Science Weekly - 26th March 2021

Looks like in the first week of spring scientists dotted many i's and crossed a lot of t's. The topics discussed in the articles listed in this week's collection include COVID research, connection between lifestyle diseases and nutrition and also something for the geeks in sports science.

The highlights:

• Eating before 8:30 a.m. could reduce risk factors for type 2 diabetes
• Pressure sensors could ensure a proper helmet fit to help protect the brain
• Muscle cramp? Drink electrolytes, not water, study shows
• A strong coffee half an hour before exercising increases fat-burning
• High vitamin D levels may protect against COVID-19, especially for Black people, study suggests
• Eating processed meat could increase dementia risk, researchers say
• Dieting suppresses 'cellular engines', weight loss surgery gives boost to mitochondria
• 'Hunger hormone' ghrelin affects monetary decision making
• Cells burn more calories after just one bout of moderate aerobic exercise, OSU study finds
• Exercise boosts blood flow to the brain, study finds
• Green leafy vegetables essential for muscle strength
• Insomnia, disrupted sleep, and burnout linked to higher odds of severe COVID-19

Eating before 8:30 a.m. could reduce risk factors for type 2 diabetes

Intermittent fasting study finds eating earlier was associated with lower blood sugar levels and insulin resistance
People who start eating before 8:30 a.m. had lower blood sugar levels and less insulin resistance, which could reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to a new study.

Source: The Endocrine Society

Pressure sensors could ensure a proper helmet fit to help protect the brain

Many athletes, from football players to equestrians, rely on helmets to protect their heads from impacts or falls. However, a loose or improperly fitted helmet could leave them vulnerable to traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), a leading cause of death or disability in the U.S. Now researchers have developed a highly sensitive pressure sensor cap that, when worn under a helmet, could help reveal whether the headgear is a perfect fit.

Source: American Chemical Society

Muscle cramp? Drink electrolytes, not water, study shows

If you reach for water when a muscle cramp strikes, you might want to think again. New research has revealed drinking electrolytes instead of pure water can help prevent muscle cramps.

Source: Edith Cowan University

A strong coffee half an hour before exercising increases fat-burning

Drinking a strong coffee half an hour before exercising increases fat-burning, new study finds
In the afternoon, the effects of the caffeine are more marked than in the morning.

Source: University of Granada

High vitamin D levels may protect against COVID-19, especially for Black people, study suggests

In a retrospective study of individuals tested for COVID-19, vitamin D levels above those traditionally considered sufficient were associated with a lower risk of COVID-19.

Source: University of Chicago Medical Center

Eating processed meat could increase dementia risk, researchers say

Eating processed meat has been linked with an increased risk of developing dementia, say researchers exploring a potential link between consumption of meat and development of dementia.

Source: University of Leeds

Dieting suppresses 'cellular engines', weight loss surgery gives boost to mitochondria

Dieting impairs the energy-producing machinery of fat tissue, potentially resulting in weight regain
Dieting impairs the energy-producing machinery of fat tissue, potentially resulting in weight regain. In contrast, as indicated by a recent study, weight loss surgery gives a boost to mitochondria, improving the gene expression of these cellular engines.

Source: University of Helsinki

'Hunger hormone' ghrelin affects monetary decision making

High ghrelin levels in healthy females predict more impulsive choices, researchers say
Higher levels of the stomach-derived hormone ghrelin, which stimulates appetite, predict a greater preference for smaller immediate monetary rewards over larger delayed financial rewards, a new study finds.

Source: The Endocrine Society

Cells burn more calories after just one bout of moderate aerobic exercise, OSU study finds

In a recent study testing the effects of exercise on overall metabolism, researchers found that even a single session of moderate aerobic exercise makes a difference in the cells of otherwise sedentary people.

Source: Oregon State University

Exercise boosts blood flow to the brain, study finds

The results add to growing evidence that exercise programs may help older adults slow the onset of memory loss and dementia
It's not just your legs and heart that get a workout when you walk briskly; exercise affects your brain as well. A new study shows that when older adults with mild memory loss followed an exercise program for a year, the blood flow to their brains increased.

Source: UT Southwestern Medical Center

Green leafy vegetables essential for muscle strength

Eating just one cup of leafy green vegetables every day could boost muscle function, according to new research. The study found that people who consumed a nitrate-rich diet, predominantly from vegetables, had significantly better muscle function of their lower limbs.

Source: Edith Cowan University

Insomnia, disrupted sleep, and burnout linked to higher odds of severe COVID-19

Each 1-hour increase in sleep associated with 12% lower odds of infection among clinicians
Insomnia, disrupted sleep, and daily burnout are linked to a heightened risk of not only becoming infected with coronavirus, but also having more severe disease and a longer recovery period, suggests an international study of healthcare workers.

Source: BMJ