UF Health Podcasts

Picture this: You come home from work, where you spilled your coffee, missed a meeting and forgot your lunch. The only thing on your mind? Chips. Maybe pizza. After all, stress and unhealthy food choices often go hand in hand.

Now, new research from scientists at the University of Birmingham suggests that adding a flavanol-rich cocoa drink to your diet can help protect your vascular health, even after indulging in fatty foods.

The team set out to investigate how food choices impact vascular function during periods of stress. Previous studies show that high-fat foods can impair blood vessel function, affecting oxygen delivery to the brain. On the other hand, flavanols, found in cocoa, green tea, and other plant-based foods, have been shown to have cardiovascular benefits.

In their study, researchers asked participants to consume a high-fat breakfast of two butter croissants, cheddar cheese, and whole milk — along with either a high- or low-flavanol cocoa drink. After a rest, folks completed a mentally stressful math test while the team measured various aspects of cardiac function, like blood flow and brain oxygenation.

The results? Those who drank the low-flavanol cocoa experienced a significant decline in vascular function following the test, lasting up to 90 minutes. However, participants who drank the high-flavanol cocoa showed no such decline, indicating that the flavanols helped protect vascular health.

For the average shopper, finding a cocoa powder that isn’t alkalized, a process that lowers flavanol levels, can be tricky. Luckily, the less decadent but more accessible green tea is a good stand-in.

Eating too much during the holidays is almost an American tradition. In January, cold reality hits with the realization that an expanded waistline doesn’t disappear like our memories of Santa Claus.

Ask yourself: Will you still carry this added weight on New Year’s Day 2026?

For a quarter of us, that is probably going to prove true.

A representative survey of 2,000 Americans by Talker Research found that 24% of respondents reported they still carried the weight they put on during the holidays a year earlier. That’s an average of 10 extra pounds. And, of course, that’s on top of whatever they gained during the most recent season.

That’s a mountain of turkey, mashed potatoes, and gingerbread cookies.

The poll by the market research firm noted that Americans tend to break with sound eating habits and their diets during the holidays. About 36% of participants admitted breaking a diet because they could not resist rich seasonal foods.

Respondents note how the holidays are simply more enjoyable if they temporarily suspend their worry and anxiety about their weight during these happy days.

Many people say this is especially true as they grow older.

Mouth-watering foods aren’t the only reason we gain weight during this time. The poll notes how stress from current events triggers overeating and weight gain, too.

Doctors suggested mixing those naughty treats with some healthy foods and some physical activity during the holidays. But please, don’t put out celery and a glass of water for Santa. He’ll still expect milk and cookies next year.

Nobody’s expecting the big man to go on a diet.

Water is the elixir of life. We can’t live without it. Fifty-five to 60 percent of our bodies are composed of it. Beach vacations would be very tricky without it. But what happens when drinking water goes awry?

A recent study reveals that drinking water in 15 countries were found to contain PFAS [pea-fass], or forever chemicals, which are synthetic products with applications from firefighting to making fabric stain- and water-resistant.

They are also believed to cause cancer, increase cholesterol, disrupt hormones, and contribute to a variety of other health issues.

The study examined still water, sparkling water, water in glass bottles, and water in plastic bottles. It also compared 55 tap water samples from the United Kingdom and China.

Researchers found that two of the most common forever chemicals were present in 99% of the bottled water they examined. There was no notable difference between the levels of PFAS found in the water, whether it was bottled in glass or plastic bottles, or if it was sparkling or still.

The study also showed natural mineral water sourced from groundwater contained higher levels of PFAS than water advertised as being purified.

Forever chemicals were also found in much higher concentrations in tap water in China versus the U.K.

The researchers did not leave us high and dry, however. They found that boiling or applying activated carbon filtration removes a significant amount of forever chemicals from the water.

Since cutting water out of our diet is not exactly an option, pouring your H2O into a water filtration bottle is a simple solution for now, as more research studies unfold.

When you were growing up, it was very possible that you went to school with someone who was a twin, maybe even a triplet.

If you are in school today, that’s much less likely, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC reports the rate of triplets, quadruplets, or even more being born in a single pregnancy has declined by 62% since 1998. For every 100,000 total births, nearly 74 are triplets, quadruplets, or more.

The decline appears connected to guidance about the number of embryos transferred through assisted reproductive technologies such as vitro fertilization.

Couples have a higher likelihood of having more babies in a single pregnancy when using assisted reproductive technology. That’s because fertility treatments may involve multiple embryos being transferred into the uterus.

The more embryos there are, the higher the likelihood of a viable pregnancy.

In 1998, the incidence of triplets was at an all-time high of about 194 births per 100,000. Fertility treatments grew in popularity during the 1980s and after.

The decline appears to have come about when the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology began to issue guidelines that called for fewer embryos to be transferred for one pregnancy. This was meant to reduce the risk of health complications, including premature births.

In recommendations three years ago, the guidelines included a suggestion that only one embryo be used for patients 35 years old and younger.

For families undergoing fertility treatments, one healthy baby is a much safer bet.

We slather on moisturizer, dab on makeup and, often begrudgingly, slop on sunscreen. Our skin is our largest organ; something to be protected. But now, a new study from researchers in Illinois reminds us that it’s also our biggest protector.

Although we often think of skin as just a barrier, its innate “stretchiness” transforms it into a defensive structure that can significantly minimize damage from punctures. Specifically, thin, stretchy skin, like that of pigs and humans, outperforms even the best synthetic materials designed to mimic it.

In a series of experiments, researchers tested the puncture resistance of pig skin and underlying tissue against various projectiles. They discovered that the skin’s ability to dissipate energy from sharp objects could considerably reduce damage to the tissues below it. In fact, pig skin reduced puncture damage by up to 73% at high speeds compared with tissue without skin.

That’s right: a mere 2.5 milimeter thick piece of pig skin could outperform synthetic substitutes that were not only thicker, but stiffer.

How? Thanks to the collagen fibers woven into the skin. When these fibers break, they absorb and redistribute the energy of the puncture, preventing deeper tissue damage. Here, synthetic gels fall behind.

So, what does this mean for us? While synthetic materials have their place, they can’t replicate what our largest, even wrinkled or pimply organ does best.

Eventually, it’s possible material scientists someday will be able to better mimic these natural defenses … but if they ever do, will pricking your finger on a rose bush still hurt?

When you need a boost, do you quell your caffeine cravings with coffee or reach for a supplement-rich energy drink? If you fall into the latter category, you may want to reconsider your caffeination habits.

One common ingredient found in many energy drinks is the amino acid taurine, which has been touted as offering an array of health benefits to the brain and immune system. It’s also believed to reduce the size of plaque deposits in the heart. Taurine occurs naturally in our bodies but it is often included as an additive in energy drinks and supplements, as it is believed to also aid in energy production.

But too much taurine may increase the risk of heart attack, according to a recent study. Researchers uncovered evidence that despite reducing plaque, taurine might destabilize plaque deposits. This would make the plaques more likely to rupture and lead to heart attack or stroke.

When mice with arterial heart plaques were treated with taurine, results showed that the plaques possessed less collagen and fewer smooth muscle cells than untreated plaques — two important factors in keeping the plaques stable. The reduction in collagen is due to taurine boosting production of enzymes that break down collagen in blood vessel walls.

Researchers suggested the study results don’t necessarily mean people should avoid all taurine, as it is important to several processes in the body.

But the findings should serve as a reminder that you can have too much of a good thing.

Just remember, the next time you’re in need of a caffeine fix, your energy needs might be best served by brewing a pot of coffee.

If the phrase “sitting is the new smoking” has you scrambling to buy a standing desk, you might want to take a moment.

New research suggests that standing desks might not be the holy grail they’re marketed as, and prolonged standing can bring its own set of health risks.

Researchers from Australia and the Netherlands studied a pool of 83,000 people to find out if standing desks were as beneficial as they are made out to be.

Each participant wore a device that tracked their sitting, standing, and physical activity over several years, providing accurate data about their daily habits.

The study found that sitting for more than 10 hours a day increased the risk of heart attack and stroke. But the researchers also found that standing for the same period did not reduce this risk. Instead, it increased the risk of circulatory problems and conditions like varicose veins, which is caused by blood pooling in the legs.

Standing might not be the answer to your sitting struggles, but hope is not all lost. Our bodies are built to move, so simply incorporating movement in your day can mitigate some of the risks associated with prolonged sitting and standing.

Sit-stand desks can also offer a compromise, encouraging you to change positions and move more often. Taking short, active breaks can make a big difference in your day-to-day health.

Any kind of prolonged static position can be harmful in excess, so before you commit yourself to standing all day, try taking the stairs or doing a lap around the office first.

And if you do decide to get in on the standing desk trend, think of it as an alternative to sitting rather than an antidote.

Winter holidays often mean eating big meals and sitting around watching TV with extended family.

These are fun, to be sure, and the laughter over shared memories and stories retold are part of what make family gatherings so special.

But we all want to try to stay healthy, and we all know that a day of overindulging and under-exercising probably isn’t our best bet.

So this year, take your large or small family out for a walk. It is free and not likely to get anyone hurt, unless they’re wearing nonsensible shoes.

If the weather is good, it’s even pleasant. And there are a number of health-related reasons to get everyone out there for an amble.

First, it regulates blood sugar. One study found that even just a 15-minute post-meal walk helped avoid blood sugar spikes for several hours afterward. This can mean fewer unpleasant physical and emotional symptoms later in the day, especially the post-meal “crash.”

It expends calories. Walking one mile, even at a leisurely pace, burns about 100 calories, depending on your size, age, and sex. Don’t be fooled into thinking that the walk will put much a dent in your large meal, but everything helps.

It’s likely to improve your mood. Holidays can be stressful. Walking makes your brain more sensitive to the hormones serotonin and norepinephrine, which ease the feeling of depression. They also stimulate the release of endorphins, which make us happy.

Parent-child bonds improve and family members get along better when they spend time in nature.

And it’s even a fix for feeling stuffed. Walking eases heartburn. Getting some steps in will help your digestion far better than settling in for a nap.

I sit, you sit, we sit — at most of our jobs, after work and even on the weekends. There’s no doubt about it — much to the detriment of our muscle mass and general well-being, sedentary lifestyles are increasing and only becoming more common.

Now, research from the University of Toronto is offering one means of staving off complete muscular atrophy by way of snacks.

Unfortunately, they’re not the tasty kind. “Snacks” are how researchers conceptualize small, active breaks in between the sedentary lifestyles many of us have grown far too accustomed to.

Even something as small as two minutes of walking (how far away is the bathroom, again?) or body weight sit-to-stand squats, encourage the body to use more amino acids from meals to build muscle proteins, thus preserving both muscle mass and muscle quality.

Sitting for extended periods of time can weaken your body’s ability to filter sugar from your blood after a meal, according to the study.

Although long periods of inactivity are sometimes unavoidable, like bedrest after an injury, phases of low muscle activity tend to result in a loss of muscle mass that occurs in tandem with, or because of, our muscles’ inability to build new proteins, even after we eat a meal that contains protein.

But this study indicated that even tiny periods of activity can also improve the efficiency of dietary amino acids used for muscle protein synthesis, or how our bodies repair or replace old or damaged proteins.

In short: A short walk — and a couple squats — are meaningful-but-manageable ways in which you can break up the Zoom meeting marathon or streaming binge.

The health worries you have after smoking can last for years after you stubbed out your final cigarette.

It all depends, a new research study from South Korea shows, on how long a person smoked and how heavily.

Cardiovascular disease is not the only toll smoking takes, but it’s one of the deadliest. It can lead to heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure.

The study looked at more than 5.3 million South Koreans. They took a deep dive into the health records of the mostly male participants, who had an average age of almost 46. Roughly 16% were current smokers, almost 2% had quit, and 82% had never smoked.

Researchers tracked the participants an average of 4 years and two months, monitoring cardiovascular disease development. They recorded each participant’s smoking history.

Depending on how much and how long someone smoked, they found, the path to cardiovascular health could take a few years to more than 20.

The study’s “tipping point” was eight so-called “pack years” of smoking. They calculated a pack-year by multiplying the number of packs smoked per day by the number of years a person smoked.

Smoking one pack a day for eight years would equal eight pack years. So would smoking two packs a day for four years.

Those who quit smoking before eight pack years are lucky. Their cardiovascular risk drops quickly and their heart health returns to that of someone who never smoked between five and 10 years.

For smokers with more than eight pack years, it takes about 25 years to equal the heart disease risk of a never-smoker.

So don’t start smoking. If that ship has sailed, quit as soon as you can. Every extra puff counts.