HEALTH NOTE - Cannabis and Anxiety

Beloved, 

I wish above all things that thou mayest...be in health,.. 

3 John 1:2

"As cannabis becomes stronger and more widely used across the globe, cases of dependence and cannabis-induced psychosis have been rising, with particularly sharp increases reported in North

America. Drawing on data from Cannabis & Me (the largest survey of its type), two new studies have pinpointed important risk factors linked to the most severe forms of paranoia in people who use cannabis.
The results revealed a clear pattern. Participants who first turned to cannabis as a way of coping with physical pain, anxiety, depression, or early psychotic symptoms scored significantly higher for paranoia.
“This research suggests that using cannabis as a means to self-medicate physical or mental discomfort can have a negative impact on the levels of paranoia, anxiety, and depression. Most of these subgroups had average scores of depression and anxiety, which were above the threshold for referral to counselling.” 

SciTechDaily

Health Note - Exercise to Fight Cancer

Beloved,

I wish above all things that thou mayest...be in health...

3 John 1:2

"In a new study, researchers have uncovered how exercise might help

the immune system fight cancer: by changing the gut microbiome in a way that boosts production of a compound called formate. 

This microbial byproduct, the study shows, plays a key role in helping immune cells slow tumor growth." 

Zema

Health Note - Wheatgrass

Beloved,

I wish above all things that thou mayest ....be in health...

3 John 1:2

"Scientists studying 228 varieties of modern Chinese wheat have discovered that flavonoids found in wheatgrass can neutralize harmful reactive oxygen species (ROS) and also increase the lifespan of fruit flies. The effect was dependent on both dosage and the sex of the flies.

To assess bioactivity, flavonoid extracts from wheatgrass (FEW) were fed to Drosophila melanogaster, resulting in dose-dependent and male-specific lifespan extension at 1 mM concentration. Transcriptomic analysis of JA-treated seedlings revealed significant upregulation of key genes in the phenylpropanoid-flavonoid pathway (PAL, C4H, 4CL, CHS), validated by qRT-PCR, and JA treatment boosted both flavonoid content and antioxidant capacity by ~30%.

This integrated research highlights wheatgrass as a rich and underutilized source of health-promoting flavonoids and suggests practical strategies—such as cultivar selection and JA elicitation—to enhance its nutritional value.

This study paves the way for enhancing the nutritional value of wheatgrass-based products. With demonstrated lifespan-extending effects and superior antioxidant activity, FEW holds promise for use in functional foods targeting aging and oxidative stress-related diseases. However, gender-specific effects observed in fruit flies suggest the need for further dose optimization.

(a) Comparison of the antioxidant activity of wheat flavonoids with vitamin C using the DPPH method. 

(b) The contents of flavonoids in grains and wheatgrass on the accessions. Data represent the mean ± standard error. The student’s t-test determined the p-value (hereafter). 

(c) The phylogenetic relationships of bred history. Ovals represent breeding parents, rectangles represent bred cultivars, and related cultivars are linked by black lines. Ellipse color and variety size deepen and increase with breeding usage. 

(d) The distribution of the wheat accessions. The size of the circle indicates the number of cultivars. 

(e) The ancestral information of accessions. The yellow bar chart on the left indicates the number of genes associated with each trait. The black circle and line indicate the overlap groups and the corresponding bar chart shows intersecting gene numbers." SciTechDaily

Health Note - Rice and Heart Attacks

Beloved,

I wish above all things that thou mayest ...be in health,..

3 John 1:2

"Sudden narrowing of the coronary arteries, known as coronary artery spasms, can cause chest pain (angina), heart attacks, and other serious cardiovascular issues.

A research team from the Department of Chemical Pharmacology at Toho University’s Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences has discovered that ferulic acid, a natural compound found in rice, and certain vegetables, can help prevent these spasms through two separate mechanisms.
The study revealed two key actions of ferulic acid: 

*It blocks calcium from entering muscle cells through L-type

calcium channels, which are normally responsible for causing the arteries to contract.
*Even when calcium is not involved, it still prevents the arteries from tightening by inhibiting the activation of a specific protein called myosin light chain, which is essential for muscle contraction.
Surprisingly, ferulic acid was sometimes even more effective than diltiazem, a widely used medication for relaxing blood vessels." SciTechDaily

Health Note -Get You Some Phytosterol Today

 Beloved,

I wish above all things that thou mayest ...be in health,..

3 John 1:2

"Heart disease and type 2 diabetes are two of the leading causes of death and long-term health problems in the United States. Now, a new study highlights how eating more plant-based foods could make a real difference. Specifically, researchers have identified a compound in plants that may help lower your risk of both conditions.
The compound is called phytosterol. It is found naturally in foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts, and whole grains, and it has a structure similar to cholesterol.

According to the study, people who consumed more phytosterol had a significantly lower risk of developing heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Those with higher intake also showed signs of better blood sugar control, less inflammation, and even changes in their gut bacteria that may support a healthier metabolism.
“Our clinical biomarker and metabolomic results suggest the involvement of insulin activity, inflammation and the metabolism of metabolites associated with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease,” said Wang. “This suggests that phytosterol might reduce risk by alleviating insulin resistance and inflammation.” SciTechDaily

Health Note - Alcohol and Brain Damage

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest...be in health,.. 3 John 1:2

"Heavy alcohol use can cause lasting damage to brain circuits that control decision-making, as shown in a new study using rats.
Even after months of withdrawal, alcohol-exposed rats performed worse in complex tasks compared to sober rats, revealing persistent cognitive deficits. 

The brain region responsible for adapting behavior, the dorsomedial striatum, showed significant dysfunction, potentially explaining why many recovering alcoholics relapse. These findings open a new window into how alcohol reshapes the brain and why its effects can linger long after drinking stops.
The alcohol had damaged neural circuits causing alcohol-exposed rats to process information less effectively."

SciTechDaily

Health Note - Inactivity

Beloved,

 I wish above all things that thou mayest...be in health,..

 3 John 1:2

"A new study reveals that specific changes in the brain caused by muscle disuse are linked to cognitive decline.
A recent study found that just 10 days of physical inactivity can lead to insulin resistance and early brain changes linked to Alzheimer’s

disease. The research highlights how even brief periods of muscle disuse can negatively impact both physical and brain health.
Booth and Kerr found — for the first time — that just 10 days of physical inactivity leads to both insulin resistance and an increase in reactive oxygen species production in the hippocampus, the region of the brain involved in memory and learning.
They also found that just 10 days of muscle disuse elevated markers for specific proteins in the brain that are strongly associated with Alzheimer’s disease, an uncurable, irreversible, neurodegenerative disease that has become the fifth leading cause of death in older adults.
Booth said that decades of previous research have shown that people who show the greatest improvements in their health are those who switch from getting no exercise to getting periodic exercise — even more improvement than those who switch from periodic exercise to regular exercise — so the most important step is to simply start."
SciTechDaily

HEALTH NOTE - Link Between Weed and Schizophrenia

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest...be in health,.. 3 John 1:2

"Cannabis is one of the most widely used substances worldwide,

with an estimated 228 million users aged 15 to 64. Research shows that the risk of developing schizophrenia increases significantly with cannabis use, particularly when use begins at an early age. 

Around 10% of cannabis users are expected to develop cannabis use disorder at some point in their lives. 

Notably, nearly one-third of people with schizophrenia also meet the criteria for cannabis use disorder, and as many as 42% of individuals with schizophrenia are affected by it.
Schizophrenia is defined by the presence of different types of symptoms which include delusions, hallucinations, or disorganized speech. Disorganized speech refers to a pattern of speaking that is incoherent, illogical, or difficult to follow." 

SciTechDaily

HEALTH NOTE - Sunsets

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest...be in health,.. 

3 John 1:2

1. Stress reduction: It can be a great stress reliever.
2. Improved sleep quality: Sunsets produce a red and orange light spectrum that can help regulate your circadian rhythm.
3. Boosted mood: Watching the sunset can lift your spirits.
4. Opportunity for reflection: Sunsets inspire reflection and gratitude.
5. Slowed down time: The experience can make time feel more meaningful.

Health Note - Light Exercise and Cancer

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health... 1 John 3:2

"Engaging in regular physical activity prior to a cancer diagnosis may reduce the risk of both disease progression and mortality, according to research published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. Notably, even modest levels of physical activity appear to offer significant benefits, the study suggests.
The length of time between initial diagnosis and disease progression, death, or exit from the study ranged from 1 month to nearly 13 years.
Cancer didn’t progress in nearly two-thirds of the total sample (65.5%), but in just over a third (34.5%) it did. And while 81% survived, 19% died before the end of the study. The average time to death was 20 months and the average time to progression was 7 months.
The odds of disease progression were 16% lower for those who had engaged in low levels of physical activity in the preceding year than among those who hadn’t recorded any physical activity, while the odds for those who had engaged in moderate to high levels were 27% lower." SciTechDaily

Health Note- Mapping Brain Damage Due To Weed Usage

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health... 1 John 3:2

"Researchers analyzed over 1,000 young adults and found that both heavy lifetime use and recent cannabis consumption significantly reduced brain activity during working memory tasks. 

This impairment was linked to worse performance on tasks requiring focus, problem-solving, and instruction-following. Brain imaging revealed that key regions responsible for decision-making and attention were affected.

The researchers studied the neural response of participants during a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) session and gave them seven cognitive tasks to complete. The tasks tested working memory, reward, emotion, language, motor skills – such as tapping a finger to map brain control, relational assessment and theory of mind.

The researchers found that cannabis had a statistically significant

effect on brain function during working memory tasks, meaning the observed impact is very unlikely to be due to random chance. This effect was seen in both recent and lifetime cannabis users. The impact was less significant for the other tasks.

During working memory tasks, the researchers found heavy cannabis use appeared to reduce brain activity in certain areas of the brain (dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, dorsomedial prefrontal cortex, and anterior insula). These regions of the brain are involved in important cognitive functions such as decision-making, memory, attention, and emotional processing." 

SciTechDaily

Health Note - Mediterranean diet & your Brain

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health... 1 John 3:2

"The bacteria in your mouth may play a surprising role in brain health, potentially influencing cognitive decline as you age. A new study suggests that a diet rich in nitrates—found in leafy greens and the Mediterranean diet—could support beneficial oral bacteria linked to better memory and lower dementia risk.

Approximately 15% of older adults experience mild cognitive

impairment (MCI), which is the greatest risk factor for developing dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Previous research has established a link between periodontitis (gum disease) and worsening cognitive function. Scientists have identified two potential pathways connecting oral health to brain health:

Pathogenic oral bacteria may enter the bloodstream and travel to the brain.
These harmful bacteria may outcompete nitrate-reducing bacteria, which play a crucial role in producing nitric oxide—a compound

essential for synaptic plasticity and long-term potentiation in the brain.
High prevalence of bacteria in the genus Porphyromonas predicted mild cognitive impairment status, while Prevotella intermedia predicted APOE4-carrier status. According to the authors, diet can affect the oral microbiome, and a nitrate-rich diet (such as the Mediterranean and ‘Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension’ diets), favors bacteria associated with good cognitive outcomes." SciTechDaily

Health Note - Alcohol & your Brain

Beloved, 

I wish above all things that thou mayest...be in health,.. 

3 John 1:2

"Alcohol is by definition a biochemical toxin since consumption of alcohol causes tissue damage, inhibits normal bodily functions and promotes cellular dysfunction. 

While the body is built to proactively protect itself from invaders and filter out toxins, alcohol crosses through what’s known as the blood-brain barrier. 

Once inside, alcohol disrupts your brain's neurotransmitters needed for normal function. 

Specifically, the result of alcohol's interaction is to sedate certain parts of your brain and suppress its normal activity. 

Evidence suggests that long-term exposure to alcohol can permanently alter your brain's signaling chemistry, and this is what is suspected to play a role in the development of dementia.
When alcohol is consumed in excess it can lead to inflammation of the brain, called neuroinflammation. 

In fact, emerging research shows the inflammation caused by excessive alcohol consumption may contribute to gut dysbiosis, or an imbalance of the bacteria living in your microbiome."
ElizabethShaw

Health Note - What Water Can Do For YOU

Beloved, 

I wish above all things that thou mayest...be in health,.. 

3 John 1:2

"Water is a major constituent of the human body and is considered an essential nutrient that cannot be sufficiently produced by metabolism.
The National Academy of Medicine suggests a daily fluid intake of approximately 13 eight-ounce cups for men and 9 for women,

respectively.
Drinking eight cups of water a day significantly decreased the likelihood of getting a kidney stone.
Several studies found that drinking about six cups of water a day helped adults lose weight.
Other studies indicated that water can help prevent migraines, control diabetes and lower blood pressure, and prevent urinary tract infections." 

SciNews

HEALTH NOTE - A Merry Heart

"Researchers at Johns Hopkins have found that a positive attitude is the best prevention against heart disease, according to EurekAlert. Even individuals with a family history of heart disease were only half

as likely to have a heart attack or chest pain requiring surgery if they had a good attitude. 

The power of positive thinking was strong even when traditional risk factors like cholesterol, weight and smoking were taken into account.
Sir John Herschel once said that all scientific discoveries seemed only to confirm the truths come from on high, and contained in the sacred writings. Three thousand years ago, Solomon said “A merry heart does good like a medicine” (Proverbs 17:22; see also Eccl. 5:18-20)." 

CEH

Health Note - WAR against Health

Beloved, 

I wish above all things that thou mayest ...be in health... 

3 John 1:2

"RFK Jr.'s push to "Make America Healthy Again" by breaking the

grip of the processed food industry's control of the nation's food supply chain must have angered big food. 

That's because shortly after, the response was Time gaslighting readers into believing ultra-processed foods are safe.

Just days after Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vocal critic of ultra-processed foods, endorsed former President Donald Trump to promote the "Make America Healthy Again" agenda, Time Magazine—a publication not to be taken seriously—published this...Time published the initial headline, "What if Ultra-Processed Foods Aren't as Bad as You Think?"

'Trust the science' journos at the left-leaning media outlet probably changed the headline after the uproar on X.

James Lindsay, a mathematician turned culture critic and author of the website New Discourses, pointed out on X, "I am once again reminding you that Time Magazine is owned by Marc Benioff, who is closely tied to the World Economic Forum and its agendas."

Q: What could those WEF agendas be? 

A: Well, for one, the elites at WEF have pushed to reset the food supply chain for 'sustainable' reasons and implement insect diets worldwide. 

Also, these elites have a fascination for banning cow fluctuance and eventually force the world to eat printed meat from a lab. Furthermore, governments across the West have waged war against small farms...

Here's an excerpt from Time's reporting:

"A weird thing happened. Wilson found that she had more energy and less anxiety. She didn't need as much coffee to get through the day and felt more motivated. She felt better eating an ultra-processed diet than she had before, a change she attributes to taking in more calories by eating full meals, instead of haphazard combinations of whole-food ingredients." 

ZeroHedge

HEALTH NOTE - Excessive Internet Use Disrupts Key Parts Of The Teenage Brain

Beloved,

I wish above all things that thou mayest...be in health...

3 John 1:2

"U.S. teenagers spent an average of 4.8 hours on social media platforms every day, with girls spending an average of 5.3 hours compared to 4.4 hours for boys.

Researchers defined internet addiction as an inability to resist the urge to use the internet, which negatively affects mental well-being, as well as aspects of social, educational, and work life.
All studies reviewed used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine how areas of the brain interact with each other (functional connectivity) in participants living with internet addiction while at rest and while completing a task. 

The effects were seen throughout multiple regions of the adolescent brain.

The studies showed a mixture of increased and decreased activity in parts of the brain that are activated during rest, along with an overall

decrease in functional connectivity in parts of the brain used in active thinking.
The findings indicate these changes lead to addictive behaviors and tendencies in adolescents and behavioral changes associated with intellectual ability, physical coordination, and mental health and development.
Researchers split the students into smaller groups according to how often they reported checking their Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat feeds.
The habitual user group members checked their feeds 15 or more times daily, moderate users between one and 14 times, and nonhabitual users less than once daily.
The findings indicate that teens who grow up checking social media more often become hypersensitive to feedback from other kids. They also experience fewer or less intense positive feelings from previously rewarding stimuli, which could drive them to pursue more potent feelings through increased reward-seeking behavior." ZeroHedge

Health Note - Higher Inflammation

Beloved,

I wish above all things that thou mayest...be in health...

3 John 1:2

"A UCSF study reveals that higher inflammation levels in young adults are associated with poorer cognitive performance in midlife, underscoring the importance of lifestyle choices in reducing

inflammation and preventing cognitive decline.

In their study, published in Neurology on July 3, researchers found that only 10% of those with low inflammation performed poorly on testing of processing speed and memory, compared to 21% and 19%, respectively, of those with either moderate or higher levels of inflammation.

When researchers adjusted for factors like age, physical activity, and total cholesterol, disparities remained in processing speed; and the researchers also found differences in executive functioning, which includes working memory, problem-solving, and impulse control.

The researchers also linked higher levels of inflammation with physical inactivity, 

higher BMI, 

and current smoking."

SciTechDaily

Health Note - Mummified infant shows how a lack of sunlight can kill

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest...be in health,..

3 John 1:2

"A team of scientists based in Germany examined the mummified remains of an infant from the 17th century, found in a crypt reserved for the Austrian aristocracy. The crypt’s conditions, along with

having a complete lack of sunlight, allowed for natural mummification, preserving the soft tissues, which provided crucial information about the child’s health and cause of death.

The child was identified as likely being Reichard Wilhelm, the first-born son of a Count of Starhemberg, who lived during the Renaissance-a period marked by significant scientific and artistic advancements.

The virtual autopsy revealed that the child was overweight for his age, indicating he had sufficient food intake. However, his ribs

showed malformations known as rachitic rosary, typically associated with severe rickets or scurvy, conditions resulting from vitamin D deficiency (which happens, amongst other methods, from having a lack of sunlight). This paradox of being well-fed yet malnourished underscores the complexity of nutritional health at the time.

The human body synthesizes vitamin D when exposed to sunlight, specifically ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. In the case of the mummified infant, a lack of sunlight exposure was identified as the primary cause of the vitamin D deficiency, leading to rickets and ultimately contributing to pneumonia, which proved fatal."
TheHeartySoul

Health Note - Orange Peels

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest...be in health,.. 

3 John 1:2

"The orange peel polar fraction extract containing a compound called feruloylputrescine has the potential to alleviate cardiovascular disease.

When they feed on certain nutrients during digestion, gut bacteria produce trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO). Levels of TMAO can help predict future cardiovascular disease.
They tested two types of extracts: a polar fraction and a non-polar fraction.
To get the polar fractions, they used polar and non-polar solvents to extract the orange peel.
“If you imagine your salad dressing, anything in the water or vinegar part are the polar fraction; anything in the oil away from water is the non-polar fraction,” Dr. Wang said.
The authors found that the orange peel non-polar fraction extract effectively inhibits the production of harmful chemicals.
“This is a novel finding that highlights the previously unrecognized health potential of feruloylputrescine in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease,” Dr. Wang said.
“The orange peel finding is significant because 5 million tons of orange peels are produced each year in orange juice production nationwide.”
“These findings suggest that orange peels, often discarded as waste in the citrus industry, can be repurposed into valuable health-promoting ingredients, such as diet supplements or food ingredients,” Dr. Wang said." 

SciNews