The Gary Null Show - 1/30/26

HEALTH NEWS   Wild Blueberries May Benefit the Heart, Metabolism, and Microbiome Nitrate in drinking water linked to increased dementia risk while nitrate from vegetables is linked to a lower risk, researchers find   Afternoon naps clear up the brain and improve learning ability Screen time may increase body fat in children Simple dietary change may slow liver cancer in at-risk patients Wild Blueberries May Benefit the Heart, Metabolism, and Microbiome University of Maine & Florida State University, January 28, 2026 (SciTech Daily) A newly published scientific review brings together a growing body of research on how wild blueberries may influence cardiometabolic health. This area of health includes measures such as blood vessel function, blood pressure, blood lipids (cholesterol and triglycerides), and blood sugar (glucose). The review was developed following an expert symposium. Twelve specialists took part, representing fields that included nutrition, food science, dietetics, nutrition metabolism and physiology, cardiovascular and cognitive health, gut health and microbiology, and preclinical and clinical research models.  The paper evaluates findings from 12 human clinical trials conducted over 24 years across four countries that examined the cardiometabolic effects of wild blueberries. Across the clinical research examined, improvements in blood vessel function stand out as one of the most reliable findings. Studies included in the review suggest that wild blueberries may support endothelial function (or how well blood vessels relax and respond to stimuli). Some trials reported effects within hours of a single serving, while others observed benefits after consistent intake over weeks or months. In one six-week clinical study highlighted in the review, adults who consumed 25 grams of freeze-dried wild blueberry powder each day showed increases in beneficial Bifidobacterium species. The authors identify the gut microbiome as a likely contributor to the cardiometabolic effects linked to wild blueberries. The review also suggests wild blueberry intake may support certain aspects of cognitive performance. Improvements were observed in measures such as thinking speed and memory. Several of the reviewed studies reported clinically meaningful improvements in blood pressure, blood sugar regulation, and lipid markers, including total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides, after weeks of wild blueberry consumption.   Nitrate in drinking water linked to increased dementia risk while nitrate from vegetables is linked to a lower risk, researchers find   Edith Cowan University (Australia) &  Danish Cancer Research Institute, January 28 2026 (Eurekalert) New research from Edith Cowan University (ECU) and the Danish Cancer Research Institute (DCRI) investigated the association between the intake of nitrate and nitrite from a wide range of different sources, and the associated risk of dementia.  The research, which investigated the association between source-specific nitrate and nitrite intake and incident and early-onset dementia, followed more than 54,000 Danish adults for up to 27 years and found that the source of nitrate was of critical importance in a diet.  The researchers found that people who ate more nitrate from vegetables had a lower risk of developing dementia, while those who consumed more nitrate and nitrite from animal foods, processed meats, and drinking water, had a higher risk of dementia.  When we eat nitrate-rich vegetables, we are also eating vitamins and antioxidants which are thought to help nitrate form the beneficial compound, nitric oxide, while blocking it from forming N-nitrosamines which are carcinogenic and potentially damaging to the brain.  Unlike vegetables, animal-based foods don't contain these antioxidants. In addition, meat also contains compounds such as heme iron which may actually increase the formation of N-nitrosamines. This is why nitrate from different sour