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The kind of foods you eat, and even the order in which you eat them can affect your odds of developing type 2 diabetes, three new studies suggest. The studies — being presented to the American Society for Nutrition — found: Switching to a mostly plant-based diet (but one that could still include meat and dairy) could reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes by as much as 60%. Eating greater amounts of vitamins B2 and B6 was linked to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, while getting more B12 in the diet seemed to be associated with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes. The order that you eat your foods appears to matter. People who ate vegetables before having meat or rice had lower blood sugar levels, along with positive changes in their hunger hormones. Dr. Rekha Kumar, an endocrinologist at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City, reviewed the findings. “Emphasizing fruits and vegetables and whole foods is a very practical and easy way to manage type 2 diabetes,” she said. “Half your plate should be green, even at breakfast, when you could have an egg white omelet with spinach for example.” As for the sequence of eating, Kumar said vegetables, high-fiber foods and even protein take longer to leave the stomach, which slows down the rise in… read on >

Juicing nutrient-rich green vegetables like kale, broccoli and spinach gives you a brew of many vitamins and minerals, all in just one cup. But green juices can have an overpowering flavor, so many people want to cut their “bite” with the natural sweetness of fruit and/or a bit of sweetener, such as plant-based stevia or a teaspoon of maple syrup or agave. Here’s how: If you have an overripe banana on your counter, toss it into the juicer with your greens and an apple for a juice that tastes like a sweet banana shake. Adding cherries, blueberries or blackberries will also mask the flavor of fresh greens while contributing plenty of antioxidants and other nutrients. If you’re a fan of spice, add a piece of peeled ginger root for extra kick. Do you crave chocolate? Juicing blueberries and cocoa powder along with greens is a delicious way to satisfy the urge. This recipe also calls for some water to give your juice volume, plus vanilla extract for richness. Finish it with a hint of sweetener and you have a chocolate drink that’s fit for any sweet tooth. Chocolate Juice 1 cup blueberries, fresh or frozen 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 tablespoon cocoa powder 2 cups baby spinach 1/2 cup water Sweetener or sugar substitute of your choice If using frozen berries, defrost before juicing. Place… read on >

Exercise is important for all kids, because it boosts their overall health and wards off excess weight. But it holds added benefit for teens: According to a study in The Journal of Pediatrics, it improves their attention, which can help them do better in school. The greatest payoff came from about an hour a day of moderate-to-vigorous activity, the study found. It seems that sustained exercise at a moderate level releases a specific protein that improves numerous brain functions. But overly vigorous activity could make teens too tired to focus on learning. These findings suggest that exercise could also help children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as part of an overall care plan. With many schools cutting back on physical education time during the school day, encourage your teen to take up a sport or activity that calls for a daily conditioning session, ensuring that they’ll be active not just on game days. Some kids thrive on team sports, such as soccer and lacrosse, while others do better with activities that allow them to develop more as individuals, such as track and tennis. If you have home cardio equipment, like a treadmill or exercise bike, suggest that your teen use it while listening to music. Remember to model the behavior you want your kids to follow, so let them see you working out and having fun… read on >

Though rare, some children are born with an extra finger, a condition known as polydactyly. Now, for the first time, a team of researchers set out to see whether having this extra appendage is somehow beneficial. The answer is yes. The bottom line: Having an additional finger significantly boosts a person’s ability to manipulate objects, so much so that they can execute movements with a single hand that would otherwise require two. For the study, investigators at the University of Freiburg in Germany, Imperial College London in England and the University Hospital of Lausanne in Switzerland focused on two patients, each of whom had an additional finger between their thumb and forefinger, on an otherwise normal hand. “We wanted to know if the subjects have motor skills that go beyond people with five fingers, and how the brain is able to control the additional degrees of freedom,” explained study author Carsten Mehring, from the University of Freiburg. The researchers conducted a series of brain scans and behavioral experiments designed to track how the two patients used their hands, and their brain activity while doing so. In each case, the investigators found the extra finger had its own muscles, which enabled each person to move that finger separately from the other five fingers. “Our subjects can use their extra fingers independently, similar to an additional thumb,… read on >

(HealthDay News) — Swimmer’s ear is an infection of the outer ear that is caused by water remaining in the ear canal after swimming or showering. To help prevent swimmer’s ear, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia suggests: Teach children to use a towel to dry their ears after water activities. Encourage children to wear ear plugs while swimming. Keep your child’s ears clean. Avoid excessive showering.

When you think of effective cardio exercise, the activities most likely to come to mind are aerobics classes, running, swimming and cycling. But racquet sports like tennis may hold even greater benefits, according to research published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. And, as a bonus, they could also be more fun, making it easier to meet your fitness goals. After reviewing data from 80,000 people, researchers found that participants in racquet sports reduced their risk of early death by 47%. Racquet sports beat out swimming and aerobics, the second and third most-protective exercises, by double digits. Cycling came in fourth. The numbers were even higher for reducing the risk of death from heart disease or stroke, though swimming and aerobics were still beneficial because they work the upper and lower body, which helps train the heart. Also, whatever activity the study participants chose, the more often they exercised, the more their risk of early death dropped. Exercise and Risk of Early Death 47% lower risk of early death with racquet sports 28% lower with swimming 27% lower with aerobics 15% lower with cycling Never picked up a racquet? The U.S. Tennis Association has information to help you get started, including where to find programs in your area. Besides being a great exercise, tennis helps with balance, strength and flexibility, all essential for lifelong… read on >

Americans are making shifts in the supplements they take — fewer multivitamins and vitamins C and E, more fish oil and vitamin D. Many think of supplements as magic bullets, but studies don’t always support their supposed benefits. Some research is positive. Vitamin D is important for good health and very hard to get naturally from foods or, if you live in northern latitudes, from the sun. So you might need a supplement to meet daily needs. But first ask your doctor for a blood test to check your level and, if it’s low, whether it’s safe for you to sit in the sun twice a week for 15 minutes to allow your body to make D naturally. Significant studies show that it’s better to get certain nutrients directly from food. For instance, while foods high in omega-3 fatty acids, from walnuts to oily fish, have been linked to reduced risk of heart disease, the omega-3s in fish oil capsules may not deliver the same benefits. A 2018 study conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture found that many supplements — from vitamins A and D to the minerals selenium and chromium — contain higher amounts of the nutrient than stated on the label. That’s a concern because some good-for-you supplements can be harmful at high doses — even calcium, which is highly touted for… read on >

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday gave the nod to Emgality, an injected medication that’s the first to cut the frequency of cluster headaches. Episodic cluster headaches are “an extremely painful and often debilitating condition,” the FDA’s Dr. Eric Bastings noted in an agency news release. He’s deputy director of the Division of Neurology Products in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. Cluster headaches occur in quick sequence, “often at the same time(s) of the day, for several weeks to months,” the agency said. Attacks typically hit patients multiple times each day and can last anywhere from 15 minutes to three hours. “The headaches are accompanied by symptoms that may include:bloodshot eyes, excessive tearing of the eyes, drooping of the eyelids, runny nose and/or nasal congestionand facial sweating,” the FDA added. However, Emgality (galcanezumab-gnlm) appears to be the first drug to help ease patients’ misery. In a three-week clinical trial involving 106 patients, patients who took the drug had an average of almost nine fewer weekly cluster headaches, compared to about five fewer attacks among people who got a “dummy” placebo self-injection. Dr. Noah Rosen directs Northwell Health’s Headache Center in Great Neck, N.Y. While not involved in the the clinical trial, he serves on a cluster headache advisory board. Rosen agreed that “there are very few treatment options for patients… read on >

Whether you grow it yourself or buy it at your farmers’ market or grocery store, zucchini is a great way to add variety to traditional dishes and even increase portion sizes of favorite recipes without extra calories. Love cool cucumber salad? For a tasty variation, use thin strips of peeled zucchini, cut on a mandoline. (Note: Mandoline blades are sharp. Always use the gripper to hold the food you’re prepping.) Toss with lemon juice, chopped dill, salt and olive oil, then refrigerate for one hour before serving. Next, try zucchini “noodles” in place of white pasta. Grate zucchini with the shredder attachment of the mandoline. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, then cook the zucchini for one minute until it begins to soften. Toss with your favorite marinara. Want to get more creative? These easy zucchini fritters taste great hot or cold. Zucchini Fritters 2 eggs lightly beaten 1/4 cup parsley, chopped 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1/2 cup white whole-wheat flour 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 cup tarragon, chopped (optional) 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, as desired 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper or to taste 1 pound zucchini (about 2 medium), stems removed and grated Olive or canola oil Combine all ingredients except the zucchini and oil in a large bowl. Whisk for one… read on >

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All Sauce from Weekly Gravy:

What and How You Eat Affects Your Odds for Type 2 Diabetes

What and How You Eat Affects Your Odds for Type 2 Diabetes

Add a Sweet Surprise to Your Veggie Juice: Chocolate

Encourage Your Teen to Work Out for Better Learning

Having an Extra Finger Can Come in Handy

Health Tip: Preventing Swimmer’s Ear

Can Racquet Sports Give You a Fitter, Longer Life?

Getting Your Nutrients: From the Source or Supplements?

FDA Approves First Drug to Help Tame Cluster Headaches

Add Pizzazz, Not Calories, With Zucchini