Home Environment Dictates Mood and Personality in Elderly
Razi Berry The old saying, “Home is where the heart is,” has some new science to back it up. A study has found photos of a person’s living space can accurately point at personality traits and the mood of the people who live there, especially as a person gets older. For the study, scientists at […]
Environmental Factors of Keeping Brain Young
Razi Berry A stimulating environment keeps the “hippocampus” — which is the brain’s memory control center — young, so to speak. Causes of this are molecular mechanisms that affect gene regulation. These current findings from studies in mice provide clues as to why an active, varied life can help preserve mental fitness in old age. […]
Lead Exposure May Change Brain Structure in Children
Razi Berry Although leaded gas and lead-based paint were banned decades ago, the risk of lead exposure is far from gone. A new study led by Elizabeth Sowell, PhD, shows that living in neighborhoods with high risk of lead exposure is associated with differences in brain structure and cognitive performance in some children. Her findings, […]
Good Heart Health Equals Good Brain Health
Razi Berry Emory University researchers are giving us double the reasons to pay attention to our cardiovascular health – showing in a recently published study in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease that good heart health can equal good brain health. Good heart health = good brain health The American Heart Association defines ideal cardiovascular health […]
Microplastic Leaching from Teabags
Razi Berry Many people are trying to reduce their plastic use, but some tea manufacturers are moving in the opposite direction: replacing traditional paper teabags with plastic ones. Now, researchers reporting in ACS’ Environmental Science & Technology have discovered that a soothing cup of the brewed beverage may come with a dose of micro- and […]
Farm-to-Indoor-Table Microbiota May Significantly Decrease Asthma and Allergies
Razi Berry Previous research has shown that growing up on a farm with animals, may reduce as much as half the risk of asthma and allergies. The protective effect is thought to be attributable to the diverse microbial exposures encountered on farms. Presence of farm-like microbiota in an early-life home may protect from asthma also […]
Everyday Toxins and Infertility
Dr Erin Westaway, ND One of the most overlooked factors in the conventional fertility world is the impact environmental toxicity has on a couple’s ability to reproduce. Frequently, the couples who come into my office looking for support with fertility have no known reason to explain their difficulty getting pregnant. Sometimes they’ve already had a […]
A Shift Towards Plant-based Diet May Help Climate Emergency
Razi Berry Major political parties are being urged to include veganism at the center of food and farming policies after declaring a national climate emergency. The Vegan Society implores politicians to “translate this announcement into action” The Vegan Society is imploring politicians to “translate this announcement into action” by adopting policies that encourage plant-based diets, […]
Intelligence Impacts Health and Aging
Razi Berry For over 100 years, scientists have sought to understand what links a person’s general intelligence, health and aging. In a new study, a University of Missouri scientist suggests a model where mitochondria, or small energy producing parts of cells, could form the basis of this link. This insight could provide valuable information to […]
Childhood Trauma, Stress, and Fibromyalgia: Is There a Connection?
David M. Brady, ND, DC, CCN, DACBN, IFMCP, FACN Traumatic experiences and stressors in childhood have historically been overlooked as predisposing factors in the development of various chronic pain disorders and psychiatric conditions, including fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, insomnia, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and chronic fatigue syndrome. However, the tide is turning as research […]