How Mindfulness & Dance Can Boost Your Mental Health

The somatosensory cortex arcs almost like a headband across the top of the brain. Though once thought to only be involved in processing sensory data, it’s now known to play a role in various stages of emotion processing with changes to the cortex seen in people with mental health disorders like anxiety and depression. Activities that tap into sensory awareness – such as meditation, dance, and body scans – may help activate the somatosensory cortex, potentially improving mental health in the process. (More)

Prenatal PFAS Exposure May Raise Obesity Risk

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a notorious group of chemicals often present in non-stick and water-resistant products. They are already linked to a number of negative health effects, and some new research has now found that prenatal exposure to PFAS may increase the risk of obesity during late adolescence (16-20 years of age). Overall, higher levels of certain PFAS in the mother’s blood raised obesity risk for the child by 13% to 59%. (More)

Going Plant-Based Can Improve Heart Health, Weight Loss

Eating less meat and more plant foods has long been thought to benefit heart health, but it has been difficult to prove this conclusively due to numerous lifestyle and genetic factors that may have influenced the results. However, a new study conducted with identical twins was able to control for genetics and found that a vegan diet lowered cholesterol and fasting insulin and promoted weight loss much better than a healthy omnivore diet over a period of only 2 months.  (More)

Exercise Can Improve Pain, Fatigue in Breast Cancer Patients

Metastatic breast cancer – breast cancer that has spread to other areas of the body – usually involves symptoms and treatments that drastically decrease quality of life. A new study examined the effects of a regular exercise program (aerobic, resistance, and balance training) on metastatic breast cancer patients and found that it reduced pain, fatigue, and other symptoms. These results are encouraging, since some people with metastatic breast cancer worry that exercise may worsen their symptoms. (More)

7 Top Herbs & Supplements to Reduce Stress (+ 1 to AVOID)

While no one supplement will entirely get rid of your stress, some have proven to be helpful allies during stressful times. For example, ashwagandha can improve sleep and reduce feelings of stress, while both lemon balm and rhodiola may help lower anxiety. L-theanine – an amino acid found in green tea – also has a relaxing effect, and valerian can be used as a sleep aid and to combat anxiety. Getting enough magnesium is key to managing stress levels, but kava is a supplement that may be better avoided. (More)