There are many good reasons to make sure you’re eating enough fruits and vegetables each day. Not only do fruits and vegetables contain many of the important vitamins and minerals our bodies need to function at their best, they also keep our gut healthy and may even help maintain a healthy weight. But some plant foods may be more beneficial to your health than others, thanks to a group of compounds called flavanols. For example, a recent study I helped lead showed that people who eat a diet high in…
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Flavanols are linked to better memory and heart health, here’s what foods you can eat to reap these benefits
There are many good reasons to make sure you’re eating enough fruits and vegetables each day. Not only do fruits and vegetables contain many of the important vitamins and minerals our bodies need to function at their best, they also keep our gut healthy and may even help maintain a healthy weight. But some plant foods may be more beneficial to your health than others, thanks to a group of compounds called flavanols. For example, a recent study I helped lead showed that people who eat a diet high in…
Read MoreEating foods rich in flavanols may improve brain health, a new study suggests
If apples, pistachios, cocoa, and tea don’t appear often in your diet, consider incorporating them into your regular menu. Thanks to their flavanol content, this can mitigate age-related memory loss. That’s according to new research from Columbia University and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School. Here’s what to know about the study, plus the best foods for increasing your daily intake of flavanols. What are Flavanols? Flavanols belong to the flavonoid family, a large group of more than 6,000 protective plant compounds found in fruits, vegetables,…
Read MorePhysical fitness could potentially mitigate working memory impairments in individuals with depression
A new study published in NeuroImage: Clinic explored the relationship between exercise, brain functioning, and major depressive disorder. The results indicate that individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD) who exercise tend to have better brain functioning than those with MDD who do not exercise. Depression is a common mental health disorder affecting millions of people around the world. It is characterized by persistent sadness, hopelessness, and loss of interest in once pleasurable activities. Depression can have a significant impact on an individual’s quality of life, affecting their ability to work,…
Read MoreFitness Watch: How muscle memory helps you get back in shape after a break
Whether it’s riding a bike, playing the piano, or hitting a hole in one, there are just a few things you’ll never forget how to do. And the reason for this phenomenon is thanks to something called muscle memory. Muscle memory applies to a wide range of physical activities, from playing an instrument to playing sports. But while we need to repeatedly practice a movement to develop muscle memory, the term doesn’t really refer to the muscles’ ability to remember movements. Rather, this memory occurs in our central nervous system,…
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