Silvie+Maryl – Holistic Living, Plant-Based Diet, Recipes, Love & Relationship, Healthy LifestyleTips

Mind: No time to reap the mental benefits of a workout? No problem. According to a study in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, just five minutes of exercise in a park, working in a backyard garden, on a nature trail, or other green space will benefit mental health. So called “green exercise”, physical activity in the presence of nature, has been proven to decrease the risk of mental illness and improve a sense of well-being. But until now, nobody knew how much time people needed to spend in green spaces to get those and other benefits. The study analyzed activities such as walking, gardening, cycling, fishing, boating, horse-riding and farming. All natural environments were beneficial, including parks in urban settings. Green areas with water added something extra, and the researchers noted that a blue and green environment seems to be even better for health.

Heart: Not all rice is created equal – and now some can help your heart. According to a study conducted at Temple University School of Medicine, brown rice might have an advantage over white rice by offering, among other benefits, protection from high blood pressure and atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). This new research suggests that a component in a layer of tissue surrounding grains of brown rice may work against angiotensin II, an endocrine protein that is a known culprit in the development of both of these conditions. The subaleurone layer of rice, located between the white center of the grain and the brown fibrous outer layer, is rich in oligosaccharides and dietary fibers, making it particularly nutritious. The researchers conducted tests with this part of the grain and vascular smooth muscle cells, and discovered that components in the subaleurone layer inhibited angiotensin II activity. Because half-milled rice still contains this layer, it is expected to also have this benefit.

Immunity: There may be a connection between caloric intake and immunity. According to a study published in Journal of Gerontology, Biological Sciences, volunteers who followed a low-calorie diet or a very low-calorie diet not only lost weight, but also significantly enhanced their immune response. The study may be the first to demonstrate the interaction between calorie restriction and immune markers among humans. The calorie restriction for test subjects ranged from 10-30% and the experiment was conducted for six months. The results showed for the first time that short-term calorie restriction improved the function of T-cells, as these white blood cells proliferated significantly with both calorie-restrained diet groups. There was no word on the specifics of the diet or nutrient content.

Nutrition: Consuming more olive oil could help prevent ulcerative colitis, according to a new study presented at the Digestive Disease Week conference in New Orleans last Saturday. The findings show that people with a diet rich in oleic acid, present in olive oil, are far less likely to develop the condition, one characterized by inflammation of the lining of the colon. Oleic acid is a monounsaturated fatty acid found in olive, peanut and grapeseed oils, as well as butter and certain margarines. The fatty acid seems to help by blocking chemicals in the bowel that aggravate the inflammation found in this illness. Dr. Andrew Hart, lead author of the study, said that two to three tablespoons of olive oil per day would have a protective effect. Note: Some research suggests that olive oil is best consumed uncooked, to prevent possible hydrogenation and reap the most health benefits.

Brain: Regular exercise speeds learning and improves blood flow to the brain, says a new study published in the journal Neuroscience. Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine found that monkeys (more comparable to human physiology than other animals) who exercised regularly at an intensity that would improve fitness in middle-aged people learned to do tests of cognitive function faster and had greater blood flow to the brain’s motor cortex than their sedentary counterparts.   The scientists who conducted the experiment said that this suggested that people, with very close genetic and structural composition to monkeys, would reap similar benefits. “These findings indicate that aerobic exercise at the recommended levels can have meaningful, beneficial effects on the brain,” said Dr. Judy L. Cameron, senior author of the study. “It supports the notion that working out is good for people in many, many ways.”

Infants: According to a study, extremely low birthweight babies who received feedings supplemented with probiotics had better weight gain than infants who were not given the supplements. The research, presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies annual meeting in Canada last Saturday, found that these healthy, live organism supplements whose positive effects on the digestive health and immune function of adults has been documented were also beneficial for premature infants. Results showed superior weight gain in children who received the probiotics even though the average daily volume of their feedings was less than infants in the control group, suggesting that the “good bacteria” helped to improve nutrient absorption. In addition, no side effects were seen as a result of probiotic supplementation.