https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/402 2026-07-02T19:47:05Z 2026-07-02T19:47:05Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/147743 2026-06-30T10:37:54Z 2026-06-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Exploring the balance between natural and conventional medicine : choosing the right path to wellness Abstract: In the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare, a central debate lingers: natural versus conventional medicine. Should patients prioritize scientifically proven methods or trust in the healing power of nature? As wellness takes on a more holistic meaning, understanding the strengths and limitations of both approaches has become essential to making informed healthcare decisions. [excerpt]

2026-06-01T00:00:00Z Jones, Petra Blundell, Renald Spiteri, Melania https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/147724 2026-06-26T10:26:07Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: The flavour of sustainability : Mediterranean aromatic plants as enablers of nutrient-dense and low-salt gastronomy Authors: Jones, Petra; Blundell, Renald; Spiteri, Melania Abstract: Transitioning to sustainable, plant-forward diets, such as the Planetary Health Diet is a global priority; however, the palatability gap remains a formidable barrier, as consumers often perceive low-sodium, plant-centric diets as sensory-deficient. While aromatic herbs could bridge this gap, the current literature rarely integrates their sensory, ecological, phytochemical, and cultural dimensions. This narrative review explores how Mediter- ranean aromatic plants indigenous to the Maltese Islands function as sensory and molecular catalysts to bridge this gap. Through a thematic synthesis (2005–2026) integrating ethnob- otanical evidence with molecular nutrition and sensory science, the Maltese archipelago is examined as a small-island ecological model. Chronic abiotic stressors, including high salinity and intense solar exposure, induce phytochemical priming, significantly enhancing secondary metabolites like polyphenols and terpenoids. These compounds establish a folk–medicine bridge, where traditional culinary practices align with modern biochemical validation. These bioactives demonstrate a capacity to modulate the NF-κB inflamma- tory axis, mitigate systemic inflammaging, and support the gut–microbiome–brain axis. Furthermore, these aromatics serve as translational tools for EAT-Lancet 2025 targets by fa- cilitating cross-modal sensory compensation for sodium reduction and improving nutrient bioaccessibility via the culinary entourage effect. The TASTE-MED framework positions culinary nutrition as a vital translational bridge, asserting that flavour is a prerequisite for dietary sustainability and aligning individual molecular resilience with broader planetary health goals.

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z Sun, Rui Balabanova, Alisa Bajada, Claude J. Liu, Yang Kriuchok, Mariia Voolma, Silja-Riin Đurić, Mirna Mayer, Claude-Hélène Constantinou, Maria Chichua, Mariam Li, Chengcheng Foster-Estwick, Ashley Borg, Kurt Hill, Carin Kaushal, Rishabh Diwan, Ketaki Vitale, Valeria Engels, Tiarah Aminudin, Rabiah Ursu, Irina Fadhlia, Tengku Nila Wu, Yi-jung Sekaja, Lusanda Hadchity, Milad Deak, Anita Sharaf, Shahira Figueras, Pau Kaziboni, Anthony Whiston, Aoife Ioumpa, Kalliopi Montelongo, Alfredo Pauw, Lisanne Pavarini, Gabriela Vedernikova, Evgeniya Vu, TuongVan Nummenmaa, Lauri Cong, Yong-Qi Nikolic, Milica Olguin, Andrea Hou, Wai Kai Israelashvili, Jacob Koo, Hyunjin J. Khademi, Samaneh Ukachukwu, Chinwendu G. Juma, Damian Omari Kamiloğlu, Roza G. Makhmud, Akerke Sigurdson Lunga, Peter Rieble, Carlotta Rizwan, Muhammad Helmy, Mai Vuillier, Laura Manokara, Kunalan Quezada, Enzo Cáceres Tserendamba, Delgermend Yoshie, Michiko Du, Amy H. Philip-Joe, Kumba Kúld, Pála Björk Damani, Kalifa Osei-Tutu, Annabella Sauter, Disa https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/147484 2026-06-17T11:06:59Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Emotional experiences and psychological well-being in 51 countries during the COVID-19 pandemic Authors: Sun, Rui; Balabanova, Alisa; Bajada, Claude J.; Liu, Yang; Kriuchok, Mariia; Voolma, Silja-Riin; Đurić, Mirna; Mayer, Claude-Hélène; Constantinou, Maria; Chichua, Mariam; Li, Chengcheng; Foster-Estwick, Ashley; Borg, Kurt; Hill, Carin; Kaushal, Rishabh; Diwan, Ketaki; Vitale, Valeria; Engels, Tiarah; Aminudin, Rabiah; Ursu, Irina; Fadhlia, Tengku Nila; Wu, Yi-jung; Sekaja, Lusanda; Hadchity, Milad; Deak, Anita; Sharaf, Shahira; Figueras, Pau; Kaziboni, Anthony; Whiston, Aoife; Ioumpa, Kalliopi; Montelongo, Alfredo; Pauw, Lisanne; Pavarini, Gabriela; Vedernikova, Evgeniya; Vu, TuongVan; Nummenmaa, Lauri; Cong, Yong-Qi; Nikolic, Milica; Olguin, Andrea; Hou, Wai Kai; Israelashvili, Jacob; Koo, Hyunjin J.; Khademi, Samaneh; Ukachukwu, Chinwendu G.; Juma, Damian Omari; Kamiloğlu, Roza G.; Makhmud, Akerke; Sigurdson Lunga, Peter; Rieble, Carlotta; Rizwan, Muhammad; Helmy, Mai; Vuillier, Laura; Manokara, Kunalan; Quezada, Enzo Cáceres; Tserendamba, Delgermend; Yoshie, Michiko; Du, Amy H.; Philip-Joe, Kumba; Kúld, Pála Björk; Damani, Kalifa; Osei-Tutu, Annabella; Sauter, Disa Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic presents challenges to psychological well-being, but how can we predict when people suffer or cope during sustained stress?Here,we test the prediction that specific types of momentary emotional experiences are differently linked to psychological well-being during the pandemic. Study 1 used survey data collected from 24,221 participants in 51 countries during the COVID-19 outbreak. We show that, across countries, wellbeing is linked to individuals’ recent emotional experiences, including calm, hope, anxiety, loneliness, and sadness. Consistent results are found in two age, sex, and ethnicity-representative samples in the United Kingdom (n= 971) and the United States (n= 961) with preregistered analyses (Study 2). A prospective 30-day daily diary study conducted in the United Kingdom (n= 110) confirms the key role of these five emotions and demonstrates that emotional experiences precede changes in well-being (Study 3). Our findings highlight differential relationships between specific types of momentary emotional experiences and well-being and point to the cultivation of calm and hope as candidate routes for well-being interventions during periods of sustained stress. Description: Supplemental Material is available within this record.

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/147021 2026-06-01T13:48:34Z 2026-05-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Breaking the silence : understanding the impact of bullying on Maltese youth and the science behind effective interventions Abstract: Research shows that bullying can disrupt brain structure and function, especially over prolonged periods. When children experience bullying, their bodies release high levels of cortisol, the main stress hormone, which affects two critical areas in the brain: the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex. Hippocampus: Essential for learning, memory, and emotional control, the hippocampus is vulnerable to high cortisol levels. Damage here affects a child's ability to regulate emotions, increasing the risk of anxiety and depression. Over time, children may develop "learned helplessness", a feeling of powerlessness that lowers self-esteem and fuels ongoing fear. [excerpt]

2026-05-01T00:00:00Z