A new study investigated how sucralose, a non-caloric sweetener, affects brain signals related to hunger. The researchers compared the effects of sucralose to water and sucrose (sugar) among healthy young adults. The findings suggest that sucralose may impact the brain in a way that could promote overeating. At least one in five (20%) adults in the United States have obesity. With so many foods and beverages marketed to people trying to lose weight, scientists wonder how effective they are at...

A new study from Spain examined the connection between obesity and epigenetic aging. Epigenetic aging refers to how the body ages at a molecular level; sometimes a person’s biological age does not always match up to their chronological age. They learned that a very low-calorie ketogenic diet can turn back epigenetic aging by more than 6 years. Obesity affects more than 40% of adults in the United States, and one of the health concerns related to obesity is how it affects different systems in...

Scientists in Brazil recently conducted a review to see how the probiotic kefir affects Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, and since there is no cure available, researchers are interested in finding new ways to prevent and fight the disease. The scientists included seven studies in their review, including one that involved human participants. While the study pool was limited, the scientists learned that kefir can potentially improve symptoms. As...

Scientists researched whether polyphenols found in foods, herbs, and spices in one’s regular diet can affect gut health. Polyphenols are compounds found in some plant-based foods that can work as antioxidants in the body and provide protection against some diseases. Their findings showed that the polyphenols from herbs and spices may be responsible for an increase in beneficial gut microbes. Researchers based at the National University of Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon recently...

The researchers speculated on why insomnia may impact the cardiovascular system and mentioned that the autonomic nervous system being unmodulated and systemic inflammation may be contributing factors. How does insomnia affect heart health? Dr. Cheng-Han Chen, interventional cardiologist and medical director of the Structural Heart Program at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills, California, spoke with Medical News Today about the study. Dr. Chen explained how insomnia may...