Latest news with #Nurses'HealthStudy
Daily Tribune
7 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Tribune
Eating Avocados Twice a Week Linked to Lower Risk of Heart Disease, New Study Finds
A recent study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association has found that eating at least two servings of avocado per week may significantly lower the risk of heart disease and stroke. Researchers believe this is the first large-scale, long-term study to show a strong connection between high avocado consumption and reduced risk of cardiovascular events such as coronary heart disease and stroke. Avocados are rich in dietary fiber and heart-healthy fats—especially monounsaturated fats—which are known to support cardiovascular health. Previous clinical trials have also shown that avocados can help reduce risk factors like high cholesterol. 'This is particularly noteworthy given how avocado consumption has increased sharply in the U.S. over the past 20 years,' said Dr. Lorena S. Pacheco, a nutrition expert at Harvard University. 'According to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, more people are making avocados a regular part of their diet.' The researchers followed over 68,000 women (ages 30–55) from the Nurses' Health Study and more than 41,000 men (ages 40–75) from the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study for over 30 years. All participants were free of cancer, coronary heart disease, and stroke at the start of the study. During the study, the team documented 9,185 cases of coronary heart disease and 5,290 strokes. Participants filled out food frequency questionnaires at the beginning of the study and every four years after that. Avocado intake was measured by asking how often and how much they consumed. One serving was defined as half an avocado or half a cup of avocado. The results showed that those who ate two or more servings per week had a significantly lower risk of heart-related illnesses compared to those who rarely or never ate avocados.
Economic Times
4 days ago
- Health
- Economic Times
New research challenges 50-50 myth: Biological sex of children may not always be random
Biological sex of children may not always be random A new study is turning our understanding of biological sex determination on its head. Long taught in biology class as a 50-50 genetic lottery between X and Y chromosomes, the sex of a child may not be entirely random. According to new findings published in Science Advances on July 18, individual families may have skewed odds toward consistently having either boys or girls — and age, genetics, and environmental factors may be involved. Led by epidemiologist Dr. Jorge Chavarro of Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, the study analyzed data from the historic Nurses' Health Study , one of the largest and longest-running fertility databases in the world. Examining more than 58,000 pregnancies between 1956 and 2015, researchers looked at patterns of sibling sex within families, maternal age, and genetic data. While the broader population showed the expected close-to-even split between male and female births, something surprising appeared at the family level: some couples appeared more likely to have children of the same sex — and not by random one in three families in the study had children all of the same sex — all boys or all girls — a figure notably higher than simple probability theory would predict, especially in families with three or more researchers developed a statistical model suggesting that each couple might have their own "unique probability" of producing a child of one sex or the other. While this individual bias remains balanced out when looking at large populations, it could significantly affect outcomes within families. 'It's not that boys or girls are more common overall, but that the odds may not actually be 50-50 for everyone,' said Dr. Chavarro. The effect appeared even stronger in women who had their first child later in life. This suggests possible biological shifts over time, potentially influencing which type of sperm — X-carrying (girl) or Y-carrying (boy) — is more likely to fertilize the women age, for example, vaginal pH and cervical mucus composition change, potentially favoring sperm carrying specific chromosomes. X sperm tend to be larger and more resilient, possibly giving them a better chance at success in slightly more acidic environments, which can develop later in life. The study also uncovered two genetic loci that may be linked to the likelihood of having children of the same sex. However, these genes do not appear to be directly involved in known reproductive pathways — their role is mysterious and not yet fully understood. 'These are just initial hints,' Chavarro explained. 'They point to a potential genetic influence on sex bias, but don't yet explain the mechanism.' This finding opens new doors for genetic and evolutionary biologists to explore how heritable factors may interact with environmental and physiological variables to influence offspring findings, while intriguing, are not without controversy. Australian psychologist and behavioral geneticist Dr. Brendan Zietsch remains previously worked on a large Swedish study analyzing millions of birth records, which found no evidence of consistent sex patterns within families. He believes that the U.S.-based cohort (95% white, mostly nurses and health professionals) may not be representative enough to make broader study could reshape how we understand fundamental reproductive biology. For couples puzzled by having multiple same-sex children — and others praying for variety — the research may provide both insight and assurance. While conception still carries an element of chance, it may not be as random as previously also raises huge questions for future research: Could IVF or fertility treatments one day account for these biological skews? Could genetics or maternal physiology be guided to increase the chances of balancing the family tree?
Time of India
4 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
New research challenges 50-50 myth: Biological sex of children may not always be random
A new study challenges the understanding of sex determination. It suggests families might have a bias toward having children of the same sex. The research, led by Dr. Jorge Chavarro, analyzed data from the Nurses' Health Study. Some couples were more likely to have all boys or all girls. Maternal age and genetics may play a role. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Same-sex siblings: More than mere coincidence? Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Does parental age factor in? Genetics: A new frontier? Contrasting views from the scientific community Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads A new study is turning our understanding of biological sex determination on its head. Long taught in biology class as a 50-50 genetic lottery between X and Y chromosomes , the sex of a child may not be entirely random. According to new findings published in Science Advances on July 18, individual families may have skewed odds toward consistently having either boys or girls — and age, genetics, and environmental factors may be by epidemiologist Dr. Jorge Chavarro of Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health , the study analyzed data from the historic Nurses' Health Study , one of the largest and longest-running fertility databases in the world. Examining more than 58,000 pregnancies between 1956 and 2015, researchers looked at patterns of sibling sex within families, maternal age, and genetic the broader population showed the expected close-to-even split between male and female births, something surprising appeared at the family level: some couples appeared more likely to have children of the same sex — and not by random one in three families in the study had children all of the same sex — all boys or all girls — a figure notably higher than simple probability theory would predict, especially in families with three or more researchers developed a statistical model suggesting that each couple might have their own "unique probability" of producing a child of one sex or the other. While this individual bias remains balanced out when looking at large populations, it could significantly affect outcomes within families.'It's not that boys or girls are more common overall, but that the odds may not actually be 50-50 for everyone,' said Dr. effect appeared even stronger in women who had their first child later in life. This suggests possible biological shifts over time, potentially influencing which type of sperm — X-carrying (girl) or Y-carrying (boy) — is more likely to fertilize the women age, for example, vaginal pH and cervical mucus composition change, potentially favoring sperm carrying specific chromosomes. X sperm tend to be larger and more resilient, possibly giving them a better chance at success in slightly more acidic environments, which can develop later in study also uncovered two genetic loci that may be linked to the likelihood of having children of the same sex. However, these genes do not appear to be directly involved in known reproductive pathways — their role is mysterious and not yet fully understood.'These are just initial hints,' Chavarro explained. 'They point to a potential genetic influence on sex bias, but don't yet explain the mechanism.'This finding opens new doors for genetic and evolutionary biologists to explore how heritable factors may interact with environmental and physiological variables to influence offspring findings, while intriguing, are not without controversy. Australian psychologist and behavioral geneticist Dr. Brendan Zietsch remains previously worked on a large Swedish study analyzing millions of birth records, which found no evidence of consistent sex patterns within families. He believes that the U.S.-based cohort (95% white, mostly nurses and health professionals) may not be representative enough to make broader study could reshape how we understand fundamental reproductive biology. For couples puzzled by having multiple same-sex children — and others praying for variety — the research may provide both insight and assurance. While conception still carries an element of chance, it may not be as random as previously also raises huge questions for future research: Could IVF or fertility treatments one day account for these biological skews? Could genetics or maternal physiology be guided to increase the chances of balancing the family tree?
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Skipping This Habit After Dinner Could Raise Your Heart Disease Risk, According to a Cardiologist
Skipping This Habit After Dinner Could Raise Your Heart Disease Risk, According to a Cardiologist originally appeared on Parade. It's our daily habits and rituals that shape our health more than anything else. Your go-to breakfast, the coping mechanisms you use whenever you're stressed, whether you bike, walk or use your car to travel, how much sleep you get…It all matters. When it comes to heart health, diet and lifestyle habits especially play a big role. An estimated 80% of heart disease is preventable by having healthy diet and lifestyle habits in place. And there's one after-dinner habit that is so impactful that not doing it can increase your risk of cardiovascular disease. 🩺SIGN UP for tips to stay healthy & fit with the top moves, clean eats, health trends & more delivered right to your inbox twice a week💊 One habit that can play a crucial role in heart disease prevention is going for an after-dinner Yasmine S. Ali, MD,a preventive cardiologist, bestselling author, host of the Positive Vibes: On the Sunny Side podcast and an assistant clinical professor of Medicine at Vanderbilt University, says something as simple as a daily walk truly can make a difference, in terms of preventing heart disease. 'I always take a walk after dinner with my dogs because the cardiovascular benefits are so strong,' she says. In fact, Dr. Ali says she takes a walk or does some sort of physical activity after every meal. 'It doesn't have to be a long walk. Just five to 10 minutes can help,' she explains. Related: Dr. Ali reveals that walking after eating helps with blood sugar control, explaining, 'Research shows that even a five-minute walk after eating a meal has a measurable effect on moderating blood sugar levels, with the beneficial effect observed during a 60- to 90-minute window following the meal." What does this mean for your heart? Scientific research shows that keeping blood sugar levels stable prevents damage to blood vessels, reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke. Walking—no matter what time of day it's done—is greatly beneficial for heart health. 'The evidence for walking's cardiovascular benefits is robust and consistent across multiple large-scale studies,' Dr. Ali says. She cites a landmark study called the Nurses' Health Study that showed that walking at a moderate pace for a collective three hours a week reduced the risk of heart disease by between 30% and 40%. Additionally, Dr. Ali highlights a 2024 study that found that daily steps between 4,000 and 10,000 per day can lower the risk of heart disease, even for people who are sedentary most of the time, with researchers reporting that these number of steps lowered mortality risk by 39% and cardiovascular risk by 21%.Yet another study, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicinefound that getting between 9,000 and 10,500 steps daily reduced mortality risk by 39% and the risk of adverse cardiovascular events by 21%.Related: The benefits of walking regularly are clear. But just how much can you transform your health by adding this one ritual to your day? 'The transition from sedentary to walking 30 minutes daily represents one of the most impactful lifestyle changes possible for cardiovascular health,' Dr. Ali says. She points to scientific research showing that an increase of 1,000 steps a day is associated with a 15% reduction in the risk of dying from any cause and an increase of 500 steps a day is associated with a 7% reduction in dying from cardiovascular disease. Related: She adds that studies on walking and health found that those who walked enough to meet physical activity guidelines had a 30% lower risk of cardiovascular events (like a heart attack or stroke) compared with those who did not walk regularly. 'Making it a habit of going on a walk after dinner can improve blood pressure,' Dr. Ali says, adding that it can also help lower cholesterol and help with joint and muscular pain or stiffness. 'All in all, walking is a terrific and easy form of physical activity, and can be done anywhere, with minimal injury risk as compared with other forms of exercise,' she explains. Don't underestimate the power of this simple habit. Up Next: Dr. Yasmine S. Ali, MD, preventive cardiologist, bestselling author, host of the Positive Vibes: On the Sunny Side podcast and an assistant clinical professor of Medicine at Vanderbilt University Prevention. World Health Federation. The Acute Effects of Interrupting Prolonged Sitting Time in Adults with Standing and Light-Intensity Walking on Biomarkers of Cardiometabolic Health in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Sports Medicine. 2022 Blood sugar regulation as a key focus for cardiovascular health promotion and prevention: an umbrella of the American College of Cardiology. 2019 A Prospective Study of Walking as Compared with Vigorous Exercise in the Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease in Women. The New England Journal of Medicine. 1999 Do the associations of daily steps with mortality and incident cardiovascular disease differ by sedentary time levels? A device-based cohort study. British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2024 Systematic review of the prospective association of daily step counts with risk of mortality, cardiovascular disease, and dysglycemia. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. 2020 Skipping This Habit After Dinner Could Raise Your Heart Disease Risk, According to a Cardiologist first appeared on Parade on Jul 11, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 11, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
A New Study Suggests This 1 Type Of Carb Could Actually Help Your Longevity
Carbohydrates have long been seen as the villain — the macronutrient worth fearing and restricting — while another reigns supreme as the 'healthier' option in the given cultural moment. Today, that'd be protein. This perspective and the resulting constraints don't come without problems. 'If we are just focusing on one specific [nutrient] without looking at the bigger picture, then we will end up having some blind spots,' said Abby Chan, an anti-diet registered dietitian. 'If we're only focusing on protein, unless it's plant-based, we're going to be limiting the overall diet quality and variety that we're taking in.' It's time to reframe. Carbohydrates are essential to your body's proper functioning, as they're broken down into glucose, the primary energy source for your cells, tissues, brain, muscles and other organs. And new research shows that certain types of carbs may be linked with healthy aging. The investigation, published in JAMA Network Open, looked at the midlife diets of more than 47,500 women in the 1980s, as well as their health outcomes roughly 30 years later, using data from Nurses' Health Study questionnaires. Of the studied population, 7.8% met the definition of 'healthy aging.' These women lived to age 70 and were free from 11 major chronic diseases, had no memory or physical function impairments, and had good mental health. Carbohydrates were one of the most influential factors. Consuming more total carbohydrates and more 'high-quality' carbs (from foods like whole grains, fruits, vegetables and legumes) during midlife was positively linked with healthy aging. On the flip side, consuming more 'refined' carbs (from added sugars, refined grains like white flour, etc.) was linked with lower odds of healthy aging. 'We've all heard that different carbohydrates can affect health differently, whether for weight, energy or blood sugar levels,' Andres Ardisson Korat, the lead author of the study, said in a press release. 'But rather than just look at the immediate effects of these macronutrients, we wanted to understand what they might mean for good health 30 years later. Our findings suggest that carbohydrate quality may be an important factor in healthy aging.' It sounds ground-breaking, but according to Chan, the research simply adds to a growing list of studies showing that dietary fiber — a type of carbohydrate — is king. 'When we look overall at any sort of nutrition research, or if we're comparing specific diets or things like that, the thing that typically always rings true is the fiber content of it,' Chan explained. 'From an overall metabolic standpoint, from a cardiovascular standpoint, from just an overall health metric standpoint, fiber is going to be the one thing that's going to be health-promoting in every single area.' Fiber helps keep your bowel movements regular and feeds the beneficial bacteria (read: probiotics) that make up your gut microbiome, among other perks, said registered dietician Cary Kreutzer, an instructional professor of clinical gerontology and pediatrics at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology. It's also linked with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and colon cancer and some improvements in cognitive function. 'If we don't have fiber, then we're going to be lacking and missing out on some of those really huge benefits,' Chan said. Getting your fill of carbs from fiber-rich whole grains, fruits and vegetables, beans and legumes, and nuts and seeds means you'll also score essential vitamins and minerals (think: iron, B vitamins) that are health-promoting, she noted. Though the study was produced by researchers affiliated with renowned institutions like Tufts University and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, there are some limitations to keep in mind. The study population was only female nurses, who were predominantly white and well-educated, so the findings may not be generalized to a more diverse population. The data also show connections — not clear cause and effect. 'I think one of the issues with it is that when we're looking at big cohorts of data like that, we can't put people in a vacuum; we can't put them in a room for 20 years,' Chan said. 'So I would say it's more of an associative effect.' It's important to consider how access might play a role in the results, too. 'Is it, basically, the economic and financial and time privilege of those individuals that's also creating some more of these positive health outcomes that we're seeing, or is it just the whole grains? Obviously, in a longitudinal cohort study, we can't really specifically study that,' Chan said. Considering the well-studied benefits of fiber, however, it's worth prioritizing in your diet. Fewer than 10% of Americans get the recommended amount of fiber each day (14 grams per 1,000 calories). To Chan, one of the simplest ways to amp up your intake is to flip your mindset. Ask yourself, 'What can I add to my plate that's beneficial?' rather than, 'What can I cut out that's 'bad'?' 'When we look at our relationship with food, the more that we focus on what we shouldn't be doing, the more we end up only thinking about that, and it becomes hyper-restrictive, and then we end up feeling guilty about the decisions that we make,' Chan said. Seek out ways to incorporate another fruit into your breakfast, veggie into your midday snack or whole grain (e.g., barley, farro, brown rice, quinoa) into your dinner. Practice 'eating the rainbow,' incorporating a mix of colorful plant-based foods into your meals to nab carbs, fiber and a variety of micronutrients, and look at food labels so you have a better idea of how much fiber you're getting each day, Kreutzer suggested. Of course, chronic health conditions are multifactorial, and prioritizing fiber-rich foods is just one element of prevention. If you're able, regularly meet with your health care provider to check your blood pressure, cholesterol and other metrics, she recommends. Changing your eating habits can feel overwhelming and, to some middle-aged folks, too late to make a difference. But making small tweaks now could have a big impact on your health down the line. 'I think many people think, 'What's going to happen to me is going to happen to me, and I don't have control,'' Kreutzer said. 'I think people need to know that they can make those changes now, and it potentially can add years to their life.' 10 Everyday Habits That Are Harming Your Longevity The Most The Best Foods To Eat For A Long Life, According To Longevity Experts Experts On Aging Reveal The 5 Major Habits That Will Improve Your Longevity
