Medical Watch Digest for Oct 7
Gut health & pregnancy
How good gut health can enhance pregnancy.
Emerging research has shown time and again, gut health is important for overall health, but now evidence of a special boost for pregnant women and their unborn children.
Good gut bacteria feeds the placenta creating a healthier pregnancy according to University of Cambridge researchers.
It regulates the production of hormones in the placenta critical for a healthy baby.
This is the first time scientists have found a link between the gut microbiome and the placenta.
Eating a high fiber diet filled with fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts and whole grains promotes good gut health.
Gen Z drinks less alcohol than previous generations
Alcohol is falling out of favor with younger generations.
Gen Z is driving a shift away from drinking alcohol compared to their parents and grandparents.
Researchers from Flinders University say if the trend holds, the population will get healthier.
Not only is weekly alcohol consumption declining, many in Gen Z are choosing to abstain from alcohol completely.
Researchers say this does not appear to be a passing trend since the rate of alcohol use has declined steadily from baby boomers through Gen X, Millennials and Gen Z.
People in Gen Z are 20 times more likely not to drink alcohol compared to baby boomers.
Study: Dogs may help slow aging
We know dogs have a calming effect, they can be trained to serve those with special needs, aid in directing those with low vision and even detect seizures.
Now scientists have found dogs can slow biological aging.
Florida Atlantic University researchers studied the impact of dogs on female veterans.
They discovered working with dogs changed women at a cellular level, decreasing biological indicators of stress.
The women were not assigned service dogs, instead they trained dogs for fellow veterans in need.
The mission driven activity reduced biological and psychological stress, lowered heart rate variability and increased telomere length, reducing the impact of cellular aging.
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