Tag: inflammation

If you’re a new parent, you’ve likely spent a lot of time researching ways to improve your baby’s cognitive skills. Traditional wisdom is that a child’s environment after birth fosters their ability to learn. Although strategies like listening to music and observing colorful mobiles stand the test of time, current research indicates that the capacity for intellectual development originates even before a baby is born.

If you think that means genetic inheritance, think again. Although genes contribute to intelligence, their influence is limited.

Recent news on the projected lifespans of younger Americans isn’t good. A 2021 study suggests that if present trends continue they will be the first generation to live shorter lives than their parents. Researchers found that the health of people born between 1964 and 1989 (Generations X and Y) has been declining. Compared to their parents and grandparents younger people had higher rates of anxiety and depression. They were also more likely to be in poor physical health demonstrated by an increased incidence of metabolic syndrome and chronic inflammation.
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It’s lucky that eating delicious food is so enjoyable because food does more than keep us alive. It provides us with nutrients that help us to thrive. Sadly, many people don’t get the nutrition they need. In North America, for instance, most people consume too much ultra-processed food, which is high in calories and low in nutrients. This leaves them deficient in key vitamins and minerals and increases their risk of developing chronic disease.

Is there anyone who doesn’t worry about their weight? Most of us dither about that nagging 5 pounds that comes and goes, but some people are prone to packing on the pounds, which jeopardizes their health. Once your BMI hits 30, you qualify as obese, a condition described as a "ticking time bomb" for chronic disease.

It’s easy to say people should get their weight under control, but that can be a challenge. An extensive body of research known as The Developmental Origins of Health and Disease shows that many people are programmed for obesity even before they are born.