UF Health Podcasts

The blood orange is delicious, often expensive, and packed with nutrients that taste great. But unlike the more common citrus that thrives in the humid state of Florida, this pigmented fruit requires more consistent cold temperatures than are readily available in a state known for its sunshine and beaches.

Now, new University of Florida research is highlighting the potential health benefits of blood oranges, with a twist — titrating their nutrient density by storing them at a specific range of cool temperatures.

Specifically, scientists pinpointed that storing blood oranges between 40 and 53 degrees Fahrenheit carries the ability to enhance their antioxidant content while preserving crucial attributes like the fruit’s firmness, weight, and sugar content. The cool storage can even elevate the blood oranges’ levels of anthocyanins, a group of antioxidants found in red, blue, and purple fruits and veggies.

Importantly, a diet full of these compounds may help protect from inflammation and Type 2 diabetes — and this antioxidant typically develops when the fruit is exposed to cold temperatures between 46 and 59 degrees for at least 20 days. These conditions are rare in Florida’s subtropical climate, and part of the reason scientists are on the hunt for a solution.

In the future, research will pivot to emphasize the importance of tailored storage conditions to maximize the fruit’s nutritional value and market appeal — which would also help it flourish in other regions. While the blood orange is growing in popularity, they are typically grown in climates more arid than the subtropics.

Low back pain is an often-chronic condition many accept as just a natural part of aging. But what if ditching low back pain was as simple as taking a walk? A new study suggests it might be.

Australian researchers recruited adults who had recently experienced an episode of lower back pain for at least 24 hours and who had no specific diagnosis. Participants were randomly assigned to a group that received intervention that included walking, education, and six physiotherapy sessions, or to a control group that received no treatment.

The researchers then tracked them for one to three years. Those assigned to the intervention participated in an individual walking program guided by a physical therapist and managed to ensure the walker stuck with the plan. Participants walked in their free time with a loose target of five 30-minute walks per week for six months.

Participants kept a walking diary and attended follow-up sessions with their physical therapist. They also learned more about pain science and how to reduce the risk of low back pain, as well as how to manage minor pain recurrences.

Results found that those who followed the plan saw a significant reduction in the recurrence of low back pain. Researchers also found the treatment to be more cost-effective for those receiving intervention compared with those who received no treatment.

An estimated 843 million people around the world will suffer from low back pain by 2050. Its debilitating effects take a toll mentally, physically, and financially.

Now, lacing up those sneakers may be all you need to find relief. Take a walk and tell your backache to take a hike.

Millions of Americans regularly take multivitamins, accepting as fact that the dietary supplement can help them stay healthy and live longer.

Consumers reliably scoop them up at the drugstore or supermarket. One estimate pegs the value of the multivitamin market at more than $21 billion.

A new study, however, questions their usefulness.

National Cancer Institute researchers recently conducted one of the largest and longest studies of multivitamin effectiveness. The scientists tracked the health of nearly 400,000 healthy Americans for two decades, comparing a control group that didn’t take multivitamins with a group that did.

The study’s findings might be unsettling for anyone with a big bottle of these doctor’s helpers in the medicine cabinet.

Those who took the supplements daily experienced no lower risk of death from any case. Indeed, they appeared to have a slightly greater risk of mortality. It was just a tiny increase, but startling, nonetheless.

The researchers also saw no difference when controlling for a participant’s sex, dietary quality, and health behavior.

Some experts believe vitamins feed off human psychology. The lure of a pill that effortlessly boosts health is powerfully attractive. Got a bad diet? Take a pill. Even before this study, however, some nutritionists were doubtful this supposed elixir could substitute for the complex mix of natural nutrients found in fruits, vegetables, and other whole foods. There are few shortcuts to good health.

Scientists say they cannot preclude the possibility of a benefit for adults.

So, eat your vegetables. They’re nature’s multivitamin.

For those among us who prefer the steady thrum, pacing, and incline control of a treadmill (and the air conditioning that often comes with it), there can often be an unpleasant tax — shin splints.

Now, researchers from the University of Virginia Health System may be onto a treatment plan that protects against this pesky, but common, sports injury.

A recent study suggests that incorporating outdoor gait training alongside home exercises can improve running biomechanics, even on a treadmill.

Shin splints, a common ailment affecting 40% of runners, often start as lower leg tenderness that worsens with continued running, potentially leading to stress fractures for those unable to hang up their sneakers.

The study looked at treadmill runners from ages 18 to 45 who experienced lower leg pain. Participants underwent four weeks of outdoor gait training with vibrotactile feedback, which alerted them when their foot-ground contact time was excessive — a known contributor to shin splints.

This feedback helped participants adjust their stride to reduce impact. The results showed that those who received gait training not only improved their strength but made favorable adjustments in running mechanics, benefiting both outdoor and treadmill running. This finding suggests that outdoor gait training could be a valuable strategy for treadmill users seeking to run pain-free.

Besides reminding us that going outside remains a habit that is ultimately good for you, the study reiterates that there’s more than one way to achieve tip-top running comfort and performance … in a climate-cooled gym or the great outdoors.

Don’t mess with Texas. Not with its ticks, anyway.

The lone star tick, once found mostly in the southeastern United States, has been expanding its turf. They’re becoming more common in the Northeast, the Midwest, and even Canada.

While its bite isn’t as dangerous as that of the also-common blacklegged tick, which spreads Lyme disease, lone star ticks do cause plenty of health maladies, including ehrlichiosis [ur-luh-kee-ow-suhs], tularemia [too-lr-ee-mee-uh], southern tick-associated rash illness, and Heartland virus.

The adult female lone star tick has a white splotch on its back.

A lone star tick bite is less likely to cause illness than blacklegged ticks, but they’re certainly more likely to bite you. Entomologists say they are easily the more aggressive species.

A blacklegged tick often positions itself on a tall blade of grass or a branch and waits for a host (that’s you) to come walking by. But a lone star tick comes to find you. If you’re out in the woods or tall grass and still, the ticks sense the carbon dioxide you emit and head that way.

What is going on with these aggressive and turf-shifting ticks?

Scientists explain some of their expansion as a result of climate change. A warmer climate suits them, so that’s where they go. But studies also suggest that lone star ticks may be resettling in areas that once were their home.

If you’re going to be out in the woods, you need an effective insect repellent. Treating shoes or boots with permethrin can keep ticks from taking a hike up your leg. If you’ve been in the deep woods, an immediate shower and tick-check is a great idea.

If you live in suburbia, keep your yard mowed and clutter-free, and try to keep the deer out.

Summertime is a great time to get outdoors, go hiking, and explore nature. Kids are out of school and vacation season is in full swing.

But so is the heat.

High temperatures are no joke and can make any hike dangerous — even deadly. Each year, multiple people die from heat exhaustion during hikes and hundreds more are rescued.

By taking a few safety precautions to heart, you can greatly reduce your chances of injury or death when hiking in hot temperatures.

Be prepared physically. If you know will be undertaking a long, strenuous hike, be confident that you are in good enough physical shape to complete the trek. You can acclimate to the heat by taking shorter, low-impact hikes in warm weather and gradually work up to more difficult hikes in hot weather.

Hikers should also know their sweat rate, which can be determined by weighing yourself before and after a hike. Experts say you shouldn’t lose more than 2% of your body weight during a hike.

Speaking of sweating — an abundant amount of water is critical in high temperatures. A water filter and electrolytes, in the form of tablets or drinks, can also help replace salt and minerals lost from perspiration.

Hikers should wear light, loose clothing to help prevent sunburn and keep body temperatures down. Experts recommend bringing a fully charged phone, extra battery, and a friend if possible.

It can be easy to underestimate just how risky a hike can be when temperatures soar. The reward doesn’t outweigh the risk.

And don’t ignore what your instinct tells you. If you think it’s too hot to hike, turn back. It is too hot to hike.

For millions of Americans, eating oatmeal isn’t enough to lower cholesterol. Many leave the doctor’s office with a high cholesterol diagnosis and a statin prescription.

One study from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University reported that by 2019, 818 million people were prescribed statins. But perhaps that number may change.

As many as 40% fewer Americans need statins, a new JAMA Internal Medicine study found.

In 2023, the American Heart Association developed the Predicting Risk of Cardiovascular Disease Events equations, known as PREVENT, to estimate atherosclerotic [ather-oh-skler-ottic] cardiovascular disease risk.

This was an update to the 2013 equations, which were criticized for overestimating risk.

The PREVENT equations were based on current populations and adjusted for statin use and kidney function. They removed race as a factor.

Researchers analyzed data from 3,785 adults between ages 40 and 75 without atherosclerosis who took part in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from January 2017 to March 2020. Their 10-year risk of heart disease was estimated using the PREVENT equations and reviewed against earlier risk predictions.

Results showed that far fewer adults qualified for statin prescriptions under the updated equations. Researchers estimated that more than 17 million adults previously prescribed statins would no longer be eligible for them.

No word yet on whether statin guidelines might change to reflect the study’s results. But perhaps in the future, many of us can enjoy a bowl of oatmeal with our morning coffee, rather than swallow a pill.

We all keep time to an internal cellular clock. Our circadian rhythms are tuned to the rotation of the Earth and its cycle of night and day. Still, our clocks aren’t all set to the same hour and minute.

Some scientists believe that the biological clock influences whether we are a morning person or a night owl. If you groan and swear at the morning alarm, perhaps you can blame this internal timepiece when you’re late for work and someone demands an explanation.

This is our chronotype. We’ve all got one.

Now, a team of international researchers has found that our chronotype might influence the effectiveness of blood pressure medication. Their work indicates that those diagnosed with hypertension might want to match the time they take prescriptions with their sleep schedule. Study findings suggest that doing so might be better for the heart.

It’s important to note that you shouldn’t change your medication schedule without first checking with a physician.

The study tracked 5,000 people for several years, analyzing their blood pressure. Researchers also asked the participants for information about their chronotype.

Findings indicated that early birds were less likely to suffer a heart attack when they took their blood pressure medication in the morning, compared with the evening.

And conversely, night owls experienced heart attacks less often when they took their meds at night.

Physicians and pharmacists often recommend taking the pills in the morning, but some scientists have challenged that recommendation. This study could influence that debate. Scientists, however, say more study is needed before declaring that it’s time for a change.

When it comes to saving a pet’s life, every second counts. Recent updates to veterinary CPR guidelines are changing the way we approach emergency care for our furry friends. On this show, Dr. Jake Wolf, an emergency and critical care specialist, will discuss the latest advancements in pet CPR. As a key contributor to the RECOVER initiative’s 2024 CPR Guidelines, Dr. Wolf will share insights on improved chest compression techniques, safe breathing methods for cats and dogs, and critical updates in medication administration and defibrillation. Learn how these new standards are enhancing the quality of emergency care and improving survival rates for our beloved companions.

The dentist adjusts his instrument in your mouth, frowning. You tense, gripping the armrests. Silence. Then, the dreaded question: “Have you been flossing?”

Maybe you have been. Maybe you really, really meant to, but forgot. Or maybe you glance over to the dusty floss pick packet every night … and then you look away.

Whether you do, don’t, or won’t, the good news is it may no longer be up to you. That is, not if the University of Pennsylvania’s shapeshifting microbots have their way.

Yes, that’s right — a swarm of tiny building blocks in the form of nanoparticles may one day be your toothbrush, rinse, and dental floss in one. While the study doesn’t specify their form at rest, the particles, composed of iron oxide, act as bristles that can extend, sweep, and even go back and forth between a space, much like flossing.

Although a boon for the lazy, the techie revamp of a mundane necessity would be a welcome solution for those who lack the dexterity or physical capability to brush and floss without help.

Using a magnetic field to direct the iron oxide nanoparticle-based microrobots into antimicrobial bristle- and floss-shaped arrangements, researchers were even able to account for things like gum sensitivity.

Part of the impetus for the study was the static landscape of tooth cleaning, which has remained largely unchanged since the advent of the electric toothbrush. This study was proof-of-concept, which is another way of saying you’ll likely have to keep brushing and flossing the old-fashioned way for now.

But take heart — one day, you just might have teeny-tiny robots brush and floss your teeth. And then, you’ll really have no excuse.