Lifestyle Choices With Huge Ramifications

From eNewsletter 4/9/2025

DID YOU KNOW that neuroscientists have shown that experiencing nature can alleviate acute physical pain? Surprisingly, simply watching nature videos was enough to relieve pain.

Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, the Nature Communications study found that acute pain was rated as less intense and unpleasant when watching nature videos, along with a reduction in brain activity associated with pain.

The results suggest that nature-based therapies can be used as promising complementary approaches to pain management.

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Vitamin Delivers Again and Again

From eNewsletter 4/7/2025

DID YOU KNOW there is new evidence for why you should keep your vitamin D status optimal?

Researchers in Nutrients found suboptimal vitamin D status was associated with higher carotid artery thickness, an increase in carotid plaques, and stiffening of the artery. They also found that optimal vitamin D status can prevent this.

Low vitamin D levels during the first trimester of pregnancy were associated with higher rates of preterm birth and decreased fetal length, according to a study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

A study in Nutrients purports that lower levels of vitamin D are associated with more severe cases of hip and knee osteoarthritis, increased pain, greater functional impairment, and elevated serum levels of inflammatory agents TNF-α and IL-6.

Finally, a new study in JAMA reports that oral vitamin D3 supplementation at 100,000 IU every 2 weeks significantly reduced disease activity in clinically isolated syndrome typical for multiple sclerosis (MS) and for early relapsing-remitting MS.

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Get Your Gut Right

From eNewsletter April 2, 2025

DID YOU KNOW that niacinamide, also known as nicotinamide (a form of vitamin niacin or vitamin B3), is important for healthy mitochondrial function and cellular energy production?

Niacinamide can also be used to prevent declining testosterone levels in men and women, and protects against stress by lowering cortisol.

Niacinamide is often recommended by Mohs surgeons to prevent skin cancer reoccurrence.

A Frontiers in Nutrition study found that dietary niacin was associated with a 23% reduction in risk of Parkinson's disease for each 10 mg increase in niacin intake. A separate Frontiers in Nutrition study found that subjects 20 years or older with the highest dietary niacin intake had the lowest risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

To read the rest of today's issue, please go to this page.