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The hangover is bad enough. But for binge-drinking young people, embarrassing social media posts can be another headache. College students often show signs of social media “addiction” and can suffer significant consequences, according to the authors of a new study. “During these times when young students are feeling disinhibited by alcohol, they may be even more likely than usual to post inappropriate material without considering the future impact,” said lead researcher Natalie Ceballos. “In some cases, these sorts of mistakes have even influenced college admission and later job applications,” said Ceballos, an associate psychology professor at Texas State University. The study included 425 undergraduate students, ages 18 to 25. Compared with students who’d never gone on a drinking binge, binge drinkers were more likely to have made social media posts while drinking or drunk. Binge drinking was defined as having five or more drinks at one time for men and four or more for women. Binge drinkers were also more likely to use more social media platforms, to feel that social media was part of their identity, and to have experienced negative fallout from their social media use, something the researchers referred to as social media addiction. The study is published recently in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. “These findings suggest that in terms of common brain reward mechanisms, perhaps when students… read on >

After infections tied to unapproved stem cell treatments sent 12 people to hospital this past year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday issued a stern warning about the products. “The letters we’re issuing today to manufacturers, health care providers and clinics around the country are a reminder that there’s a clear line between appropriate development of these products and practices that sidestep important regulatory controls needed to protect patients,” FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb said in a statement. At issue are stem cell treatments — so-called “cell-based regenerative medicine.” Because stem cells have the potential to generate any type of cell, these treatments have long been marketed as a cure-all for a range of illnesses. Hundreds of clinics touting the unapproved treatments have sprung up across the United States. However, shoddy oversight may have led some hopeful patients to be seriously harmed, not helped, by these therapies, the FDA said. In a report published Thursday, researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say 12 stem cell therapy patients developed infections so severe they required hospitalization, although none died. Seven of the cases occurred in Texas, four in Florida and one in Arizona, according to a team led by CDC investigator Kiran Perkins. Between February and September of 2018, these patients sought the treatments for a variety of complaints, including chronic… read on >

(HealthDay News) — A pulled hamstring is a common injury for athletes who play sports such as track, soccer and basketball. Symptoms of the injury include swelling, bruising or discoloration and weakness in the hamstring. Most hamstring injuries will heal with rest and won’t require surgery, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons says. The academy suggests: RICE, which stands for Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation. Immobilization. Your doctor may recommend wearing a knee splint to help your leg heal. Physical therapy. Once the initial pain and swelling go away, physical therapy can help restore range of motion and strength.

No one thinks of a piece of layer cake as a diet item. But it turns out that even conscientious label readers may overestimate the size of a single serving and underestimate the number of calories they’re eating. Researchers at Cornell University’s Food and Brand Lab looked at dozens of packages of dry cake mixes. They found that, while nutritional labels give the calorie count of a specific amount of unfrosted cake, the photo on the front often shows a larger piece plus enough frosting to more than double the listed calories. The researchers also surveyed different groups of women for their study and even those who work in the food industry overestimated serving size because of photos on the packages. Can you have a reasonably sized slice of cake while on a diet? It’s possible when you make your own simple cake from scratch. For instance, light and airy angel food cake is made with egg whites and has just 150 calories for one-twelfth of a 10-inch cake. A drizzle of pureed berries with or without a dollop of thick Greek yogurt makes a healthy alternative to frosting. When you want something sweeter, keep in mind that a thin glaze has fewer calories and none of the fat of a frosting. Another option is baking a meringue-based cake called a dacquoise, made from stiffly… read on >

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram — the list of popular social media outlets is long and always expanding. But could staying connected through them lead to depression? That’s the question posed by researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Nearly 1,800 Americans, aged 19 to 32, answered questionnaires about their activity on 11 popular social media sites. On average, the participants spent just over an hour a day in total on social media, and went to their accounts 30 times a week. Whether engagement was measured in time or number of visits, the people in the top 25 percent of social media users had significantly higher odds of depression than the bottom 25 percent, between 1.7 and 2.7 times the risk. What the research didn’t unravel is what comes first — time spent with social media, or depression. People experiencing depression could be using social media to fill a void in their lives. Or social media may lead to depression and, in turn, more social media. Social media-depression connections: Seeing other people’s postings could make you believe your life is inferior. Excessive use could be a sign of internet addiction, which has been linked with depression. You may be at greater risk of cyber-bullying, which can lead to feelings of depression. Could you be going though depression? It can be hard sometimes to recognize it… read on >

In a finding that shows the obesity epidemic is far from over, new research reveals that most Americans have grown wider but not taller in the past two decades. Height measurements remained relatively stable during the past 20 years, even dropping slightly between 2015 and 2016 for some groups. But the weight, waist circumference and body mass index (BMI) of many kept increasing, new federal government data indicate. Only Asian-Americans and black men appeared to buck this trend. “The current report provides updated data on trends in weight, height, waist circumference, and BMI from 1999-2000 through 2015-2016, showing an increase of over 8 pounds in men and 7 pounds in women over this time period and overall, no increase in height,” said researchers from the National Center for Health Statistics, part of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As of 2016, the U.S. average weight for men was 198 pounds, while it was 170 pounds for women. Which groups fared the worst? White men and women, along with Mexican-Americans and black women, put on the most pounds, according to the report. Which groups did the best? Black men, whose weights leveled off between 2005 and 2016, and Asian-Americans, who saw no significant differences in the four body measures over the two decades. At the same time, there was little change in height among… read on >

(HealthDay News) — You can make green choices in everyday life, including during the holiday season, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. Simple activities such as recycling, reusing, walking, biking and conserving water are easy ways to make green decisions. Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, Americans throw out 25 percent more trash than other times during the year, the agency says. The CDC offers these “green” suggestions for the holidays: Decorate with things you will use year after year. Plant your holiday tree outside after the holidays, or dispose of it at a chipping facility. Limit holiday lights or use LED lights. Give durable gifts that are made from recycled materials, or look for locally made goods. Make gifts yourself by knitting or crafting. Give in ways that will support your community, such as by gifting tickets to a local show or museum. Wrap your gifts creatively by using old maps, sheet music, fabric scraps, etc.

Does your typical afternoon snack leave you feeling unsatisfied and reaching for more? If your pick-me-up is a bag of salty chips or a chocolate bar, a better (and healthier) way to go is with a high-protein choice, according to research published in The Journal of Nutrition. Snacks can make or break your diet. They can be a bridge from one meal to the next, keeping hunger in check and keeping you from overeating at meals. But if you’re not careful, they can add unwanted and even excessive calories to your daily total. Studies show that people of normal-weight tend to choose healthy snacks, like protein, fruit or whole grains, while overweight people tend to choose snacks high in fat and sugar, often compounding their weight woes. The study, which involved teens, found that surprisingly good snacks are soy-based, high-protein choices — a perfect way to get more plant foods in your diet. When comparing the effects of a high-protein soy snack to a high-fat snack, the researchers found that eating soy protein improves appetite control and diet quality, and helps you feel more satisfied. It can also boost your mood and brain function. Soybeans are nutritionally unique — the only vegetable that offers complete protein, all nine essential amino acids needed for health. They’re rich in B vitamins, iron, calcium and omega-3 fatty acids.… read on >

Ballet dancers are known for their sleek, sculpted look, in part the result of hours spent exercising at the ballet barre. While not everyone can dance the Nutcracker or Swan Lake, classes in “barre” are now widely available and wildly popular. Some follow classical training, which is often slow and methodical, while others are inspired by it. The technique involves very focused repetitive movements done holding onto the barre, which can be freestanding or anchored to a wall for support. Barre work enhances posture, muscle tone, balance, flexibility and coordination. The exercises tend to work four muscle groups: arms, abs, glutes and thighs, but in a true barre class the focus will be on just one of these at a time. There are lots of options for finding barre workouts. Many professional dance studios now offer classes to the general public. Local dance studios originally designed primarily for children have started to add adult classes in the evenings and on weekends for moms, and even dads. Specialty studios, like the popular Pure Barre and the Bar Method, are opening in locations across the country. It’s important to evaluate the classical dance training of instructors as well as the quality of a studio’s equipment. There should be at least two different sizes of barres available to accommodate varying heights. And ask for a rundown of the… read on >

Researchers say they’ve identified a potential link between food allergies and flare-ups of multiple sclerosis. “Our findings suggest that MS patients with allergies have more active disease than those without, and that this effect is driven by food allergies,” said study author Dr. Tanuja Chitnis, an MS specialist, and colleagues. Multiple sclerosis is a disease of the central nervous system that can affect balance and mobility. Exactly how food allergies might exacerbate MS isn’t clear. But the researchers said the results suggest they might boost MS-related inflammation. Allergies may also alter gut bacteria, which can produce chemicals that affect the central nervous system, the study authors said. Because this is an observational study, it can’t prove cause and effect. Further research is needed to confirm the findings, said Chitnis, an associate neurologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, and her co-authors. The study was published online Dec. 18 in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry. It included more than 1,300 MS patients in the United States. The participants provided details about food, drug, or environmental allergies and symptoms between 2011 and 2015. More than 900 had one or more allergies, while the rest had no known allergy. Of the patients with allergies, almost 600 had an environmental allergy — such as pollen, dust mites, grass or pets. More than 200 had a food… read on >

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All Sauce from Weekly Gravy:

Binge Drinkers’ Social Media Posts Can Haunt Them

FDA Warns Companies on Dangerous, Unapproved Stem Cell Treatments

Health Tip: Dealing With a Pulled Hamstring

Have Your Cake … And Lose Weight, Too

The Link Between Social Media and Depression

Average American Getting Fatter, but Not Taller

Health Tip: Go Green For the Holidays

High-Protein Snacks That Satisfy

Ballet Class: Not Just Child’s Play Anymore

Food Allergies Tied to MS Relapses