Researchers found that drinking guava juice may significantly improve anemia by helping the body absorb iron more efficiently. In a review of 17 studies, women and teenage girls who consumed guava juice — especially with iron supplements — experienced noticeable increases in hemoglobin levels. Since guava contains far more vitamin C than oranges, scientists believe it could become a simple, affordable nutrition tool in regions where anemia is widespread.

Source: Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota

Scientists have uncovered alarming new evidence that a common insecticide may leave lasting marks on the developing brain before a child is even born. Researchers studying New York City children found that prenatal exposure to chlorpyrifos — a pesticide once widely used indoors and still used in agriculture — was linked to widespread brain abnormalities and weaker motor skills years later.

Women may be especially sensitive to the effects of common dementia risk factors, according to a new UC San Diego study of over 17,000 adults. Researchers say tailoring prevention strategies specifically for women could be key to reducing Alzheimer’s risk.

Nearly two-thirds of teen boys and young men engage with masculinity influencers online. Some channels or podcasts promote healthy views of masculinity, but many “manosphere” figures push impressionable teens toward unrealistic body standards and other extreme ideas. Content on “looksmaxxing,” or trying to maximize one’s attractiveness, can push boys into risky behaviors. Some develop body image issues, eating disorders, or muscle dysphoria, an obsession with bulking up. These can lead to extreme workout routines or taking unregulated supplements, hormones, or anabolic steroids, which raise the risk of heart attack, stroke, organ damage, and other serious conditions. Other teens opt for cosmetic surgery to get a more chiseled jawline or abs. Doctors warn teens to be careful of the line between self-care and self-harm. One expert on the “manosphere,” Dr. Jason Nagata, warns boys to think critically about what they find online, “where popularity can be mistaken for expertise.” Consider if influencers are earning money from products they endorse and if there is real evidence to support their claims.

Cannabis use among older adults is rising fast, but today’s marijuana is far more potent than many people realize — and experts warn the risks may be underestimated. Stanford Medicine specialists say modern cannabis can increase the chances of heart problems, falls, memory issues, dangerous drug interactions, and even addiction, especially for people over 65.

Two new studies show how poor habits can impact your mental well-being. One analysis of teens around the world showed that drinking sugary beverages, like sodas and energy drinks, was associated with a 34 percent increase in symptoms of anxiety. Another study looked at excessive screen time among preteens and young teens. Spending too much time using social media or playing video games was linked to symptoms of depression, attention issues, and behavior problems. Your teen years are the perfect time to practice healthy habits that will serve you for life. You can take small steps every day to benefit your physical and mental health, from eating well and limiting screen time to exercising and practicing mindfulness.

Aging doesn’t just add fat—it redistributes it in risky ways, pushing more into the abdomen where it can harm health. Scientists found that testosterone plays a key role in this shift. In older women recovering from hip fractures, a testosterone gel combined with exercise helped prevent the usual rise in dangerous visceral fat. The result could point to a powerful new strategy for improving recovery and long-term health.

Scientists have developed a breakthrough injectable biomaterial that travels through the bloodstream to repair damaged tissue from within, reducing inflammation and jumpstarting healing. In animal studies, it successfully treated heart attack damage and even showed promise for conditions like traumatic brain injury and pulmonary hypertension. Unlike earlier approaches that required direct injection into the heart, this new therapy can be delivered intravenously, allowing it to spread evenly and act quickly.

Source: Nemours Foundation

Your brain is rapidly developing during your childhood and teen years. To understand how, researchers tracked more than 11,000 children and teens for about seven years in the largest long-term study of the brain development of American youth. They found a key point: Marijuana slows brain development in teens, negatively impacting memory, attention, language, and processing speed. According to the lead researcher, “These differences may seem small at first, but they can add up in ways that affect learning, memory, and everyday functioning.”

Fish oil has long been praised as brain-boosting, but new research suggests the story may be more complicated. Scientists found that in people with repeated mild head injuries, a key omega-3 fatty acid in fish oil—EPA—may actually interfere with the brain’s ability to repair itself. Instead of helping recovery, it appears to weaken blood vessel stability, disrupt healing signals, and even contribute to harmful protein buildup linked to cognitive decline.

 

A surprising new study suggests that eating a very healthy diet—packed with fruits, vegetables, and whole grains—might be linked to a higher risk of lung cancer in younger non-smokers. Researchers found that patients under 50 diagnosed with lung cancer often had better-than-average diets, raising the possibility that pesticide exposure from conventionally grown produce could be a hidden culprit.

A new study of gamers in their late teens and early 20s has revealed that their health can suffer depending on how much time they spend gaming. Study participants who spent more than 10 hours per week gaming were more likely to be obese, have poor diets, and get poor quality sleep. Low to moderate levels of gaming (less than 10 hours a week) generally did have a negative impact on teens’ health. Since the habits you establish in your teen and early adult years can stick with you into adulthood, experts suggest focusing on healthy behaviors: taking breaks while gaming, avoiding gaming late at night, eating healthy snacks and balanced meals, and making sure to leave time for physical activity and other hobbies. The research likely applies to a wide range of teens—according to Pew Research, 85 percent of teens play video games, and 41 percent play every day.

Seventh-grade student Aisha Chavda is getting national attention for starting an anti-bullying initiative. After seeing how others her age faced harassment online, she created an acronym called “BRIGHT” to help teens being cyberbullied:

• • Block: Block the bully online
• • Report: Report the bully to the app or site
• • Ignore: Don’t respond; distract yourself with other activities
• • Get an adult: Go to a trusted adult for advice
• • Hotline: If you have thoughts of self-harm or suicide, connect with a hotline like stopbullying.gov
• • Tech break: Get outside or away from devices for a while

For her efforts, Chavda won the Illinois State Civics Bee, a competition that encourages students to identify problems in their communities and find solutions.

Millions of people start work before sunrise—but their brains aren’t ready for it. A new clinical trial has found that the wake-promoting drug solriamfetol can significantly boost alertness in early-morning shift workers struggling with shift work disorder. Participants who took the drug were able to stay awake and function better throughout full shifts, with improvements in productivity, safety, and daily performance.

A jury has ruled that Meta (owner of Instagram) and Google (owner of YouTube) must pay $6 million for designing and operating products that they knew could harm the mental health of children and teens. The suit was brought by a woman named Kaley, now age 20, who said she started using Instagram at age 9 and YouTube at age 6. She said she soon became addicted, and her constant use of social media eventually led to body dysmorphia, depression, and suicidal thoughts. The jury in the trial agreed that the tech companies were negligent, or careless, and that they should have warned users about the risks instead of prioritizing their own profits. Experts say the case could open the door to further judgments against social media companies and potentially force them to change how they handle underage users.

What teens eat might matter more for their mental health than previously thought. A sweeping review of nearly 20 studies found that healthier diets are often linked to fewer depressive symptoms, while poor eating habits may go hand in hand with greater psychological distress. Interestingly, focusing on whole dietary patterns—not just individual nutrients—showed more consistent benefits, suggesting that overall eating habits could play a meaningful role during this critical stage of brain development.

New fathers appear to have fewer mental health diagnoses during pregnancy and the early months after birth. But that early stability does not last. About a year later, depression and stress-related disorders increase significantly, surprising researchers. The findings suggest that the emotional toll of fatherhood builds over time rather than hitting immediately.