The way to a healthy heart is through your stomach
Hippocrates, who lived in Greece
2,500 years ago, is considered the father of medicine because he used observation and deduction to understand and treat illness. His take? “All diseases begin in the gut.”
Now, we know this isn’t entirely true (a tick bite delivering Lyme disease is an outside invader, for example), but ever more evidence is showing how closely your gut health is linked to your wellbeing, in terms of weight, glucose levels, immune system, brain function and inflammation control. Now, research published in European Heart
Journal — involving more than 600 women from the Twins UK study — has explored your gut-heart connection. For the first time, there’s confirmation that the greater the diversity in your gut bacteria, the less stiff your arteries will be, and that lowers your risk for heart attack and stroke.
How do you make sure you’ve got a diverse gut microbiome? By eating a diverse diet made up of fiber-rich, polyphenol-loaded fruits, veggies and grains, fermented foods like kimchi and sauerkraut, healthy oils like omega-3 DHA in salmon, and maybe a variety of probiotic supplements. Another smart choice? Twelve walnut halves daily. They’ll help decrease weight gain and are associated with a lower risk of heart attacks and strokes. They also provide a big boost to your gut’s microbiome by substantially increasing four types of colonprotecting, inflammationfighting bacteria (Faecalibacterium, Clostridium, Dialister and Roseburia).
So remember that old saying, “The way to the heart is through the stomach,” and start nurturing more diversity in your gut biome.
To learn more, give your brain a break
The catchphrase “Keep Calm and Carry On” was commissioned in 1939 by the British Ministry of Information for a public safety poster. The country was being bombed by the Nazis and was expected to be occupied soon.
Today, we’re being bombarded with information overload
24/7. Many folks report that it’s becoming increasingly difficult to concentrate well enough to learn how to say “hello” or “thank you” in a new language
(in Hawaiian it’s “aloha” and “mahalo,” BTW) or remember what they need to do tomorrow at work. So we say try this: Keep Calm and Stay Quiet. If you do that for 10 minutes after learning something new, you’ll find that the info will stick in your brain.
MRI scans show that when you sleep, your brain’s synapses relax, which helps maintain and rejuvenate your brain’s neuroplasticity and ability to learn. But new research from Scotland is showing that quiet resting also can shore up your memory-consolidation process.
The researchers showed a group of people a series of detailed pictures and then asked half the group to take a 10-minute rest, while the other half went about their day. When asked to recall the pictures later, the group that took a break had better recall of more precise details.
So whether you’re studying for an exam, trying to learn a new language or struggling to stay organized at work, if you want to hold on to the details of new info: Keep Calm and … Give It 10 Minutes.
Smoking marijuana for morning sickness is harmful for a developing fetus; overcoming loneliness
Q: My sister lives in Colorado, and she’s three months pregnant. When she went to a marijuana dispensary (store), she was told that smoking pot would ease her morning sickness. I told her that was nuts and she’s poisoning her fetus. I’m right, aren’t I? — Jessica B., Sayville, New York
A: Yes, you are, and what you’re describing is a big problem for Colorado and beyond. A recent Denver Health study found that about 70 percent of Colorado cannabis dispensary employees recommended cannabis products to treat nausea in the first trimester. The other 30 percent referred the pregnant women to a health care provider, which is what every dispensary employee should have done. As more states legalize recreational marijuana, the frequency of women smoking (or ingesting) it to relieve symptoms of morning sickness may increase, and the harm to newborns may be permanent. Tip: Tell her to check with her doctor about acupuncture or aromatherapy to ease symptoms.
We know smoking anything while you’re pregnant will introduce potential toxins to a fetus, which can affect birth weight and childhood development. Now, a report from the State University of New York at Buffalo’s Research Institute on Addictions has found that smoking marijuana specifically is linked to lower birth weights and the possibility of behavioral problems later in a child’s life. The get-youhigh chemical THC in marijuana goes directly through the placenta to the developing fetus, as does nicotine and alcohol.
The University of Buffalo study also points out that pregnant women who smoke (marijuana or tobacco) also experience high levels of stress — and a cranked-up stress response in pregnant women is linked to infant irritability. Add prenatal exposure to toxic substances and, well, you might suggest your sister consider counseling for the sake of her unborn child.
Q: I went through a divorce last year and moved back to my hometown to try to start over, but my family isn’t here anymore and I feel alone and depressed. I’m not moving again! What’s wrong with me? — Cecilia N., Columbus, Ohio
A: Nothing is wrong with you, Cecilia; you’re just lonely. Fortunately, there’s a lot you can do to overcome that feeling of isolation, and it’s important for your health and happiness that you take action right away. Loneliness is not an unexpected response considering the big upheavals in your life. In fact, a recent study by a health insurance company found that according to the UCLA Loneliness Scale, most adult Americans today experience loneliness with some regularity.
Loneliness can lead to depression, inactivity, cardiovascular problems, decreased memory function, loss of selfesteem, alcohol and drug abuse, and plain old bad decision-making. In fact, a Brigham Young University metastudy found that loneliness is associated with a significantly increased risk of early mortality, so let’s not kid around and instead nip this in the bud.
Tip No. 1: Put down the remote and get active. Start with a new pair of running/walking shoes and then find a local group to head out with. We Googled “Walking Groups Columbus OH” and the first website had consolidated over 60 websites of walking groups and other gatherings of like-minded folks, from “Babes in the Woods — Outdoor Adventures for Women” to get-togethers for drinking Chinese tea.
Tip No. 2: Go with who you know. If you’re from there, you must know someone who you went to school with or a favorite teacher who’s still around. Who organizes class reunions? Give them a call and arrange to meet for lunch. Go visit your old schools and volunteer.
Tip No. 3: Give yourself time to make new friends. You probably are meeting new people every day through work, volunteering or in the neighborhood. Be friendly; say hello, and ask people about themselves (the most powerful way to make connections). Reach out, and folks will respond. In the meantime, stay in touch with friends and family around the country; you don’t want to let old ties fade.