Processed food linked with inflammation — and more health headlines

Medical Watch Digest for Sept 9

Processed food linked with inflammation

Diet and inflammation.  Consuming ultra processed foods triggers inflammation in the body that can lead to heart attack and other negative health consequences.

Florida Atlantic researchers link foods like soda, snacks, processed meats and other foods packed with additives and stripped of nutrients with systemic inflammation.

Sixty percent of an average adult diet is made up of ultra processed foods and almost 70-percent of children’s diets are packed with the altered products and not fresh foods like fruits and vegetables.

High consumption of ultra processed foods is also linked to obesity, cancer and mental health issues.   

Iron levels in brain can predict decline

A strong indicator of impending cognitive decline, iron in the brain.

 A special MRI technique can detect iron levels in the brain.

Researchers writing in the journal radiology, say it can predict the onset of cognitive impairment even before symptoms arise.

While Alzheimer’s and dementia are characterized by a buildup of proteins, doctors have long believed there were other culprits.

 Looking at scans they targeted iron overload in the brain that drives neurodegeneration.

The iron causes oxidative stress and that worsens protein buildup and promotes healthy cell death.

A special MRI called quantitative susceptibility mapping can highlight brain iron, potentially alerting doctors and patients to cognitive decline.

Prescribing exercise for depression

Prescribing exercise for depression, doctors say it should be the first treatment. University of Ottawa psychiatrists say mental health experts should tailor an exercise plan for patients immediately to address symptoms of depression.

 They urge treating doctors to stop relying on medication and talk therapy alone to enhance mental health.

Instead exercise should be part of every treatment plan for patients with depression.

Research has shown clearly, physical activity improves mood and relieves depressive symptoms. And study authors go so far as to say ignoring exercise’s role in mental health care is negligent.