Health News & Info

Breastfeeding, even partially alongside formula feeding, changes the chemical makeup -- or metabolome -- of an infant's gut in ways that positively influence brain development and may boost test scores years later, suggests new research. "For those who struggle with exclusively breastfeeding, this study suggests your baby can still get significant benefits if you breastfeed as much as you can," according to senior author Tanya Alderete, an assistant professor of integrative physiology at Colorado University Boulder. A health report card for the gutFor the study, the research team examined what is known as the "faecal metabolome" -- the diverse collection...

Understanding Haemochromatosis: The Iron Overload Challenge Did you know there's a condition often called the 'Celtic Curse'? It's Haemochromatosis, a sneaky inherited disorder where iron levels in your body keep rising, often unnoticed for years. This iron build-up, or iron overload, isn't just a minor hiccup; it can lead to some uncomfortable symptoms and, if left untreated, can damage vital parts of your body like the liver, joints, pancreas, and heart. Who's at Risk?Haemochromatosis is most common in people with white northern European roots. It's especially prevalent among those with Celtic ancestry in countries like Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. In...

Why do some people get headaches from drinking red wine? A red wine may pair nicely with the upcoming Christmas meal. But for some people, drinking red wine even in small amounts causes a headache. Typically, a "red wine headache" can occur within 30 minutes to three hours after drinking as little as a small glass of wine. What in wine causes headaches?In a new study, scientists at the University of California, Davis, examined why this happens -- even to people who don't get headaches when drinking small amounts of other alcoholic beverages. Researchers think that a flavanol found naturally...

Two probiotics identified as promising high blood pressure, or hypertension, treatments. An estimated 40% of the global adult population have high blood pressure, or hypertension, which puts people at risk of cardiovascular disease and other dangerous health conditions. Recent studies suggest that probiotics may offer a protective effect, but researchers have a limited understanding of why shaping the gut microbiota can regulate blood pressure. A study published recently in mSystems specifies two strains of probiotics to the list of potential antihypertensive probiotics. In experiments on hypertensive mice, treatment with these two probiotics, Bifidobacterium lactis and Lactobacillus rhamnosus, returned blood pressure to normal levels. These probiotics are...