Pets are good for your brain and other health news we learned this week

Is improving your health one of your New Year's resolutions? If so, you may be debating which gym membership to sign up for or what exercise plan you'll start up come Jan. 1. But breaking a sweat is not the only way to feel better in your own skin. Well-being is all about keeping your mental, emotional and physical health in check, and the three tips we learned this week can help you do just that. Here's what to know.

Living alone? Consider getting a pet.

If you want to stay sharp when you’re older, you may want to consider getting a pet — especially if you don’t share your home with anyone. A new study published in JAMA Network Open found that older adults who lived alone and owned a pet were less likely than their non-pet-owning peers to see a decline in their verbal function, including their ability to express thoughts clearly.

If you’re considering bringing a furry friend into your home, there are plenty of perks. In addition to slowing verbal decline, pet ownership may come with mental health benefits. A 2023 survey conducted by the American Psychiatric Association found that 86% of respondents said that their pets contributed positively to their well-being, with 69% stating that their pets helped alleviate stress and anxiety.

Want to manage your weight? Go for high-quality carbs.

There’s plenty of talk about low-carb diets in weight loss, but a new data analysis of more than 123,000 adults published in JAMA Network Open found that replacing refined carbs with high-quality ones may be best for weight management. The study revealed that low-carb diets emphasizing high-quality proteins, fats and carbohydrates derived from whole grains and healthy plant-based sources were linked to a slower rate of weight gain over a four-year period, whereas diets that prioritized proteins and fats from animal sources or relied on refined carbohydrates were associated with an increase in weight.

It’s possible that the reason people gained more weight while eating refined carbs, which include refined sugars, is that people felt hungrier after eating them. That’s due to their high glycemic index, which means they are rapidly digested. High-quality carbs, however, are higher on the glycemic index and come with healthy fiber that keeps you feeling full and satisfied for longer.

Want to add some of these “high-quality” carbs into your diet? There are plenty of options, from plant proteins like beans to oatmeal and whole-grain breads and pastas.

Want to enjoy exercise more? Get in the groove.

Do you immediately want to get up and move when you hear a song you enjoy? You may have an affinity for what researchers in Japan call “groove rhythm,” and it may benefit you in enjoying exercise and having it improve your brain function. In a new study published in the journal Neuroscience, researchers found that the people who felt like their bodies were really moving with the rhythm while doing light exercise showed better cognitive function compared to when they did the same exercise without the music. The hope is that these findings can help people amplify the enjoyment and cognitive benefits of physical activity.

We know that listening to music you connect with during exercise has benefits. The beat of a song can help you set the pace of your workout — a higher-tempo song, for example, may push you psychologically to run or bike faster. Plus, listening to your favorite tunes can also make you feel like you’re enjoying your workout more, therefore allowing you to push through higher-intensity exercise.