Nicole Brechka
Espresso Coffee’s Impact on Serum Total Cholesterol
That morning shot of espresso may be doing more than simply waking you up — it also could be increasing your cholesterol. According to a population-based, cross-sectional study published online in Open Heart, espresso consumption is significantly associated with higher serum total cholesterol levels, especially in men. As part ofRead
Anti-Inflammatories: Good or Bad for Acute Pain?
The answer to this question may seem like a no-brainer. But a new study is calling the decades-long treatment of anti-inflammatory drugs for acute pain into question. Researchers from McGill University in Montreal have turned acute pain care on its head. Their study, published in Science Translational Medicine, revealed thatRead
Mulberries Help Lower Blood Sugar After a High-Carb Meal
According to a new study in The British Journal of Nutrition, even small doses of mulberry extract help lower blood sugar and reduce insulin spikes after a high-carb meal. An earlier study showed that 1.5 grams of mulberry extract significantly improved both blood sugar and insulin responses after meals (post-prandialRead
Severe Covid May Cause the Brain to Age Faster
A new study underscores just how devastating Covid-19 can be on a person’s long-term health. Researchers from the Imperial College London and the University of Cambridge have linked severe Covid with cognitive decline on par with 20 years of brain aging. For example, someone in their 50s would have theRead
Nicotinamide Riboside Boosts Skeletal Muscle Mass
By the time someone reaches their 80s, they can experience up to a 50 percent loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength. It’s called sarcopenia, and it affects 5–13 percent of people aged 60–70 and 11–50 percent of those 80+. One promising therapy for preserving skeletal muscle mass and reducingRead
Probiotic, Phytochemical Blend Improves Long Covid
Long Covid cases are reaching new highs. In fact, estimates show that as many as 60 percent of those diagnosed with the virus still report symptoms a year after contracting Covid. But there’s some good news: A first-of-its-kind study in the journal COVID shows that a blend of probiotics, inRead
B Vitamins May Enhance Heart Benefits of Omega-3s
The newest power duo in the supplement world may be B vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids. A study from the journal Nutrients points to a possible synergistic effect between certain B vitamins and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) for cardiovascular health. Study Details Texas State University researchers conducted a meta-analysisRead
Glycine & NAC: A Winning Combo for Longevity
Have scientists discovered the fountain of youth? Not quite yet, but there’s some promising new research to report. According to a study from Nutrients, a proprietary supplement called GlyNAC was shown to extend lifespan, albeit in mice, by 24 percent. GlyNAC is a blend of the amino acids glycine andRead
Black Currant Helps Lessen Digital Eye Strain
From Zoom and FaceTime to TVs and laptops, our lives revolve around electronic screens. Estimates are that adults are exposed to screens that emit health-disrupting blue light for more than 8 hours per day — and this number has only grown since the pandemic. It used to be that theRead
Can Donating Blood Reduce Levels of Toxic Chemicals?
Yes, according to a first-of-its-kind Australian study. The clinical trial, published in JAMA Network Open, involved 285 Australian firefighters with elevated blood levels of a PFAS called perfluorooctane sulfonate. Also known as “forever chemicals” because they stay in the body so long, PFAS are toxic manufacturing chemicals found in numerousRead