The Gary Null Show - 7-31-26

HEALTH NEWS   Lycopene linked to lower cancer risk in major review Daily routines reduce pain and depression in older adults When nature not only restores, but fortifies Skin Damage May Begin Long Before You Can See It Study Shows Exercise Improves Brain Function for 24 Hours     Lycopene linked to lower cancer risk in major review Isfahan University of Medical Sciences (Iran), July 29 2026 (Natural News)      Lycopene, the red pigment in tomatoes, may offer modest protection against cancer and cancer-related death.   A meta-analysis of 121 studies found high lycopene intake linked to a 5% lower cancer risk, while tomato consumption was tied to an 11% lower risk of cancer death and lycopene intake specifically to a 16% lower risk.   Blood lycopene levels showed stronger protection, with an 11% lower cancer risk and 24% lower risk of cancer death.   Benefits peak at 5 to 8 milligrams of lycopene daily, roughly one to two medium tomatoes.   Cooking tomatoes with healthy fats like olive oil significantly improves lycopene absorption.   Daily routines reduce pain and depression in older adults University of Missouri, July 28 2026 (News-Medical) University of Missouri researchers have identified a simple, effective way to improve quality of life. A new study found that maintaining a consistent daily routine can reduce physical pain and ease symptoms of depression, demonstrating how everyday habits can have a meaningful impact on well-being, particularly for older adults with insomnia. Roughly half of adults age 60 and older report experiencing insomnia symptoms. To better understand how insomnia affects overall well-being, researchers analyzed survey data from 67 older adults, including 37 people with insomnia. As expected, participants with insomnia reported higher levels of pain and depression. Participants who maintained consistent daily routines tended to report lower levels of pain and depression, a relationship that may be explained in part by the way regular schedules help synchronize the body's internal clock. Those daily habits help regulate the body's circadian rhythm that influences sleep, mood and other biological functions. Even small disruptions to daily schedules can throw off the body's internal clock, a phenomenon sometimes referred to as social jet lag.   When nature not only restores, but fortifies Max Planck Institute for Human Development (Germany), July 29 2026 (Eurekalert) A walk in the park after a stressful day is a classic example of how nature can help people switch off and unwind. But natural environments may offer even more: enhancing mood and cognitive performance even when a person was not previously stressed or depleted. This is the finding of a review article published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology by researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Human Development.  For the review, the researchers evaluated 54 studies that comprised 61 experiments examining the effect on natural and urban environments on cognitive performance, affect or subjective sense of relaxation.  Focus on restoration: For decades, research has primarily examined how nature helps people recover from stress or mental strain. Overlooked ‘instorative’ effects: Nature may also promote attention, positive affect and well-being even without prior depletion. Positive findings: Despite their small number, all instorative studies reported improvements in attention, affect or subjective well-being. Implications for daily life: The results suggest that green spaces not only contribute to restoration after depletion but may also promote concentration, resilience and mental health in everyday life.     Skin Damage May Begin Long Before You Can See It Hiroshima University (Japan), July 30, 2026 (SciTech Daily) Skin can appear structurally intact even as the collagen beneath it begins losing its internal organization. An international research team led by Hiroshima University found that the molecular arrangement and supramolecular chirality—or structural handedness—of dermal collagen deteriorate before its fiber network begins to thin or fragment. Collagen supports the skin through a carefully organized hierarchy that extends from molecules to larger fibers. This arrangement gives tissue much of its structure and mechanical strength. To identify changes that ordinary imaging could not detect, the researchers combined advanced optical imaging with chiroptical spectroscopy, a method that measures how structures with a particular handedness interact with light. They researchers examined