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Interacting with lots of different people may help you live longer and healthier, a new study suggests. Older people who spend more time with family members, close friends, acquaintances, casual friends and even strangers were more likely to be physically active, spend less time sitting or lying around and have a more positive attitude and fewer negative feelings, the researchers found. “Adults often grow less physically active and more sedentary as they age, and these behaviors pose a risk factor for disease and death,” said study author Karen Fingerman. She’s a professor of human development and family sciences at the University of Texas at Austin. Fingerman said that it can be hard to get people to exercise, but it might be easier to get them to reach out to acquaintances, go on group events or talk to the people who serve in restaurants. “Socializing in these contexts also can increase physical activity and diverse behaviors in ways that benefit health without necessarily working up a sweat,” she said in a university news release. For the study, Fingerman and her colleagues asked more than 300 adults over 65 about their activities and social encounters every three hours for a week. Participants also wore electronic devices to keep track of their physical activity. The researchers found that when participants were with a variety of social partners, they… read on >

An imbalance in the gut “microbiome” of people with lupus may be driving the chronic autoimmune disease as well as its flare-ups, new research suggests. The microbiome is the trillions of helpful bacteria that coexist in the human digestive tract and elsewhere in the body. Comparing gut bacteria from lupus patients with bacteria from their healthy peers, scientists learned those with lupus had about five times more of the bacteria known as Ruminococcus gnavus. The discovery may lead to better treatments for lupus, which can damage the skin, joints and organs, study author Dr. Gregg Silverman said. “Current lupus therapies seek to dampen or destroy the immune system,” said Silverman, a professor of medicine and pathology at NYU Langone Health in New York City. “The idea that we might find in some patients that their disease is being worsened by bacteria in their intestine may mean we [find] much more benign therapeutic approaches,” he added. “This is something I’m excited about because I think it really relates to the health and well-being of patients and people.” Lupus affects an estimated 5 million people worldwide, according to the Lupus Foundation of America. The cause of the sometimes-fatal disease is unknown, though genetics are believed to play a role. Symptoms can vary and include joint and muscle pain, rashes, hair loss, fatigue and swelling in various body… read on >

(HealthDay News) — Electrolytes are minerals in the body that have an electric charge. They are in your blood, urine, tissues and body fluids. Sodium, calcium, potassium, chlorine, phosphate and magnesium are types of electrolytes that are absorbed from foods you eat and fluids you drink. The U.S. Library of Medicine mentions these roles of electrolytes: Balance the amount of water in your body. Balance your body’s acid/base (pH). Move nutrients into your cells. Move wastes from your cells. Help make sure the nerves, muscles, heart and brain work properly.

Upper body strength is important at every age, but you don’t need to be a bodybuilder to benefit from working your pectoral, or chest, muscles. For a study sponsored by the American Council on Exercise, scientists from the University of Wisconsin La Crosse evaluated nine popular pec exercises to determine which ones best engaged these muscles. Popular Pec Strength-Training Exercises Barbell bench press Pec dec machine Bent-forward cable crossover Chest press machine Inclined dumbbell flys Dips Push-ups To develop muscle size, the barbell bench press is at the very top of the list, followed closely by the pec deck machine and the bent-forward cable crossover. Here’s how to perform the barbell bench press. Lie with your back flat on a weight bench. Knees are bent at the far end of the bench with feet flat on the floor. Grip the barbell with both hands, placing them slightly wider than shoulder-width apart. Elbows make a 90-degree angle. With control, lower the bar so that it’s just barely touching your chest, then press upward as you extend your arms. Hold briefly and, again with control, slowly lower the barbell to your chest for one complete rep. Repeat for the appropriate number of reps, typically up to 15 with a lighter weight, up to eight with a heavier weight. To protect against injury to your shoulders, focus on… read on >

The number of people living with Parkinson’s disease worldwide could double in the next two decades, experts project. In a report warning of a possible Parkinson’s “pandemic,” researchers say the stage is set for cases to surge to 12 million or more by 2040. What’s to blame? In large part, trends that are generally positive: Older age is a major risk factor for Parkinson’s, and with life expectancy rising worldwide, more people will develop the disease. At the same time, Parkinson’s patients are surviving longer, which drives up the number of people living with the disease at any given time. Then there’s a less expected factor: Declining smoking rates. While the habit has many devastating effects, research suggests it protects against Parkinson’s. Those are obviously trends that no one wants to reverse, said report author Dr. Ray Dorsey. There are, however, other ways to slow the projected rise in Parkinson’s, said Dorsey, a professor of neurology at the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York. “We believe there’s a lot we can do toward prevention,” he said. At the top of the list is reducing people’s exposure to certain pesticides, solvents and other chemicals that research has linked to Parkinson’s risk. As an example, Dorsey pointed to the weed-killer paraquat. “It’s been strongly linked to an increased risk of Parkinson’s, and it’s banned in… read on >

(HealthDay News) — Most women use eye makeup, but it does carry some risk, the American Academy of Ophthalmology says. The academy suggests how to use eye makeup safely: Infection-causing bacteria may grow in creamy or liquid eye makeup. So throw any unused eye makeup away after three months. If you develop an eye infection, immediately throw out all eye makeup. Never share eye makeup. If you tend to be allergic, introduce only one new eye makeup product at a time. Only apply makeup to clean eyelids. Apply it outside the lash line, away from the eye, to avoid blocking the oil glands of the upper or lower eyelid. Never apply makeup while in a moving vehicle. Do not separate mascara-clumped lashes with sharp items. If you have dry eyes, avoid metallic/glitter, powder or other makeup that flakes. Remove all eye makeup before sleeping.

(HealthDay News) — The American Heart Association recommends reducing saturated fat to no more than 6 percent of total daily calories for people who need to lower “bad” cholesterol. The AHA suggests how to limit saturated fat: Eat more fruit, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, poultry, fish and nuts. Limit red meat. high-fat dairy products, and sugary foods and beverages. Chose unhydrogenated vegetable oils such as canola, sunflower or olive oil. Use soft margarine as a substitute for butter. Look for “0g trans fat” on the nutrition facts label. Doughnuts, cookies, crackers, muffins, pies and cakes are examples of foods high in trans fat. Limit these in your diet. Limit commercially fried foods and baked goods made with shortening or partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.

Is the dinner table a battleground at your house? Getting your kids to eat better doesn’t have to cause a fight if you follow these fast and easy strategies to enhance dishes that they already know and love. In some households, veggies and kids just don’t mix. But carrot fries have serious visual appeal plus nutrients, like high levels of vitamin A. They’re a much better choice than fast food fries. Carrot Fries 1 pound carrots, peeled and cut into sticks 2 tablespoons olive oil 4 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil. Toss the carrot sticks in the oil. Transfer to the baking sheet. Sprinkle with the grated Parmesan and bake for about 20 minutes until fork tender. Yield: 4 servings It’s hard to find a kid who doesn’t love chicken nuggets, but getting a picky eater to enjoy fish prepared the same way can be a big stretch. The answer is these crisp and tender white fish nuggets. Fish Nuggets 1 pound tilapia filets, cut into 1-inch chunks 1 cup breadcrumbs 1 tablespoon flax seeds, ground 1 egg Cooking spray Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Mix breadcrumbs and flax seeds in a pie plate. Whisk the egg in a bowl. Dip each fish chunk into the egg, then… read on >

The term “sugar substitutes” is a catch-all that covers a wide range of alternatives, starting with those little pink, blue and yellow packets. But their value as a health or diet aid is still uncertain. A research review in the BMJ found that there’s limited evidence to say how much using them helps with weight loss, and that the real answer is to cut back on sugar in general by drinking water and choosing low- and no-sugar foods. Still, sugar substitutes can free up calories you can spend on healthier foods. Here’s what you need to know: Spoonful for spoonful, artificial sweeteners can be 100 times sweeter than sugar, with few or no calories. As food additives, they’re regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and must get approval before they can be marketed. Approved Artificial Sweeteners Saccharin Aspartame Sucralose Neotame Acesulfame potassium Advantame Sugar alcohols are a type of sweetener commonly used in packaged foods. They’re carbohydrates, but the body doesn’t completely absorb them, so they don’t raise blood sugar as much as natural sugars. They’re also lower in calories, but they can have an unwanted laxative-type effect. Common Sugar Alcohols In Packaged Foods Isomalt Maltitol Mannitol Sorbitol Xylitol “Novel” sweeteners are a different kind of product. The most common one is stevia, which is made from a plant. Considered a dietary supplement… read on >

An average of two children die from burns and more than 300 are treated for such injuries in U.S. emergency departments every day, a burn expert says. Burns are one of the leading causes of death and injury in the United States, and children are particularly vulnerable. Young children are at increased risk for accidental burns because their mental and physical abilities are not fully developed. Also, they have thinner skin layers than adults, which means they suffer deeper burns at lower temperatures and more quickly, the experts explained. “Thirty percent of our burn patients are children,” said Dr. Anthony Baldea. He is medical director at Loyola Burn Center at Loyola University Health System in Illinois. “Most of these burns could have been prevented. While advances in treatments have led to better outcomes, the best strategy is to take simple precautions to prevent burns from occurring in the first place,” Baldea said in a Loyola news release. Loyola’s Burn Center and the American Burn Association offer tips on preventing burns in children. Make sure coffee cups and tea mugs have lids, and never carry hot liquids while holding a child. Never place hot liquids on low coffee tables or end tables that can be reached by young children, and don’t use table cloths or place mats that a child can pull down. Keep clothes irons,… read on >

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All Sauce from Weekly Gravy:

Being Socially Active Helps Older Folk Age Well

Gut Microbes May Help Drive Lupus, Study Finds

Health Tip: Why You Need Electrolytes

Exercises to Build Your Upper Body Strength

Possible Parkinson’s ‘Pandemic’ Looms: Report

Health Tip: Using Eye Makeup

Health Tip: Eat Less Saturated Fat

Kid-Friendly Food Swaps Everyone Will Love

Will Sugar Substitutes Help You Lose Weight?

Keep Your Kids Safe From Burns