.
According to SciTechDaily, researchers believe that more than one billion people suffer from vitamin B12 deficiency.
A deficiency of the vitamin can lead to fatigue, memory problems, and nerve damage.
Most people normally get B12 through meat, milk, and other animal-based products.
However, the production of these foods places a heavy burden on the climate through large greenhouse gas emissions and high consumption of water and land resources.
Special algae
Researchers from Israel, Denmark, and Iceland, among others, studied a special type of Spirulina, a blue-green algae often used as a dietary supplement.
The algae was grown in closed tanks under artificial light. The researchers adjusted the lighting conditions to influence the algae’s development without using genetic modification.
Normally, Spirulina contains a type of vitamin B12 that the human body cannot use.
But in the new study, published in Discover Food, more than 98 percent of the vitamin consisted of an active form that humans can absorb.
Comparable to beef
The new Spirulina contains biologically active vitamin B12 at levels similar to those found in beef.
According to the researchers, this could eventually make the algae a more sustainable alternative to animal-based foods.
An American dietitian decided to eat lean ground beef every day for a week to see how it would affect her body. Along the way, she experienced both benefits and drawbacks from making beef a daily part of her diet, reports Prevention.
She felt fuller for longer
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The high protein content helped her stay full after meals and kept her energy levels steady throughout the day.
Ground beef was easy to cook with
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She prepared meals like chili, taco salad, and meat sauce because ground beef works well in many quick dishes.
It was more affordable than other proteins
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According to the dietitian, ground beef was a cheaper option compared to several other protein sources.
Meals started to feel heavier
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After a few days, she noticed that meals with beef felt heavier than dishes made with fish or plant based foods.
She missed more variety in her diet
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By thed of the week, she wanted to eat other protein sources again, including fish, beans, and lentils.
She did not notice major health problems
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The dietitian did not experience any obvious negative health effects during the week she ate ground beef every day.
Researchers from Johns Hopkins Medicine have published a study in JAMA Internal Medicine examining how arm position influences blood pressure readings.
Many patients have their blood pressure measured with their arm resting in their lap or without support.
However, according to the researchers, the arm should rest on a table at heart level to provide the most accurate results.
The study included 133 adults between the ages of 18 and 80, according to SciTechDaily.
Readings increased
The researchers compared three different arm positions. When participants rested their arm in their lap, systolic blood pressure increased by nearly 4 mmHg on average.
When the arm hung freely by the side, the reading increased by around 6.5 mmHg.
According to the researchers, even small differences can affect whether a person is considered to have high blood pressure.
Other errors
The study also suggests that many home blood pressure measurements may be inaccurate.
For example, some people sit on the sofa or hold their arm incorrectly during the measurement.
The researchers therefore stress that proper body positioning is important. Patients should sit upright with their feet flat on the floor and their arm supported on a table.
A simple mistake in arm position can lead to blood pressure readings that are too high and, in some cases, increase the risk of an incorrect diagnosis.
In the evening, the body becomes less effective at regulating blood sugar, according to EatingWell.
One reason is that the body’s cells respond less efficiently to insulin, the hormone that helps move sugar from the bloodstream into the body’s cells.
Research published in the Journal of Diabetes Investigation and Diabetes shows that the same snack can cause higher blood sugar levels in the evening than it would in the middle of the day.
The impact of sleep hormones
The body produces more melatonin in the evening to help us feel sleepy, but the hormone also affects insulin production.
A study published in Diabetes Care found that people who ate close to bedtime had higher blood sugar levels than those who ate earlier in the evening.
Researchers also point out that some people may be especially sensitive due to their genetics.
Better choices can help
Experts recommend choosing snacks that contain protein, healthy fats, and slow-digesting carbohydrates if you eat late at night.
Yogurt, nuts, fruit, and whole grains are considered better options than candy, chips, and other high-sugar snacks.
Overall, the research suggests that the body has a harder time processing food late in the evening because the circadian rhythm, hormones, and insulin all function less efficiently at that time of day.
Sources: EatingWell, Journal of Diabetes Investigation, Diabetes, and Diabetes Care, and
A daily vitamin is usually associated with better health, more energy and a stronger body.
That is why researchers are now attracting attention with findings suggesting that one common nutrient could also be helping cancer cells defend themselves.
Scientists from Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg in Germany say vitamin B2 may play a larger role in cancer survival than previously believed, reports Science Daily.
The study, published in Nature Cell Biology, is already sparking interest among cancer researchers worldwide.
Cancer’s defense
Vitamin B2, also known as riboflavin, is naturally found in foods such as eggs, dairy products, meat and green vegetables. The body relies on it for energy production and for protecting cells against damage.
But according to the German research team, tumors may also be using the vitamin as part of their own defense system.
The scientists focused on ferroptosis, a natural process where damaged cells are destroyed through iron-related stress.
Their findings suggest vitamin B2 helps cancer cells avoid this type of cell death, allowing tumors to survive under conditions that would normally weaken them.
A new direction
To test the theory further, researchers used roseoflavin, a naturally occurring compound produced by bacteria that closely resembles vitamin B2.
In laboratory experiments, the substance successfully triggered ferroptosis in cancer cells, even at very low doses.
Researchers believe the discovery could open a new path in future cancer treatment research by targeting the protective systems tumors depend on.
The team stresses that the findings are still in the early stages and far from becoming a treatment for patients.
However, scientists say the study provides an important new clue in understanding how cancer cells survive.
Many women brush off bloating, tiredness or stomach discomfort as part of a stressful routine or an unhealthy week.
But health experts say some of those everyday symptoms can occasionally point to something far more serious.
According to information from the Mayo Clinic and the American Cancer Society, ovarian cancer remains one of the hardest cancers to detect early because its warning signs are often vague and easy to dismiss, reports Unilad.
Difficult to spot
British GP Dr Amir Khan recently explained that many women fail to connect the symptoms with ovarian cancer because they rarely seem directly linked to the ovaries.
That is one reason the disease is frequently diagnosed at a later stage. Doctors say symptoms that continue for several weeks without a clear explanation should never be ignored.
Symptoms women should know
Medical experts highlight several warning signs that appear repeatedly in ovarian cancer patients:
Persistent bloating
Pelvic or abdominal pain
Feeling full quickly while eating
Frequent urination
Unexplained fatigue
Some women may also experience weight loss, digestive problems or lower back pain.
Risk increases with age
Researchers say several factors may increase the risk of ovarian cancer, including older age, obesity, inherited BRCA gene mutations and a family history of the disease.
Doctors continue to stress that early detection can significantly improve treatment outcomes.
Because of that, women are being encouraged to seek medical advice if symptoms continue for more than a few weeks, even if they seem minor at first.
Cancer occurs when the body’s cells lose the ability to regulate themselves properly after damage to their DNA.
According to British emergency physician Alex Wibberley, the process typically unfolds over many years rather than over just a few weeks.
As reported by LADBible, the doctor explains on his YouTube channel that it often takes between 10 and 15 years from the first cellular change until a tumor can be detected clinically.
During that time, the disease may progress without noticeable signs.
According to Alex Wibberley, public understanding of cancer is often limited, which can affect when the disease is discovered.
Symptoms often overlooked
Many people associate cancer with pain or obvious lumps, but symptoms often only appear once a tumor physically affects organs, nerves, or blood vessels.
In addition, several internal organs do not register pain in the same way as the skin and muscles do.
Alex Wibberley points out, among other things, that the liver can in some cases enlarge significantly due to a tumor before a person notices anything.
At the same time, he emphasizes that symptoms such as fatigue, weight loss, or persistent pain are often caused by other, less serious illnesses.
The key factor, therefore, is whether symptoms persist or change over time.
Early detection is important
According to the doctor, the timing of a diagnosis plays a crucial role in treatment options.
For that reason, he highlights screening programs as an important tool within the healthcare system.
He mentions cervical cancer screening, mammograms for breast cancer, and PSA testing in certain high-risk groups as examples of examinations that can lead to earlier detection.
Cancer often only becomes noticeable later in the course of the disease.
According to Alex Wibberley, this explains why many people only react once the disease has already been developing for several years.
Researchers are investigating a possible link to cancer
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More research is still needed, but several studies point to a possible connection between sugary beverages and certain cancers, such as breast cancer and colorectal cancer.
Sugar may cause inflammation in the body
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Experts believe, according to a study published in Frontiers in Immunology, that the inflammatory effects of sugar may play a role in the development of several chronic diseases.
A single soda contains many calories without providing much satiety.
Soda does not provide the same feeling of fullness as food
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The drink lacks both fiber and protein, which normally help create a feeling of fullness.
As a result, people may end up eating more.
Teeth can be damaged
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Soda is both acidic and high in sugar, which can increase the risk of cavities and enamel erosion, according to a study published in Cureus Journal of Medical Science.
The balance of bacteria in the mouth may change
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Sugary drinks can affect the balance of bacteria in the mouth.
This may lead to poorer gum health and more tooth decay, according to a study published in Scientific Reports.
Men are advised to drink around 13 cups of fluids daily, while women should drink around 9 cups.
Sparkling water and fruit can add more flavor
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For those who want carbonation or more flavor, Health suggests sugar-free sparkling water or water with fruit, lemon, lime, or berries.
It is important to read nutrition labels
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Health recommends checking the nutritional information on beverages and trying to avoid products with large amounts of added sugar and calories.
Sources: Health.com, Nutrition Journal, Nature Medicine, The American Journal of Medicine, Frontiers in Nutrition, Oncology, Frontiers in Immunology, International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, Cureus Journal of Medical Science, Scientific Reports, Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition, and Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.
Colon cancer has traditionally affected older people, but new figures show that more young adults are now developing the disease, according to Express.
A report published in the medical journal The Lancet shows that the number of younger patients has risen rapidly.
In 2019, 20 percent of all cases were diagnosed in people under the age of 55. That is roughly double the number recorded in 1995.
Symptoms can be difficult to detect
Doctors believe many people miss the early warning signs. According to Express, the NHS lists stomach pain, bloating, unexplained weight loss, and changes in bowel habits as possible symptoms.
Doctor Sermed Mezher told Express that early detection is crucial because the chances of survival are significantly higher when the disease is found at an early stage.
The NHS also recommends contacting a doctor if symptoms last for more than three weeks.
Three warning signs in the bathroom
Sermed Mezher especially warns about three symptoms that may become noticeable during visits to the bathroom.
These include blood in the stool, changes in toilet habits, and a feeling that the bowel is not fully emptied.
He also encourages people to take part in colon cancer screening programs. According to him, several patients later regretted not getting checked earlier.
