HEALTH NEWS Review finds blueberry and grape polyphenols may improve vascular health Plant compound shows promise for treating rheumatoid arthritis at its source, study finds Screen Time at Ages 1 and 6 Linked to Lasting Learning and Memory Effects Some caffeinated drinks are linked to poorer memory Study: Morning Exercise Linked to Lower Daily Calorie Intake Compared to Evening Workouts Review finds blueberry and grape polyphenols may improve vascular health Universidad Católica de Murcia (Spain), July 27 2026 (News-Medical) A recent review published in the journal Nutrients examined the evidence on the effects of blueberries, grapes, and their bioactive compounds on cardiovascular risk markers. In the present study, a comprehensive systematic literature search was conducted to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs), systematic reviews, and meta-analyses published from January 2015 through April 2026. Two systematic reviews and meta-analyses reported that grape polyphenols at doses exceeding 500 mg/day for at least 12 weeks significantly reduced C-reactive protein levels, while the other reported improvements in vascular function or BP in 84% of the human studies it assessed, including a significant reduction in systolic BP. One found a modest reduction in BP and improvement in endothelial function with flavan-3-ol foods, such as tea, apples, cocoa, and grape-derived products. Moderate- and high-quality RCTs reported improvements in lipid peroxidation, lipid profiles, flow-mediated dilation, diastolic BP, and paraoxonase activity. Resveratrol and blueberry RCTs mainly reported endothelial and vascular benefits, such as improved nitric oxide production and flow-mediated dilation and reduced BP and inflammatory markers. One high-quality RCT involving older men with metabolic syndrome showed significant improvements in arterial stiffness and endothelial function after six months of daily blueberry consumption. Plant compound shows promise for treating rheumatoid arthritis at its source, study finds Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, July 27 2026 (Natural News) A plant-derived compound called obakulactone (OL) reduced swelling, inflammation and joint damage in rats with rheumatoid arthritis, according to a study published in Engineering. The compound, a tetracyclic triterpenoid from the bark of Phellodendri cortex, also rebalanced immune activity and corrected disrupted fatty acid metabolismd. P. cortex has been used in traditional medicine and contains OL along with other constituents, Researchers tested OL in rats with rheumatoid arthritis, administering low, medium and high doses for 21 days. Treatment significantly reduced joint swelling and helped restore the normal structure of cartilage and the synovium, the tissue lining the joints, according to the report. Blood tests showed dose-dependent decreases in inflammatory molecules including IL-1, IL-6, IL-17 and TNF, as well as rheumatoid arthritis markers RF, CCP-Ab, CRP and MMP-3, officials said. The compound also reduced abnormally high levels of CD3+ T cells and CD68+ macrophages within the joints and shifted macrophages from a proinflammatory M1 state toward an anti-inflammatory M2 state. Screen Time at Ages 1 and 6 Linked to Lasting Learning and Memory Effects National University of Singapore & Zhejiang University (China), July 28, 2026 (SciTech Daily) A study that tracked children from age 1 through age 8 found that greater screen viewing time, especially during infancy and near the start of school, was associated with lower academic performance at age 9 and weaker working memory at age 10.5. The results indicate that when children use screens may matter as much as how long they spend using them. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the American Academy of Pediatrics advise avoiding screens before 18 to 24 months and limiting viewing to less than one hour per day between ages 2 and 5. Many children exceed those recommendations, yet previous research on screens and cognitive development has produced inconsistent results. The analysis included 502 children followed from infancy into middle childhood. Higher screen viewing during particular stages was associated with poorer academic results and weaker working memory later on. The clearest and most consistent relationships appeared during infancy and near school entry, suggesting that these may be especially sensitive periods for cognitive development. Children with greater total screen exposure across childhood also generally performed less well in school. Together, the findings suggest that both the timing and overall amount of viewing may have implications for learning and memory. Some caffeinated drinks are linked to poorer memory Applied Science Private University (Jordan), July 28 2026 (News-Medical) A recent study in the Journal of Education and Health Promotion examined the association between caffeine-containing products and memory performance, anxiety, and stress among university students in Jordan. 204 students were ultimately included in the study. Mild psychological distress was the most common category, with 38.2% reporting such symptoms. About four in ten reported mild depression, and over a quarter experienced moderate anxiety. Only a small minority showed severe or extremely severe stress. Caramel or nut-filled chocolate was the most frequently consumed item, reported by 54.9% of students, followed by Arabic coffee (40.2%) and red tea (35.8%). Milk chocolate was also popular, typically consumed once or twice a day. Dark chocolate was less common, while American coffee and green tea were less popular, and decaffeinated coffee was rarely chosen. Overall DASS scores, representing depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms, showed positive correlations with the consumption of dark chocolate, American/instant coffee, decaffeinated coffee, and red tea, indicating these items were linked to higher psychological distress scores. Memory ability was negatively associated with higher intake of American coffee, Arabic coffee, and soft drinks. The authors note that chocolate and green tea also contain bioactive compounds such as cocoa flavanols and L-theanine, which may have contributed to these associations alongside caffeine. Study: Morning Exercise Linked to Lower Daily Calorie Intake Compared to Evening Workouts Copenhagen University Hospital (Denmark), July 27 2026 (Natural News) A new study has found that morning exercise was associated with lower calorie consumption throughout the day compared to evening workouts, according to the research. Participants who exercised in the morning consumed about 400 fewer calories at the post-workout meal and roughly 547 fewer calories over the full 24-hour period, the study reported. The study, which involved 35 healthy young adults. Each participant completed 30 minutes of treadmill running multiple times under varying conditions: morning fasted, evening fasted for 12 hours or 6 hours, and morning or evening fed, the study stated. The repeated-measures design enabled researchers to compare the same person's responses across different scenarios, officials said. After evening sessions, participants reported higher hunger, a stronger desire to eat, and lower fullness compared to morning sessions, the study found. Those who worked out in the evening consumed about 400 more calories at the post-workout meal and roughly 547 more calories over the full day, according to the research. The appetite advantage was attributed to circadian rhythms, researchers said. The hunger hormone ghrelin naturally rises in the evening, while satiety hormones are more active in the morning,.
