How does exercise make you stronger, better, faster? Is it just your muscles tearing and rebuilding tougher? According to neuroscientist J. Nicholas Betley, it all starts in the brain, which regulates the signals that facilitate gains. “The old Latin phrase mens sana in corpore sano—a healthy mind in a healthy body—has guided countless athletes over centuries,” says Betley. “This research sharpens that slogan into something more literal: without the brain the body cannot effectively get stronger with exercise.” 

Low-carbohydrate and low-fat diets rich in high-quality, plant-based foods and low in animal products and refined carbohydrates were linked with lower risk of heart disease, according to a new study led by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The same diets that were rich in refined carbohydrates and high in animal fats and proteins were associated with a higher risk of heart disease. The study suggests that it’s the quality of the macronutrients composing these diets that make a difference for heart health, rather than the quantity.

An alarming 71 percent of grocery store baby food products in the United States are classified as ultra-processed foods (UPFs), according to new research published today in the scientific journal Nutrients.¹