Time Spent Outside Correlates to Better Health
Studies show that if you spend just two hours a week outside in green spaces, whether at a park, on the hiking trails, or on the field, you could benefit from better health. The research was derived from a survey of 20,000 people who reported how much time they spent in nature and their self-perceived levels of health and wellbeing.
Those who spent less than two hours in nature, or didn’t spend any time outside at all, were less likely to report good health or wellbeing than those who spent more time outdoors. After two hours, the health benefits of spending time in nature seem to provide diminishing returns with a cutoff after five hours.
EpiPens Remain Potent After Expiration Date
Throwing out EpiPens and other self-injectors used to treat severe allergic reactions may mean dumping perfectly good epinephrine, according to a study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. The autoinjectors may work for months past the labeled expiration date, currently set by the FDA at 18 months to ensure that it never has less than 90 percent of the original dose.
Researchers tested 46 autoinjectors after the expiration date had passed. Of those, 80 percent still had at least 90 percent of their original epinephrine dose, meaning they would still be effective under FDA standards. Devices that were tested six months after expiration still had 100 percent of the original dose.
This information could be beneficial to those who must carry an autoinjector, which contains a preset dose of epinephrine, to combat the risk of anaphylaxis. The high cost of autoinjectors can be prohibitive for those who have to throw out and replace unused devices after expiration. However, health experts recommend sticking to current expiration dates unless and until the FDA changes its policy.
Coffee Consumption May Impact ‘Brown Fat’
Not all fat is bad—brown adipose tissue (BAT), also known as brown fat, burns energy and produces heat. Those who have a lower body mass index (BMI) tend to have a higher amount of brown fat, and now, research says that drinking coffee may stimulate that brown fat.
This could be a key development in tackling obesity and obesity-related diseases, such as diabetes. The research used caffeinated coffee to boost mitochondrial stimulation, though the authors can’t say for sure that it’s the caffeine or another compound in coffee that’s making an impact. While more research is necessary, for now, feel free to drink another cup of that morning brew.
