The Daily News – October 22, 2024

Welcome to Health Channel News. Today we’ll discuss a leafy green that’s being crowned the healthiest of them all. Next, we will look at new research that is highlighting a link between our gut and OCD. And finally, a popular weight loss diet may have hidden risks. So first up, according to new research, there’s one leafy green that’s been crowned the healthiest of them all. We’re talking about watercress a super food that’s packed with nutrients. If watercress is a vegetable you’ve never heard of, it may be worth searching out. And why is that? Well, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the CDC recently named it the Healthiest Vegetable scoring, a perfect 100 out of 100 on their nutrient density scale. So let’s break down what this means and why it matters for your health. They analyzed more than 40 fruits and vegetables rating them on how nutrient dense they are. Watercress didn’t just top the list. It substantially outperformed the runner up, which was Chinese cabbage. Water crest is in the same family as broccoli, kale, and brussel sprouts. It contains compounds like Dyl, methane and sulforaphane, which studies have linked to a lower risk of cancer. Watercress is also rich in vitamin K, which supports bone health and helps with blood clotting. The CDC study also recognized other powerhouse vegetables, and those included Chinese cabbage, Swiss shard, beet root, and spinach, but none matched water crest’s perfect score. One Senior dietician at UCLA medical center recommends putting it into salads, sandwiches, or even as toppings for stir fries. She notes that eating water crests raw is best to preserve. Its B and C vitamins, which can be sensitive to heat. Watercress may be the healthiest vegetable, but it’s just one part of a balanced diet. The study reminds us to look beyond the familiar and consider adding more nutrient dense options to our meals. Next up, new research is highlighting the link between gut bacteria and obsessive compulsive disorder. This emerging science offers hope for those living with OCD. New treatments could be within reach. The article in New scientists by Anthea Rowan highlights the growing evidence that our gut microbiome, which is those trillions of bacteria living in our digestive system, may play a key role in OCD. A study published by a team at Shanghai University provides some of the most direct evidence to date researchers transplanted gut bacteria from humans with OCD into mice. And just two weeks later, those mice began to show repetitive behaviors and signs of anxiety. The researchers also noticed inflammation in the part of the brain, heavily implicated in OCDA researcher explained it appears that an immune reaction may cause inflammation and impair brain regions associated with OCD suggesting the gut’s microbiome could be a significant player. The article goes on to say that this new perspective could potentially shift how we treat OCD. Traditionally, OCD has been managed with drugs or cognitive behavioral therapy, but with about a third of patients not even responding to these treatments, the hunt is on for alternatives. A neuroscientist at the University of Cambridge says that these findings may open doors to less invasive therapies focused on the microbiome. However, while the gut brain connection is promising, experts are clear that we’re still in the early days. Larger clinical trials in humans are needed to confirm whether adjusting the gut microbiome through diet probiotics or other interventions could effectively reduce OCD symptoms. Until then, scientists and clinicians are hopeful that this line of research could bring about a new, more personalized treatment that considers the whole body and not just the brain. Now for our final story, new research is raising concerns about one of today’s most popular weight loss trends, and that’s the keto diet. While keto has been praised for helping people shed pounds, a new study published in cell reports medicine suggests it might not be so great for your heart or gut health. The researchers originally wanted to see why low carb diets like keto lead to weight loss. They discovered that ketos high fat, low carb approach raises cholesterol and reduces healthy gut bacteria. A low sugar diet did not show these negative effects. Over 12 weeks, they monitored 53 participants and analyzed their urine, fecal, and blood samples. The keto group had higher cholesterol and fewer beneficial gut bacteria. In contrast, the low sugar group reduced their LDL cholesterol and maintained healthy gut bacteria. The study suggests keto could carry long-term health risks. The research also found that while both diets led to weight loss, the low sugar option didn’t carry the same risks to heart health. The lead study author explains that the keto diet, which is high in fats and low in carbs, may not provide enough fiber, an essential nutrient for both gut and heart health. In contrast, a low sugar diet allows for more fiber from fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, which can lower cholesterol and support a healthy microbiome. The article also notes that diets high in saturated fats like keto have long been associated with increased LDL or bad cholesterol. The claim is that the study shows a clear link between high fat diets and heart disease risk. A gut health expert adds that the lack of plant-based foods in a keto diet can reduce the diversity of bacteria in your gut. And that’s a red flag. He says, since having a diverse gut microbiome is crucial for digestion, immunity, and even reducing inflammation. For now, if heart and gut health are priorities for you, it might be worth discussing these findings with your doctor before jumping on the keto bandwagon. Those are our top stories for today. Thank you so much for joining us on Health Channel News.