News

Recent findings have drawn a direct connection between the use of plastic bottles for drinking and increased health risks, including high blood pressure and heart problems. As plastic use remains widespread in Thailand and across the globe, these revelations are particularly significant, urging a re-evaluation of everyday habits that pose hidden dangers to our health.

The study in focus, conducted by researchers from Danube Private University in Austria and published in the journal Microplastics, reveals that microplastics—tiny particles less than 5 mm in size—might be influencing human blood pressure, a condition closely linked to cardiovascular issues. Microplastics come from the breakdown of larger plastics and are found in abundance in our daily environment, including in the food we eat, air we breathe, and the water we drink.

A growing body of research suggests that placing breakfast as the day’s largest meal can align with the body’s natural rhythms, potentially boosting digestion and daytime energy. Nutrition experts note that morning metabolism and insulin sensitivity are higher, making a substantial, balanced breakfast strategically beneficial.

In Thailand, breakfast habits range from hearty staples like khao tom to lighter starts, reflecting cultural emphasis on wholesome, protein- and fiber-rich options to power busy mornings. In Bangkok and other urban centers, there is a rising demand for quick yet nourishing morning meals that fit fast-paced lifestyles.

Recent research has unveiled promising insights into the role of dietary habits in midlife as a determinant of chronic disease prevention in later years. Conducted by prestigious institutions including the T.H. Chan School of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, and University of Montreal, the study tracked 105,000 individuals aged between 39 and 69 over a span of up to 30 years. Findings suggest that a diet rich in plant-based foods, complemented by a moderate intake of meat, significantly reduces the risk of chronic illnesses.

A renowned ultra-endurance rower, Angus Collins, is turning his remarkable athletic journey into a campaign for men’s mental health. Collins, famous for setting five world records and becoming the youngest to row across the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans, is using his platform to encourage men and boys to speak openly about their insecurities and mental health challenges. Five years after surviving a suicide attempt, he aims to turn personal resilience into a powerful message of vulnerability and support.

In recent discussions within the health and nutrition community, the carnivore diet has gained controversial attention. This all-meat, dairy, and egg regimen—entirely void of plant foods—has been scrutinized by Dr. Shireen Kassam, a notable figure in plant-based nutrition advocacy. Her analysis, published by the Plant-Based Health Professionals (PBHP), highlights substantial health risks associated with the carnivore diet, a meal plan that diverges significantly from balanced dietary recommendations commonly supported by the medical community.

As Thailand welcomes spring with blooming cherry blossoms and vibrant floral displays, new research highlights how flowers can support health beyond beauty. Studies show that simply viewing flowers can reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and decrease cortisol levels, the hormone linked to stress. Even looking at a flower image can ease negative emotions and promote calm.

Incorporating flowers into daily life—whether tending a garden, arranging fresh bouquets, or simply enjoying a stroll through a park—promotes mindfulness. This habit can sharpen focus and build emotional resilience. Neuroaesthetics expert Professor Anjan Chatterjee notes that flowers provide brief yet meaningful moments of visual delight, inviting people to pause and appreciate the simple, natural beauty around them.

A new global study by AXA in collaboration with IPSOS finds that mental health challenges are rising among workers across 16 countries, including Thailand. The report shows stress, anxiety, and burnout have become common in modern workplaces, affecting both individual well-being and organizational performance.

Across the surveyed nations, about one in three workers report experiencing at least one mental health condition. Depression and anxiety are the most frequently cited issues, influenced by financial instability, job insecurity, and constant negative news. Additional pressures such as climate concerns and digital threats contribute to a broader sense of vulnerability. The term “eco-anxiety” has been used by executives to describe this growing stress layer.

As we navigate a world increasingly focused on wellness, many find themselves seeking manageable yet effective ways to enhance their health without overhauling their routines. Among recent wellness trends, several health habits stand out as both practical and beneficial, particularly in the context of rising food costs and a growing awareness of holistic health. This piece explores actionable health strategies that can seamlessly integrate into our daily lives, drawn from a comprehensive article by Kaitlin Reilly on Yahoo Lifestyle, designed to help you enjoy an invigorating and healthful week.

A promising new study conducted by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis reveals a groundbreaking technique that significantly improves memory in aging mice. By enhancing the brain’s waste removal system, specifically through stimulating the meningeal lymphatics, researchers have made strides that could eventually inform treatments for age-related cognitive decline and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.

As detailed in Cell source, the study shows that by boosting this natural brain-cleansing process, memory in older mice improved remarkably. The meningeal lymphatics form a physical system around the brain responsible for channeling waste products away and into the body’s lymph nodes. It traditionally helps regulate brain waste but slows down with age, leading to potential cognitive impairments.

In a recent episode of “The White Lotus,” the benzodiazepine lorazepam played a significant part in the storyline, sparking conversations about its use and potential dangers. This moment provides an opportunity to delve deeper into the effects and implications of this powerful medication, especially for Thai audiences where mental health awareness is increasingly important. The medication, often prescribed for anxiety disorders, was shown being used by characters experiencing heightened stress, underscoring both its therapeutic value and its potential for misuse.

In a fascinating study from Spain, researchers have found a connection between very low-calorie ketogenic diets and the reversal of biological aging, specifically through addressing obesity-related aging at the molecular level. As detailed in recent findings published in the open-access journal Nutrients, the study suggests that individuals with obesity might “turn back the clock” on their biological age by more than six years after adhering to this diet plan for 180 days.

In a groundbreaking study published in Neuroscience of Consciousness, researchers have unveiled a fascinating psychological dynamic affecting decision-making confidence when individuals believe they’re collaborating with machines. This revelation highlights that the mere perception of working alongside artificial intelligence can undermine human confidence, even when human judgment is accurate. Such insights compel us to reconsider how human-machine interactions might be designed, especially as automation increasingly infiltrates our daily lives and workplaces.

Magnesium matters for health, and its benefits are drawing increasing attention in Thailand. Markets and research alike highlight its role in everyday wellbeing, making it a timely topic for Thai audiences seeking practical health guidance.

Magnesium powers more than 300 bodily processes. It supports the heart and blood vessels, nerves, and muscles, helping with energy, stress management, sleep, and the prevention of chronic diseases such as high blood pressure and osteoporosis. It helps regulate blood pressure, supports bone density, and assists in blood sugar control, which can lower the risk of type 2 diabetes. It also aids in muscle recovery and nerve function, may reduce migraine frequency, and contributes to overall cardiovascular health.

Magnesium, a mineral essential for human health, is gaining remarkable attention for its wide-ranging benefits and its impact on overall well-being. As one of the few supplements endorsed by Consumer Reports and celebrated by high-profile figures like Taylor Swift, magnesium’s popularity is rising and is strongly reflected in a global market value approaching $13 billion. Given its crucial role in the body, understanding how magnesium benefits health and the recommended daily intake is increasingly important for consumers in Thailand and beyond.

In an intriguing new development for athletes and neuroscientists alike, a study led by researchers from the University of the Basque Country and published in Nature Metabolism has revealed that marathon running can temporarily deplete myelin content in the human brain. This transient change, however, appears fully reversible within two months, offering reassurance to endurance athletes concerned about potential long-term neural impacts.

With Bangkok experiencing a growing marathon culture, this insight is timely for Thai enthusiasts who routinely test their endurance over the challenging 42-kilometer stretch. The study sheds light on the brain’s adaptability—or “metabolic myelin plasticity”—by suggesting that under intense physical exertion, the brain might utilize myelin lipids as a secondary energy source. This finding is of particular interest given that glycogen depletion during prolonged exercise may necessitate alternative metabolic adaptations.

The rising tide of mental health issues among workers globally has reached alarming levels, according to a recent study conducted by AXA in collaboration with IPSOS. Survey data from 16 countries, including Thailand, reveal a troubling status quo where stress, anxiety, and burnout are becoming increasingly common in the workforce. This situation not only affects individual well-being but also impacts productivity and organizational health on a large scale.

The study finds that one in three individuals surveyed across countries such as Belgium, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Philippines, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States are grappling with at least one mental health condition. Depression and anxiety, the most cited afflictions, show no signs of diminishing, a challenge exacerbated by factors like financial instability, job insecurity, and a pervasive onslaught of negative news. The implications are far-reaching, as climate change and digital threats contribute to a pervasive sense of vulnerability—what CEOs like Patrick Cohen of AXA call “eco-anxiety”—further amplifying stress levels.

A major longitudinal study published in Neurology links higher consumption of processed red meat with an increased risk of dementia. Tracking more than 133,000 adults for up to 43 years, researchers found that those with the highest intake of processed red meat had about a 13% greater likelihood of developing dementia than those who ate less. Common items like hot dogs, sausages, bacon, and salami were among the foods studied, highlighting diet as a key factor in brain health for Thai readers.

March’s observance of National Nutrition Month brings a crucial message about the power our daily eating choices have over our overall health and wellness. This year, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ theme, “Food Connects Us,” sheds light on how sharing meals is more than just eating together—it’s an educational experience about the food preparation, the chefs behind it, and the origins of the ingredients, reinforcing the knowledge that nutrition plays a pivotal role in disease prevention or risk.

A notable U.S. university report challenges decades of thinking about memory formation. The classic idea linked memory storage to simple synaptic strengthening, encapsulated in “neurons that fire together, wire together.” New findings reveal a more nuanced picture.

Researchers concentrate on the hippocampus, the brain’s memory hub. Traditional models posited that coordinated neuron firing stabilizes memories, while isolated activity fades. The study introduces Behavioral Timescale Synaptic Plasticity, or BTSP, as a broader framework for how memories develop and adapt over time.

A new study from a leading U.S. medical school introduces Daily Heart Rate Per Step (DHRPS), a simple metric aimed at helping people understand heart health. By dividing average daily heart rate by daily step count, DHRPS reflects cardiovascular efficiency and potential risk for related conditions. The research was published in a major cardiology journal.

As wearables become commonplace, DHRPS offers an intuitive way to combine two familiar metrics. Instead of looking at steps or heart rate alone, this metric highlights how efficiently the heart works at a given activity level. Researchers analyzed data from thousands of smartwatch users and linked it to medical records, finding that higher DHRPS values correlated with increased risk for conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart failure, stroke, coronary artery disease, and heart attack.

In an extraordinary step towards unraveling the mysteries of our brain, scientists from Columbia University have mapped the distribution of mitochondria — the cellular powerhouses — across the human brain. This groundbreaking study, published in the journal Nature, presents MitoBrainMap, a comprehensive tool that reveals how energy is allocated within different brain regions. The findings herald significant implications for understanding neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders and ultimately developing innovative treatments.

For Thai readers, this research holds particular relevance as it underscores the connection between brain energy management, mood, memory, and overall cognitive function. With mental health becoming a growing concern in Thailand, particularly among younger populations, these insights could steer future interventions and support strategies tailored to the unique bioenergetic landscapes of individuals.

In recent years, ultra-processed foods (UPFs) have grown notorious for their potential health risks, but not all UPFs may be harmful. A groundbreaking study from nutrition firm Zoe, led by renowned researcher Professor Tim Spector, sheds new light on the varying impact of different UPFs on health. As the consumption of these foods constitutes a significant portion—about 60%—of our diet, understanding which UPFs pose actual health risks is crucial for consumers worldwide, including those in Thailand.

In a groundbreaking study published in the journal Psychophysiology, researchers have found that stimulating the vagus nerve can make individuals less susceptible to the rubber hand illusion, which causes people to feel that a fake hand is part of their own body. This discovery is significant as it might pave the way for improved treatment methods for mental health conditions where bodily self-awareness is affected.

This study illuminates the role of the vagus nerve—a crucial pathway that allows the body to communicate with the brain, affecting emotion, attention, and self-awareness. With the potential to influence both mental health and brain functionality, the research focuses on a non-invasive technique known as transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS). This method delivers low-level electrical pulses to a part of the ear connected to the vagus nerve, and has been shown to enhance a person’s ability to recognize internal body signals such as their heartbeat.

A new study raises questions about whether paracetamol, the widely used pain reliever acetaminophen, can influence risk perception. In Thailand, where self-medication with over-the-counter drugs is common, understanding any broader effects is especially relevant for daily choices.

Researchers from a leading university conducted a double-blind study to see if acetaminophen affects risk-taking. In a peer-reviewed neuroscience journal, the findings suggest the drug may reduce anxiety about risky decisions. More than 500 university students were randomized to receive either acetaminophen or a placebo and then completed risk-related tasks, including a balloon-inflation game to win imaginary money. Participants who took acetaminophen tended to take more risks than those who received the placebo.