Nutrition Corner

Watch out for Sneaky Salmonella: Salmonella bacteria are responsible for causing salmonellosis, a common food-borne illness that affects an estimated 1.35 million Americans annually, leading to 26,500 hospitalizations and more deaths than any other type of food poisoning. Infectious disease specialist Dr. Elizabeth Hohmann highlights the bacteria's ability to cause unexpected complications, such as infecting an abdominal aortic aneurysm, demonstrating its elusive and dangerous nature.

Baby Carrots May Help Boost Immunity and Prevent Disease: Eating baby carrots three times weekly notably raised skin carotenoid levels in young adults, as observed at NUTRITION 2024. Supplementing with beta carotene alongside carrot consumption further increased carotenoid levels, despite a study finding that approximately 90% of Americans fail to meet recommended fruit and vegetable intake.

Recipe for The Day

Shrimp Gumbo with Andouille Sausage: Experience the essence of New Orleans cuisine with this authentic Shrimp Gumbo with Andouille Sausage recipe, known for its hearty and spicy flavors. Combining succulent shrimp, smoky sausage, and a harmonious blend of textures, this dish promises a delicious taste of Southern Louisiana in every spoonful.

Lifestyle & Fitness Focus

Motivate Yourself to Walk More

A randomized controlled trial published in Circulation on April 7, 2024, explored methods to increase daily step counts among older adults.

Over a thousand participants, averaging 67 years old, were equipped with activity trackers and encouraged to walk daily while setting step goals.

They were divided into four groups: one offered chances to earn game points, another money incentives, a third both money and game points, and a fourth receiving daily text reminders of their previous day's steps.

After one year, all groups showed an increase of at least 1,500 steps per day compared to baseline, with the incentive-based groups averaging higher increases—around 500 more steps daily for the money or game groups, and nearly 900 more for the combined incentives group.

This study highlights the effectiveness of nudges and incentives in promoting physical activity among older adults.

Participants who received monetary rewards, game points, or a combination of both were notably more motivated to exceed their daily step goals.

For those looking to replicate these results, consider setting reminders on your smartphone and using walking apps that incorporate gamification features and rewards to enhance motivation and adherence to exercise routines.

The findings underscore the potential of behavioral interventions like incentives and reminders to support healthier lifestyles through increased physical activity.

By integrating these strategies into daily routines, individuals can potentially boost their overall activity levels and improve health outcomes over time.

Gratitude May Bring Longer Life

A recent study published in JAMA Psychiatry reveals that older women who exhibit higher levels of gratitude may experience a lower risk of premature death.

Researchers from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health analyzed data from over 49,000 women, average age 79, who participated in the Nurse’s Health Study.

Participants completed a gratitude questionnaire in 2016, and researchers followed up three years later to track mortality rates, finding that those with the highest gratitude scores had a 9% lower risk of death from any cause compared to those with the lowest scores.

The findings suggest that cultivating feelings of gratitude could potentially increase longevity among older adults.

The study noted that gratitude appeared to offer protective benefits across various causes of death, with the most significant effect observed in reducing deaths from heart disease, the leading cause among the deceased participants.

Researchers highlighted the potential health benefits of intentionally fostering gratitude through practices such as regular reflection or discussion of things one is grateful for.

Lead author Ying Chen emphasized the importance of further research to better understand gratitude as a psychological resource for promoting healthy aging.

The study underscores gratitude as a potentially powerful tool in public health efforts aimed at enhancing overall well-being and longevity among aging populations.

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