Healthy aging and longevity Archive

Research has found that people who eat nuts regularly are less likely to have heart disease. While all varieties of nuts are full of important nutrients, a two-year randomized trial shows a daily dose of walnuts lowered levels of harmful blood lipids that affect cardiovascular health –– and without adding extra pounds.

In science, true breakthroughs are rare. Some are the result of fortunate accidents, while others come from scientists with the will to pursue a dream despite challenges and obstacles. And when such breakthroughs do happen –– think of penicillin or COVID vaccines –– the whole world benefits from them.

Eye-catching media headlines are intended to snag our attention and can influence whether we decide to read, click on, or tune into a story. When it comes health and medicine, though, it's best to be careful: headlines may be written in a way that is misleading, confusing, or deceptive, so understanding the thinking behind them and focusing on the facts is important.

Vitamin C is an antioxidant, meaning it fights harmful toxins that come in contact with your skin either externally or from inside the body. Products containing vitamin C that are applied to the skin may help slow early skin aging, prevent sun damage, and improve the appearance of wrinkles, spots, and acne.

While the FDA has authorized the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11, and the CDC recommends it, parents are still likely to have questions about the vaccine and how COVID-19 affects younger children.

As the holiday season approaches again, the desire to gather is tempered by lingering concerns about COVID-19. Rapid COVID-19 tests could provide some reassurance if testing is done as guests arrive at a host's home, though it's important to be aware of the limitations of this approach, including cost, availability, reliability, and how results are obtained.

Body mass index (BMI) is determined by a combination of one's weight and height. A BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 represents a healthy weight, 25 to 29.9 is overweight, and 30 or greater is obese. BMI is a better measure of health than just weight, but it still has its flaws. It doesn't assess body fat as well in older folks as it does in younger adults. And it doesn't distinguish between fat that's in the belly from fat in other places, like the hips. For this reason, measurements comparing waist to hip size are also used.