Health & Fitness

Over the past several months the CDC has created a list of health conditions that increase the risk of severe illness from COVID-19.¹ These include Type 2 diabetes, cancer, obesity, serious heart conditions and chronic kidney disease.

To reduce your risk, it would make sense to address the health issues that raise it. But some are not easily or quickly changed. However, you can make a significant difference by making one change to your daily routine: optimizing your vitamin D level.

Getting the right amount of Vitamin D is likely a beneficial strategy that is the easiest and least expensive of most options in minimizing the risk of any infectious disease in the coming months, including COVID-19 and the flu.

Vitamin D deficiency affects men and women of all age groups and races,^2,3,4 including areas of the world where there is abundant sunshine, such as in the Mediterranean.⁵ This is vital since vitamin D deficiency has been identified in numerous studies as a risk factor for COVID-19 and related complications,⁶ including severe disease⁷ and death.⁸

Vitamin D Level Predictive of Disease Severity

Dr. Grigorios Panagiotou, from Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals in the U.K., has released data from yet another study demonstrating people who required intensive care were more often deficient in vitamin D than those who were not admitted to the ITU (intensive therapy unit).⁹

The data were collected from a single center, and Panagiotou and his team analyzed the inpatient information from 134 patients who had a positive COVID-19 test; he also looked at each person’s serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level taken on admission to the hospital. The researchers were interested in the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in relationship to COVID-19 severity and mortality.¹⁰

While the mean vitamin D levels were comparable between those in the intensive care unit and those in the medical unit, only 19% of the patients in the intensive care had levels over 50 nmol/L (20 ng/mL), compared to 39.1% of those in the medical unit. Essentially, they discovered that patients in the ITU were more likely to have a Vitamin D deficiency than those in the medical unit, even though they were younger.

Once patients were identified as having insufficient levels of vitamin D, they were immediately treated with Colecalciferol, a vitamin D supplement.¹¹ The researchers theorize the lower mortality rates in their study may have been related to the rapid treatment for deficiency.¹² Endocrine Today reports that the researchers wrote:¹³

“Vitamin D receptors are highly expressed in B- and T-lymphocytes, suggesting a role in modulating innate and adaptive immune responses. [Vitamin D] levels reach their nadir at the end of winter, and low levels are associated with increased risk of acute respiratory tract infections during winter [and are] mitigated by vitamin D supplementation.

Clinical trials involving vitamin D supplementation in COVID-19 are ongoing but may not report within the time frame of this pandemic.”

There are numerous other multinational studies with results that have demonstrated a strong association between vitamin D levels and disease severity. On the strength of that evidence, France, Scotland and the U.K. are taking supplementation and optimization of vitamin D seriously.^14,15,16

Many of the past studies were observational and could not be used to make links to causation based on the design of the study. However, studies that can demonstrate causation are currently underway. For a discussion of the past, current and some of the planned studies, see “Vitamin D in the Prevention of COVID-19.”

New Study Focused on Question of Genetic Link

Data are being gathered from 628 health care workers from Nottingham University hospitals as scientists look for a genetic link that may explain why “blacks, Asians and minority ethnic people (referred to as BAME populations in Britain)”¹⁷ have a higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19. U.S. News reports this population makes up approximately one-third of those in critical care units, but only 13% of the general U.K. population.

The authors of other studies have realized various outcomes. In one, data were gathered from February 1, 2020, to April 25, 2020. Scientists used the data to analyze deaths in hospitals from confirmed cases of COVID-19.¹⁸ The researchers concluded:

“We have quantified a range of clinical risk factors for death from COVID-19, some of which were not previously well characterised, in the largest cohort study conducted by any country to date. People from Asian and black groups are at markedly increased risk of in-hospital death from COVID-19, and contrary to some prior speculation this is only partially attributable to pre-existing clinical risk factors or deprivation …"

In the past, some experts have identified differing socioeconomic and cultural reasons for the increased rates of disease and death. However, Ana Valdes, Ph.D., who is leading the Nottingham study, believes these reasons cannot completely explain the different infection rates. She is quoted in US News as saying:¹⁹

"… some of the people we had in our (Nottingham) hospitals who had the worst cases, really serious issues, were consultants and surgeons … exposure in the hospitals is really the same for Asians, blacks and whites. They are in the same wards. And at the same level of exposure, we see our Asian colleagues had a much higher prevalence of the symptomatic disease."

Vitamin D Levels Also Being Assessed

Some experts are skeptical that a genetic link might be found. Winston Morgan, Ph.D. from the University of East London, makes the argument that:²⁰

"There are certain genetic mutations that can be found among specific ethnic groups that can play a role in the body’s immune response. But because of the loose definition of race (primarily based on genes for skin colour) and recent population movements, these should be seen as unreliable indicators when it comes to susceptibility to viral infections. Indeed, race is a social construct with no scientific basis."

Valdes admits that the critics of the hypothesis may be correct, but the way to find that out is through testing. She anticipates that if a link is established, it could lead to health recommendations involving dietary changes to help support a person's immune response. A link between people of color and low vitamin D levels may lead to a recommendation for vitamin D supplementation.

Despite current evidence to the contrary,^21,22 Morgan is also skeptical that vitamin D deficiencies increase the risk for darker-skinned people to experience serious COVID-19. In his article in The Guardian, he wrote:²³

"Another target that has come in for speculation is vitamin D deficiency … In terms of a link to susceptibility to Covid-19, this has not been proven. But very little work on this has been done and the pandemic should prompt more research on the medical consequences of vitamin D deficiency generally."

Vitamin D Works Beyond the Immune System

Although raising your vitamin D levels is an important step in protecting yourself from infectious disease, it also plays an important role in other areas of health. This means that while the threat of COVID-19 may have prompted you to take action to raise your vitamin D levels, you’ll also likely experience additional health benefits from doing so.

For example, vitamin D has a positive effect on Crohn's disease, an inflammatory bowel disease characterized by dysbiosis. The results from one study with vitamin D supplements showed that vitamin D influenced the gut bacteria in those with Crohn's disease but not in the healthy control group.²⁴ The study team said they believed vitamin D may be able to modulate the composition of the bacteria and increase beneficial strains.

Vitamin D insufficiency has been associated with an increased inflammatory response in the body, leading to depression, pain and cancer. In one paper the writers addressed the need for effective treatment of depression and concluded:²⁵

"Effective detection and treatment of inadequate vitamin D levels in persons with depression and other mental disorders may be an easy and cost-effective therapy which could improve patients’ long-term health outcomes as well as their quality of life."

Researchers have also made an association between vitamin D levels and cancer. Based on a PubMed database search in 2006, researchers believe they found evidence that "The majority of studies found a protective relationship between sufficient vitamin D status and lower risk of cancer."²⁶

In 2018, a prospective study of several thousand participants in Japan produced results indicating that those with higher vitamin D levels had lower risks of all types of cancer.²⁷ Other scientists have associated it with breast cancer tumor aggressiveness.²⁸

In 2020, one team reported that based on a review of the research, there was evidence for the assertion that adequate vitamin D levels could prevent and improve the prognosis in some cancers, including colon cancer and blood cancers.²⁹ Vitamin D is essential for maintaining a healthy skeleton because it regulates the metabolism of both calcium and phosphate.³⁰ This helps reduce the risk of osteoporosis, frailty, falls and subsequent loss of independence.

Test First, Calculate and Then Supplement

I believe vitamin D is vital to improving immune function so that your body can resist viral infections. In “Vitamin D Combats Viral Infections and Boosts Immune System,” you’ll find an interview with three vitamin D experts and more information about how this simple step can reduce mortality risk from infectious disease, including COVID-19.

During the last part of winter, most people’s serum vitamin D levels drop to their lowest point. As I’ve written before, experts believe there will be a potential rise in the number of people exposed to SARS-CoV-2 this fall, which they are calling a “second wave.” It’s important to raise your vitamin D level to between 60 ng/mL and 80 ng/mL before that happens.

The only way to know your level is to do a simple blood test, which you can take at home. One of the easiest ways to do this is to participate in the GrassrootsHealth nutrition project, which includes a vitamin D test kit. Once you have your current level, you can calculate the supplemental dose you might need to raise your level.

You’ll find an explanation of how to interpret your vitamin D results and calculate the dose of vitamin D3 needed to raise the measurement to your desired level in “Your Vitamin D Level Must Reach 60 ng/mL Before the Second Wave.” You’ll find more help on how to time your supplements at GrassrootsHealth.

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I’ve written many articles detailing lifestyle and dietary strategies that may decrease your COVID-19 risk by boosting your immune function and general health. Now we can add fermented foods to the list, which shouldn’t come as such a great surprise, considering the influence your gut health has on your immune system.

The study,¹ posted July 7, 2020, on the pre-print server medRxiv, conducted by researchers in Berlin, Germany, looked at whether diet might play a role in COVID-19 death rates. Interestingly, mortality rates tend to be lower in countries where consumption of traditionally fermented foods is commonplace. As reported by News Medical Life Sciences:²

“The researchers say that if their hypothesis is confirmed in future studies, COVID-19 will be the first infectious disease epidemic to involve biological mechanisms that are associated with a loss of ‘nature.’ Significant changes in the microbiome caused by modern life and less fermented food consumption may have increased the spread or severity of the disease, they say.”

Fermented Veggie Consumption May Lower COVID-19 Mortality

The researchers obtained data from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Comprehensive European Food Consumption Database and compared consumption levels with COVID-19 mortality statistics (deaths per capita) for each country, obtained from the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center.

The EFSA database includes statistics on countries’ consumption of fermented vegetables, pickled or marinated vegetables, fermented milk, yogurt and fermented sour milk specifically.

They also looked at potential confounders, such as gross domestic product, population density, percentage of the population over the age of 64, unemployment and obesity rates. According to the authors:³

“Of all the variables considered, including confounders, only fermented vegetables reached statistical significance with the COVID-19 death rate per country.

For each g/day increase in the average national consumption of fermented vegetables, the mortality risk for COVID-19 decreased by 35.4%. Adjustment did not change the point estimate and results were still significant.”

Probiotics May Ease Depression

In related news, a review⁴ of seven small clinical trials has found probiotics and/or prebiotics may be helpful for those struggling with depression and anxiety. While these mental health challenges are epidemics in their own right, the global lockdowns certainly have not made the situation any better.

According to the authors,⁵ all of the studies “demonstrated significant improvements in one or more of the outcomes” compared with no treatment, placebo, or baseline measurements, leading them to conclude that “utilizing pre/probiotic may be a potentially useful adjunctive treatment” for patients with depression and/or anxiety.

The review builds on earlier studies that have shown people with depression tend to have higher amounts of specific gut bacteria than those who are not depressed.

While it seems the gut microbiome’s role in health is a very recent discovery, as early as 1898 — yes, 122 years ago — a paper⁶ in The Journal of the American Medical Association proposed that intestinal microbes might play a role in melancholia. As noted in the 2019 paper, “The Microbiome and Mental Health: Hope or Hype?”:⁷

“The primary tenet of FMT [fecal microbiota transplantation] is that dysbiosis within the human host gut microbiome predisposes an individual to disease. The exact mechanisms through which this occurs have not yet been established, but several potential direct and indirect pathways exist through which the gut microbiota can modulate the gut–brain axis.

These pathways include endocrine (cortisol), immune (cytokines) and neural (vagus and enteric nervous system) pathways, and the assumption is that introducing microflora from a healthy individual will help recolonize the system with a microbial pattern more in keeping with wellness either by establishing the new healthy microbiota or by allowing the host to ‘reset’ their own microflora to a pre-illness state.”

Bacteria Associated With Mental Health and Depression

Two types of gut bacteria in particular, Coprococcus and Dialister bacteria, have been shown to be “consistently depleted” in individuals diagnosed with clinical depression. According to the authors of a study published in the April 2019 issue of Nature Microbiology:⁸

“Surveying a large microbiome population cohort (Flemish Gut Flora Project, n = 1,054) with validation in independent data sets, we studied how microbiome features correlate with host quality of life and depression.

Butyrate-producing Faecalibacterium and Coprococcus bacteria were consistently associated with higher quality of life indicators. Together with Dialister, Coprococcus spp. were also depleted in depression, even after correcting for the confounding effects of antidepressants.”

The researchers went on to analyze and catalogue the neuroactive potential of these gut bacteria, finding that those associated with good mental health had the ability to synthesize the dopamine metabolite 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, while those associated with depression produce γ-aminobutyric acid. Other studies have identified yet other microbial profiles associated with better or worse mental health. For example:

Zinc for Mental Health and Immune Function

Aside from fermented foods, zinc is another dietary factor that impacts both your mental health and COVID-19 risk. As noted in a 2013 article in Psychology Today:¹³

“Zinc is an essential mineral that may be lacking in modern processed and strict vegetarian diets, as major sources are meat, poultry, and oysters … Since the body has no special zinc storage capability, its important to consume a bit of zinc on a regular basis.

What does zinc have to do with depression? It turns out that zinc plays a part in modulating the brain and body’s response to stress all along the way …

The highest amount of zinc in the body is found in our brains, particularly in a part of our brains called the hippocampus. Zinc deficiency can lead to symptoms of depression, ADHD, difficulties with learning and memory, seizures, aggression, and violence …

In humans, zinc has been found to be low in the serum of those suffering from depression. In fact, the more depressed someone is, the lower the zinc level … Zinc supplementation has been shown to have antidepressant effects in humans …”

Zinc May Be Crucial Against COVID-19

Zinc is also important for your immune defense against the common cold and other viral infections, including COVID-19, and is a component of enzymes involved in tissue remodeling. As noted in Psychology Today:¹⁴

“Low zinc also seems to affect inflammation and immunity. The T cells in our immune system, which hunt and kill infection, don’t work well without zinc and also release more calls for help (leading to more inflammation, via IL-6 and IL-1) in the case of zinc deficiency.”

Interestingly, low zinc levels are associated with a loss of taste and smell, and these are also two early symptoms of COVID-19 infection. This suggests zinc deficiency may indeed be a key factor in the illness.

Researchers have also argued that one of the key mechanisms of action of the drug hydroxychloroquine is its ability to shuttle zinc into the cells. In fact, zinc appears to be a “magic ingredient” required to prevent viral replication.¹⁵

This is likely why, when taken early along with zinc, the drug appears to have a high rate of success against COVID-19. As noted in the preprint paper, “Does Zinc Supplementation Enhance the Clinical Efficacy of Chloroquine / Hydroxychloroquine to Win Todays Battle Against COVID-19?” published April 8, 2020:¹⁶

“Besides direct antiviral effects, CQ/HCQ [chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine] specifically target extracellular zinc to intracellular lysosomes where it interferes with RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity and coronavirus replication.

As zinc deficiency frequently occurs in elderly patients and in those with cardiovascular disease, chronic pulmonary disease, or diabetes, we hypothesize that CQ/HCQ plus zinc supplementation may be more effective in reducing COVID-19 morbidity and mortality than CQ or HCQ in monotherapy.”

Being a natural zinc ionophore (meaning it improves zinc uptake by your cells), the supplement quercetin also has very similar mechanisms of action and appears to be a viable alternative to hydroxychloroquine.

Simple Strategies to Lower Your COVID-19 Risk

Personally, I take quercetin and zinc at bedtime as a prophylactic each day. The reason it’s best to take them in the evening — several hours after your last meal and before the long fast of sleeping — is because quercetin is also a senolytic (i.e., it selectively kills senescent or old, damaged cells) that is activated by fasting. So, by taking it at night, you maximize its other benefits.

If you’re not already eating fermented foods, now would be a good time to consider adding some into your diet. Fermented vegetables are easy and inexpensive to make at home, and provide a whole host of health benefits, thanks to the beneficial bacteria they provide. To learn more, see “Fermenting Foods — One of the Easiest and Most Creative Aspects of Making Food from Scratch” and “Tips for Fermenting at Home.”

If you have symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 infection, then my best recommendation is to start nebulizing food grade hydrogen peroxide at 0.1% as discussed in “Could Hydrogen Peroxide Treat Coronavirus?”

I would also make sure that your vitamin D levels are adequate, as discussed in my Vitamin D in the Prevention of COVID-19 report. If you don’t know your vitamin D level and have not been in the sun or taken over 5,000 units of vitamin D a day, it would likely be helpful to take one bolus dose of 100,000 units, and make sure you are taking plenty of magnesium, which helps convert the vitamin D to its active immune modulating form.

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With 12 new cases in New South Wales reported on Thursday, all of which were locally acquired, NSW Health is urging the younger population to get tested, even with mild symptoms.

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A new study finds healthcare workers in the United States are struggling with a suite of mental-health challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study reports healthcare workers are at greater risk than the general public of experiencing health problems such as depression.

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The actress posted a new bikini photo on Instagram, crediting her nutrition coach and trainer for helping her get toned.

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Global changes in land use are disrupting the balance of wild animal communities in our environment, and species that carry diseases known to infect humans appear to be benefiting, finds a new study.

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Researchers have now identified a protein called histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) as the orchestrator of the immune system's inflammation response to infection. By using both specially cultured cells and small animal models, HDAC3 was found to be directly involved in the production of agents that help kill off harmful pathogens as well as the restoration of homeostasis, the body's state of equilibrium. This work shows that some of the methods being tested to fight cancer and harmful inflammation, such as sepsis, that target molecules like HDAC3 could actually have unintended and deadly consequences.

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From our picks of the best face masks for exercising in to expert tips for preventing 'maskne', here's your complete guide to everything you need to know about buying and using face masks.

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Medical researchers provide new insights into how ovarian cancer grows and evolves within a person.

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Because the microbiota is so complex, containing hundreds of different bacterial species, it is not known how the presence of microbes in the intestine shaped the antibodies that are present even before we are challenged by an infection. Researchers have now shown how these beneficial microbes reprogram the repertoire of white blood B cells that produce antibodies and how this helps counter infections.

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Scientists have identified a new enzyme called 'TBK1' that plays a central role in regulating the degradation and clearance of the huntingtin protein and introduces chemical modifications that block its aggregation.

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A new study found solitary activities like fishing, hunting or exploring outside are key to building strong bonds between children and nature.

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More than 70 million people worldwide suffer from glaucoma. Treatment options have traditionally included eye drops to reduce the fluid the eye produces or surgery to unclog the eye's drainage. But a new study provides insight into which patients might benefit most from a noninvasive treatment called selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT), which relieves pressure by using a laser to alter the eye tissue, resulting in better fluid drainage.

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A new study has found that the investigational vaccine known as mRNA-1273 protected mice from infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

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Scientists are increasingly trying to use the body's own immune system to fight cancer. A new study now shows the strategies tumor cells use to evade this attack. The method developed for this work contributes to a better understanding of the ''arms race'' between immune defense and disease. The results could help to improve modern therapeutic approaches.

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An international research team has found a new approach that may be able to reduce bone loss in osteoporosis and maintain bone health.

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The receptor responsible for activating the energy-burning property of brown fat in humans has been identified. The next step is to investigate drugs that fit the receptor and trigger the response as a means to treat obesity and type-2 diabetes.

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Experiments with DNA molecules show that their mechanical properties are completely different from what those of macroscopic objects - and this has important consequences for biology and medicine. Scientists has now succeeded in explaining these properties in detail by combining ideas from civil engineering and physics.

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An international research team has found a new approach that may be able to reduce bone loss in osteoporosis and maintain bone health.

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In Boston, we believe warmer is better. Our cravings for warmth are formed in the cold, dark winter nights when the prospect of summer seems impossibly remote. But with July temperatures reaching near 100° F, our winter dreams are becoming a summertime nightmare. Dangerous heat exposures in Boston and other cities across the US aren’t felt equally. Urban areas with less green space and more pavement can be up to 15 degrees hotter than other, greener places. These urban heat islands are much more likely to be poor, minority neighborhoods, and their origins can be traced straight back to redlining that began in the 1930s.

This summer, the disparate heat risk these communities face has piled onto the outsized harm that COVID-19 has already wrought upon them. The good news is that we can take actions that protect our most vulnerable urban neighbors and ourselves from COVID-19 and extreme heat.

What is heat-related illness?

Our ability to cool off has limits. When the heat is too strong, our bodies overheat. When that happens, we can get headaches and muscle cramps, and vomit. Severe overheating, when body temperature reaches 104° F or higher, can lead to heatstroke that can damage kidneys, brains, and muscles.

Even for people who are healthy, heat can be dangerous and cause heat-related illness. Outdoor workers, athletes (especially football players and young athletes), and women who are pregnant should be especially careful when it’s hot outside.

Who is at greater risk from high temperatures?

Heat can be a risk for those who are healthy, but it’s particularly risky for people who have existing health problems. It can even be lethal. Decades of research show that people die during heat waves, and that these deaths are not occurring among people who were likely to die soon anyway.

Many of us probably know someone who is at greater risk from too much heat. The elderly — particularly those with heart failure, kidney disease, and chronic lung disease — and the homeless are at high risk when temperatures soar. Less well known are the others who need to be vigilant when extreme heat hits, including parents of children with asthma and people with diabetes. Anyone taking medicines, such as diuretics, that can affect their body’s ability to sweat or hold onto water may also be more vulnerable.

How can you keep yourself and others safe during heat waves?

More than half the people in the US may have received some form of warning during our most recent heat wave. But research on these mass alerts shows they may not be as effective as we’d like. And now, with COVID-19, many people may understandably be less interested in going to cooling centers, which are often a mainstay of heat wave response plans. This makes actions you can take all the more important. You can keep yourself and others safe by taking these steps:

• Think about whether your health, or the health of your neighbors or loved ones, is at risk from heat. If so, make sure everyone — including you — understands how to stay safe during heatwaves.
• Check up on your neighbors and friends. Call or text first, and knock on a door if you have to. You can do this while wearing a mask and practicing physical distancing.
• Sign up for heat alerts. Many city or town governments have a website where you can sign up to receive text messages to alert you of dangerous heat conditions. Free services, such as iAlert, also can send you alerts. Be aware, though, that the alert may go out at temperatures above what is known to be risky for health.
• Find out where the cooling centers are in your city, and whether they are still open during the pandemic. Many may be implementing new social distancing guidelines or limiting their capacity. Tell others who might be at risk about them. During heat waves, many cities offer free transportation to these centers. Many cities have websites that can help you find the cooling center nearest you. Or a citywide number to call or text, such as 311 for the city of Boston, may connect you to many different services like these.
• Drink plenty of water during heat waves. Avoid too much caffeine and alcohol, which can promote dehydration.
• Cover windows with curtains, shades, paper, or any material that will keep the sun from shining in.
• Eat food that can be served cold, so you don’t have to use your oven or range.
• If and when the temperature falls below 70, which in many places happens early in the morning and at night after the sun has gone down, open windows and use a fan to circulate air.

What other steps can you take?

It’s right to focus our immediate actions on protecting people most at risk. But we also need to consider recent heat waves a sign of things to come. We know climate change has already led to more severe heat waves throughout the United States. Curbing carbon pollution by taking these actions and others can help prevent more frequent and dangerous heat waves.

We can make our cities greener. The difference in temperature between the hottest and coolest parts of cities can be 20° F or more, because of how much the urban landscape absorbs heat. Planting trees and other plants can make a big difference toward reducing heat in cities. Green space doesn’t just keep us cool, it also keeps us healthy. Trees remove air pollutants that can further harm people who are at risk from heat. Vegetation prevents water runoff. In Boston, runoff from heavy spring rains last year led to pollution levels in the Charles River that forced cancellation of all summer swimming events. Climate change has increased heavy downpours in New England and around the country. Trees can help make our cities more resilient to climate change.

We can work to reduce traffic congestion. This is a growing problem in cities all over the country, although the pandemic has cut down on commuting traffic in many places. Use public transit or carpool when possible, given the need to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. If you buy a car, remember that greater fuel efficiency reduces carbon pollution and other pollutants that damage lungs, hearts, and brains — and lowers monthly costs. Improvements to make public transit accessible, affordable, and reliable help everyone. Find out what’s going on in your community about transit, bike lanes, and pedestrian ways. Advocate by speaking out at community meetings (many of which have moved online), and by voting for improvements through local and state referendums.

We can conserve energy at home. If you are redoing your roof, consider getting a green roof, or at least choose light-colored roofing material. Many cities and states offer free home energy audits, plus incentives to improve a home’s insulation and replace old appliances with newer, more energy-efficient models.

Follow me on Twitter @DrAriBernstein

The post Rising temperatures: How to avoid heat-related illnesses and deaths appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

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The current generation of neural implants record enormous amounts of neural activity, then transmit these brain signals through wires to a computer. But, so far, when researchers have tried to create wireless brain-computer interfaces to do this, it took so much power to transmit the data that the implants generated too much heat to be safe for the patient. A new study suggests how to solve his problem -- and thus cut the wires.

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New research shows that children's own temperament could be driving the amount of TV they watch. The research shows how the brain responses of 10-month-old babies watching a clip from Disney's Fantasia on repeat could predict whether they would enjoy watching fast-paced TV shows six months later. The findings are important for the ongoing debate around early TV exposure.

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Jennifer Hawkins has always been health conscious. A career spanning modelling and high profile brand ambassadorships ensured it. But now the first-time mum, she explains exclusively to Body+Soul how her daily habits have had to make way for her biggest job yet - being mother to daughter Frankie. 

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