HEALTH NEWS
- Endocrinologists reveal 7 fruits that stabilize blood sugar without sacrificing flavor
- A survey of 371,000 adults links heart disease to eating whole fruit less often
- Study Links Greater REM Sleep to Lower Risk of 83 Diseases
- Mediterranean rockrose extract shows fungicidal activity against fungi that cause common skin infections
- Reading Linked to Lower Dementia Risk, Review Finds
Endocrinologists reveal 7 fruits that stabilize blood sugar without sacrificing flavor
Tufts University, October 1 2026 (Natural News)
Tufts University endocrinologists shared their collective expertise, drawn from Tufts Medical Center, to providesevidence-based guidance for anyone seeking to maintain steady blood glucose while enjoying nature's sweetest offerings.
Fruit sugars arrive wrapped in fiber and water, surrounded by antioxidant polyphenols, vitamins and minerals that slow digestive absorption. A meta-analysis of nineteen randomized controlled trials published in Frontiers in Endocrinology found that eating whole fresh and dried fruit in moderation significantly decreased fasting blood glucose in people with diabetes.
Apples with intact skin provide soluble fiber that forms a gel in the digestive tract, delaying sugar absorption. Dr. Willis recommended pairing apples with almond butter for improved post-meal blood glucose response. Pears contain even more fiber than apples, making them a slightly superior choice. Both fruits have been linked to lower type 2 diabetes risk in observational studies.
Raspberries, strawberries and blueberries offer exceptional fiber-to-carbohydrate ratios, Their polyphenol content, plant compounds acting as antioxidants, has demonstrated positive effects on blood sugar regulation.
Kiwis provide prebiotic benefits that support beneficial gut bacteria, potentially improving insulin sensitivity.
Avocados combine fiber with healthy fats that slow stomach emptying.
A survey of 371,000 adults links heart disease to eating whole fruit less often
University of North Dakota, September 28 2026 (News-Medical)
In the present study, researchers investigated differences in the frequency with which adults with and without CVD risk factors or CVD in the US consumed whole fruit and 100% fruit juice.
This study used data, which included 371,038 adults. The team performed a secondary analysis of the data to examine whether the frequencies of whole-fruit and fruit-juice consumption differed between people with and without CVD and between those with and without CVD risk factors. CVD measures included myocardial infarction (heart attack), angina/coronary heart disease (CHD), and stroke.
Whole-fruit consumption was less frequent in respondents with high BP, high cholesterol, a heart attack, CHD, or stroke compared to groups without the respective CVD risk factor or condition.
In regression analyses, participants with high cholesterol consumed fruit juice less frequently, whereas those with a heart attack consumed it more frequently. Fruit juice consumption frequency did not differ significantly after adjustment between individuals with and without high BP, stroke, or CHD.
Study Links Greater REM Sleep to Lower Risk of 83 Diseases
Capital Medical University (China), September 28 2026 (Natural News)
Greater amounts of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and deep sleep were associated with lower risks of dozens of diseases, while sleeping fewer than five hours per night was linked to elevated risk across 37 conditions, according to a study published in the open-access journal PLOS Medicine.
The research analyzed data from 95,559 UK Biobank participants who wore wrist accelerometers for seven consecutive days and nights. Participants were followed for a median of 8.9 years.
Greater REM sleep, measured per interquartile range of 47.6 minutes, was associated with lower risk of 83 diseases, the report stated. Hazard ratios were 0.74 for heart failure, 0.54 for dementia and 0.20 for Parkinson's disease, indicating a substantial reduction in relative risk for those in higher REM sleep categories. Greater deep sleep was linked to lower risk of seven conditions, including type 2 diabetes and major depressive disorder.
"The findings provide additional evidence supporting the role of a 6-8 hours' sleep duration as a health safeguard for middle-aged and older adults, likely attributable to more favorable distributions of sleep stages. The study adds to a body of research examining how sleep architecture, rather than total sleep time alone, relates to long-term health outcomes.
Mediterranean rockrose extract shows fungicidal activity against fungi that cause common skin infections
Universidad Miguel Hernandez de Elche (Portugal), September 28 2026 (Eurekalert)
A polyphenol-rich extract from Cistus salviifolius or Mediterranean rockrose traditionally used to treat skin conditions, has shown fungicidal activity against several dermatophytes, the fungi responsible for superficial infections of the skin, hair and nails. The rockrose has traditionally been used in different regions in topical preparations to treat wounds, inflammation and skin infections.
Dermatophytes are fungi capable of colonizing keratin-rich tissues such as the skin, hair and nails, causing very common infections, including different types of ringworm. The researchers prepared the polyphenol-rich extract and tested its activity against different fungal species. Dermatophytes were particularly sensitive, especially Trichophyton rubrum—one of the main causes of fungal skin infections—and Microsporum canis, which can be transmitted from animals to humans. The extract showed no antifungal activity at the concentrations tested against yeasts such as Candida albicans.
The extract was also tested on reconstructed human epidermis, tissue grown in the laboratory from primary keratinocytes, the cells that make up most of the outer layer of the skin.The researchers infected this tissue with dermatophytes to study whether the treatment could slow the infection and protect the skin barrier. When applied after infection, the rockrose extract reduced fungal load and tissue invasion, preserved the epidermal barrier and decreased the inflammatory response. It also did not reduce keratinocyte viability under the conditions tested.
Reading Linked to Lower Dementia Risk, Review Finds
Healthy Brain Clinic (California), September 30 23026 (Natural News)
A review published in the journal Psychological Medicine states that reading for pleasure is associated with better cognitive skills, improved mental well-being, and a lower risk of cognitive decline across all ages.
The review synthesizes data from childhood through older adulthood, presenting reading as an accessible, low-cost activity with potential brain-health benefits.
Neuroimaging cited in the review found that reading for pleasure was linked to larger cortical areas and greater volumes in brain regions associated with language and emotional regulation.
Among adults who read for just 30 minutes each week, 64% reported a better understanding of other people's feelings. Twenty percent said they began taking better care of their health, and 19% took up a new hobby as a result of reading. Half of the readers noted they became more tolerant of other people's beliefs, and 17% said they were able to stay calmer during a disagreement.
Survey data cited in the review also found that 74% of adult readers said reading positively affected their mental health and well-being, and 41% said it helped them feel more connected to others.
