Summary: HEALTH NEWS An apple cider vinegar drink a day? New study shows it might help weight loss Food Additive in Pizza, Pancakes Linked to Lower Sperm Counts Ramadan fasting may protect patients with heart problems, say researchers An investigation into the potential association between nutrition and Alzheimer’s disease Breakthrough Discovery Shows That Resonant Frequencies Can Kill Cancer Cells Study finds interactions with dogs can increase brainwaves associated with stress relief and heightened concentration An apple cider vinegar drink a day? New study shows it might help weight loss Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (Lebanon), March 13, 2024 An experimental study, released today, looks into whether apple cider vinegar could be effective for weight loss, reduce blood glucose levels and reduce blood lipids (cholesterol and triglycerides). A double-blinded, randomized, clinical trial in a group of overweight and obese young people aged from 12–25 years suggest it could reduce all three—but it might not be as simple as downing an apple cider vinegar drink a day. The participants were instructed to consume either 5, 10 or 15ml of apple cider vinegar diluted into 250ml of water each morning before they ate anything for 12 weeks. A control group consumed an inactive drink (a placebo) made (from lactic acid added to water) to look and taste the same. After a period of three months apple cider vinegar consumption was linked with significant falls in body weight and body mass index (BMI). On average, those who drank apple cider vinegar during that period lost 6–8kg in weight and reduced their BMI by 2.7–3 points, depending on the dose. They also showed significant decreases in the waist and hip circumference. The authors also report significant decreases in levels of blood glucose, triglycerides, and cholesterol in the apple cider groups. While the study appears promising, there are also reasons for caution. The study participants were aged from 12 to 25, so we can't say whether the results could apply to everyone. Food Additive in Pizza, Pancakes Linked to Lower Sperm Counts University of Kentucky, March 11, 2024 An ingredient commonly found in many baked goods and processed foods — including school lunches — may cause oxidative stress, DNA damage and decreased testosterone levels and sperm counts in male mammals. Sodium aluminum phosphate is an additive used in food products as an emulsifying agent, leavening acid and stabilizer. It is a white, odorless solid slightly soluble in water. The widespread use of sodium aluminum phosphate in everyday food products and commercially baked goods such as cakes, muffins and biscuits, and self-rising flours and baking powders. It is also used in processed cheeses to improve texture and melting properties. A peer-reviewed scientific literature on aluminum reproductive toxicity by Robert A. Yokel, Ph.D., published in Critical Reviews in Toxicology found aluminum exposure can lead to adverse reproductive outcomes in male and female mammals. Yokel’s analysis revealed that “male reproductive endpoints were significantly affected after exposure to lower levels of Al [aluminum] than females.” In both male and female mice and rats, increased aluminum intake resulted in higher concentrations of the metal in the fetus, placenta and testes. Ramadan fasting may protect patients with heart problems, say researchers University of Sharjah (United Arab Emirates) & University of Utah, March 13, 2024 Those observing Ramadan may have their cholesterol, other lipids, and inflammatory markers in their blood reduced. This is the conclusion of a group of scientists examining the model of Ramadan Intermittent Fasting (RIF) in overweight and obese people. "RIF is associated with improvements in plasma sphingosine, sphinganine sphingomyelin, and dihydrosphingomyelin lipid species," the scientists write in their study published in Scientific Reports. RIF is a special type of intermittent fa
