Neat News - Neat things do happen

Japanese fans may have started a trend when tidying up by collecting rubbish after the first football world cup game of their team in Dallas.

related: #tidy #rubbish #football #Japan

Within each of us live tens of trillions of microorganisms that perform important processes for us (digestion, immune system). When we sleep it helps when they are at ease. This can be supported by three measures: a fibre rich diet; a regular schedule; and regular exercises.

related: #sleep #diet #schedule #exercises

Grandparents are according to a child psychologist these days more important than in the past, since they have the time to help children by listening, encouraging, and creating positive experiences. This improves children's mental health by strengthening their emotional resilience.

related: #grandparents #mental_health

New research finds that age related cellular energy loss by mitochondrial dysfunction is related to decreasing levels of a membrane lipid called phosphatidylcholine. The good news is that these levels can be influenced by the diet or dietary supplements.

related: #ageing #mitochondria #energy #diet

A study with almost 4000 adults between 19 and 94 showed that the brain can be trained at any age, leading to measurable improvements in the health of the brain. This refutes the common assumption that mental capabilities necessarily decline with increasing age.

related: #training #brain #health

A new study confirms the health benefits of freshly brewed tea, in particular green tea. It protects, for instance, against heart disease, diabetes and cancer. However, bottled and bubble teas are typically not so good since they contain other substances such as sweeteners which reduce the benefits.

related: #tea #health

Physical activity is a good way to stay mentally sharp during chemotherapy, a new trial found. Low-dose ibuprofen can support the effect.

related: #chemotherapy #physical_activity #cognition

A new study analyzing data of almost 150,000 people found that 90 to 119 minutes strength training per week (about 15 minutes a day) is the ideal amount to achieve a 13 percent reduction in the likelihood of dying from any cause over a period of up to 30 years.

related: #strength_training #health #longer_life

New studies find that Chinese knotweed (Polygonum multiflorum, Pleuropterus multiflorus), a traditional Chinese medicinal root that has been used for more than a thousand years, can be used to treat hair loss. It seems to block harmful hormones, protect follicles, and boost blood flow.

related: #hair_loss #treatment #TCM

In times of increased food prices, there is the question whether old food can still be eaten. A nutritionist advises that we should never eat food with visible mould, slime, leaking liquid, or strong or sour smells, since there is a high risk of food poisoning. Also mouldy bread should be completely discarded, since mould spreads easily in porous foods. However, brown bananas, wrinkly apples, or oranges with dry skin (which don't show the signs above) are often still edible.

related: #food #edible

New studies find positive side effects of GLP-1 drugs used against diabetes and for weight loss. Patients taking the drugs have a lower risk of brain, kidney, heart, and liver diseases. Women taking the drugs have a 30 percent lower risk of developing breast cancer. More studies are planned.

related: #GLP1 #disease #cancer

A new small study found that vitamin D may successfully supplement chemotherapy to treat pancreatic cancer, which is still very hard to treat.

related: #vitamin_D #pancreatic_cancer

A small organ, called thymus, located between heart and sternum, plays a surprisingly important role in general health. Two new studies found that a healthy thymus is related to longer life, fewer serious diseases such as cancer or cardiovascular diseases. The insight means that more attention should be given to the thymus.

related: #thymus #health

A known anti-inflammatory drug, called tocilizumab, is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. Surprisingly, it seems to ease symptoms of depression that are hard to treat otherwise.

related: #depression #anti_inflammatory

A new type of plastic has been developed that can degrade within six days without producing microplastics, since once triggered two cooperating bacterial strains fully digest it in six days.

related: #degradable #plastic