A dog’s body can generate vitamin C. So, too, can a cat’s. Unfortunately, human ancestors lost that trick during their evolutionary climb.
Roughly 40 million years ago, the forebearers of apes and humans could access plentiful fruit rich in vitamin C. So over time, the gene responsible for making it withered on the evolutionary tree. We lost the ability.
Which for marketers is a good thing, otherwise we might not have gotten one of the most famous ad slogans ever: A day without orange juice is like a day without sunshine.
Now, a Japanese study shows just how important a glass of OJ, or a piece of any fruit or vegetable producing the nutrient, is to our good health. Researchers demonstrated that lower vitamin C levels were associated with reduced brain tissue and altered structural network patterns in the organ.
That provides strength to what scientists long suspected. The vitamin might help prevent cognitive decline.
The study included about 2,000 volunteers who underwent brain MRIs. Scientists also measured their vitamin C levels through a blood test.
Previous research had already shown that vitamin C levels in the fluid surrounding the brain are twice those in blood. That, too, suggests its importance in brain health.
Scientists don’t suggest that vitamin C acts alone in maintaining the brain. It is instead viewed as perhaps one of several important factors.
It’s essential to remember that these findings can only indicate an association and do not establish cause and effect.
Until natural selection jump-starts our ability to produce vitamin C once more, it can’t hurt to grab an orange now and then.

A dog’s body can generate vitamin C. So, too, can a cat’s. Unfortunately, human ancestors lost that trick during their evolutionary climb. Roughly 40 million years ago, the forebearers of apes and humans could access plentiful fruit rich in vitamin C. So over time, the gene responsible for making it withered on the evolutionary tree. We lost the ability. Which for marketers is a good thing, otherwise we might not have gotten one of the most famous ad slogans ever: A day without orange juice is like a day without sunshine. Now, a Japanese study shows just how important a glass of OJ, or a piece of any fruit or vegetable producing the nutrient, is to our good health. Researchers demonstrated that lower vitamin C levels were associated with reduced brain tissue and altered structural network patterns in the organ. That provides strength to what scientists long suspected. The vitamin might help prevent cognitive decline. The study included about 2,000 volunteers who underwent brain MRIs. Scientists also measured their vitamin C levels through a blood test. Previous research had already shown that vitamin C levels in the fluid surrounding the brain are twice those in blood. That, too, suggests its importance in brain health. Scientists don’t suggest that vitamin C acts alone in maintaining the brain. It is instead viewed as perhaps one of several important factors. It’s essential to remember that these findings can only indicate an association and do not establish cause and effect. Until natural selection jump-starts our ability to produce vitamin C once more, it can’t hurt to grab an orange now and then.

Study shows vitamin C’s importance to brain health

Is there anything better than sitting? By looking at the rates of Americans who engage in the sedentary activity — roughly half of the population, by the way — you’d guess no. And, though your body prefers moving to sitting by miles, we’re going to tell you what you really want to know: how to sit better.
A study led by the University of Glasgow found that breaking up your sitting by short movement breaks was associated with an 18% lower risk of death from diabetes- and obesity-related cancers per each added hour of relentless reclining.
Researchers defined “interrupted sitting” as a sit either lasting less than half an hour, or one broken up by some kind of activity.
Though previous research has largely targeted decreasing how much total time we spend on our rears, this study posited that simply decreasing the duration of each “sit” could matter just as much as sitting less.
When they modeled these results, scientists noted that swapping out even one hour of uninterrupted sitting with the intermittent version was linked to a 12% lower risk of death related to cancer. The analysis drew from the data of more than 90,000 participants across 12 years. To get an idea of how often people were moving, researchers relied upon wrist devices that tracked activity as opposed to self-reports of movement.
Though more research is needed to understand what’s prompting these improvements, scientists think extended sedentary periods could be impacting mechanisms like blood sugar regulation, scientists say. Getting up, even for a little, keeps your body running smoothly.
Taking the time to leave your chair to rinse out a coffee cup has never felt more important.

Is there anything better than sitting? By looking at the rates of Americans who engage in the sedentary activity — roughly half of the population, by the way — you’d guess no. And, though your body prefers moving to sitting by miles, we’re going to tell you what you really want to know: how to sit better. A study led by the University of Glasgow found that breaking up your sitting by short movement breaks was associated with an 18% lower risk of death from diabetes- and obesity-related cancers per each added hour of relentless reclining. Researchers defined “interrupted sitting” as a sit either lasting less than half an hour, or one broken up by some kind of activity. Though previous research has largely targeted decreasing how much total time we spend on our rears, this study posited that simply decreasing the duration of each “sit” could matter just as much as sitting less. When they modeled these results, scientists noted that swapping out even one hour of uninterrupted sitting with the intermittent version was linked to a 12% lower risk of death related to cancer. The analysis drew from the data of more than 90,000 participants across 12 years. To get an idea of how often people were moving, researchers relied upon wrist devices that tracked activity as opposed to self-reports of movement. Though more research is needed to understand what’s prompting these improvements, scientists think extended sedentary periods could be impacting mechanisms like blood sugar regulation, scientists say. Getting up, even for a little, keeps your body running smoothly. Taking the time to leave your chair to rinse out a coffee cup has never felt more important.

How to sit better (and avoid cancer while doing so)

Fish oil supplements are a huge industry. Americans spend more than $1 billion a year on them, hoping to support brain health by taking in the omega-3 fatty acids they contain.
A new study may provide a dose of reality, however. A two-year clinical trial conducted by University of Southern California researchers found that while fish oil supplements do deliver omega-3s to the brain, there is no meaningful benefit for memory, cognition or Alzheimer’s-related changes.
On its face, taking fish oil supplements is not illogical. Omega-3s, healthy fats found in some fish, help build the connections between brain cells key to our ability to think and remember.
More than 350 people between the ages of 55 and 80 who rarely ate fish were enrolled in the study. All were at elevated risk for Alzheimer’s disease. They were placed in two groups. One group was given a daily, high-dose fish oil supplement; the other group got a placebo.
Each supplement contained 2,000 milligrams of docosahexaenoic [duh-kow-suh-hek-suh-know-ick] acid, or DHA, an omega-3 important in brain function. For the brain, DHA is like premium oil is to an engine.
By measuring DHA levels in participants’ cerebrospinal fluid, they could see it did indeed reach the brain.
Even so, that did not equate to measurable cognitive benefits. Participants went through memory tests at the start of the study and two years later. Those who took DHA supplements performed no better than the placebo group.
For now, the researchers say those who hope to safeguard brain health should focus on eating nutritious food and staying fit. And eating salmon, mackerel, sardines and anchovies surely can’t hurt.

Fish oil supplements are a huge industry. Americans spend more than $1 billion a year on them, hoping to support brain health by taking in the omega-3 fatty acids they contain. A new study may provide a dose of reality, however. A two-year clinical trial conducted by University of Southern California researchers found that while fish oil supplements do deliver omega-3s to the brain, there is no meaningful benefit for memory, cognition or Alzheimer’s-related changes. On its face, taking fish oil supplements is not illogical. Omega-3s, healthy fats found in some fish, help build the connections between brain cells key to our ability to think and remember. More than 350 people between the ages of 55 and 80 who rarely ate fish were enrolled in the study. All were at elevated risk for Alzheimer’s disease. They were placed in two groups. One group was given a daily, high-dose fish oil supplement; the other group got a placebo. Each supplement contained 2,000 milligrams of docosahexaenoic [duh-kow-suh-hek-suh-know-ick] acid, or DHA, an omega-3 important in brain function. For the brain, DHA is like premium oil is to an engine. By measuring DHA levels in participants’ cerebrospinal fluid, they could see it did indeed reach the brain. Even so, that did not equate to measurable cognitive benefits. Participants went through memory tests at the start of the study and two years later. Those who took DHA supplements performed no better than the placebo group. For now, the researchers say those who hope to safeguard brain health should focus on eating nutritious food and staying fit. And eating salmon, mackerel, sardines and anchovies surely can’t hurt.

Fish oil supplements no help against memory issues

Waddling away from the table with a turkey-stuffed tummy on Thanksgiving usually means one thing: Naptime is imminent. Most of us link the post-Thanksgiving penchant for dozing off on the...

Talking turkey — and naps

The tiny fruit fly is a rock star in the scientific world. Six groups of scientists have received Nobel Prizes for research that used them to make important discoveries leading...

Blue light might accelerate aging process

As the coronavirus pandemic swept the world, some health care providers quickly pivoted to telemedicine. It also gave rise to concerns, for some patients, about the quality of telemedicine. Now,...

Concerns about telemedicine misplaced, study finds

Although temperatures tend to drop this time of year, November is the perfect month to look into sun protection products. It is National Healthy Skin Month, after all. According to...

It’s time to focus on healthy skin

It seems like a solid recipe for a moist and tasty Thanksgiving turkey: Place a large pot over a propane tank and burner, fill it with oil and deep fry...

Deep frying your turkey: a recipe for disaster

Parents of young athletes who participate in multiple sports no doubt yearn for the day when their offspring choose one sport to concentrate on. Beyond the stresses of getting them...

‘Multidirectional’ sports better for young athletes’ health

It turns out that nightmares may do more than just interrupt a good night’s sleep. For middle-age people, frequent bad dreams can make them more likely to be diagnosed with...

Nightmares in middle age could lead to dementia

This week, Americans will gather around the dinner table to devour slices of succulent oven-roasted turkey, mounds of buttery mashed potatoes doused in gravy and gobs of green bean casserole,...

Avoid Thanksgiving-induced gastrointestinal reflux disease

Look around you. Are coworkers sneezing and coughing? Someone in your family developing a case of the sniffles? Maybe a bug is circulating in your social circle and a friend...

Your body may rally its immune defenses just by seeing sick people

The holidays are supposed to be a joyous time, but for some people, the family gatherings, events and frequent disruptions in daily routines can be stressful. If you’re one of...

Holiday stress affects kids, too

Health in a Heartbeat is a daily radio series that features two-minute segments providing consumer-health information and the latest news on medical research, patient-care breakthroughs and health-care industry trends.  The series launched in January 2000 and is available at no charge to public radio stations nationwide. It is a unique project offered by University of Florida Health in association with the UF radio stations 89.1 WUFT-FM and 90.1 WJUF-FM. It currently airs in more than 53 cities in 18 states and Washington, D.C., in addition to being available on NPR.org and the NPR One mobile app.  Our scripts go through a vigorous research and approval process. Each script is reviewed by University of Florida physicians, UF Health experts and qualified medical editors. This ensures that you are receiving accurate and up-to-date health information.

Health & Fitness

Education

Health in a Heartbeat is a daily radio series that features two-minute segments providing consumer-health information and the latest news on medical research, patient-care breakthroughs and health-care industry trends. The series launched in January 2000 and is available at no charge to public radio stations nationwide. It is a unique project offered by University of Florida Health in association with the UF radio stations 89.1 WUFT-FM and 90.1 WJUF-FM. It currently airs in more than 53 cities in 18 states and Washington, D.C., in addition to being available on NPR.org and the NPR One mobile app. Our scripts go through a vigorous research and approval process. Each script is reviewed by University of Florida physicians, UF Health experts and qualified medical editors. This ensures that you are receiving accurate and up-to-date health information.

Share Health in a Heartbeat

Sign up to save your podcasts

Health in a Heartbeat

FAQs about Health in a Heartbeat:

How many episodes does Health in a Heartbeat have?

Health in a Heartbeat episodes:

FAQs about Health in a Heartbeat:

How many episodes does Health in a Heartbeat have?

More shows like Health in a Heartbeat

Up First from NPR