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WUFT is the public media stations in North Central Florida, with local content and from our partners at NPR, PRI and PBS. Broadcast on WUFT 89.1, WJUF 90.1, Florida's 5 TV and wuft.org.
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Health in a Heartbeat is a daily radio series that features two-minute segments providing consumer-health information and the latest news on medical research, patient-care breakthroughs and health-care industry trends. The series launched in January 2000 and is available at no charge to public radio stations nationwide. It is a unique project offered by University of Florida Health in association with the UF radio stations 89.1 WUFT-FM and 90.1 WJUF-FM. It currently airs in more than 53 citi ...
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In the universe of healthy snacks, baby carrots might just be one of the trendiest. A favored snack among the younger set, even the family dog might love a few if your hot dog stash runs dry. New research tells us that if you’re a young adult, these cutest of carrots could boost your skin, too. A team from Samford University presented findings at a…
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As nutritional science has evolved over time, butter has passed in and out of favor with nutritionists and the public. At times butter has been touted for its nutritional value and that it may contribute to weight loss for those on a low-carb diet. But butter is looked upon less favorably when its fat profile is examined. That’s because butter is h…
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You’re pouring yourself a cup of coffee while chatting up the new boss, and you get distracted — subsequently spilling it all over. You feel your face turn beet red, and it’s not the first time. After all, blushing is a universal part of the human experience. Now, researchers are trying to understand why. Using MRI scans to track brain activity, te…
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You might be 10 slices of bacon away from a longer, healthier life. Yes, you heard that correctly. Bacon has a rap sheet. It’s high in sodium and fat. While some sing its praises, many doctors are not in the choir. The World Health Organization calls the food a carcinogen. University of Edinburgh scientists recently found that if Americans collecti…
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The blood orange is delicious, often expensive, and packed with nutrients that taste great. But unlike the more common citrus that thrives in the humid state of Florida, this pigmented fruit requires more consistent cold temperatures than are readily available in a state known for its sunshine and beaches. Now, new University of Florida research is…
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Low back pain is an often-chronic condition many accept as just a natural part of aging. But what if ditching low back pain was as simple as taking a walk? A new study suggests it might be. Australian researchers recruited adults who had recently experienced an episode of lower back pain for at least 24 hours and who had no specific diagnosis. Part…
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Millions of Americans regularly take multivitamins, accepting as fact that the dietary supplement can help them stay healthy and live longer. Consumers reliably scoop them up at the drugstore or supermarket. One estimate pegs the value of the multivitamin market at more than $21 billion. A new study, however, questions their usefulness. National Ca…
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For those among us who prefer the steady thrum, pacing, and incline control of a treadmill (and the air conditioning that often comes with it), there can often be an unpleasant tax — shin splints. Now, researchers from the University of Virginia Health System may be onto a treatment plan that protects against this pesky, but common, sports injury. …
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Don’t mess with Texas. Not with its ticks, anyway. The lone star tick, once found mostly in the southeastern United States, has been expanding its turf. They’re becoming more common in the Northeast, the Midwest, and even Canada. While its bite isn’t as dangerous as that of the also-common blacklegged tick, which spreads Lyme disease, lone star tic…
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Summertime is a great time to get outdoors, go hiking, and explore nature. Kids are out of school and vacation season is in full swing. But so is the heat. High temperatures are no joke and can make any hike dangerous — even deadly. Each year, multiple people die from heat exhaustion during hikes and hundreds more are rescued. By taking a few safet…
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For millions of Americans, eating oatmeal isn’t enough to lower cholesterol. Many leave the doctor’s office with a high cholesterol diagnosis and a statin prescription. One study from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University reported that by 2019, 818 million people were prescribed statins. But perhaps that number may change. As many as 40% f…
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We all keep time to an internal cellular clock. Our circadian rhythms are tuned to the rotation of the Earth and its cycle of night and day. Still, our clocks aren’t all set to the same hour and minute. Some scientists believe that the biological clock influences whether we are a morning person or a night owl. If you groan and swear at the morning …
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The dentist adjusts his instrument in your mouth, frowning. You tense, gripping the armrests. Silence. Then, the dreaded question: “Have you been flossing?” Maybe you have been. Maybe you really, really meant to, but forgot. Or maybe you glance over to the dusty floss pick packet every night … and then you look away. Whether you do, don’t, or won’t…
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Whether we’re binging one more episode of our favorite TV show, scrolling through social media, or battling insomnia, there are plenty of distractions in today’s world to keep us from sleep. But getting enough sleep is extremely important for a variety of reasons, and two new studies from the University of Michigan show that those who don’t get eno…
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If you’re a woman who needs another reason to shovel in those fruits and veggies or forgo that triple fudge brownie, this is it. New research has shown that higher adherence to a Mediterranean diet can reduce overall mortality rates in women by 23%. A study published in JAMA Network followed over 25,000 women for 25 years, observing their food choi…
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It’s August, and your kids are likely preparing to return to school. Supplies are packed, lunches are made and blissful quiet awaits you at home. But before you send them off, make sure their eyes are classroom-ready. August is Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month, so it’s no time to neglect an aspect crucial to your child’s academic success. A 2…
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“Screenager” is a term often used to describe tech-savvy teens who irritate their parents with extended stints online. But is it more than that? A new study from University College London found that increased internet addictions among adolescents may cause more serious health issues. Researchers reviewed 12 studies involving adolescents ages 10 to …
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Meat has been a staple of the human diet for approximately three million years — since our ancient ancestors were scavenging raw meat and fish, and long before the invention of fire and cooking. But times change. Today, we have access to an array of plant-based meat alternatives, or PBMAs, packed with comparable nutrients to real meat. At the same,…
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It’s summer, the temperature is rising, and so are the number of heat-related emergencies. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hospitals across the country are seeing higher numbers of emergency room visits related to heat illnesses. And it’s not necessarily the regions with the highest temperatures that have the highe…
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Good news for coffee-lovers in cubicle land: That daily latte might be doing more than just waking you up. A new study finds that people who regularly drink coffee seem to gain some protection from the increased risk of death associated with prolonged sitting. Chinese researchers studied data collected by the National Health and Nutrition Survey, f…
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When you’re at a wedding reception and dancing begins, do you break into a sweat at the very idea of dancing, or do you kick off your shoes? If you’re the latter, your ability to loosen up may be more important than your ability to break into a cha-cha slide. New research from scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics in Germa…
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It’s human nature. Many of us probably don’t even know we’re doing it. You’re in the supermarket, rolling a cart through the produce section. Ah, here comes broccoli, one of the healthiest foods available. You drop some into the shopping basket. The vegetable will work its magic with numerous health benefits, from helping lower blood sugar to reduc…
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How often do you take aspirin? A couple of times a week? Do you use it every day? For years, doctors recommended that patients take a low-dose aspirin to prevent heart disease. As a result, the Annals of Internal Medicine found more than 18.5 million older adults — more than the population in 46 states — regularly take aspirin for that purpose alon…
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We’ve all seen it. You’re at a major airport preparing to catch a 7 a.m. flight, you pass a bar and it’s full of people drinking. Or you settle into your seat and your neighbor is desperately flagging a flight attendant for a pre-takeoff gin and tonic. Whether it’s trying to calm frazzled-flyer nerves, kick-start a vacation, or just hoping for slee…
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Did you listen to your mom when you were 12? According to researchers in Illinois, it may not matter — because the advice improved your well-being anyway. Hard to believe, we know, but while some parents find their advice falling on deaf ears, this research indicated that even seemingly disinterested preteens may benefit from their parents’ input. …
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College has always been a stressful time for some students, and mental health conditions have been on the rise at many campuses. But researchers said they had no idea it was this bad. Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD [P-T-S-D], diagnoses among college students more than doubled between 2017 and 2022, rising most sharply as the COVID-19 pande…
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World-class athletes adhere to strict diets to help them perform their best and maintain peak physical condition. Conversely, those who make unhealthy dietary choices are more likely to be overweight, have lower energy and generally be in poor physical health. But what do dietary choices do for brain health? Well, here’s some food for thought: A ne…
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Colorectal cancer rates are going up among young adults in their 20s, 30s and 40s. Millennials born around 1990 are at nearly twice the risk compared with those born in the 1950s. While far more older people get colorectal cancer, researchers say younger adults often pay less attention to warning signs. In a new study led by the University of Calif…
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July is the peak of the heat. The month brings the scorching “dog days” of summer, a season of perspiration. When most of the northern hemisphere isn’t taking refuge in air-conditioned places, it’s a time many of us spend outdoors, at barbecues, pool parties or trips to the beach. Hence this reminder that July is also UV Safety Month. Ultraviolet r…
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There are experiences we call bitter pills to swallow — and then, there are the meds themselves. Now, researchers at the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia have found a way to trick our tongues into ignoring the flavor altogether. Scientists are testing a taste blocker that could change medication intake, particularly for those who strug…
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When it comes to water cooler talk, stress is a common theme. An even more common one? Your coworker who never seems to catch a break — and is always more stressed than anyone else. If you’ve felt annoyed — or even privately wondered what’s going on — you’re far from alone. A recent study from the University of Georgia indicates that boasting about…
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Walking up a flight of stairs won’t just get you to the second floor. It might also help get you to your golden years. The elevator apparently doesn’t stop on that floor. It’s not surprising that such exercise is healthy. Carrying the groceries up to a third-floor apartment might not sound like a workout at the gym. But taking the stairs works the …
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I scream, you scream, we all scream … for all kinds of reasons. Variations in tone and frequency allow humans to express anger, frustration, pain, fear and happiness through the ultimate example of emotion — the scream. Research from Emory University indicates that most people are fairly good at identifying the reason behind most screams. But screa…
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This serial killer’s body count surpasses the toll of all the world’s wars, terrorism, alcoholism, drugs and a litany of diseases combined. One doesn’t need to visit a remote corner of the planet to be threatened. Looking over your shoulder won’t protect you. This menace is in the air, water and even the light that leaks through a window at night a…
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Menstruation has never been an easy topic. And why would it be? In the Middle Ages, it was commonly believed that menstrual blood could kill crops and dull mirrors. Some even held that a menstruating person could shoot “poisonous vapors” from their eyes. Hey, no one said that era was big for science. A new study from researchers at Harvard, the Nat…
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You finish your workday and start driving home. As you pass through familiar intersections and neighborhoods, perhaps your mind wanders to dinner or what the evening will bring. A nice, cold beer has often accompanied the start of the evening, for many. But, according to a new study from Carnegie Mellon University, more Americans aren’t popping a c…
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Your heart takes a licking, and most of the time, it keeps on ticking. But there are several screenings you can get to be sure that it does. According to the American Heart Association, an important factor in lowering your risk for cardiovascular disease is managing your health behaviors. These include your diet, physical activity, whether you smok…
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Some of us are lucky enough to see our parents and grandparents enjoy healthy lives well into old age. You’d probably feel as if you’d won the genetic lottery if your 90-year-old parents still managed a round of golf now and then. On the other end of the spectrum, we’ve all heard someone lament that “they die young in my family.” A new study reinfo…
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The microscopic hitchhikers in our gut might be doing more than catching a ride. They could, on occasion, be driving the car. Each of us hosts trillions of microbes in our gut. They’re essential for a healthy life, helping us digest food and maintain immunity. But do they have more than a physical impact on our bodies? Do they also influence our no…
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The next time you curse out the driver who cut you off or mutter expletives at the speed demon next to you, consider the fact that the driver might be a sleepy teen. A National Sleep Foundation study found that the large number of teens who drive while tired poses a serious health concern. The study surveyed U.S. teens ages 13 to 17 to assess the p…
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Which came first, doomscrolling or depression? In the 17 years that smartphones have been around, and in the past decade in which they became ubiquitous, young people’s rates of depression have been on the rise. But which came first? A never-ending parade of peers showing off their perfect boyfriends, vacations and physiques, leading young people t…
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When our ancient ancestors began eating meat, humans were getting more protein and nutrients than ever before. Scientists believe this development allowed human brains to grow bigger and smarter, laying the foundation for modern life. Now, a mere 2.5 million years and a few technological leaps later, it might be time for humans to reconsider their …
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Microplastics are trending. They’re seemingly everywhere, most notably in the news. Scientists are finding them almost anywhere they look. The oceans. The Arctic. The air. In polar bears. In fish. In our bodies. And now they’ve been confirmed in a place that will get the close attention of at least half of the population — in testicles. University …
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Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases are devastating to individuals and the families who care for them. Family members are often left to watch helplessly as their loved one slowly succumbs to cognitive decline. Once-simple tasks become impossible and familiar faces become unrecognizable. Now, there is new hope for the victims and familie…
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Some people view the explanation as an all-too-convenient excuse. And just try telling this to your boss after you slur words and act tipsy in a staff meeting. “I don’t drink, boss. My gut, however, is a brewery.” Yup, tell it to HR. It is, however, a real condition. And it’s called auto-brewery syndrome, or ABS. While ABS is rarely diagnosed, stor…
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Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease can be stressful and challenging for family members. All too often, families are unable to afford professional help. So, the burden can fall entirely on them. A 2023 Alzheimer’s Association report notes that about 11 million people — family members and others — provide unpaid care for someone with Alz…
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Scientists believe mammograms have helped reduce breast cancer mortality in the U.S. by almost 40 percent since 1990. That’s an enormous burden of human suffering erased. Yet, modern preventive medical procedures are sometimes taken for granted. Do women know when they should begin getting mammograms? And how often? Confusion about timing can lead …
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You might want to sit down for this. It turns out, while too much sitting can be bad for your health, not all kinds of sitting are equal. How’s that? We’ve all been told that sitting too long raises the risk of cardiovascular disease and other health problems. But research suggests that leisure-time sitting has a greater risk of heart disease than …
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High-intensity exercise and time-restricted eating may improve health together, a recent study suggests. Many diets and exercise regimens claim to hold the golden ticket to a healthier, fitter body. Now, a new study suggests that the winning formula might lie in the interaction between time-restricted eating and high-intensity functional exercise. …
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Glenn Frey [Fry] said it best: “The heat is on.” If you walk outside on the street these days, you’ll certainly have noticed the temperatures are headed up. Due to climate change, the warmer weather lasts longer each year. To help you prepare, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Weather Service joined forces to create an…
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