HEALTH SECRET

Requesting simple swaps when you order can help you reduce calories and sugar while improving the nutritional value of Starbucks’ three new summer menu drinks. Photography courtesy of Starbucks * Starbucks has added three new drinks to its summer menu.  * These drinks are high in sugar and calories, but you can make them healthier with a few simple swaps.  * Experts recommend choosing a smaller size, adding extra ice or water, and opting for light lemonade.  Starbucks has introduced three new drinks to its summer menu this season.  The rollout includes a trio of Summer-Berry Starbucks Refreshers beverages. They feature a layer of new popping raspberry-flavored pearls that add a burst of fruity flavor. New drinks are:  * Summer-Berry Starbucks Refreshers Beverage: It features a blend of raspberry, blueberry, and blackberry flavors, shaken with ice and poured over a layer of popping raspberry-flavored pearls.  * Summer-Berry Lemonade Starbucks Refr

The warm summer weather can make adults feel like kids again. The Weekend Warrior comes roaring out, and the excitement and bursts of exertion can lead to a very common injury among that group: Achilles tendinitis. http://dlvr.it/T8nbjz

Research in nonhuman primates is opening the possibility of testing treatments for the early stages of Alzheimer’s and similar diseases, before extensive brain cell death and dementia set in. http://dlvr.it/T8nCX2

Even though there is substantial variability in the contents and nutritional profiles of plant-based meat alternatives (PBMAs), the nutritional profiles tend to reflect a heart-healthy dietary pattern. A review article of the available studies directly comparing the impact of plant-based and animal-based meats consistently suggests that the plant-based alternatives improve cardiovascular risk factors. http://dlvr.it/T8mtr5

Los Angeles County supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to buy up and forgive millions of dollars in medical debt as part of a comprehensive plan to tackle a $2.9 billion burden that weighs on almost 800,000 residents. http://dlvr.it/T8mgKd

New research finds that ketamine may be a more effective treatment for severe depression than electroconvulsive therapy. damircudic/Getty Images * A new study compares ketamine with electroconvulsive therapy in people with treatment-resistant depression. * The researchers identify subsets of people who respond better to ketamine and vice versa. * This study will help guide a more personalized treatment of the condition. Antidepressants are not effective for all people. Treatment-resistant depression refers to someone who has tried two or more drugs without adequate improvement. Currently, there is a focus on personalizing treatment plans to increase the chances that the next type of treatment will work for these people. In a recent study, scientists compared intravenous (injected) ketamine with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in people with treatment-resistant depression. While both are common treatments for the condition, they only work in approximately h

We get healthy dietary fiber from consuming fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. But why is fiber so good for us? A team of researchers has discovered that dietary fiber plays a crucial role in determining the balance between the production of healthy and harmful substances by influencing the behavior of bacteria in the colon. http://dlvr.it/T8l2gj