Plant-based dietary patterns are typically higher in fiber, vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients than other dietary patterns. Consequently, they may confer health benefits that reduce the risk of cardiovascular and metabolic disorders. A recent study found that a vegan diet reduced body weight, LDL ("bad") cholesterol, and fasting insulin in healthy adults. To negate any genetic influences that diet might have on cardiometabolic fitness, researchers recruited 22 pairs of female twins to participate in the study. Within each twin pair, one twin followed a healthy vegan diet for eight weeks, ... diet metabolism insulin vegetarian cardiovascular
Read moreShort-term memory – such as remembering a list of items or numbers shortly after hearing them – is particularly vulnerable as we age. But a new study shows that multivitamin/multimineral supplementation bolsters short-term memory in older adults, especially those with cardiovascular disease. The study involved more than 3,500 older adults (average age, 71 years) enrolled in the COSMOS trial (https://cosmostrial.org). About half of the participants took a daily multivitamin/multimineral supplement for three years, and the other half took a placebo. All participants completed a battery of cogni... aging memory micronutrients cardiovascular supplements
Read moreThe average cold lasts approximately one week. Evidence suggests that zinc lozenges reduce the duration and severity of a cold, but controversy exists regarding the optimal form of zinc delivery. Findings from a 2017 meta-analysis suggest that the form of zinc lozenges is not important. Zinc lozenges commonly provide zinc as either zinc gluconate or zinc acetate. The lozenges often contain sweeteners (natural or artificial), vitamins (typically vitamin C), bioactive compounds such as citric acid, and/or other ingredients. Evidence suggests that citric acid binds zinc ions (https://www.ncbi.nl... zinc immune system virus supplements
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