Mental Attitude: Don’t Blame Bad Behavior on the Full Moon. Many parents and teachers swear that children act differently when the moon is full, but new research suggests otherwise. The study tracked more than 5,800 kids across five continents over 28 lunar cycles. While the researchers found that nighttime sleep duration was about five minutes shorter around the time of a full moon compared with the new moon, they found no other significant changes in behavior among any of the children. Researcher Dr. Jean-Philippe Chaput notes, “Overall, I think we should not be worried about the full moon. Our behaviors are largely influenced by many other factors like genes, education, income, and psychosocial aspects rather than by gravitational forces.” Frontiers in Pediatrics, May 2016
Health Alert: FDA to Ban E-Cigarette Sales to Minors. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced it is banning the sale of e-cigarettes to minors. The new rules will also cover other alternative forms of tobacco such as cigars, hookah tobacco, and pipe tobacco. Additionally, regulations will require photo IDs to buy e-cigarettes and ban retailers from handing out free samples or selling them in vending machines. The FDA action has earned universal praise from medical associations, which have been concerned that e-cigarettes serve as a gateway to draw teens into a lifetime of smoking addiction. Food and Drug Administration, May 2016
Diet: Fruit Compounds Could Be Used to Treat Obesity, Type 2 Diabetes, and CVD. A supplement consisting of compounds derived from red grapes and oranges may offer a promising new treatment for obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Researchers investigated the effects of a compound called trans-resveratrol (tRES), found in red grapes, and a compound found in oranges called hesperetin (HESP). The team found that participants with a BMI of more than 27.5 who took a supplement with these compounds experienced a reduction in insulin levels, improved insulin activity, better artery function, and reduced blood vessel inflammation. Study leader Dr. Paul Thornalley adds, “This is an incredibly exciting development and could have a massive impact on our ability to treat these diseases. As well as helping to treat diabetes and heart disease it could defuse the obesity time bomb.” Diabetes, May 2016
Exercise: Exercise Improves the Minds of Seniors. Older adults who participated in a 24-week aerobic exercise program experienced improvements in motor planning, thinking operations, attention, and concentration that were not observed in a control group of seniors who remained inactive. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, April 2016
Chiropractic: Physical Activity May Reduce Risk of Sciatica. According to a new meta analysis, leisure-time physical activity may reduce the risk of developing lumbar radicular pain, or sciatica. Researchers reviewed data from 18 published studies that included over 100,000 participants and found those who exercised at least one to three times per week were about 7% less likely to develop sciatica, while those who engaged in physical activity more than four times per week were up to 12% less likely to report radiating pain to one or both legs. The findings show that a common physical ailment can be reduced by simply staying active. European Journal of Pain, April 2016
Wellness/Prevention: Live Longer By Staying Lean. Two new studies indicate that staying trim throughout your life may increase your longevity, while being obese may do the opposite. The first study found that slim individuals had the lowest risk of dying over a 15-year period, while obese men and women had a greatest risk of early death. The second study found that gaining weight over time increases one’s risk of premature death. British Medical Journal, May 2016
Quote: “Have no fear of perfection—you’ll never reach it.” ~ Salvador Dalí

I found that Dr. Joe Megna is one of the best chiropractors I have found in the Napa region.