If you’re struggling to curb sugar cravings, you might have your intestines to blame. A new study has found that a high consumption of soda and other sugary drinks can rewire your intestines, causing them to favor sugar absorption over other nutrients. Researchers from India used two groups of mice to study the impact of sugar on metabolism. One gr…

For those who love sushi, here’s something to remember: Japanese wasabi might boost short- and long-term memory in older adults. We all know the sushi condiment from the often-pungent blast that punches the nose more than our taste buds. Wasabi cultivation dates to the eighth century. But it only became better known in the United States after 1980 …

A green, leafy canopy benefits more than just the birds. Trees planted along the street, or in high numbers across a neighborhood, are pleasing to the eye and offer much-needed shade when temperatures climb. Now, a new study from scientists in Switzerland credits another benefit to our arboreal companions: lowering our mortality. That’s right — num…

Millions of Americans battle a persistent, annoying ringing in their ears. The malady, known as tinnitus [tin-nuh-tuhs], receives relatively little research funding and has no consistently effective treatment. Tinnitus has numerous causes. Exposure to loud noises, especially over a prolonged period, is one trigger. A long list of musical legends re…

Tattoos are now mainstream. Once relegated to tough guys and the biceps of sailors who wanted to celebrate anchors and good ol’ Ma, those days are over. Today, they are a means of personal expression to people of all walks of life. An art form. That art, however, can come with a secret ingredient. Researchers at Binghamton University in New York fo…

Liquor and sunbathing are a bad beach combo. As with many activities matched with alcohol, the danger comes in how it changes our behavior. And like getting behind the wheel when intoxicated, the result can be deadly. You don’t toy with the most-powerful star in our sky: the sun. A study by researchers at Florida Atlantic University found that more…

Feeling anxious? It’s OK. We all feel anxiety from time to time. Whether a Little League baseball game, an important work presentation or a big life moment like a wedding, we all remember a time when we were so worried that our nerves consumed us. But have you ever been so relaxed you ultimately procrastinated, and your lack of preparation led to a…

The best way to avoid getting bitten by a venomous snake is to not go looking for one in the first place. Much like eating well and exercising to feel better, this avoidance approach is backed by experts — and, most likely, some who just dislike the scaly critters. A new study from researchers at the University of Florida analyzed 20 years of snake…

If your child is what we like to call an “iPad kid,” you might want to consider limiting their screen time. A new study suggests children with more screen time, especially on mobile devices, show increased levels of stress and depression as teenagers. Researchers from Finland followed 504 children for eight years from elementary school into adolesc…

A paralyzed man was able to control a robotic arm using a device that relays signals from his brain to a computer. Although research has seen this before, the big news is that he was able to control the arm — eventually using it to open a cabinet, remove a cup and hold the cup to a water dispenser — for seven months. That’s far longer than the typi…

Human predecessors may have survived long enough to evolve into bigger-brained creatures not by eating meat, but by being flexible about what they ate. For you kids keeping score at home, that’s one for the vegetable eaters and minus one for those who only want chicken fingers. The new findings come courtesy of tooth enamel analyses of Australopith…

These days, the connection between exposure to nature and good health is so well-known that some doctors even prescribe outdoor outings for their patients. Now, a study from a team of Austrian researchers finds that just looking at images of nature can lower pain. Numerous studies have shown that exposure to nature is beneficial to humans and reduc…

Listen up, night owls: It might be time to take a page out of a rooster’s book. In the past, research has shown that people who tend to stay up late — sometimes termed “evening chronotypes” — report more depression symptoms than those who are early risers, also known as “morning chronotypes.” The mechanisms between the two, however, bear explaining…

Age affects all of us differently. This is especially true when it comes to memory. Just like our bodies, our brains change over time. Volume decreases, neural connections weaken and our memory’s sharpness declines. The risk of developing dementia rises with age, too. But there is hope. A few helpful habits can reduce your risk of memory loss and d…

When it comes to listing favorite subjects in school, math is rarely first. In fact, American students have struggled with math for years — consistently landing in the bottom 25% globally. The pandemic set kids’ math progress back even more. Now, a study led by the University of Pennsylvania’s Behavior Change for Good Initiative, offers a cost-effe…

Despite our couch potato reputation, more people are running marathons in the U.S. In fact, between 2010 and 2023, more than 29 million people went the distance. In the past, the strenuous, prolonged cardiovascular effort has resulted in the occasional racer experiencing a fatal heart attack. Now, however, that risk has dropped. According to a stud…

Here’s a ready excuse for any male whose female partner accuses him of not listening. Men have poorer hearing than the opposite sex. Really. That’s the conclusion of an international team of researchers. Their recent study in Scientific Reports shows women enjoy hearing that is about two decibels keener than men’s. That isn’t a huge gap. But it mak…

Most Americans put health problems wrecking their finances high on the list of things they fret about. It’s with good cause. A new national survey shows that more than 31 million Americans borrowed $74 billion — yes, that’s with a “b” — last year to cover health care costs. And what’s worse: Most of them had health insurance. The findings came from…

Everyone has done it, whether they realize it or not. You pick up your phone, open a social media app and your thumbs get busy. Post after post goes by. Some you watch, some you ignore and others you don’t even absorb. Social media affects every user differently, based on our life experiences and how we engage with the algorithm. Social networks ma…

When it comes to reading a dogs’ emotions, many folks interpret what they expect to see — instead of what’s right in front of them. Researchers in a newly published study showed people videos of a dog reacting to positive and negative stimuli, including a treat, a leash, a vacuum cleaner and a scolding. Folks tended to assume what the dog was feeli…

When it comes to pet food ingredients, corn gets a bad rap. But is that really justified? Some folks think corn and other grains are common pet allergens. Truth is, food allergies are uncommon in pets, and most involve animal proteins, not plant proteins or grains. Corn meal or ground corn — the kinds of corn often found in pet foods — are highly d…

The healthiest diet for your rabbit or guinea pig is one that mimics that of their wild cousins. That means that about 85% of it should be fresh hay and grass. You may already know about hay, but what about grass? Ideally, rabbits and guinea pigs should have daily access to grass — while grazing outside or munching on potted grass indoors. If grass…

One in three U.S. households has a pet cat, yet many feline conditions are less defined than those of their canine cousins. A big reason is that cats have been understudied for years. But now, veterinarians are investing in making their clinics more cat-friendly. Some veterinary schools are also ramping up classes on feline health, and more researc…

Recurrent uveitis [you-vee-EYE-tus] is a leading cause of blindness in horses. It involves repeated inflammation of the uvea [YOU-vee-uh], the pigmented layer of the eye. In cases of equine autoimmune uveitis, a horse’s own immune system damages structures inside the eye and blocks light from the retina. In advanced cases, the damage is irreversibl…

One of the toughest problems facing dogs and pooch parents is chronic canine diarrhea — the kind that lasts or crops up intermittently for weeks to months. There are many causes, and even after lengthy diagnostic testing, a definitive diagnosis may be elusive. That’s when modifying the dog’s diet may help. An elimination diet trial is often recomme…

Like those of us who feel the sneeze, some of our feline friends suffer from seasonal allergies. Although cat allergies can occur any time of year, spring, summer and fall are usually the toughest seasons. Feline allergies can cause sneezing and respiratory abnormalities, but signs of skin irritation are often more common. These include scratching,…

About 1 in 10 dogs will develop heart disease, and though it’s less common in cats, they’re at risk too. That’s why heart disease should be on every pet parent’s radar. Heart disease comes in many forms, some present at birth but most developing over time. Some breeds are at higher risk of specific cardiac problems, but heart disease can affect any…

Brachycephalic [brake-ee-cef-AL-ick] — or flat-faced — dogs have lots of health challenges related to their altered anatomy. Their respiratory issues get lots of press but their ear problems, not so much. Compared with dogs with normal facial anatomy, brachycephalic dogs have narrower ear canals, allowing dirt and bacteria to get trapped deep in th…

Animal-assisted intervention, or A-A-I, includes three types of animal interactions beneficial to people. An example of animal-assisted therapy is using animals during counseling sessions. Animal-assisted activities use animals to decrease stressors — for example, in visits to hospital patients. In animal-assisted education, animals are used to imp…

Every year, when kids are surveyed about their dream jobs, being a veterinarian is near the top of the list. But it takes more than a big heart for animals to get there. In the United States, veterinary school — like medical school — is a four-year graduate program that follows college. Admission to veterinary school is super competitive: Applicant…

Do animals dream? Some researchers are convinced they do. After scouring years of research on sleeping animals, they’ve found three categories of evidence. First, in numerous species, the brain’s electrical activity during sleep intermittently mimics that of their awake activities, such as zebra finches singing. There’s behavioral evidence too. Man…

Exercise is a good way to reduce life’s stresses. It prods the body to produce oxytocin and endorphins, which help regulate mood, emotions and boost social bonding. Many of us, however, wouldn’t be too keen on squat-thrusting our way to an anxiety-free day. A recent study offers hope to the exercise averse, pointing to an activity that might not se…

Money talks. And sometimes it tells us to go take a walk. A team of University of Pennsylvania researchers wanted to study the best ways to motivate people to walk more. Their yearlong study involved 1,062 participants, age 67 on average, who had a higher-than-average risk for cardiovascular disease. The study participants already were becoming mor…

In today’s world of online influencers and dating apps, people can feel significant pressure to adhere to unrealistic physical standards. For some, this can lead to eating disorders like bulimia, which can cause serious health issues. Bulimia is most strongly associated with binging and purging. The common perception of those suffering from the con…

Your TV has a remote control so that you can channel surf from a sofa on the opposite side of the room. Toilets? Not so much. It might be time to create a flushing remote. For public toilets, anyway. Chinese researchers warn that flushing a public toilet might be fraught with danger. That’s because it releases a mist of invisible, bacteria-laden wa…

Spring is here and summer is right around the corner. For new parents, the idea of traveling for a vacation with a little one might seem impossible. The truth: It can be frustrating. But it can also be fun, if you plan well. To travel with a baby or toddler, the key is to stick to one or two destinations. This will help your tyke get settled in and…

Have you ever had a very productive morning and then suddenly crashed in the afternoon? The afternoon blahs struggle is real. Sleepiness is driven by circadian rhythms and sleep pressure. Circadian rhythms are greatly impacted by our environment, causing us to feel awake and alert during daylight and tired when it’s dark. Our internal alarm clock, …

Join us on Animal Airwaves-Live with Dr. Ronald Goncalves, clinical assistant professor of emergency and critical care at UF’s Small Animal Hospital, discussing pneumonia in dogs. This potentially life-threatening lung disease requires immediate veterinary attention. Dr. Goncalves will share insights on recognizing warning signs like coughing, labo…

In today’s world, flashy apps, social media platforms and bingeable shows are constantly vying for our attention. And they often succeed. But there’s a tradeoff — quality sleep. A night of tossing and turning can lead to a day of grogginess and irritability. Even our cave-dwelling ancestors, far removed from viral digital trends, were likely aware …

In this episode, we dive into the importance of bone health for patients undergoing spinal surgery, emphasizing how osteoporosis can impact surgical outcomes. We explore the benefits of establishing a bone health clinic where endocrinologists and spinal neurosurgeons collaborate to provide comprehensive care, improving both bone strength and recove…

Love the skin you’re in … by eating more fruits and vegetables. While it may not be the most intuitive treatment for a condition like psoriasis, a new study from researchers in London suggests it might be the key to relief. The chronic inflammatory skin disease causes scaly, flaky patches across the body and affects millions of people around the wo…

In a world where ease often surpasses healthier choices, ultra-processed foods, or U-P-Fs, have become an unfortunate, if tasty, diet staple. These mass-produced, packaged products, like chips and candy, are engineered to be delicious and convenient, but at a cost: increased risks of disease and early death. Now, new research from Drexel University…

The magnificent human brain is the most complex machine in the known universe. It’s more than the sum of its 86 billion neurons. Forget your outer appearance and beating heart. Our brain and mind define us. Now throw a bunch of microplastics in it. That, unfortunately, is what humanity is doing at an ever-increasing pace. A new study by scientists …

Having your horse vaccinated routinely is important to ensure it stay protected against infectious diseases. However, each horse’s immune system is different, so horse owners should talk to their veterinarian about which immunization program makes the most sense for their animal. On this show, Dr. Martha Mallicote, an equine internal medicine speci…

Much like the taste of cilantro, the way we feel pain is not one-size-fits-all. Sometimes, we might feel pain from an injury more intensely than expected. Other times, a similar injury won’t hurt as much. Now, a new study from Japanese researchers explores why that is by looking at how our expectations and uncertainty about a situation can influenc…

Parents who want to serve the healthiest beverages possible for their children and teens should stick to the basics. A panel of experts, hailing from the national academies in nutrition, pediatrics, pediatric dentistry and the American Heart Association, say parents should think as hard about what their children drink as what they eat. Here are the…

Before you spend a week gulping green juice, you might want to consider its impact on your health. A new study has found that just a three-day juice cleanse can significantly alter the beneficial bacteria in your mouth and gut, leading to potentially harmful consequences. “Unhealthy juice cleanse” might sound odd, but modern juicing techniques stri…

Have you ever felt like the more effort you put toward being “happy,” the less happy you become? You’re not alone. It’s a known phenomenon called the happiness paradox. While this paradox has been acknowledged, it hasn’t been fully understood. But a new study from the University of Toronto has shed some light on this contentment conundrum. For the …

Maintaining your muscle strength and health as you age may be as simple as adding a bunch of grapes to your daily diet. A new study suggests that grapes can cause changes in muscle-related genes, helping to prevent age-related muscle loss, especially in women. Researchers from Western New England University studied 480 mice over 2½ years to determi…

Envy the fruit bat. They can eat twice their body weight in sugary fruit without spiking blood sugar endangering their health. In fact, you’ll see a unicorn in the wild before you find a fruit bat with diabetes. We humans aren’t so lucky. Unlike our batty friends, we must watch what we eat. Those of us with diabetes avoid sugary treats. The bats ha…