Are you feeling stressed? Spend 20 minutes outside. Researchers from the University of Michigan say it can help. The team asked participants to spend 10 minutes or more outside, at least 3 times a week for 8 weeks. Participants chose what time of day and where, but were instructed to…
If you’re gaining weight, your fat consumption is likely to blame. In an effort to pinpoint what diet components cause weight gain, researchers from the University of Aberdeen fed 30 mice different diets that varied in fat, carbs, and protein. The team measured changes in body weight during the duration…
A fast-acting psychedelic drug could help treat depression and anxiety. This, from a Johns Hopkins University study that surveyed 362 adults. Researchers found that the use of a synthetic psychedelic, 5-MeO-DMT, is associated with improvements in depression and anxiety when taken in a controlled setting. Approximately 80% of those surveyed…
Relationship stigma from loved ones is linked to mental health issues. This, from a Pace University study that analyzed 467 adults in same-sex and/or interracial relationships. The team found that relationship stigma from friends was linked to greater depression symptoms and, in turn, poor overall health. Also, relationship stigma from…
Eating breakfast as a family could encourage body positivity among kids and teens. Researchers from University of Missouri Columbia analyzed the eating habits of more than 12,000 students from over 300 schools. These habits included how often the students ate breakfast and how often they ate meals with a parent….
Despite popular belief, music doesn’t always enhance creativity. In fact, it can produce the opposite effect. Researchers from Lancaster University found people who listened to music experienced a dip in creativity. This study presented participants with verbal tasks in either a quiet environment or one in which they listened to…
Overcoming fear relies on an unusual change in DNA. One day, DNA therapy could help to cure disorders like social anxiety or PTSD. University of Queensland researchers taught mice to fear and then unfear a specific sound. First, the mice were placed in a box and exposed to the sound,…
Diets high in fruits and vegetables and low in meat improve brain functions. A study from the American Academy of Neurology says your diet affects your brain’s mental and cognitive abilities. Researchers found that eating a lot of fruits and vegetables and small amounts of meat and dairy improved these…
Spending time in a city park can make you happier. This, according to a University Alabama study that examined the emotional impact of visiting parks in urban areas. Researchers found that spending just 20 minutes in a city park improved emotional wellbeing. Immersing oneself in the natural environment and…
Our body clock is what controls when we’re most alert, and when we’re most tired. Research has found that we can control our body clocks and level of alertness by working out at specific times of the day. Normally, melatonin levels begin to increase at night and decrease in the…
When we feel ashamed of our secrets, we’re more likely to think about them over and over again. We can better cope by shifting away from shame and toward guilt. A Columbia University study asked 1,000 participants questions about their secrets, including how much shame and guilt they associated with…
Persons with untreated sleep apnea are prone to forget important details about their pasts. Researchers at RMIT University compared 44 adults with untreated sleep apnea to 44 healthy individuals. They assessed each participant’s recall of memories from different stages of life. Results showed that those with sleep apnea remembered significantly…
