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As more people are advised to shun meat, a new study from Australia adds to evidence that a vegetarian diet can help improve heart health. A review of 20 prior investigations found that folks who followed a vegetarian diet for six months, on average, saw improvements in cholesterol, blood sugar and body weight. The study analysis “provides support to the current knowledge that eating more plant foods, fewer animal foods or lean, low-fat animal foods is a supporter of health,” said Connie Diekman, a food and nutrition consultant and former president of the U.S. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Another expert, who was also not involved with the study, agreed. “The research is pretty clear and consistent that eating more plant foods is good for heart health, while reducing meat and processed meats,” seconded Lona Sandon, program director of clinical nutrition with the School of Health Professions at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. Vegetarian diets are increasingly recommended for the general population, but it wasn’t known if they would benefit people with current or predicted heart issues, said study leader Tian Wang and colleagues. Wang is a registered dietitian and doctoral student at the University of Sydney. Their meta-analysis of prior research tracked nearly 1,900 adults in all. The average age of patients in each of the studies ranged from 28 to 64, with… read on > read on >

Women are more likely to develop endometriosis if they have elevated levels of cadmium in their system, a new study reports. Twice as many women with slightly or moderately elevated levels of the toxic element wound up with endometriosis compared to women with the lowest levels, researchers say. “Although endometriosis is estimated to affect 1 in 10 women, the reason why this condition develops in some women and not in others remains unclear,” said senior researcher Kristen Upson, an assistant professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at Michigan State University. “Our research on environmental contaminants and finding of an association between cadmium exposure and endometriosis is helping to move the needle closer to understanding risk factors for endometriosis,” she added. This newly discovered association between endometriosis and cadmium is “a good starting point for additional studies that look at other environmental factors and how they can perhaps cause endometriosis,” said Dr. Susan Khalil, director of the Division of Sexual Health in the Raquel and Jaime Gilinski Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Science at Mount Sinai. “I think it doesn’t give exact recommendations for action at this time, or things that you can translate into clinical management. So I can’t really make recommendations off of this for patients,” Khalil added. “But I would at the same time say it’s great they’re finding these associations, so they… read on > read on >

More than half of all patients with autoimmune diseases also suffer from depression and anxiety — but most are never asked about their mental health, a new study finds. Surveying more than 1,800 patients, British researchers found more than half rarely or never reported their mental health symptoms to their doctor. This could mean the range of mental health and neurological symptoms is much wider than has been reported. “The low level of reporting we identified is a major concern as problems with mental health, fatigue and cognition can be life-changing, and sometimes life-threatening,” said study co-author Dr. Melanie Sloan in a Cambridge news release. She is in the university’s department of public health and primary care. Another author, Dr. Tom Pollak, said the numbers were “startling.” “We have known for some time that having a systemic autoimmune disease can negatively affect one’s mental health, but this study paints a startling picture of the breadth and impact of these symptoms,” said Pollak, who is from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience at King’s College London. “Everyone working in health care with these patients should routinely ask about mental well-being, and patients should be supported to speak up without fear of judgment. No patient should suffer in silence,” Pollak added. For the study, the researchers surveyed 1,853 patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases, such as lupus… read on > read on >

The 18-year-old son of basketball superstar LeBron James suffered cardiac arrest during a workout Monday at the University of Southern California. Bronny James, an incoming USC freshman, was listed in stable condition Tuesday morning after a brief stay in intensive care, a family spokesperson said in a statement. “Yesterday, while practicing, Bronny James suffered a cardiac arrest,” the spokesperson said. “Medical staff was able to treat Bronny and take him to the hospital. He is now in stable condition and no longer in ICU.” TMZ reported that his condition was considered a Code 3 — meaning ambulance lights and sirens — and he was transported to the hospital by ambulance at 9:26 a.m. Monday. Cardiac arrest is when the heart malfunctions and suddenly stops beating. It is an “electrical” problem, and different from a heart attack, according to the American Heart Association. The Los Angeles Times reported that this was the second time in about a year that the USC medical staff has responded to a men’s basketball player suffering cardiac arrest during practice. Center Vince Iwuchukwu collapsed at a practice last July and was revived by athletic trainers. Iwuchukwu returned to the basketball court six months later. James, a four-star recruit, was a standout in the McDonald’s All-American Game in March. He averaged 14.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.7 steals in his… read on > read on >

People who have psoriasis may want to get their vitamin D levels checked. New research suggests that blood levels of the so-called “sunshine vitamin” may affect the severity of their condition. In psoriasis, skin cells build up and form dry, itchy, sometimes painful patches. While synthetic vitamin D creams are an emerging therapy, the study suggests that a diet rich in vitamin D or oral supplements could also ease psoriasis symptoms, said Rachel Lim, a study author and MD candidate at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. If the role of vitamin D can be proved after further study, “it may present a very accessible and safe addition to the treatment regimen of the millions of Americans living with psoriasis,” Lim said. About 8 million Americans have psoriasis. For the study, researchers analyzed 491 cases in a U.S. national health and nutrition survey, including 162 from 2003 to 2006 and 329 from 2011 to 2014. Their analysis found that lower vitamin D levels and deficiency were significantly associated with more severe psoriasis. Patients with the highest average vitamin D levels had the least amount of psoriasis-affected skin. Those who had the most affected area had the lowest average vitamin D levels. The amount of vitamin D a person would need to consume isn’t clear. “While we can’t talk about the optimal vitamin D… read on > read on >

The Biden administration on Monday awarded $58 million in grants to help schools and daycare centers remove lead from drinking water. The announcement came during an event in Boston. “I am excited to join local leaders in Boston to announce $58 million in grant funding that can be used to test for lead in drinking water, identify potential sources, and remove those sources to better protect our nation’s children,” EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox said in an agency news release. “Reducing lead in drinking water is a top priority for the Biden-Harris Administration and EPA is taking a holistic approach — harmonizing drinking water standards with historic infrastructure investments under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law while providing technical assistance to disadvantaged communities to protect all our children from lead in drinking water,” she added. The grants will help test for lead in drinking water, identify sources of contamination and help fix the problem, Fox said. “During his first year in office, President Biden announced a bold plan to replace every lead pipe in America. Today’s announcement is another step toward making that vision a reality. Schools and child care centers across the country will have the resources to ensure students are safe to learn, play and grow alongside their friends,” House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark said in the EPA news release. Lead in water… read on > read on >

Getting older adults who are failing mentally to relinquish their car keys can be challenging. But those conversations are necessary, said researchers who found a majority of adults with cognitive impairment still get behind the wheel. Michigan Medicine researchers studied this issue in a South Texas community. They found that more than 600 adults over age 65 in Nueces County had cognitive assessment scores — scores of thinking and memory — that indicated a likelihood of impairment. Among them, more than 61% were current drivers. About one-third of their caregivers had concerns about the drivers’ abilities to safely navigate the roads. “It is likely appropriate that some with mild cognitive impairment are still driving, but for some it may not be,” said senior author Dr. Lewis Morgenstern, professor of neurology, neurosurgery and emergency medicine at University of Michigan Medical School. “Patients and caregivers should discuss these issues with their health care providers and consider on-the-road driving evaluations to ensure safety,” Morgenstern said in a school news release. About 1 in 9 Americans ages 65 and up lives with Alzheimer’s disease. That’s 6.7 million people. Millions more have related dementias. These conditions can affect neuropsychological and visual skills that reduce the ability to drive safely, the researchers pointed out. Dementia had medium to large effects on driving impairment, according to a 2017 review of motor vehicle… read on > read on >

If you’re drinking soy, oat or almond milk, you may not be getting the same nutrients as you would with a glass of cow’s milk. A new analysis of more than 200 plant-based milk alternatives found that few contain the calcium, vitamin D and protein that can be found in cow’s milk. Only 12% of the alternative milk products studied had comparable or greater amounts of all three nutrients, the University of Minnesota study showed. “Our results provide evidence that many plant-based milk alternatives are not nutritionally equivalent to cow’s milk,” said Abigail Johnson, associate director of the University of Minnesota School of Public Health Nutrition Coordinating Center. “Based on these findings, consumers should look for plant-based milk alternative products that list calcium and vitamin D as ingredients. They may also want to consider adding other sources of calcium and vitamin D to their diets.” Both calcium and vitamin D were identified in the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans as nutrients of public health concern for underconsumption. “We know from our dietary assessments for nutrition studies that consumers are choosing more plant-based milk alternatives,” Johnson said in a news release from the American Society for Nutrition. The study aimed to increase the number of milk alternatives available in the Nutrition Coordinating Center’s database of about 19,000 foods. The researchers used nutrition and ingredient information from… read on > read on >

More omega-3 fatty acids in your diet might prevent hearing loss as you age, researchers report. Low levels of the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are linked to hearing loss in middle and old age, according to findings slated for presentation Monday at a meeting of the American Society for Nutrition, in Boston. Middle-aged and older adults with higher DHA levels, however, were 8% to 20% less likely to have age-related hearing issues than those with lower DHA levels, researchers said. “Animal models suggest maternal omega-3 fatty acid deficiency alters offspring hearing development, and long-term omega-3 supplementation may be protective for cochlear metabolism and reduce progression of hearing loss,” said study leader Michael McBurney, a senior scientist at the South Dakota-based Fatty Acid Research Institute and adjunct professor of human health and nutritional sciences at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada. “Now we find blood DHA concentrations are inversely associated with hearing loss,” he said. This study, however, can’t prove that high levels of DHA prevent hearing loss, only that there appears to be an association, McBurney said. The findings add evidence of the importance of omega-3 fatty acids, including DHA to protect against aging-related declines in a variety of body functions, he noted. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in fish, nuts and seeds and in dietary supplements such as fish oil. “Our… read on > read on >

People looking to stay mentally sharp as they age might want to swap out margarine for olive oil, a preliminary study suggests. The study, of more than 90,000 U.S. health professionals, found that olive oil lovers were less likely to die of dementia over the next three decades. Compared with their counterparts who rarely used olive oil, those who consumed more than a half-tablespoon a day were 28% less likely to die of dementia. Based on the researchers’ estimates, a small diet change could make a significant difference: Trading in one daily teaspoon of margarine for the same amount of olive oil might trim the risk of death from dementia by up to 14%. The findings were being presented Monday at the annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition, in Boston. They’re considered preliminary because they have not been published in a peer-reviewed journal. And, experts said, studies like this can only show correlations — and not proof that olive oil protects the aging brain. “That said, omega-3 fatty acids are known to provide anti-inflammatory benefits, and olive oil is a good source of omega-3s,” said Connie Diekman, a St. Louis-based nutrition consultant who was not involved in the study. Inflammation is believed to be involved in the dementia process, and that’s one plausible way that regularly eating olive oil could be beneficial, according… read on > read on >

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All Sauce from Weekly Gravy:

Vegetarian Diet May Be the Best Bet for Those at High Risk for Heart Disease

High Cadmium Levels Linked to Endometriosis

Over Half of People With Autoimmune Conditions Suffer Depression, Anxiety

LeBron James’ Son Suffers Cardiac Arrest During Basketball Practice, Now in Stable Condition

Vitamin D Might Ease the Agony of Psoriasis

EPA Awards $58 Million to Help Schools, Daycare Centers Remove Lead From Drinking Water

Many Seniors With Thinking Declines Still Drive

Milk Alternatives Don’t Always Measure Up to Milk

Omega-3s May Keep Your Hearing Sharp

Olive Oil a Powerful Prescription Against Dementia