In the first 24 hours after a python devours its massive prey, its heart grows 25%, its cardiac tissue softens dramatically, and the organ squeezes harder and harder to more than double its pulse. Meanwhile, a vast collection of specialized genes kicks into action to help boost the snake's metabolism fortyfold. Two weeks later, after…

Pennington Biomedical Research Center's Dr. Candida Rebello wants to know more about the intersection of blood sugar levels and a diet rich in soy. This intersection is the primary focus of her new study, "Lifestyle Intervention for Improving Metabolic and Motivational Outcomes," or MOTIVATE, which explores how specific diets can impact blood sugar, and potentially…

Corporate Cup, lunchtime yoga, or even 'walk and talks', organizations come up with all sorts of wellness initiatives to encourage people to be more active in the workplace. But before you duck and hide, new research shows that all it takes is 15 minutes and a touch of gamification to put you on the path…

In a recent study published in Nature, researchers examine the role of fasting and ketogenesis in regulating protein synthesis and its potential implications for cancer therapy. Study:  Remodelling of the translatome controls diet and its impact on tumorigenesis. Image Credit: Vink Fan / Shuttersotck.com Health benefits of fasting Fasting has…

As the world’s population ages rapidly, the risk of chronic diseases is rising. A recent in Scientific Reports discusses how self-care, adherence to medication plans, and other health practices affect treatment outcomes among elderly patients with diabetes. Study:  Self-care behaviors, medication adherence status, and associated factors among elderly individuals with type 2 diabetes…

Twenty minutes of mindful breathing, which focuses a person's attention on their breath, can rapidly reduce the intensity and unpleasantness of cancer pain and relieve the associated anxiety, suggest the findings of a small comparative study, published online in the journal BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care. Mindful breathing complements traditional pain relief and broadens the repertoire…

Mindfulness-based interventions delivered via telehealth in a scalable format can improve pain and overall well-being among veterans with chronic pain, according to new research published today in JAMA Internal Medicine.  In a randomized clinical trial, researchers aimed to test the effectiveness of two eight-week telehealth mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) designed to be scalable and widely implemented…

Can reduced oxygen in the air lead to weight loss? That is what Pennington Biomedical researcher Dr. Claire Berryman is exploring in the "Low Oxygen and Weight Status," or LOWS, study, which is currently recruiting participants. The study is open to adults between the ages of 22 and 65, and it lasts up to four…

Females' and males' muscles differ in glucose and fatty acid handling – but regular physical activity quickly triggers similar beneficial metabolic changes in the muscles of both sexes, new research to be presented at this year's Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) (Madrid, September 9-13, 2024) has found. Exercise…

Review: Bulimia nervosa and treatment-related disparities . Image Credit: Studio 34 / Shutterstock In a recent review article published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology, researchers Kim Wilson and Robert Kagabo at the College of Health Sciences, Utah Tech University, discussed the disparities in bulimia nervosa (BN) treatment, highlighting significant exclusions in clinical research. Their conclusions…