New Health Video Series Based on Research at Loma Linda University

From News Release, January 11, 2016:    A new video series entitled Live It is being distributed on the Internet. It is being released for the first time this month and produced on the campus of Loma Linda University (LLU), the Adventist health sciences center in southern California.

Based on research at the university, each episode features simple tips to live healthier and longer. “No other online health show focuses on longevity,” said Cosmin Cosma, director of Advancement Films, the production team for the series. “Simply put, Loma Linda University is a leading organization on wellness and prevention that holds treasured research findings on this popular subject.”

The inaugural season of the show contains 14 episodes, each ranging from two to three minutes in length. Each episode is presented by a physician together with a journalist, and includes sound bites from the main researcher on the topic as well as animation to visually exemplify the subject matter in an entertaining way. The show educates viewers on simple ways to incorporate the health tips into their own life.

The first episode focused on research about nuts that ultimately reversed the health advise from the American Heart Association. LLU researchers discovered that eating a handful of nuts a day lowers cholesterol by 10 percent and cuts the risk of a heart attack in half.

The other topics to be released during the first three months of 2016 include the following:

Reusable shopping bags and bacteria (Dr. Ryan Sinclair); These trendy bags are great for the environment, but you may be bringing bacteria into your home.

Pomegranate juice prevents Alzheimer’s (Dr. Rich Hartman); Drinking a daily glass of pomegranate juice can cut in half the build-up of harmful proteins linked to Alzheimer’s disease.

Standing reduces the risk of chronic disease (Dr. Ernie Medina); The average American spends 13 hours a day sitting. Some researchers call it the “new smoking.” But, getting up and moving periodically throughout the day is key to protecting yourself from developing chronic disease.

Laughter improves short term memory (Dr. Gurinder Bains); Feeling forgetful? Laughter has proven to be great medicine, improving short-term memory.

Avocados and almonds help lose weight (Dr. Ella Haddad); When trying to lose weight, the emphasis tends to be on what you should not eat. But research shows that you should eat avocados and almonds.

Water reduces the risk of heart disease (Dr. Synnove Knutsen); Drink at least five glasses of water a day and reduce the chances of having a deadly heart attack.

The Mediterranean diet reduces risk of heart disease (Dr. Ella Haddad); We’ve all heard that we should avoid fatty foods. But research actually shows that we should eat some fatty foods; the healthy ones like olive oil that fight bad cholesterol.

Spiritual impact on physical and mental health (Dr. Jerry Lee); Feeling blue? Go to church! Those who attend church on a regular basis report better physical and mental health.

Vegetarian diet reduces risk of chronic diseases (Dr. Michael Orlich); Want to decrease your chances of chronic disease? Researchers found that a vegetarian diet does just that.

Green vegetables, brown rice, legumes, dried fruit all reduce risk of colon cancer (Dr. Yessenia Tantamango); Greens make you healthy and strong! In fact, pairing greens with dried fruit, legumes and brown rice may build a protective barrier against colon cancer.

Aerobic exercise reduces the risk of type-2 diabetes (Dr. David Hessinger); Whether it’s a Zumba class, kickboxing, or going outside for a jog, aerobic exercise has several health benefits, including reducing the risk of diabetes.

Legumes reduce hip fractures (Dr. Synnove Knutsen); Want to decrease your risk of having a hip fracture? Eat more beans!

Nutrition during pregnancy and healthier children (Dr. L. Longo); Did you know what a woman eats while pregnant not only affects her child but her grandchildren as well?

Advancement Films is based at LLU and a 12-time EMMY Award winning team that produces a nationwide documentary series on public television. The video series is being distributed on YouTube free of charge.