The difference was substantial. Nearly half (47%) of the cockroaches eating only ultraprocessed food died during the study, compared with 20% of those eating unprocessed food and 23% of those eating the mixed diet. The researchers calculated that the ultraprocessed group had about a 1.5-times higher mortality risk than the unprocessed group.

Obviously, humans aren’t cockroaches, and this study doesn’t establish that ultraprocessed foods cause the same outcome in people. But it adds to research raising concerns about diets heavily dominated by these foods.

This is where some important nuance is needed. Processing itself isn’t the problem.

Freezing vegetables, cooking beans, fermenting yogurt, canning fish, or grinding whole grains are all forms of food processing that can produce highly nutritious foods. Even foods such as whole-grain bread, canned beans and natural nut butter can be processed without becoming “junk food.”

Ultraprocessed foods are different. They are typically industrial formulations designed for convenience, long shelf life and strong appeal, and often contain combinations of refined carbohydrates, added sugars, unhealthy fats, and sodium; while providing relatively little fiber or nutritional value.

Common examples include sugary drinks, candy, many packaged snack cakes, highly sweetened breakfast cereals, chips, and other heavily formulated snack foods. In this study, the ultraprocessed diet consisted specifically of candy-like fruit snacks and potato chips.

So, the lesson isn’t to “avoid anything processed.” It’s to recognize the difference between food that has been processed for convenience or preservation and highly formulated products that can displace more nutritious foods.

If even a cockroach does better with an apple than a candy straw, it might be worth taking a closer look at what’s making up most of your own diet.

Quality of life, measured in terms of depression, anxiety and interference with daily activities due to pain as part of the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS)-25 assessment tool, was significantly higher in children under the care of a chiropractor. Specifically, children were significantly less likely to report any symptoms of depression, anxiety or pain interference following a trial of chiropractic care. The researchers also accounted for variables that could have influenced the outcomes, such as number of visits, pain level, motivation for care, etc.

Give your children (and yourself) a better life with chiropractic. The sooner your kids experience the health and wellness benefits of regular chiropractic care, the better. After all, what parent doesn’t want their children to grow up with as little depression, anxiety and pain as possible? Talk to your chiropractor for more information. To learn more about chiropractic for kids, including additional research documenting the safety and health benefits of pediatric chiropractic, visit the website of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA).

The active ingredient in garlic is allicin, a sulfur-based compound that when crushed or chewed produces other compounds. Scientific studies suggest garlic supports the cardiovascular system by lowering cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood and reducing the stickiness of platelets. Test-tube studies show that garlic has antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties; human studies show that garlic reduces the risk of several cancers, particularly those of the esophagus, stomach and colon.

While garlic has not been used as long in traditional Chinese medicine (it is believed to have first been used in China in the early part of the sixth century), it is used to treat a wide range of diseases, including high blood pressure, athlete’s foot, infections and ulcers.

Garlic is available in many forms. In addition to fresh garlic, which can be obtained from a typical supermarket, there are garlic extracts, tablets, capsules, tinctures, powders and sprays. Some companies sell odorless garlic tablets.

Some people are sensitive to garlic and may experience heartburn and flatulence after eating large amounts. Because garlic acts as an anticoagulant, people taking blood-thinning medications or people scheduled for surgery should inform their health care provider before taking garlic supplements. Garlic appears to be safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Talk to your health care provider to learn more.

Reducing sedentary time by 50 minutes on a daily basis reduces the risk factors that lead to type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease – the most common chronic diseases worldwide; and it only takes three months of doing it to see results. In comparing sedentary, physically inactive adults with metabolic syndrome (putting them at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases), researchers found that the subgroup of adults directed to reduce their sedentary time for three months improved health variables such as blood sugar regulation, insulin sensitivity and liver health. Study findings appear in the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport.

Most participants in the intervention group reduced their daily sedentary time by replacing it with light- to moderate-intensity physical activity, starting with the first step that can be so agonizingly difficult for people confined to a sedentary lifestyle: stand up – from the chair, bed, couch, desk or whatever else has you doing nothing instead of moving. If you can’t seem to find the time or energy to stand up / move more, ask your doctor for assistance brainstorming a sensible, achievable daily program of physical activity. You’ll feel better and improve your health : a win-win!

1. Help It Grow: Teaching your kids the joy of gardening is not just an educational experience; planting seeds, picking weeds and tilling soil can help them work up a sweat while enjoying the outdoors. You’d be surprised how much physical exertion it takes to dig a few holes and pull stubborn weeds from the ground. (By the way, if your garden includes edible items, not just flowers, then you’re also teaching your children the value of whole-food nutrition, which can only benefit their health, now and in the long term.)

2. Junior Olympics: Beyond any organized sports your children may play, why not involve the whole family in your own backyard Olympics? For example, just a few plastic cones, a large garbage can (the biggest you can find), and balls specific to several sports (soccer, basketball, football) and you’ve got a multi-phase competition. Have the kids run through the cones (design a challenging course) and try to score into the trash can, with each ball positioned at different points along the course. You can also design an obstacle course with minimal money and time that will keep them moving all day long.

3. Scavenger Hunt: A timed scavenger hunt between teams is another fun way to keep your kids active. Divide the family in half (or recruit neighborhood friends for larger teams) with a parent as the lead for each team. Predetermine items to be “scavenged” and a set time to gather all items on the list. Then start the clock and go! This works best if you’ve got a large yard or field where you can hide different things (much like an Easter egg hunt), or if you go to a mall or store and use your shopping list as the scavenger items.

4. Dance Contest: Family dance night is a great way to get the whole family moving, and if you’ve got a video camera, you’ll get some great footage for the family archives as well. Have the kids compete against one another (with parents as the judges) or better yet, join in the fun and divide into teams, with each team having to dance to the same song. Who wins? Everyone does because you’re all moving! (This is one activity where a video game isn’t necessarily a bad thing; more and more game manufacturers are coming out with games that challenge players to replicate dance moves.)

5. Spring Cleaning: OK, so we admit that this idea might not be as fun as the rest, but from a movement perspective, it’s an effective one. What better way to get your kids off the couch than by having them clean under, around and behind it? Whether sweeping, dusting or just helping move furniture so you (or they) can vacuum, cleaning is a great way to stay active. You can also get the kids to help with outdoor activities, such as shoveling snow, mowing the lawn, etc., to burn calories.

Need more ideas for keeping your kids in shape? Talk to your doctor of chiropractic about the value of regular physical activity and how your children – and you – can stay healthy by staying active.