newsflash
PLASTIC FACTS • The plastic produced worldwide each year weighs 300 million tons—the same as the weight of the entire human population.
• 91 percent of plastic is not recycled. • The single-use plastic bags used worldwide in just one year, if joined end to end, would encircle the earth 4,200 times.
• At the rate we’re going, the plastic in our oceans will weigh more than the fish by 2050.
Probiotics Protect Against Viral Infections Probiotics can improve immune function and reduce the chances of getting a viral respiratory infection, such as the flu, according to a review of studies that followed more than 700 people. Three popular strains of probiotics found in supplements proved to be effective: Lactobacillus was best, followed by Bifidobacterium, and then Lactococcus. A healthy balance of bacteria in the gut enhances digestion, improves nutrient absorption, and enables good immune function to resist infections. Although diet plays a pivotal role, probiotic supplements are an additional, helpful tool.
COFFEE
LOWERS RISK FOR HEART FAILURE
People who drink one or more cups of caffeinated coffee per day have a lower risk of heart failure, according to an analysis of studies of more than 21,000 Americans, led by the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical School in Aurora. Deaths from heart disease were also lower among coffee drinkers. The lowest risk was found among people who drank 2 cups of coffee daily. However, individual risk can vary, depending upon other lifestyle factors. 6
ELECTROLYTES
PREVENT EXERCISERELATED MUSCLE CRAMPS
Exercise that makes you sweat can lead to muscle cramps, especially if you’re working out in hot weather. And drinking plain water— without electrolytes—can make things worse. In fact, plain water increases the odds of developing cramps, because the water dilutes the electrolytes in your body instead of replacing them. That’s what researchers at Australia’s Edith Cowan University found in a study of 10 men who went for hot-weather runs lasting 40–60 minutes. The lesson: electrolyte depletion is a bigger problem than dehydration. The solution: add electrolytes, including sodium, magnesium, and potassium, to your water when you’re doing physical activity that makes you sweat. And drink water with electrolytes after the workout as well.
June 2021
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4/26/21 10:16 AM
Quantum
