Consumer News: Looking at dessert videos might actually help some dieters resist temptation, study finds

Even short bursts of vigorous movement could help lower the risk of major diseases and early death

• A new study found that people who included more vigorous activity in their routines had lower risks of several major diseases.

• Researchers tracked more than 96,000 adults using wrist accelerometers to measure both activity volume and intensity.

• Even just a few minutes of activity that leaves you slightly out of breath was linked to meaningful health benefits.

When it comes to exercise, most people focus on one thing: how long theyre active. But new research suggests another factor may be just as important how hard youre working while you move.

A study published in the European Society of Cardiologys journal, the European Heart Journal, found that people who regularly included vigorous activity in their daily lives had lower risks of developing several major diseases and a lower overall risk of death.

Researchers say vigorous activity doesnt necessarily mean training for a marathon or spending hours at the gym. In the study, it referred to movement intense enough to leave someone slightly out of breath. That could include things like climbing stairs quickly, brisk walking, or running to catch a bus.

The findings also suggest that intensity may matter differently depending on the condition. For inflammatory diseases like arthritis and psoriasis, the intensity of exercise appeared especially important. For conditions such as diabetes and liver disease, both the amount of movement and the intensity seemed to play a role.

Vigorous physical activity appears to trigger specific responses in the body that lower-intensity activity cannot fully replicate, researcher Minxue Shen said in a news release. During vigorous physical activity the kind that makes you feel out of breath your body responds in powerful ways. Your heart pumps more efficiently, your blood vessels become more flexible, and your body improves its ability to use oxygen.

Vigorous activity also appears to reduce inflammation. This may help explain why we saw strong associations with inflammatory conditions such as psoriasis and arthritis. It may also stimulate chemicals in the brain that help keep brain cells healthy, which could help explain the lower risk of dementia.

How the study worked

The research team analyzed data from 96,408 adults participating in the U.K. Biobank study. Rather than asking participants to estimate how much they exercised, researchers used wrist-worn accelerometers to objectively track movement over a seven-day period.

That approach allowed scientists to capture not only formal workouts, but also short bursts of movement throughout the day that people might otherwise forget or overlook. Researchers then calculated two things: each persons total amount of physical activity and the percentage of that activity considered vigorous.

Participants were followed for roughly seven years. During that time, researchers monitored whether they developed any of eight major health conditions, including cardiovascular disease, irregular heartbeat, type 2 diabetes, inflammatory diseases, liver disease, chronic respiratory disease, chronic kidney disease, and dementia. They also tracked deaths from any cause.

The goal was to better understand whether exercise intensity offered benefits beyond simply being active overall. Researchers specifically wanted to know whether two people with similar activity levels might experience different health outcomes depending on how vigorously they exercised.

What researchers found

People who spent a greater share of their activity time doing vigorous movement consistently had lower risks across all eight diseases studied.

Compared with participants who did no vigorous activity, those with the highest proportion of intense movement had a 63% lower risk of dementia, a 60% lower risk of type 2 diabetes, and a 46% lower risk of death from any cause.

Importantly, the benefits showed up even when the total amount of vigorous activity was relatively small. Researchers noted that as little as 15 to 20 minutes of vigorous movement spread throughout a week was associated with measurable health benefits.

Our findings suggest that making some of your physical activity vigorous can provide substantial health benefits, Professor Shen said. This doesn't require going to the gym. Adding short bursts of activity that make you slightly breathless into daily life, like taking the stairs quickly, walking fast between errands or playing actively with children, can make a real difference.

The authors say vigorous exercise may trigger biological responses that lighter activity does not fully produce, including improved cardiovascular function, better oxygen use, and lower inflammation levels.

At the same time, researchers cautioned that vigorous activity may not be appropriate for everyone, particularly older adults or people with certain medical conditions. They emphasized that any increase in movement can still be beneficial and that exercise should be tailored to the individual.

The product tested positive for bacteria contamination

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Pharmacal has recalled one lot of MG217 Multi-Symptom Treatment Cream & Skin Protectant Eczema Cream after testing found contamination with Staphylococcus aureus bacteria.

• The recalled product was sold nationwide online and in retail stores, including Amazon and H-E-B.

• Consumers are urged to stop using the cream immediately and discard it, although no adverse events have been reported so far.

Pharmacal has issued a nationwide recall of one lot of its MG217 Multi-Symptom Treatment Cream & Skin Protectant Eczema Cream after the product tested positive for contamination with Staphylococcus aureus, the bacteria commonly associated with staph infections.

The recall affects six-ounce tubes bearing lot number 1024088 and an expiration date of November 2026, according to a notice posted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The cream, marketed for relief of eczema symptoms including itching, redness, dryness, and irritation, was sold nationwide through retail outlets and online sellers, including Amazon and H-E-B.

FDA warns of serious infections

FDA officials warned that use of contaminated topical products can lead to localized skin infections, andin some cases, more serious or life-threatening complications. People with weakened immune systems, compromised skin barriers, burns, or underlying skin disorders may face a higher risk of severe infection.

Pharmacal said it has not received any reports of adverse reactions linked to the recalled cream.

MG217 products are widely used for the treatment of psoriasis and eczema symptoms and include creams, ointments, and shampoos containing ingredients such as coal tar or colloidal oatmeal.

Consumers who purchased the recalled eczema cream should stop using it immediately and dispose of the product. The company advises anyone experiencing symptoms or complications after use to contact a healthcare provider.

Customers with questions about the recall can contact Pharmacal at 800-558-6614 or by email at aimho@pharmacalway.com.

Your daily coffee habit may be doing more than waking you up

• A new long-term study found that drinking two to threecups of caffeinated coffee daily was linked to a lower risk of dementia.

• Researchers say caffeine and antioxidants in coffee may help protect brain health as people age.

• Experts say moderate coffee intake may help brain health, but not to neglect the most important factors which include exercise, sleep, and a healthy diet.

Coffee lovers just got another reason to pour themselves a second cup every morning.

A new study from researchers affiliated with Harvard University, Mass General Brigham, and the Broad Institute found that drinking two to three cups of caffeinated coffee per day was linked to a lower risk of dementia and slower cognitive decline.

The study, published in JAMA, followed more than 130,000 people for up to 43 years, making it one of the larger long-term studies to examine the connection between caffeine and brain health.

Researchers found that participants with the highest intake of caffeinated coffee had an 18% lower risk of developing dementia compared to people who drank little or no caffeinated coffee.

Tea drinkers also saw similar cognitive benefits.

Interestingly, decaf coffee doesnt do anything to help with your brain health. Its the caffeine itself that may actually play an important role.

The 'sweet spot'appears to be moderate coffee intake

The strongest benefits appeared among people who drank:

• Two to three cups of caffeinated coffee daily
• Or one to two cups of tea daily

Researchers emphasized that more is not necessarily better, but they also did not find evidence that heavy caffeine intake harmed cognitive health in the study.

Thats important because many people still worry that coffee may negatively impact long-term health.

Why researchers think coffee may help

Coffee and tea contain compounds called polyphenols, along with caffeine. Researchers believe that both of these may help:

• Reduce inflammation
• Lower cellular damage
• Protect brain function as people age

Scientists say these compounds may help slow some of the biological processes associated with cognitive decline and dementia.

Still, researchers cautioned that coffee is not a magic bullet. The studys lead authors stressed that the protective effect was relatively modest and should be viewed as one piece of a much larger brain-health puzzle.

What this means for everyday coffee drinkers

For most healthy adults, moderate coffee consumption is already considered safe by medical experts.

This new research suggests your daily coffee habit may potentially offer some long-term cognitive benefits in addition to the energy boost many people already rely on.

That said, experts still recommend focusing on the bigger lifestyle factors that are strongly tied to brain health, including:

• Regular exercise
• Good sleep
• Blood pressure control
• Healthy diet
• Social interaction
• Managing diabetes and cholesterol

Smart coffee habits to keep in mind

If you want the potential benefits without turning your coffee into a dessert, experts recommend:

• Going lighter on sugar-heavy creamers
• Watching oversized caf drinks packed with calories
• Avoiding too much caffeine late in the day as it could affect your sleep
• Staying hydrated

Many specialty coffee drinks can contain 400800 calories and have huge amounts of sugar, which can offset the overall health benefits.

The bottom line

The study adds to the growing evidence that moderate caffeinated coffee consumption may support long-term brain health.

And while researchers say coffee alone will not prevent dementia, two to three daily cups may eventually become part of a broader conversation around healthy aging.

That could put even more upward pressure on gas prices

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Chevron CEO Mike Wirth warned that global oil shortages are beginning to emerge as the Iran war disrupts shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

• Energy executives and analysts say prolonged supply disruptions could trigger higher gasoline prices, inflation, and slower economic growth worldwide.

• Consumers may soon feel the impact through rising fuel costs, more expensive airline tickets, and higher prices for everyday goods transported by truck, ship, and air.

One of the immediate effects of the Iran war was a sharp rise in gasoline prices. But one industry executive is warning that things could get worse.

Chevron CEO Mike Wirth is warning that the global economy could be headed toward a new energy shock as the war involving Iran continues to disrupt oil shipments through the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz.

Speaking at the Milken Institute Global Conference, Wirth said the world is starting to experience physical shortages of oil as supplies tighten and strategic reserves are increasingly tapped to stabilize markets.

The Strait of Hormuz, located between Iran and Oman, handles roughly 20% of the worlds crude oil shipments. Continued disruptions in the region have raised fears of a prolonged supply crunch similar to the oil crises of the 1970s. Wirth said the economic impact could ultimately rival those historic energy shocks.

We will start to see physical shortages, Wirth said, according to multiple reports, adding that economies are going to have to slow as demand adjusts to constrained supply.

Most likely to affect Asia

Industry analysts say Asia is likely to feel the effects first because many countries there rely heavily on Persian Gulf oil. Europe could follow if disruptions continue, particularly in jet fuel and diesel markets.

Shortages are less likely in the U.S. But even though the United States is a net exporter of crude oil, American consumers are still expected to face higher prices because oil is traded globally.

According to AAA, the national average price of regular gas is $4.51 a gallon. It was $2.98 on February 28, the day before the war started.

Supplies are falling fast

The International Energy Agency has warned that global oil inventories are falling at one of the fastest rates on record. Some analysts estimate that worldwide stockpiles have dropped by hundreds of millions of barrels since the conflict escalated.

For weeks, consumers have seen the impact at the pump. National average gasoline prices have climbed sharply over the past several weeks, while jet fuel prices have surged even faster, putting pressure on airlines and shipping companies.

Economists warn that rising energy costs often spread quickly through the broader economy because fuel affects transportation, manufacturing, and food distribution. That could mean higher grocery prices, increased delivery costs and more expensive travel in the months ahead.