Heavy Drinking During Youth Can Disrupt Brain Development

Excessive alcohol use during adolescence can disrupt the development of brain and increase risk of substance use disorder later in life, a study says. “The maturation of the brain is still ongoing in adolescence, and especially the frontal areas and the cingulate cortex develop until the twenties. Our findings strongly indicate that heavy alcohol use may disrupt this maturation process,” said first author of the study Noora Heikkinen from University of Eastern Finland. Cingulate cortex has an important role in impulse control, and volumetric changes in this area may play…

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How you can eat to lose weight

Good news for all those trying to lose those extra kilos: You needn’t starve to get thin. For what its worth, those extra inches around your belly may not always be fat. Forget crash/fad diets, read on to know how you can beat the bulge by eating (right). BEAT THE BLOAT Dietician Suraj Bisht suggests the first step to weight loss is to figure out the reason for it. Most of the people he consults suffer from gastric problems like constipation and indigestion and many a time bloating is a…

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10 Healthy Breakfasts You Can Make for Under $1

Somewhere along the line, eating well came to mean spending a pretty penny. Maybe vegan cafes and pricey cold-pressed juices are to blame? Yet, thanks to cheap and wholesome foods (hello, eggs! We’re looking right at you), it’s actually quite easy to make a healthy breakfast for under a buck. The key to making a cheap breakfast? It’s all about being resourceful and welcoming food combinations that are packed with energy to provide enough fuel for the whole day. If you’re cooking at home, it’s totally possible to feed your body the right nutrients…

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Researchers investigate why obesity can trigger bowel cancer

“Excess calories ‘turn off a hormone in the intestine that blocks colon cancer’,” the Mail Online reports. Obesity is a known risk factor for bowel cancer (also known as colorectal cancer). There is evidence that a diet rich in processed meats, which contain the potentially cacogenic compound nitrates, increases bowel cancer risk. However, it is unclear why other high-calorie diets also increase risk. This latest study, conducted in genetically engineered mice, found that obesity caused by a diet rich in fats or carbohydrates “silenced” a hormone called guanylin. This, in turn, led…

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Walnuts can help reduce stress in young men

A handful of walnuts every day can help young men happily tackle life’s daily stress as this nutrient-dense snack can lead to a happier state-of-mind, suggests a new study. The researchers found a significant improvement in mood in young, healthy males who consumed walnuts every day for eight weeks. “In the past, studies on walnuts have shown beneficial effects on many health outcomes like heart disease, diabetes and obesity,” said researcher Peter Pribis, Professor at University of New Mexico in the US. “Our study was different because we focused on…

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Reliance on Food Pantries Can Make Healthy Eating Difficult

One month’s food assistance for one to two people is displayed at the Blackstone Valley CAP food pantry in Pawtucket, Rhode Island December 2, 2008. Reuters/Brian Snyder People who rely on food pantries for their meals may not receive enough dairy, fruits or vegetables to get all the nutrients they need for a healthy diet, two recent studies suggest. Part of the problem is that many volunteer-supported food pantries set up to provide occasional assistance to families during temporary setbacks have instead become the main source of food for long…

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