Canada took a step toward decriminalizing hard drugs to fight overdose crisis
(Laura McQuillan/ CBC News) — When British Columbia decriminalizes small amounts of some illicit drugs next year, Canada will join a growing number of countries that have taken strides toward removing penalties for drug use.
But as many Canadian public health experts call on lawmakers to go a step further — and replace …
Best exercise time may differ for men and women, study suggests
(Philippa Roxby/ BBC News) — Exercise is good for you whenever you do it, but the time of day to achieve the best result may be different for women and men, according to a US study.
It found women burned more body fat during morning exercise, whereas evenings counted more for men.
Much of what is known on this topic is based on studies
A nutritionist shares the 35 best foods to boost mood and brain energy levels
(Patricia Bannon/ CNBC News) — Food and mood are so intricately connected that they’ve inspired a new area of brain study: Nutritional psychiatry, which examines how what we eat impacts how we feel.
As a dietitian and nutritionist who has researched and experienced this connection firsthand, …
Coffee drinkers, even those with a sweet tooth, live longer
(Will Pass/ Web MD) — Coffee lovers, rejoice. Your morning ritual may lead to a longer life, and a spoonful of sugar could sweeten the deal, based on a recent study.
Among more than 170,000 people in the U.K., those who drank about two to four cups of coffee a day, with or without sugar, had a lower rate of death than those …
Mothers who breastfeed have lower risk of postpartum depression
(Adam Greenland/ Very Well Mind) — A recent study, published in the Journal of Women’s Health, has found positive associations between breastfeeding and improved maternal mental health. In this analysis, researchers dug deep into the existing body of research on the topic to integrate the information in the form …
Long COVID risk falls only slightly after vaccination
(Sarah Reardon/ Scientific American) — Vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 lowers the risk of long COVID after infection by only about 15%, according to a study of more than 13 million people1. That’s the largest cohort that has yet been used to examine how much vaccines protect against the condition, but it is unlikely to end …
Brain scans reveal key sign of Alzheimer’s onset before symptoms begin
(Study Finds) — Brain scans discovering a key sign of cognitive decline could help doctors spot Alzheimer’s before symptoms ever begin, a new study reveals. Scientists with the Radiological Society of North America have linked increased volume in a brain region called the choroid plexus to greater cognitive impairment. …
Discovery reveals blocking inflammation may lead to chronic pain
(McGill News) — Using anti-inflammatory drugs and steroids to relieve pain could increase the chances of developing chronic pain, according to researchers from McGill University and colleagues in Italy. Their research puts into question conventional practices used to alleviate pain. Normal recovery from a painful …
Menopause: access to bioidentical hormones expanded in Quebec
(The Canadian News) — Quebec announced Wednesday that it has facilitated access to hormone therapy in the general drug insurance plan to treat the symptoms of menopause.
Easy access to two bio-identical hormones, estradiol-17B in the form of a topical gel and micronized progesterone, covered by the Régie de l’assurance …