Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what’s in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.

Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what’s in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways

A hopeful new study is shedding light on a simple change that could help both your body and the planet: eating more sustainably.

The research, published in The Lancet, analyzed data from over 2.2 million people across 17 studies and found that those who followed sustainable diets had a 7% lower risk of developing cancer and a 12% lower risk of dying from it.

These diets focus on plant-based foods like vegetables, legumes, fruits, and whole grains, and they limit red and processed meats, which are linked to both cancer and heat-trapping pollution.

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This is especially uplifting news at a time when health headlines often feel bleak or overwhelming.

It’s a much-needed reminder that positive change is possible and that we have more control over our health than we might think.

You don’t need to overhaul your entire diet. Just swapping a beef taco for a lentil one a few times a week can make a meaningful impact.

The study adds to a growing wave of research showing how everyday food choices can make a real difference.

Similar studies have found that plant-forward diets, like the planetary health diet, are linked to lower risks of heart disease, diabetes, and obesity — all while being less polluting.

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One recent Oxford University study revealed that even small reductions in red meat consumption could significantly shrink your personal pollution footprint.

Food production accounts for nearly 30% of global heat-trapping pollution, but small changes in what we eat can chip away at that number.

At the same time, fiber-rich, plant-based foods support digestion, reduce inflammation, and may help lower the risk of cancers like colon and breast cancer.

Even better, these foods are familiar and easy to find. Oats, greens, beans, and nuts are affordable, accessible, and flavorful — no specialty store required.

Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don’t miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.

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The fossils, identified as a new species called Hibernophis Breithaupti, were uncovered in a fine layer of mudstone and are among the most intact ever found. Preserved with skulls, ribs, and over 200 vertebrae still in place, these ancient snakes offer a glimpse into how modern boas may have evolved and even hint at early forms of social behaviour like communal hibernation.

34-million-year-old snakes: A rare and perfect discovery in US

Unlike most snake fossils, which are usually limited to disjointed vertebrae and rib fragments, these four specimens were almost fully articulated.

Their exceptional condition allowed scientists to map their entire skeletal structure from head to tail, something rarely achieved with snake fossils. This discovery has opened new avenues for understanding how various skeletal features develop and function in both juvenile and adult snakes.

Researchers noted that the fossils included both young and mature individuals, providing a rare growth comparison. The find also offers insight into snake evolution during a critical period of climatic change.

A new species: Hibernophis Breithaupti

Initially mistaken for known genera such as Ogmophis and Calamagras, further examination revealed consistent differences in jaw shape, tooth arrangement, and vertebral features. These distinctions led scientists to classify them as a new species, Hibernophis Breithaupti. Small in size, these snakes were likely burrowers. The discovery of differently sized specimens provided a rare chance to observe both juvenile and adult stages within a single species.

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Insights into Boa evolution

Through detailed anatomical comparisons and DNA analysis, scientists placed Hibernophis close to the Boa family. The findings suggest that early boas were modest in size and had already started diversifying by the Oligocene period. The articulated spines allowed researchers to trace how individual bones change during growth, a breakthrough for evolutionary biology and museum fossil classification.

Evidence of social behaviour

The four snakes were found curled together in what is believed to be a hibernaculum, a winter shelter used for group hibernation.

This is particularly fascinating, as such communal behavior is rare among modern reptiles. The fossil arrangement mirrors behavior seen in modern garter snakes, suggesting that group sheltering for warmth may have existed tens of millions of years ago.

Preserved by volcanoes and mud

The snakes owe their pristine condition to unique geological events. Volcanic ash clouds and seasonal flooding quickly buried their underground shelter in fine sediment, creating airtight conditions ideal for fossilization.

These perfect preservation circumstances allowed researchers to study the snakes’ bones in detail and make groundbreaking conclusions.

Rewriting the snake family tree

The discovery of Hibernophis Breithaupti not only enriches our understanding of snake evolution but also challenges previous assumptions about their social behavior and development. As paleontologists continue to study the specimens, these ancient snakes may help rewrite significant chapters in the evolutionary history of reptiles.

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If you’ve become accustomed to searching for an answer online that you might know the answer to if you gave your brain a few minutes to ponder it, you might wonder if relying on technology is turning your brain to mush. Fortunately, new research says that might not be the case.

Overreliance on tech and the concerns that it could cause cognitive impairment led to the coining of terms like “digital dementia,” but but research in this area is still in its early stages. The scientific community wants to have a better understanding of how our natural, everyday uses of technology impacts our brains, which led to this new study published in Nature Human Behaviour.

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The researchers conducted a meta-analysis of 57 papers focused on general technology use among adults over 50 and found exposure to everyday digital technologies was associated with a reduced risk of cognitive impairment and cognitive decline with age.

“Our study is a call-to-action that the first generation to use digital tools has found a way to use them for some benefit,” says study author Jared F. Benge, Ph.D., ABPP, a board-certified clinical neuropsychologist and associate professor with the Department of Neurology at Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin. “But, we encourage people interested in digital brain health to think mindfully about their tech use.”

Keep reading to find out exactly what the researchers did and how you can use their findings to support your own brain health.

What the researchers found

The studies in the meta-analysis included 411,430 adults with an average age of 68. Twenty of the studies followed participants for an average of six years. The researchers looked at how using computers, the Internet, smartphones and/or a combination of digital devices might affect brainpower. They also adjusted for socioeconomic status, a strong social network and other healthy behaviors that could have their own positive influences on brain health.

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The good news? Each of the four technology uses in adults was associated with a reduced risk of cognitive impairment, even after controlling for other brain-healthy lifestyle factors. (The study didn’t consider how kids use digital devices so the findings may not be applicable to them.)

Before you use this study as an excuse to spend more time aimlessly scrolling before bedtime, the researchers pinpointed these three possible ways that digital engagement might lead to better cognition:

Compensatory behaviors (like learning a new way to solve a daily problem you face)

Cognitively complex stimulation (such as discovering something new and interesting)

Social connection (i.e. using tech to reach out to someone you know or check in with a group)

What does this mean for future research?

In general, this paper is good news since nearly everyone uses technology, says Paul J. Zak, Ph.D., a neuroscientist and the author of the forthcoming book The Little Book of Happiness. However, he has a few concerns about the findings.

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First, because nearly everyone now uses technology, Zak says it is difficult to statistically isolate the effects of the tech on cognitive states. Second, it may be that people with more cognitive reserve tend to use more technology. The authors tried to control for this, but it’s tricky to do. Lastly, Zak notes that not every study in the analysis followed people over a long period of time.

The study authors make it clear that additional work is needed to test causation. “For example, an older adult who is forgetting their password, or having problems swiping, may find technology harder to use, and so they use it less. That’s one direction of the cognition and technology relationship,” says Benge. “But the second direction may be true as well — using technology may provide some benefit to an aging brain.”

Both of these things can be true at the same time, and this is very common with brain health, notes Benge. “We need more studies to understand what factors of cognition might make tech use harder, but also which aspects of tech use might help cognition.”

He also says they are working to gain insights into how using digital devices might protect brain function or reduce dementia risk. “We know that engaging with complex mental activities is good for the brain, but we aren’t sure yet if the brain actually makes increased connections between neurons when learning something new, changes how efficiently networks work when challenged or some other mechanism,” says Benge.

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For now, Zak says you can continue to enjoy Netflix and YouTube without feeling bad about it. “People of nearly every age use all types of technology and will continue to do so,” he says. “This paper provides some evidence that this is not bad for your brain. But, nor will it prevent cognitive decline.”

The bottom line

Each generation is using more technology than the one before, so it would be great to know if it’s helping brain health more than hurting it. And even if technology is able to help with cognitive health, depending on how you use it and what you use it for, it could come with other risks, like depression or anxiety. “There’s no easy answer to whether technology is good or bad for the brain,” says Benge. “Findings like this are good opportunities to check in with yourself and consider the tech you are using is providing a benefit to you.”

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While most people know that fruits and vegetables are good for physical health, scientists have now discovered that citrus consumption may have a direct impact on mental well-being. The study, published in BMC, analyzed data from over 32,000 participants and found that those who consumed the highest amounts of citrus had a 22% lower risk of developing depression compared to those who ate the least.

The Gut-Brain Connection: How Citrus Affects Mood

The study dove deep into the link between gut health and mental health, a growing area of research in neuroscience and psychology. Scientists believe that the gut microbiome—the trillions of bacteria living in the digestive system—plays a crucial role in brain function and mood regulation.

Researchers found that eating citrus fruits was associated with a greater abundance of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, a beneficial gut bacteria linked to lower levels of inflammation and improved mental health. In simple terms, oranges and grapefruits might not just be fueling your body with vitamin C—they could also be fine-tuning your brain chemistry.

iStock The study dove deep into the link between gut health and mental health, a growing area of research in neuroscience and psychology.

One Orange a Day Could Keep Depression Away

Unlike previous studies that looked at general fruit and vegetable consumption, this research focused specifically on citrus fruits. The findings were striking:

Citrus fruits, not just any fruit, are linked to lower depression risk. Apples, bananas, and other fruits didn’t show the same effect.

Even a small intake of citrus made a difference. The researchers found that eating just one medium orange a day could be enough to have a measurable impact on mental health.

Harvard Medical School instructor and lead researcher Raaj Mehta confirmed the significance of the findings, stating: “The effect seems to be specific to citrus. When we look at people’s total fruit or vegetable consumption, or at other individual fruits such as apples or bananas, we don’t see any relationship between intake and risk of depression.”

iStock Experts believe that further studies could eventually lead to citrus-based supplements or gut-targeted therapies as alternative or complementary treatments for mental health disorders.

Could Citrus Be a Natural Antidepressant?

While the study doesn’t suggest that oranges should replace traditional antidepressants, it does highlight the potential for dietary interventions to play a major role in mental health treatment. The findings open up new avenues for research into how specific foods could help mitigate or even prevent depression symptoms.

Experts believe that further studies could eventually lead to citrus-based supplements or gut-targeted therapies as alternative or complementary treatments for mental health disorders.

What This Means for You

For those looking for natural ways to support their mental health, this study offers a simple and delicious solution. Including citrus fruits in your diet could be an easy, accessible, and affordable way to improve overall well-being—without the side effects of traditional medications.

So, the next time you’re feeling down, science suggests that instead of reaching for junk food, you might want to peel an orange instead.

Known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, coffee has long been touted for its many health benefits. In fact, thousands of compounds are packed into every cup, helping to improve mental alertness, reduce inflammation, support heart health, and even ease post-workout pain. A recent study published in Nature Microbiology reveals a new benefit of coffee: It supports the growth of beneficial gut bacteria.

What did researchers discover?

In this study, researchers analyzed stool samples from 22,867 participants to understand the impact of coffee on gut bacteria. They categorized participants into three groups: the “never” group (those who drink fewer than three cups per month), “moderate” coffee drinkers (those who consumed at least three cups per month up to three cups a day), and “heavy” coffee drinkers (those who drink three or more cups per day).

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Related: The Real Reason You Shouldn’t Order Coffee or Tea on an Airplane

The researchers found that coffee drinkers had high levels of one specific bacteria strain, L. asaccharolyticus. The results suggest that drinking coffee can have a positive effect on your gut by helping the growth of good bacteria — an exciting win for coffee drinkers.

How important is it to have a healthy gut in the first place?

“It turns out that the microbiome in the gut is probably way more important than we even ever expected,” says Michael Caplan, MD, clinical professor at the University of Chicago and chief scientific officer at Endeavor Health. He explains that the beneficial bacteria in our gut are essential to our overall health, and having a diverse microbiome is crucial. A healthy gut can help prevent traveler’s diarrhea, antibiotic-induced diarrhea, and may even play a role in managing obesity, heart disease, and chemotherapy outcomes, according to Caplan.

Our gut also houses the majority of our immune cells, making it vital to protect and maintain its strength. A healthy gut also supports digestion, reduces inflammation, and influences our thoughts. Have you ever felt nervous and noticed your gut starting to feel uneasy? Our gut and brain are closely intertwined.

How exactly does coffee boost beneficial bacteria?

Dr. Chaplan points out that it’s actually not only the caffeine that boosts the beneficial bacteria, as even drinking decaf coffee has a positive effect on our gut. The key contributors are likely the polyphenols, including chlorogenic acid and quinic acid, found in coffee, which help boost the growth of this beneficial bacteria. Science suggests that polyphenols act like prebiotics. They feed and encourage the growth of beneficial gut bacteria.

Are there limitations to the study findings?

As with any new discovery, further research is needed, especially when it comes to the potential of L. saccharolytic. Dr. Chaplan explains that this bacteria strain has only been identified in the past five years, so we don’t yet fully understand how it contributes to health benefits. Could it help reduce mortality or improve outcomes in heart disease or cancer? More research is needed to understand how this bacteria could contribute to reducing disease and improving health.

How much coffee does one need to drink to gain these benefits?

“It’s very safe to have one or two cups of coffee a day, and that would be enough to stimulate your intestinal flora to be poised to help you improve your long-term health,” says Dr. Caplan. This aligns with FDA recommendations, which keep caffeine intake to no more than 400 milligrams a day or about four cups of brewed coffee.

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Related: A New Study Says Morning Coffee Drinkers May Get More Benefits Than Those Who Sip It All Day

And good news for those who love a little splash of milk or sprinkle of sugar in their coffee, the study showed that these additions don’t affect the gut health benefits.

The bottom line

This new research is exciting news for coffee drinkers, as coffee has yet to be linked to improved gut health. But don’t forget about other foods and drinks that can also support a healthy gut, such as yogurt, kefir, fermented foods like kefir, kimchi and sauerkraut, and kombucha.

Read the original article on Food & Wine