Welcome to your weekly roundup of health news you might have missed. This week, people are buzzing about a possible California ban on dyes found in Froot Loops and other foods. New guidelines for mammograms — which state that women should be screened for breast cancer every two years starting at age 40 — were released, and Halle Berry went to Washington, D.C., to announce a U.S. bill. $275 million that would fund menopause research. And if you’re wondering how safe your milk and beef are amid the spread of bird flu in the U.S., here’s what the latest tests found.
In other news, new research reveals that members of Gen Z spend more time in the shower. Newly released research also shows that young adults are likely to fall for misinformation about sunscreens circulating on social media. And with Mental Health Awareness Month underway, a new study is shedding light on which adults are most likely to experience loneliness.
What else did we learn about our health this week? Read on to see what the latest studies have to say about exercise, the impact of anger, and more.
Want to work out more? Grab a friend.
A new study from the University of California, Berkeley, found that people who went to the gym with a friend were 35% more likely to fit their workout into their routine. The researchers believe this may be because they felt more responsible for exercising when a friend was involved. Those who went to the gym with a friend also enjoyed the visits more than those who went alone. (Experts also told us this week that having a workout buddy is great for your mental health.)
Are Moms Missing Out on Exercise?
A new study from Denmark suggests that mothers are 24% more likely to not getting enough exercise when compared with women of the same age who did not give birth. According to the study, women who gave birth were more likely to participate in light physical activities, such as walking or cycling, with only a small percentage engaging in more strenuous physical activities. Researchers suggest this may be due to the physical changes the body goes through after giving birth, which can affect the ability to perform higher intensity exercise. They also cited a lack of knowledge about what activities might be physically appropriate after birth.
What a Brief Anger Does to Your Body
A recent study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that a brief episode of anger triggered by remembering past experiences can negatively impact blood vessel function, which can potentially increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. Although anger impaired blood vessel dilation for up to 40 minutes after the episode, anxiety and sadness did not have the same effect.
A reason to do more aerobic exercise
A new study from the University of South Australia found that increasing your level of cardiovascular fitness can reduce your risk of heart disease and death. Researchers recommend adding “huff and puff” exercises like cycling, running or swimming to achieve this.
Combining time-restricted eating and high-intensity exercise can make the biggest impact
A new study from the University of Sfax in Tunisia suggests that combining time-restricted eating (limiting eating to specific times) with high-intensity functional training that includes intense aerobic and resistance exercise may be more effective for weight loss and improved health. cardiac than doing any of them alone. The small study looked at 64 women with obesity and divided them into three groups: one that only did time-restricted eating, one that focused only on exercise, and one that combined diet and exercise. After 12 weeks, all groups showed weight loss and improvements in cholesterol and blood sugar levels, but the diet and exercise group saw the most significant changes in body composition and markers of heart health.
