Health Highlight: Thu. 9, Mar.
Today’s highlights: the impact and prevalence of body dysmorphic disorder; how coffee alternatives compare nutritionally; examining the benefits of drinking red wine daily.
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🔗: Body dysmorphic disorder is more common than eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia, yet few people are aware of its dangers
✍🏼 By: Eva Fisher, Fugen Neziroglu, Jamie Feusner • @ConversationUS
Summary: This article discusses the impact and prevalence of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), a psychological condition in which people obsess over perceived flaws in their appearance, resulting in negative emotions and compulsive behaviors.
Context: BDD affects 2.5% of women and 2.2% of men in the United States, making it more common than anorexia and bulimia. People with BDD are prone to depression and suicidal ideation.
Support Info: People with BDD frequently seek cosmetic or dermatological treatment, but the obsession can spread to other parts of the body continuing the cycle.
Analysis: Medications like Prozac and Zoloft (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs) and cognitive behavioral therapy can be effective treatments. Genetic factors, childhood bullying, and trauma are all possible causes of BDD.
Conclusion: On the International OCD Foundation’s website, you can find additional resources pertaining to the diagnosis and treatment of body dysmorphic disorder.
🏷️ Tags: #bodydysmorphicdisorder #BDD #MentalHealth #Suicide
🔗: Energy-boosting coffee alternatives: What to know How do 4 popular wellness drinks stack up nutritionally?
✍🏼 By: Nancy Oliveira • @HarvardHealth
Summary: This article looks at coffee alternatives like tea, yerba mate, matcha, and chicory for their potential health benefits and potential downsides in comparison to coffee. This is important because most Americans drink coffee or something similar to coffee every day.
Context: According to the National Coffee Association, 70% of American adults drink coffee, while one-third of Americans drink tea. Coffee contains caffeine and antioxidant compounds that promote health, whereas tea contains less caffeine and flavonols, another type of antioxidant.
Support Info: Yerba mate contains polyphenols and approximately the same amount of caffeine as coffee. It has been shown to promote weight loss and lower blood cholesterol levels, but research is mixed. Yaupon tea contains theobromine, antioxidants, and chlorogenic acid. Matcha is high in caffeine and polyphenols, whereas chicory coffee is caffeine-free and high in prebiotic fiber.
Analysis: Tea, yerba mate, yaupon, matcha, and chicory coffee all contain plant compounds that may have health benefits. However, there is no compelling evidence to support claims of weight loss, cardiovascular health, or cancer prevention.
Conclusion: While coffee and tea are popular and have health benefits, drinks such as yerba mate, yaupon tea, matcha, and chicory coffee may provide similar benefits and appeal to those seeking alternatives. However, before consuming these beverages, it is critical to be aware of any potential drawbacks, such as high caffeine content or harmful compounds.
🏷️ Tags: #Coffee #YerbaMate #Matcha #Tea #Chicory
🔗: Is Red Wine Good for Your Heart?
✍🏼 By: Cleveland Clinic Writer(s) • @ClevelandClinic
Summary: This article looks at the health claims that drinking red wine can have positive health benefits. It looks at the idea that drinking a glass of red wine every day makes you healthier and helps you live longer.
Context: Red wine contains polyphenols and resveratrol, both of which are antioxidants that protect the body, “Resveratrol helps activate an enzyme called telomerase, which protects genome integrity… And because of that, this resveratrol has been associated with preventing cardiovascular disease and actually extending longevity.”
Support Info: The French paradox, an anecdote that people in France have greater health outcomes and longevity than Americans, suggests that red wine consumption is responsible for lower rates of heart disease. But this disparity is likely explained by other factors.
Analysis: The amount of resveratrol required to match blood levels seen in studies would be impossible to achieve through red wine alone. There is no clear cause-and-effect link that makes a daily glass of red wine medically advised.
Conclusion: Drinking less alcohol is better for health than drinking more, and doctors do not recommend starting to drink red wine to achieve better health outcomes. “Most people want to hear that alcohol is good for you — and that’s obviously not the case,” says Dr. Bruemmer. “It can have a very toxic effect on your body.”
🏷️ Tags: #Health #Wellness #RedWine #FrenchParadox #Alcohol #HeartHealth