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Category: Health

  • Tony Slattery’s passing highlights growing concern over rising cardiovascular deaths amid Covid-19

    Tony Slattery, the beloved actor and comedian known for his quick wit and magnetic charm, tragically passed away from a heart attack on January 14, 2025, at the age of 65. His sudden death has not only left loved ones, including his partner Mark Hutchinson, fans, and colleagues in mourning, but has also drawn attention to the alarming rise in excess deaths from cardiovascular disease (CVD) since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

    Covid-19 worsens pre-existing conditions, especially cardiovascular diseases

    It is common to limit Covid-19 deaths to those who pass away during the acute stage of the infection, and dismiss even these deaths by attributing them solely to pre-existing conditions. However, this perspective is both misleading and harmful. 

    The alarming rise of excess deaths since the beginning of the pandemic, especially from cardiovascular diseases, and the mountain of research now showing Covid-19 is a systemic disease that causes long-term damage to the body’s organs and systems, means acknowledging that Covid is shortening the lives of all sections of the population, especially those with pre-existing conditions.

    Tony Slattery has publicly disclosed physical and mental health problems. Has repeated exposure to SARS-CoV-2, especially in high-risk settings like comedy clubs and healthcare, exacerbated these pre-existing clinical vulnerabilities? We probably will never know.

    However, Covid-19 does not merely affect individuals with pre-existing conditions more severely; it actively worsens these conditions, particularly those involving the cardiovascular system.

    Numerous reviews

    A systematic review and meta-analysis published in BMC Medicine highlights how Covid-19 exacerbates existing health vulnerabilities, leading to increased severity and mortality.

    The study revealed that individuals with cardiovascular disease faced an odds ratio (OR) of 3.42 (95% CI: 1.88–6.22) for experiencing severe complications after contracting Covid-19. This was not simply due to their pre-existing condition but because Covid-19 magnified the underlying damage to their cardiovascular system.

    Similarly, people with diabetes experienced an OR of 2.45 (95% CI: 1.79–3.35) for worse outcomes, as the virus disrupted glucose metabolism and triggered inflammatory responses that compounded their condition.

    Covid-19 amplifies the impact of these illnesses by attacking the endothelium, the inner lining of blood vessels, leading to inflammation, clotting abnormalities, and reduced blood flow. These processes significantly worsen cardiovascular health, turning chronic conditions into critical emergencies.

    Even for individuals with previously stable heart disease or diabetes, the virus creates a cascade of complications that accelerates health deterioration.

    These findings underscore that Covid-19 is not just a risk to those with existing conditions but a direct driver of their worsening health. The virus’s impact goes beyond the acute phase of infection, leaving lasting damage and contributing to long-term health decline in vulnerable populations. Recognising this dynamic is essential to addressing the broader consequences of the pandemic.

    An exponential increase in excess deaths from cardiovascular disease across all age groups

    Tony Slattery was known to be an avid reader of medical journals, and the preeminent publication in this field, the Lancet, has sounded the alarm on excess deaths from cardiovascular diseases as a result of the ongoing pandemic.

    Recent data published in The Lancet has revealed that excess deaths in the UK have persisted since the pandemic began, with cardiovascular diseases playing a significant role. According to the UK Office for National Statistics (ONS), there were 44,255 more deaths than expected in 2022, with an 8.6% rise continuing into the first half of 2023.

    Middle-aged adults aged 50–64 saw a staggering 33% increase in deaths involving CVD during the 13 months ending mid-2023. Deaths from ischaemic heart diseases (up 44%), cerebrovascular diseases (up 40%), and heart failure (up 39%) were particularly pronounced in this group.

    However, adults aged 65 and over also experienced elevated mortality, with a 9% rise in excess deaths from all causes. Notably, cardiovascular deaths in private homes for this group rose by 27%. Tony Slattery, who had just turned 65 in November 2024, highlights how these trends span across age groups.

    Young adults are not immune

    The data also shows that even younger adults are not immune: cardiovascular deaths among those aged 25–49 were 11% higher than expected during the same period. 

    The Office for National Statistics (ONS) recently revised its method for calculating excess deaths, using a model that incorporates population size and ageing trends instead of the five-year historical average. While the new methodology aims to improve accuracy, it has reduced previously reported excess deaths by two-thirds.

    For example, excess deaths for 2022 were revised down from 31,442 to 10,994. Critics argue that this change, while potentially valid for long-term modelling, risks obscuring the true impact of Covid-19 in future analyses.

    Carl Heneghan, director of the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine, and Tom Jefferson, a senior associate tutor at Oxford University, have voiced concerns about the lack of transparency. They noted that large adjustments were categorised under vague labels like “other changes,” raising questions about whether these revisions might downplay the continued toll of the pandemic.

    Covid-19’s long shadow on heart health

    The British Heart Foundation (BHF) emphasises that Covid-19 is not just a respiratory illness but a vascular disease with long-lasting impacts on the circulatory system. The virus damages the endothelium, the inner lining of blood vessels, leading to inflammation, abnormal clotting, and reduced blood flow. These effects can trigger a cascade of cardiovascular complications:

    • Heart attacks and strokes: Covid-19 patients are more than twice as likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke compared to those who were never infected. Hospitalised patients face four times the risk.
    • Blood clots: Severe cases significantly increase the likelihood of blood clots in major arteries, potentially causing fatal complications such as pulmonary embolisms or strokes.
    • Heart damage and failure: Covid-19-induced inflammation and oxygen deprivation strain the heart, leading to long-term damage. A 2022 study in Nature Medicine found that individuals who had Covid-19 were 72% more likely to develop heart failure within a year of infection, even without pre-existing conditions.

    Covid-19 has also been linked to myocarditis, irregular heart rhythms, and persistent high blood pressure, compounding risks for those with chronic conditions like diabetes or hypertension.

    A healthcare system under strain

    As the pandemic persists into its fifth year, the UK healthcare system faces unprecedented pressure. Long Covid has had a particularly devastating impact on healthcare workers: a 2024 report found that 10% of NHS staff – approximately 122,000 people – suffer from long Covid, with symptoms such as fatigue and breathlessness impairing their ability to work. This has exacerbated staff shortages, leaving the NHS struggling to meet rising demand.

    Waiting times for routine screenings and specialist consultations have reached record highs, with some patients waiting over a year for cardiology appointments. Emergency departments are also overwhelmed, with delayed treatment contributing to poorer outcomes for acute illnesses, including heart attacks and strokes.

    The pandemic has also led to increased reliance on healthcare services, as individuals dealing with the long-term effects of Covid-19 or delayed diagnoses for chronic diseases seek medical care. This overburdened system has made it harder to address the surge in cardiovascular disease, leaving preventable deaths on the rise.

    Comedians and Covid-19: a sector hit hard

    Tony Slattery’s death also highlights the unique vulnerabilities faced by entertainers and others who work in crowded, poorly ventilated venues. Comedy clubs and theatres are often hotspots for airborne diseases like Covid-19. Without adequate safety measures, these venues can become high-risk environments.

    The entertainment industry, particularly live performers like comedians, has been significantly impacted by the pandemic. Some comedians have tragically succumbed to Covid-19 or related complications:  

    • Joe Luna: the comedian, known as Joe El Cholo, passed away in November 2020 due to complications from Covid-19 at the age of 38.    
    • Jethro (Geoffrey Rowe): the British comedian died in December 2021 after contracting Covid-19, at the age of 72.    

    Additionally, some comedians have publicly shared their struggles with long Covid, detailing prolonged symptoms that have affected their ability to perform and work. 

    Clean air protects those who make us laugh

    To protect performers and audiences alike, public venues must prioritise clean air. This includes installing HEPA air filtration systems, ensuring proper ventilation, and encouraging the use of high-quality masks during surges of airborne illness. On-site molecular testing for Covid-19, which provides fast and accurate results, should also be standard practice in these settings.

    Clean air is not just a Covid-19 mitigation measure – it is a public health necessity. Reducing the transmission of respiratory viruses will help lower the overall burden on healthcare systems, improve cardiovascular outcomes, and protect vulnerable populations.

    Tony Slattery’s sudden passing is a stark reminder of how Covid-19 has reshaped public health. While we may never know whether SARS-CoV-2 was the direct cause of his heart attack, the evidence is clear: Covid-19 exacerbates vulnerabilities and compounds risks, shortening lives across all demographics.

    The pandemic has shown us that health is interconnected. Pre-existing conditions are not explanations; they are amplifiers of the virus’s deadly potential. Addressing the systemic issues – through clean air, healthcare investment, and accurate public messaging – can help prevent further unnecessary deaths and honour the legacies of those we have lost.

    Featured image via the Canary

    By Protect the Heart of the Arts

    This post was originally published on Canary.

  • Cornell Expert & How Not to Die Author Dr Michael Greger: ‘Plant-Based Meat Is the Ultra-Processed Food Exception’

    michael greger
    7 Mins Read

    Dr Michael Greger, founder of NutritionFacts.org and author of How Not to Die, spoke to the Good Food Institute about misinformation and the link between ultra-processed foods and plant-based meat.

    Perhaps the most pertinent public debate around plant-based meat today concerns ultra-processing, a topic that has prompted a shift to more whole foods, pushing industry leaders to reformulate products and talk more about nutrition on-pack.

    Ultra-processed food (UPF), a subset of the Nova classification, was never meant to be about health – it simply was a reference to how much processing a product has undergone. But the confluence of processing and ill health has strengthened over recent years, thanks to a host of studies.

    This has adversely impacted plant-based meat products, which – because of being ultra-processed – are thought of as unhealthy. Or at least not as healthy as they’ve been made out to be. A wave of misleading media coverage has only bolstered this narrative.

    is beyond meat processed
    Courtesy: Robbie Lockie

    It has dissuaded people from buying meat alternatives, with a 10,000-person survey from 2024 suggesting that more than half of Europeans avoid these products because they’re ultra-processed.

    Nutrition experts have been fighting back, highlighting the distinction between food processing and human health, and reiterating the benefits of meat analogues – especially over their animal-derived counterparts.

    NutritionFacts.org founder and How Not to Die author Dr Michael Greger, a leading health expert, is one of these voices. He plans to write a book dedicated to the subject, and hit back at the misinformation surrounding meat alternatives in the Good Food Institute’s latest Science of Alt-Protein seminar.

    Here are 10 takeaways from the event.

    1) UPF effects can be independent of dietary quality

    Studies involving nearly 10 million people have linked greater exposure to UPFs to a higher risk of chronic health conditions and premature death. But this association was found after controlling for dietary quality, so it wasn’t just that people were eating “junkier diets”.

    “At least some of the adverse consequences of ultra-processed foods may be independent of dietary quality. This could involve things like harmful additives, heat-induced contaminants or packaging chemicals,” said Greger.

    2) Plant-based meats are the UPF exception

    While there are several factors that could explain the connection between UPFs and ill health. Normally, when you compare ultra-processed products (like Kool-Aid or fruit candy) with the foods they were designed to replace (in this case, water or fruits), the former category tends to perform worse on the health scale.

    “However, plant-based meats appear to be the exception – better in most ways compared to the foods they were designed to replace,” said Greger. He cited a 2024 systemic review of nine studies comparing plant-based with conventional meat, and found that the former scored better based on every nutrient scoring system tested. And a 10th study rated plant-based meat three times healthier than animal-derived meat.

    plant based meat ultra processed
    Courtesy: Dr Michael Greger/GFI

    3) Are additives like methylcellulose a concern?

    There is growing evidence suggesting toxicity from several artificial food additives, like synthetic dyes and emulsifiers. One of the most commonly used additives in plant-based meat is methylcellulose, known for its binding, gelling and thermoreversible properties. It’s also often used in laxatives.

    But while there has been some potential harm found with methylcellulose use in mice, this is at 10 times higher concentrations than what’s found in plant-based meat.

    “Reassuringly, vegetarians who eat plant-based meat may actually have lower rates of irritable bowel syndrome than those who don’t consume plant-based meat, suggesting that at least from that standpoint, plant-based meat emulsifiers are not a problem,” said Greger.

    4) The sodium comparisons are misleading

    Despite plant-based meat having more fibre, lower saturated fat, zero cholesterol and oftentimes comparable protein levels, one area they face scrutiny over is the sodium content. “The most harmful additive currently in use is ironically the most traditional of all, and that’s salt. The number one dietary risk factor for death on planet Earth [is] excessive sodium consumption,” Greger noted.

    One study found vegan burgers to have 10 times as much sodium as beef. “But that’s because they were comparing raw beef with pre-seasoned plant-based meats. Now, they could have compared [cooked] burgers to burgers, but intentionally excluded them from the study, skewing the results,” he explained.

    When comparing like-for-like, the nutrition expert said the saltiest plant-based meatballs have been found to be lower in sodium than the least salty conventional meatballs.

    impossible burger vs beef
    Courtesy: Impossible Foods

    5) Plant-based meat can provide GLP-1 boost

    Nearly three-quarters of Americans over 20 are overweight or obese, which leads to a host of other life-threatening conditions. This has also given rise to GLP-1 agonist drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro. Greger cited research showing that a plant-based burger boosts the GLP-1 receptor about 40% higher than a beef burger.

    Additionally, even when people swap only a single serving of meat a day with vegan alternatives, they lose significantly more weight. This could be due to fewer branch-chain amino acids, which improves metabolic health, or because the resting metabolic rate in vegetarians has been found to be 20% higher than meat-eaters.

    6) Meat analogues enhance diabetes management

    Nearly 15% of American adults have diabetes (mostly type 2), while almost two in five American children and teenagers are prediabetic. Greger highlighted the potential of vegan meat products in reducing insulin resistance and managing blood glucose levels in diabetics.

    A four-year interventional trial shows that diabetics who replaced animal protein with TVP – a processed meat alternative – find significant improvements in blood sugar. Swapping a single serving of red meat with TVP vastly enhanced insulin resistance, though resting blood glucose levels were only significantly better through a shift to whole soybeans.

    In another study, pregnant women with gestational diabetes who swapped half their animal protein for TVP not only saw improvements in insulin resistance and blood sugar control, but also found newborn hospitalisations lowered by 85%.

    gut health diet
    Courtesy: LaylaBird/Getty Images

    7) Plant-based meat is good for the gut

    The GLP-1 boom has also put gut health in sharp focus, and meat alternatives can bring major benefits here. They can promote positive changes in the microbiome, helping feed beneficial gut microbes, for example, which produce anti-inflammatory short-chain fatty acids.

    Replacing a few servings of meat a day with Quorn’s mycoprotein alternatives has been found to increase the abundance of good gut bacteria and reduce the amount of DNA damage caused by faecal matter.

    “According to the latest data, about 85% of ground beef and turkey are contaminated with faecal bacteria at a retail level. And about half a chicken, and a third of pork,” said Greger. “But you don’t have to cook the crap out of plant-based meat because there shouldn’t be any crap to begin with.”

    8) Vegan products can reduce healthcare costs

    “These days, most of us are dying from diseases of excess, not deficiency,” Greger remarked. Too much salt, too much sugar, too much saturated fat, too many calories. “Higher intake of meat in general – red meat, white meat, processed, unprocessed – [is] also associated with increased risk of death from all causes put together,” he added.

    “If people swapped out about 75% of their meat, up to 50,000 lives can be saved every year in high-income countries potentially saving billions of dollars of healthcare costs,” he continued.

    9) On-pack labelling requirements can help plant-based food

    It was only last week that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed the rollout of a front-of-pack label that scored the saturated fat, sodium and sugar content of a processed food product from low to high. Greger praised on-pack labelling strategies, drawing a parallel with how the fight against trans fats was won when the food industry was forced to list them on their ingredient labels.

    He argued that these policies – unwelcome as they might be for many food producers – have forced their hand. They now “actually have to care about sodium”, for example. “It would be nice if companies were like: ‘Maybe we should care about sodium because we don’t like killing people,” Greger said, acknowledging that it’s not something shareholders will ask about.

    But front-of-pack labelling means companies can’t “hide behind some health halo”, such as “plant-based” or “natural”.

    10) Whole-food plant-based meat is the way to go

    Asked what his dream meat alternative would be, Greger said this already existed in the form of plant proteins “made by Mother Nature”, like kidney beans. But he painted a bigger picture.

    “Can we make something healthier than a kidney bean?” he said. The way you make something healthier than a lentil is to do something to it that makes people eat more lentils. “Add some potassium chloride to lentils – all of a sudden tastes better you’re eating more lentils,” Greger suggested.

    This could be complemented with some healthy fat, like a nut butter, and added fibre – or at least a mechanism that strips less fibre away. “Just more whole healthy foods in people’s bodies would be ideal,” he said.

    The post Cornell Expert & How Not to Die Author Dr Michael Greger: ‘Plant-Based Meat Is the Ultra-Processed Food Exception’ appeared first on Green Queen.

    This post was originally published on Green Queen.

  • What happens to kids when their schools are destroyed?

    Kids lose so much when a disaster strikes. Too many have lost family members to the wildfires that have raged across Los Angeles in recent days. They’ve lost homes. They’ve lost the sense of security and predictability that so many kids depend on. And, to add insult to injury, many of them have lost their schools.

    At least nine schools in the Los Angeles area have been destroyed or severely damaged by the fires. Video posted by the principal of Odyssey Charter School’s south campus in Altadena shows flames still smoldering in the buildings as smoke rises from the playground, blotting out the sky. Marquez Charter Elementary School in Pacific Palisades “is dust,” one parent told The Cut. Meanwhile, thousands more schools were closed last week as communities faced evacuation warnings, power outages, and smoke-filled air, leaving more than 600,000 students out of school.

    Unfortunately, these disruptions are part of a new normal for kids as climate disasters become more frequent. Last year, Americans experienced 27 weather-related disasters costing $1 billion or more in damage, the second-highest number ever — meanwhile, the number of days American schools are closed for extreme heat has doubled in recent years.

    There’s often nothing officials can do to avoid a closure, especially if schools are damaged or without power. But “when schools close, kids aren’t learning,” said Melinda Morrill, an economics professor at North Carolina State University who has studied the impact of closures.

    Research on school closures after hurricanes Matthew and Florence in North Carolina is sobering. Especially in the early grades, “students didn’t bounce back,” said Cassandra R. Davis, a professor of public policy at UNC Chapel Hill who studied the closures. In some cases, the academic impact persisted for more than a year.

    Beyond academics, millions of students rely on their schools for mental health support or services like speech therapy; millions more need the free or reduced-price food school cafeterias provide. Schools are also a crucial source of stability in many children’s lives, a place they go five days a week to see their friends, their teachers, their favorite books, their art on the walls, the special stuffed animal in the calm-down corner. Losing all that can be a huge emotional blow.

    The students from Odyssey Charter School are meeting for now at a local Boys and Girls Club, where teachers and staff have been visiting them, principal Bonnie Brimecombe told me. Some kids who used to have big, vibrant personalities are “just not talking, and they just sort of sit,” she said. Others “are just hugging you so tight and they don’t let go.”

    Experts, educators, and families are just beginning to understand what helps students recover after storms or fires devastate their schools. But one thing they agree on is that districts and policymakers need to start preparing schools and students for the next disaster — today. “It’s going to keep happening over and over and over,” said Susanna Joy Smith, a mom of two in Asheville, North Carolina, whose kids were out of school for a month last year after Hurricane Helene. “We need to learn from these experiences and we need to adapt.”

    Losing school hurts kids academically and emotionally

    In the Los Angeles Unified School District, or LAUSD, all schools closed for at least two days last week as the fires raged. Many reopened on Monday, but as of Monday evening around 10 remained closed, some because they were in evacuation zones and three because they had been badly damaged or destroyed, the office of LAUSD Deputy Superintendent of Business Services and Operations Pedro Salcido told me. Students from Marquez and another destroyed elementary school will be relocated to two nearby schools for the rest of the school year. All 23 schools in the Pasadena Unified School District, which includes Altadena and other areas devastated by the Eaton Fire, remain closed this week.

    It’s a disruption sadly familiar to more and more kids and families around the country. In 2018, the Camp Fire destroyed 8 of the 9 schools in Paradise, California. The same year, Hurricane Florence raged through North Carolina, forcing some schools to close for as long as 26 days. Then, last year, Hurricane Helene hit the western part of the state, destroying at least one school and leaving others closed for weeks due to flood damage and lack of power or water.

    School closures after Hurricane Florence were associated with significant drops in students’ math and reading test scores, Morrill found, with the impact seen across demographic groups and among both higher- and lower-performing students. “All students are affected,” Morrill said.

    For Smith’s older son, “missing a month of the second grade is just huge,” especially since the early grades are so important for building reading skills.

    Many school districts are shifting to remote instruction for at least some weather-related closures, like snow days. But remote school was difficult for many students during COVID lockdowns, a time when kids experienced significant learning loss. Not every kid has access to a laptop or internet connection, and neurodivergent students or those with learning differences may especially struggle with virtual learning.

    The students at Odyssey are scared of a return to the days of pandemic virtual learning, Brimecombe told me. “There’s so much trauma from their experiences being on Zoom.”

    The impact of missed days can also compound when disaster strikes the same kids again and again. In places like North Carolina, where “we typically get hit by a tropical storm every other year,” students can find their education disrupted again and again, pushing them further behind, Davis said. “It’s like a constant catch-up.”

    Meanwhile, students can struggle emotionally long after a disaster is over. Months after Hurricane Matthew, teachers had to stop class during rainstorms to help students who were afraid of getting “washed away,” Davis said.

    In the wake of Helene, Smith’s younger son, who is 4, is very aware of the fact that “the lights could go out overnight and they might not go on for weeks,” she told me. “It’s heartbreaking, but it’s also the reality these kids are growing up in.”

    Kids face a complicated recovery, too

    Adults can still help kids cope with this reality, experts say. That means learning how to adjust curricula to account for lost time as well as providing mental health support to both students and teachers, Davis said.

    Kids also need to learn about climate change and disaster preparedness in school, Smith said. “They’re just life skills for kids today.” Vox’s Allie Volpe has tips for preparing kids for climate disasters; LAist has a list of resources for talking to kids about fires, specifically.

    Making school buildings more climate-resilient is also important, experts say, something school districts around the country are already working on. And when disaster does strike, districts need to figure out how to get kids back to school as quickly as possible and arrange makeup time for the days they missed, Morrill said. It’s not enough to hold “weekend classes for the bottom 10 percent,” she told me. “Everybody is going to experience some harm.”

    At Odyssey, the first priority is finding classroom space kids can return to — school leaders are reaching out to local churches and rental spaces, and have launched a GoFundMe to help with costs. They hope to be back in person next week.

    When they are together in a new space, “we’re not going to start with learning,” Brimecombe said. “We’re going to start with community. We’re going to start with social-emotional lessons. We’re going to start with joy.”

    This story was originally published by Grist with the headline What happens to kids when their schools are destroyed? on Jan 19, 2025.

    This post was originally published on Grist.

  • The blame game: the rise in false allegations of maternal abuse in long Covid and disability

    With Donald Trump’s election in the US, a wave of uncertainty has swept the globe: for the environment, gender, war, and health. However, the undermining of women’s rights has become a major theme throughout the presidential campaign. As we lurch further into climate breakdown and instability, the further society sways to the far right – just as the world did after the Spanish Flu pandemic in 1918. A place where simple answers are easier to stomach than a complex reality, the vulnerable are seen as disposable, and there’s always someone else to blame – not least, in this context, with long Covid.

    Here we are focusing on laying the blame on women; the blame on mothers. Austerity, a ragged and inflexible NHS, a pandemic, an unfit SEND system and policy changes have led to an increase in false safeguarding accusations – almost always against the mother. Nevertheless, the framework and systemic tendency for medical misogyny is rooted in the beginnings of medicine. It is a conservative, top-down, and authoritarian structure built on strong foundations of patriarchy and patrimony.

    The Cerebra Report (2023) by Clements and Aiello found allegations of Fabricated Induced Illness (FII) against parents of disabled children were widespread, often causing devastating and lifelong family trauma. It’s one thing to go for help and not find any medical care. It’s another to be blamed for your child’s disability and illness. Clements discovered parents with disabilities were four times more likely to face accusations compared to non-disabled parents.

    The pandemic continues to leave in its wake a monstrous wasteland of chronic illness. One of those hydras is long Covid.

    Long Covid: nothing new under the sun

    In the early days of Covid, we were reassured that children were not affected, and post-acute viral disease was not even mentioned. Yet, these were simple answers for a complex situation. In March 2024, the ONS found that over 111,000 children have long Covid: a devastating, multi-system disease. Denial and the desire for normalcy have led to more families facing traumatic safeguarding referrals in an effort to divert blame and avoid institutional responsibility.

    This is nothing new in the world of myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS), disability, and chronic illness. The LeAP research program found social care policies in the UK assume parental failings as a default position. One in five families with a child with ME faced false claims resulting in child protection involvement. Families with children with long Covid now find themselves inheritors of a precarious and dangerous system.

    But how has this become so ubiquitous in medicine that it barely registers as a concern for healthcare professionals? Again, we come back to systemic problems: medics overstretched and alienated from patients; education that rarely covers post-acute viral illness; a protective and anti-whistleblower culture; a root bias towards acute illness, and an ingrained attitude denigrating ME and many chronic illnesses medicine deems unexplainable.

    Another key reason for this growing problem is psychiatric trespass.

    Psychiatric trespass

    “Within the field of liaison psychiatry and psychosomatics, CFS, CFS/ME, IBS, FM, CI, CS, EI and a number of other conditions, for example, chronic Lyme disease, are bundled under the so-called “Functional Somatic Syndromes” (FSS) and “Medically Unexplained Syndromes” (MUS) umbrellas”.  DSM-5 Working Group, DX Revision Watch.

    And here is the problem.

    In courses, textbooks, and cultural assumptions, we have the pernicious belief that medically unexplained symptoms (MUS) and its other forms have psychiatric factors. Which is why professionals can be so quick to call in child protection. Because if you have a mentally disturbed mother, that child is in danger and safeguarding action is needed. With ME/CFS and long Covid often assumed to be MUS or a Perplexing Presentation (PP) it is clear there’s a growing risk to children and families.

    However, it is a blunt instrument – with the majority of all safeguarding referrals unfounded and causing untold damage. Action for ME found that 70% of cases were dropped in a year. Tymes Trust has been involved in over 140 cases; none resulted in a guilty verdict. The Cerebra Report found that 84% cases were abandoned or had no follow up. Dr. Nigel Speight, involved in over 200 cases over the last 25 years, said:

    In c.98% of all the other cases, proceedings were aborted without a court order and the case eventually closed. Some of these cases had to experience prolonged social work involvement, albeit with no real threat of removal.

    It is this wild, free-reign that psychiatry and the DSM-5 have that is so dangerous. It can claim, without evidence, any poorly understood disorder without due warranty, into psychological abnormality due to its broad reclassification of somatic symptom disorder (SSD) in the DSM-5. It’s such a vast overreach that psychologists have classed up to 23% of the population as having maladaptive thoughts connected to physical symptoms. Long Covid, ME, and other long-term illnesses can easily be given a psychiatric SSD diagnosis.

    ‘Professional’ overreach – and not just in long Covid

    In the book Cracked, Dr James Davies states:

    first we named a so-called medical disorder before it has identified any pathological basis in the body. So even when there’s no biological evidence that a mental disorder exists, that disorder can still enter the DSM and become part of our medical culture.

    However, it is not just the DSM-5. ME is in the liaison psychiatry and functional somatic syndromes of a major textbook, Kumar and Clarke’s Clinical Medicine. It is no wonder why women with ME can be sectioned so easily or starved to death.

    Another way psychiatry has overreached is that the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) have included PP and MUS as an alerting sign for FII in their guidance.

    There are fundamental issues here. One being that the RCPCH alerting signs are not derived from any peer-reviewed research. This amalgamation of conditions is increasing unlawful adverse discrimination at an alarming rate. Yet the RCPCH does not recognise the harm caused by false allegations. Even the British Association of Social Workers state in its FII Practice Guide:

    If social workers were to follow the RCPCH guidance, the proposed assessment criterion for FII is likely to cast suspicion on many families who are not harming their children, including children and young people with disabilities and illnesses that are undiagnosed.

    FII is an accepted very rare condition. Gullon-Scott and Long estimated between 53-376 cases in the UK and that the RCPCH guidelines lead to an extraordinary number of false positives.

    But it is the human story that we need to remember.

    State-sponsored trauma

    One mother with a child with long Covid and who experienced unfounded safeguarding proceedings said:

    Hearing that I was abusing my daughter because she was using a wheelchair due to fatigue and pain, and doing my own research on how to manage her symptoms after being repeatedly being gaslit by medical professionals, was devastating for both myself and my daughter. After constant fighting for care and support for her for over 18 months, I was broken and my daughter lost all remaining trust in any medical professionals, her school and all professionals

    The trauma for families cannot be understated.

    It’s more complicated than saying those with MUS and PP are mentally ill. We can see from this presentation by professor Stokes that there is an assumption of a mix of physical, psychological, and behavioural factors and how embedded the culture of patient blame is in medicine. However, this is an old, old trope – one that has delayed treatment and research for decades, especially for women, due to the prejudice that their emotional lives are caught up in their biological illnesses.

    In many ways, it is a perfect storm. The reaction to the pandemic through educational government policy has been to zealously focus on attendance. A narrative of parent blame and anxiety has been perpetuated, so the foundations do not have to be fixed. Children in schools remain unprotected from airborne illness.

    The updated (September 2024) statutory government guidance, ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ changed the phrase ‘deliberately missing’ education to ‘unexplainable and/or persistent absence’ in relation to safeguarding. It is another pressure point where, in the omission of policy on long Covid, there is an increased risk of unsubstantiated child protection. Schools are now expected to inform social workers for any unexplained absence.

    Long Covid and the rise of populism: blame the women, not the system

    There is a dearth of high-quality research, medical education, and specialism in long Covid. Yet we have a situation where it’s easier to point the finger at families, at women.

    We become the scapegoats, a simple answer for a complex problem – all to avoid humility in the face of responsibility.

    It is clear that we need action on multiple levels: a thorough change of medical literature and guidance to close loopholes; high-quality paediatric research, and a drastic shift in culture.

    We live in a connected world where politics, medicine, and social forces collide. We are more likely to experience pandemics because of the destruction of the environment. Yet the political response to climate breakdown and pandemic fallout has been a rise in populism. It supplies simple answers, shifts the blame game on to the individual – all to avoid institutional due diligence.

    It is no wonder that women have been caught in the crosshairs. We have become an easy target for complex problems.

    Featured image via the Canary

    By Claire Every

    This post was originally published on Canary.

  • How to Care of Joints as You Get Older?

    Joints are a crucial part of our musculoskeletal system, and as we age, they become more susceptible to strain and damage. Seniors often experience joint-related issues such as pain, stiffness, and limited mobility. To maintain agility and quality of life in later years, it’s essential to adopt habits that support joint health.

    Regular Physical Activity

    One of the most important factors for joint health is regular movement. Moderate-intensity exercises like walking, Nordic walking, swimming, or yoga help maintain joint flexibility and strength. Physical activity also improves blood flow to tissues, promoting regeneration. However, choosing activities suited to individual abilities is vital, avoiding excessive strain that could cause injuries.

    A Healthy Diet for Joints

    A senior’s diet should include nutrients that promote joint health. The key components are:

    • Omega-3 fatty acids: Found in fish, nuts, and flaxseed, these have anti-inflammatory properties and support joint function.
    • Calcium and Vitamin D: Essential for healthy bones and cartilage, these nutrients are present in milk, cheese, eggs, and fortified plant-based beverages.
    • Antioxidants: Vegetables and fruits rich in vitamin C, such as bell peppers, citrus fruits, and broccoli, help neutralize free radicals and aid tissue regeneration.

    Avoiding processed foods and excessive sugar is equally important, as being overweight or obese can strain joints and accelerate their degeneration.

    Collagen Supplementation

    Collagen is a protein that plays a crucial role in joint cartilage structure. Unfortunately, the body’s natural collagen production decreases with age, weakening joints and increasing the risk of injuries.

    Regular collagen supplementation can help regenerate joint cartilage, reduce pain, and improve joint flexibility. Type II collagen, naturally found in joint cartilage, is especially recommended. Supplements come in various forms, such as powders, capsules, or drinks. Combining collagen with vitamin C enhances its effectiveness, as it supports collagen synthesis in the body.

    Studies show that regular collagen intake can lead to noticeable benefits, such as reduced joint pain and improved function. This is particularly important for seniors dealing with degenerative conditions like osteoarthritis.

    Preventing Injuries and Overstrain

    To protect their joints, seniors should avoid excessive strain and sudden movements. Paying attention to ergonomic daily practices is crucial—wearing suitable footwear, avoiding heavy lifting, and using orthopaedic aids like shoe insoles or joint braces can make a significant difference.

    Consulting Specialists

    Regular visits to an orthopedist or rheumatologist are vital. Specialists can diagnose joint problems early, allowing for timely treatment. Physical therapy also plays a key role—customized exercises strengthen muscles that support joints and improve mobility.

    Conclusion

    Caring for joint health in older age requires a comprehensive approach, including a proper diet, physical activity, collagen supplementation, and injury prevention. Consistent attention to joint health allows seniors to enjoy life fully and avoid many movement-related ailments. By adopting these simple yet effective habits, it’s possible to support joint health for many years to come.

    By Nathan Spears

    This post was originally published on Canary.

  • 3M Knew ‘Forever Chemicals’ In Its Firefighting Foams Were Toxic

    For decades, 3M — a multibillion-dollar chemical company based in Minnesota — sold its firefighting foams as safe and biodegradable, while having knowledge that they contained toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), according to newly uncovered documents, reported The Guardian.

    Starting in the 1960s and continuing until 2003, 3M’s firefighting foams contained perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), two types of PFAS “forever chemicals.”

    The synthetic chemical compounds have been linked to a variety of health problems like thyroid disease, hormonal and fertility problems, high cholesterol and cancer.

    The post 3M Knew ‘Forever Chemicals’ In Its Firefighting Foams Were Toxic appeared first on PopularResistance.Org.

    This post was originally published on PopularResistance.Org.

  • Vegan Whole-Cut Meat Startup Eyes $12.5B Keto Market With ‘Industry First’ Certification

    chunk steak keto
    5 Mins Read

    US food tech startup Chunk Foods has received a Ketogenic Certified label for its whole-cut vegan steaks, playing into a major dietary trend. It’s also targeting a global expansion.

    As protein continues to grow in importance and carbohydrates become a target for a host of consumers, US plant-based meat player Chunk Foods is looking to cater to this cohort with its latest accreditation.

    Its four-strong retail lineup – introduced in October – will now carry the Ketogenic Certified logo on its packaging. The Chunk steaks, steakhouse cut, slab and pulled products contain 25-31g of protein, and only up to 6g of carbs, mainly fibre.

    According to the company, it is the first time a plant-based whole-cut has been keto-certified, a level through which it is hoping to access the $12.5B keto diet market.

    “While some meat alternatives have binders and added sugars that increase the carbohydrates content, Chunk’s original range of products are added-sugar-free and have no binders, additives and preservatives, which helps keep them high in protein and low in carbohydrates making them ideal for those following a ketogenic diet,” Chunk Foods CEO Amos Golan tells Green Queen.

    GLP-1 drugs, high-protein demand drive Chunk Foods’s keto play

    chunk slab
    Courtesy: Chunk Foods

    The ketogenic diet involves eating more protein and fat than carbohydrates, which puts the body into ketosis, a metabolic state where it burns fat for energy instead of glucose.

    Nearly three-quarters of Americans aged 20 and above are overweight or obese, while almost two in five children and teenagers are prediabetic. With these conditions and their associated health detriments on the up, many consumers choose to follow low-carb diets to manage weight and blood glucose levels.

    As of 2024, one in six US citizens was following a keto or low-carb diet. And this year, of the 46% of Americans who want to start a new diet, a quarter say they want to follow a low-carb one.

    Meanwhile, a December survey by Chobani found that 85% of Americans want to increase their protein intake in 2025, with 24% feeling they don’t eat enough of it. “Chunk’s products are high in protein, perfectly meeting these needs,” says Golan.

    The Ketogenic Certification involves blood measurement and rigorous testing to ensure both the ingredients and th metabolic responses meet the “gold standard” of accreditation. A product must at least have a 1:1 ratio (1g of fat for every 1g of net carbs and protein).

    Chunk Steak is meeting the GLP-1 moment

    chunk foods
    Courtesy: Chunk Foods

    “With the growing understanding of the importance of better nutrition, the prevalence of GLP-1 drugs and consumer understanding of the foods they consume, more Americans follow a low-carb, keto and vegan diet.”

    It is hard to understate the impact of GLP-1 drugs on the US food system. Big companies like Nestlé and Coca-Cola are responding with new product lines, retailers are creating dedicated support sections for users of Ozempic and the like, and foodservice chains are launching menus to cater to these consumers.

    And a study last year found that keto diets help type 2 diabetics who have stopped using these medications maintain their weight loss. So products with a Ketogenic Certified label – which are also high in fibre, another macronutrient in the GLP-1 spotlight – could carry massive appeal.

    When asked if many of Chunk Foods’s customers follow keto diets, Golan says: “While most customers choose to eat Chunk because of its culinary qualities, many of our customers are also actively seeking high-quality healthy, protein-rich choices – and keto products fit seamlessly into their dietary preferences.”

    He adds: “Offering keto-certified options ensures we’re addressing a larger market segment and providing choices that align with consumers’ priorities.”

    Chunk Foods plans to go global in 2025

    is plant based meat keto friendly
    Courtesy: Chunk Foods

    The keto certification will also help Chunk Foods stand out in a challenging environment for plant-based meat. Sales continued to slow last year, dropping by 9% in the year to July 2024, following a 12% decrease between 2022 and 2023. They make up less than 1% of the US meat market.

    And with a Donald Trump-led government, with tons of influence from Elon Musk and Robert F Kennedy, things may get worse for challengers to the established order of Big Meat.

    “We’re proud to be the only plant-based meat brand to carry the Ketogenic certification – something typically associated with traditional animal-based proteins. It’s a unique differentiator that highlights the versatility and nutritional value of our products in a challenging market,” Golan says.

    Chunk Foods, which makes its steaks from cultured soy protein, raised $7.5M in early 2024 to bring total financing to $24M. It has already appeared on the menus of several restaurants around the US, including Leonardo DiCaprio-backed chain Neat, Slutty Vegan, Talk of the Town group, and Pastrami Queen. Its line of steaks is now also available at independent stores in Los Angeles, San Diego, and New York City.

    The company describes 2025 as a “pivotal year” for the startup, with CPG growth a key target. “We’re expanding our product line, with some exciting announcements coming this spring. We’re also significantly broadening our retail and foodservice presence,” reveals Golan.

    This entails not just its retail, e-commerce and foodservice footprint in the US, but a foodservice expansion in Canada, the growth of its partnership with Better Balance in Mexico and Spain, and a launch in supermarkets and restaurants in Israel, alongside online store Vegan Supply.

    The post Vegan Whole-Cut Meat Startup Eyes $12.5B Keto Market With ‘Industry First’ Certification appeared first on Green Queen.

    This post was originally published on Green Queen.

  • Wildfire smoke is always toxic. LA’s is even worse.

    Rachel Wald always has a bit of a cold. That’s life when you have two kids younger than 5, she says. You’re always a little sick. But it wasn’t until after Wald and her family voluntarily fled the fires in Los Angeles that she realized the cough, sore throat, and itchy eyes she couldn’t shake were caused by the fires plaguing the city. “I don’t think I was really recognizing how much of it was not the cold, but the smoke,” she said.

    Wald, who is a director at a health and environment center at the University of Southern California, is among the lucky ones. Her neighborhood in central L.A. was never directly threatened. Her house is intact; her children, husband, and all they own are safe. Nevertheless, Wald, like millions of other Angelenos, can’t escape the health effects of the blazes. Experts expect those impacts to linger. 

    The wind-driven fires that have leveled a broad swath of Los Angeles have killed at least 25 people, consumed approximately 12,000 homes, schools, and other structures, and burned more than 40,000 acres since January 7. In the aftermath of such disasters, the focus is rightfully on treating the injured, mourning the dead, and beginning the long process of recovery. In time, though, attention shifts to the health consequences that reverberate days, weeks, even years after the danger has passed. 

    Wildfires, a natural part of many ecosystems, particularly in the West, typically occur in forests or where wildlands meet communities. It is extraordinarily rare to see them penetrate an American city, but that’s exactly what happened in the nation’s second-largest metropolis.

    As state and federal agencies assess the damage, researchers say the health effects of the wildfires must be tallied just as meticulously. 

    “These fires are different from previous quote-unquote ‘wildfires,’ because there are so many structures that burned,” said Yifang Zhu, a professor of environmental health sciences at the University of California, Los Angeles. “Everything in the households got burned — cars, metal pipes, plastics.” 

    Wildfire smoke is toxic. Burning trees and shrubs produce very fine particulate matter, known by the shorthand PM 2.5, which burrow deep into the lungs and can even infiltrate the bloodstream, causing cold- and flu-like symptoms in the short term, and heart disease, lung cancer, and other chronic issues over time. 

    But the fires that raced through Los Angeles burned thousands of homes, schools, historic buildings, and even medical clinics, blanketing the city in thick smoke. For several days after the first fire started, the city’s air quality index, or AQI, exceeded 100, the threshold, typically seen during wildfires, at which air becomes unhealthy to breathe for children, the elderly, and those with asthma. In some parts of the city, the AQI reached 500, a number rarely seen and always hazardous for everyone. 

    At the moment, air pollution experts know how much smoke fills the air. That’s shown improvement in recent days. But they don’t know what’s in it. “What are the chemical mixtures in this smoke?” asked Kai Chen, an environmental scientist at the Yale School of Public Health. “In addition to fine particulate matter, there are potentially other hazardous and carcinogenic organic compounds — gas pollutants, trace metals, and microplastics.” 

    Previous research shows that the spikes in unhealthy air quality seen during such events lead to higher rates of hospitalizations for issues like asthma, and even contribute to heart attacks among those with that chronic disease. A 2024 study on the long-term effects of smoke exposure in California showed that particulate matter from wildfires in the state from 2008 to 2018 contributed to anywhere from 52,000 to 56,000 premature deaths. A health assessment of 148 firefighters who worked the Tubbs Fire, which burned more than 36,000 acres in Northern California in 2017 and destroyed an unusually high number of structures, found elevated levels of the PFAS known as forever chemicals, heavy metals, and flame retardants in their blood and urine.

    The L.A. County Department of Public Health has formally urged people to stay inside and wear masks to protect themselves from windblown toxic dust and ash. Air quality measurements don’t take these particles into account, which means the air quality index doesn’t reveal the extent of contaminants in the air. 

    Zhu and her colleagues have been collecting samples of wildfire smoke in neighborhoods near the fires. It’ll be months before that data is fully analyzed, but Zhu suspects she will find a dangerous mix of chemicals, including, potentially, asbestos and lead — materials used in many buildings constructed before the 1970s. 

    The risk will linger even after the smoke clears. The plumes that wafted over the landscape will deposit chemicals into drinking water supplies and contaminate soil. When rains do come, they’ll wash toxic ash into streams and across the land, said Fernando Rosario-Ortiz, an environmental engineer and interim dean of the University of Colorado Boulder environmental engineering program. “There’s a lot of manmade materials that are now being combusted. The potential is there for contamination,” he said, noting that little research on how toxic ash and other byproducts of wildfires in urban areas currently exists. “What we don’t have a lot of information on is what happens now.” 

    After the Camp Fire razed Paradise, California, in 2018, water utilities found high levels of volatile organic compounds in drinking water. Similar issues have arisen in places like Boulder County, Colorado, where the Marshall Fire destroyed nearly 1,000 structures in 2021, Rosario-Ortiz said, though the presence of a contaminant in a home doesn’t necessarily mean it will be present in high levels in the water. Still, several municipal water agencies in Los Angeles issued preemptive advisories urging residents not to drink tap water in neighborhoods near the Palisades and Eaton fires. It’ll be weeks before they know exactly what’s in the water. 

    As wildfires grow ever more intense and encroach upon urban areas, cities and counties must be prepared to monitor the health impacts and respond to them. “This is the first time I’ve ever even witnessed or heard anything like this,” said Zhu, who raised her daughter in Los Angeles and has lived there for decades, said. “Even being in the field studying wildfires and air quality impacts, I never imagined that a whole neighborhood, a whole community in Palisades, would burn down.”

    Wald is back home. She’s still got a nasty cough, but her other symptoms are starting to subside as the smoke in her neighborhood clears. The fires gave her a scare, but she’s not making long-term plans to move on just yet. “I wouldn’t say that here where I am right now, I’m that worried,” she said. “But, I mean, it’s not great.” 

    This story was originally published by Grist with the headline Wildfire smoke is always toxic. LA’s is even worse. on Jan 17, 2025.

    This post was originally published on Grist.

  • Lawmakers in at Least Seven States Seek Expanded Abortion Access

    by Ziva Branstetter and Cassandra Jaramillo

    ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up to receive our biggest stories as soon as they’re published.

    In advance of this year’s state legislative sessions, lawmakers are filing more than a dozen bills to expand abortion access in at least seven states, and a separate bill introduced in Texas seeks to examine the impact that the state’s abortion ban has had on maternal outcomes.

    Some were filed in direct response to ProPublica’s reporting on the fatal consequences of such laws. Others were submitted for a second or third year in a row, but with new optimism that they will gain traction this time.

    The difference now is the unavoidable reality: Multiple women, in multiple states with abortion bans, have died after they couldn’t get lifesaving care.

    They all needed a procedure used to empty the uterus, either dilation and curettage or its second-trimester equivalent. Both are used for abortions, but they are also standard medical care for miscarriages, helping patients avoid complications like hemorrhage and sepsis. But ProPublica found that doctors, facing prison time if they violate state abortion restrictions, are hesitating to provide the procedures.

    Three miscarrying Texas women, mourning the loss of their pregnancies, died without getting a procedure; one was a teenager. Two women in Georgia suffered complications after at-home abortions; one was afraid to seek care and the other died of sepsis after doctors did not provide a D&C for 20 hours.

    Florida state Sen. Tina Polsky said the bill she filed Thursday was “100%” inspired by ProPublica’s reporting. It expands exceptions to the state’s abortion ban to make it easier for doctors and hospitals to treat patients having complications. “We’ve had lives lost in Texas and Georgia, and we don’t need to follow suit,” the Democrat said. “It’s a matter of time before it happens in Florida.”

    Texas state Rep. Donna Howard, who is pushing to expand the list of medical conditions that would fall under her state’s exceptions, said she’s had encouraging conversations with her Republican colleagues about her bill. The revelations that women died after they did not receive critical care has “moved the needle here in Texas,” Howard said, leading to more bipartisan support for change.

    Republican lawmakers in other states told ProPublica they are similarly motivated.

    Among them is Kentucky state Rep. Jim Gooch Jr., a Baptist great-grandfather who is trying for the second time to expand circumstances in which doctors can perform abortions, including for incomplete miscarriages and fatal fetal anomalies. He thinks the bill might get a better reception now that his colleagues know that women have lost their lives. “We don’t want that in Kentucky,” he said. “I would hope that my colleagues would agree.”

    He said doctors need more clearly defined exceptions to allow them to do their jobs without fear. “They need to have some clarity and not be worried about being charged with some type of crime or malpractice.”

    After a judge in North Dakota overturned the state’s total abortion ban, Republican state Rep. Eric James Murphy acted quickly to stave off any similar bans, drafting a bill that would allow abortions for any reason up to the 16th week and then up through about 26 weeks if doctors deem them medically necessary.

    “We need other states to understand that there’s an approach that doesn’t have to be so controversial,” said Murphy, who is also an associate professor of pharmacology at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences. “What if we get the discussion going and we get people to know that there are rational Republicans out there? Maybe others will come along.”

    Under state rules, North Dakota lawmakers are required to give his bill a full hearing, he said, and he plans to introduce ProPublica’s stories as evidence. “Will it make it easier? I sure hope so,” he said. “The Lord willing and the creeks don’t rise, I sure hope so.”

    So far, efforts to expand abortion access in more than a dozen states where bans were in effect have faced stiff opposition, and lawmakers introducing the bills said they don’t expect that to change. And some lawmakers, advocates and medical experts argue that even if exceptions are in place, doctors and hospitals will remain skittish about intervening.

    As ProPublica reported, women died even in states whose bans allowed abortions to save the “life of the mother.” Doctors told ProPublica that because the laws’ language is often vague and not rooted in real-life medical scenarios, their colleagues are hesitating to act until patients are on the brink of death.

    Experts also say it is essential to examine maternal deaths in states with bans to understand exactly how the laws are interfering with critical care. Yet Texas law forbids its state maternal mortality review committee from looking into the deaths of patients who received an abortive procedure or medication, even in cases of miscarriage. Under these restrictions, the circumstances surrounding two of the Texas deaths ProPublica documented will never be reviewed.

    “I think that creates a problem for us if we don’t know what the hell is happening,” said Texas state Sen. José Menéndez.

    In response to ProPublica’s reporting, the Democrat filed a bill that lifts the restrictions and directs the state committee to study deaths related to abortion access, including miscarriages. “Some of my colleagues have said that the only reason these women died was because of poor practice of medicine or medical malpractice,” he said. “Then what’s the harm in doing the research … into what actually happened?”

    U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett agreed. The Texas Democrat and three other members of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability on Dec. 19 sent a letter to Texas state officials demanding a briefing on the decision not to review deaths that occurred in 2022 and 2023.

    Crockett said the state has not responded to the letter, sent to Texas Public Health Commissioner Jennifer Shuford.

    “If you feel that your policies are right on the money, then show us the money, show us the goods,” she said. “This should be a wakeup call to Texans, and Texans should demand more. If you believe that these policies are good, then you should want to see the numbers too.”

    Doctors are starting to hear about heightened concerns in conversations at their hospitals.

    Dr. Austin Dennard, a Dallas OB-GYN, said her hospital recently convened a meeting with lawyers, administrators and various specialists that focused on “how to keep our pregnant patients safe in our hospital system and how to keep our doctors safe.” They discussed creating additional guidance for doctors.

    Dennard, who noted she is speaking on her own behalf, said she is getting more in-depth questions from her patients. “We used to talk about vitamins and certain medications to get off of and vaccines to get,” she said. “Now we do all that and there’s a whole additional conversation about pregnancy in Texas, and we just talk about, ‘What’s the safest way we can do this?’”

    In addition to being a doctor, Dennard was one of 20 women who joined a lawsuit against the state after they were denied abortions for miscarriages and high-risk pregnancy complications. When she learned her fetus had anencephaly — a condition in which the brain and skull do not fully develop — she had to travel out of state for an abortion. (The lawsuit asked state courts to clarify the law’s exceptions, but the state Supreme Court refused.)

    Dennard said stories like ProPublica’s have crystallized a new level of awareness for patients there: “If you have the capacity to be pregnant, then you could easily be one of these women.”

    Mariam Elba contributed research and Kavitha Surana contributed reporting.


    This content originally appeared on ProPublica and was authored by by Ziva Branstetter and Cassandra Jaramillo.

    This post was originally published on Radio Free.

  • New GLP-1 Study Says Grocery Spending Goes Back To Normal After 1 Year of Use

    ozempic food sales
    4 Mins Read

    GLP-1 drug users initially spend less on groceries, but that impact levels out over the course of a year, according to a new report.

    Frozen foods, fatty proteins and sugary beverages face big sales declines among users of GLP-1 agonist drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro, a new report shows.

    Tracking the spending of over 3,500 weight-loss drug users, market insights firm Circana found that these Americans spend less on food and beverages during the first three months of use. Crucially though, after 12 months of being on the medications, their expenditure returns to pre-Ozempic levels.

    At the retail level, they’re putting more money into GLP-1-supportive foods like vegetables, eggs and nuts, while spending less on items they’ve been recommended to avoid. In addition, there was an uptick in dollar spend on gums, mints, and non-chocolate candy to provide relief from the side effects of these drugs, which include bad breath and dry mouth.

    Overall, after a year of use, their spending on packaged food and beverages declined by 1.1 points. “These evolving behaviours reveal a clear connection between category growth and the health-driven preferences of these consumers, offering brands fresh opportunities to align with their goals,” the report stated.

    Sally Lyons Wyatt, global executive VP and chief advisor of Circana, said: “A deeper understanding of GLP-1 medications and their roles in weight loss has unlocked new opportunities to enhance the food, beverage, and nonfood products that support consumers’ overall wellbeing.”

    How does Ozempic affect food purchases?

    ozempic grocery sales
    Courtesy: Howdy Howdy USA/Novo Nordisk | Composite by Green Queen

    Circana’s analysis revealed changes in the grocery store aisles that GLP-1 users shopped in. The largest shift came in the freezer category, with monthly spending on frozen foods dropping by three percentage points during the first year of GLP-1 medication use.

    Sales of centre-store beverages (those in the ambient aisles alongside other packaged foods) also declined; the consumers increased their spending in the produce and deli departments, indicating that they’re seeking food with added benefits – think high-protein offerings, or those with less sugar, salt and carbs.

    The results of the Circana survey somewhat contradict another study published the same week by Cornell University’s SC Johnson College of Business, which revealed that American households with at least one user of GLP-1 drugs typically spend 5.5% less in supermarkets within six months of taking the medications, with high-income households seeing a sharper 9% decrease.

    Circana, however, said homes with GLP-1 users “typically spend more on CPG food, beverages, and foodservice before they initiate use of a GLP-1 than non-user households, a trend that continues even in the first year of drug use”.

    The research firm suggested several reasons for this. Most insurance companies don’t cover weight-loss drugs yet, so the costs keep discontinuation rates high – as do gastrointestinal side effects. This means many people who start on GLP-1 drugs can’t stay on them after reaching their goal weight.

    Meanwhile, when dining out, their money is initially skewed towards quick-service restaurants, then subsequently shifts to grocery foodservice (where monthly spending was up by 4.2%), casual dining (+1.5%), and mid-scale restaurants (+9.1%) during the first year. The convenience channel, however, saw monthly sales decline by 11.5%.

    How can brands take advantage of the Ozempic boom?

    nestle glp 1
    Courtesy: Nestlé

    “As accessibility, availability, and affordability of these medications improve, it will become critical for companies to develop strategies that support consumers on their health journeys,” said Lyons Wyatt.

    56% of people currently take a GLP-1 drug for weight loss; this is a number that is “sure to grow as coverage and affordability improve”, the report noted.

    So how can brands and retailers win? Circana suggests ramping up the development of high-protein, ready-to-eat meals, and portion-controlled snacks that support both satiety and blood sugar maintenance, while focusing on fibre-rich foods.

    Educating consumers about GLP-1 benefits, and how certain functional foods can support their weight loss goals, is a shrewd strategy. “In-store and online, retailers can leverage their dietitians, retail media networks, and apps to promote products and services to support GLP-1 users’ weight-loss goals,” Circana wrote.

    Opportunities abound in personalised meal plans and product recommendations, including subscription-based services for GLP-1-friendly meal deliveries. Retailers can also take a leaf out of the allergen-free playbook, partnering with manufacturers to create a section dedicated to products that meet GLP-1 needs – as GNC has done.

    gnc semaglutide
    Courtesy: Supergut

    Partnering with healthcare providers to create wellness programmes that integrate GLP-1 medications with dietary and lifestyle changes, and ensuring that Ozempic-friendly products are widely available and affordable, are important strategies too.

    “For consumers needing help with getting to optimal GLP-1 levels, working with a medical professional to determine the right mix of medications, supplements, and/or CPG products will remain vital in managing their health over the long term,” said Lyons Watt.

    The impact of GLP-1 drugs has already made food companies rethink their offerings. Nestlé now has a new brand dedicated to GLP-1 users, Coca-Cola and PepsiCo are preparing prebiotic launches, and Birds Eye and Slim Jim owner Conagra Brands has introduced ‘GLP-1 friendly’ labels on packaging for some of its Healthy Choice ready meals.

    The post New GLP-1 Study Says Grocery Spending Goes Back To Normal After 1 Year of Use appeared first on Green Queen.

    This post was originally published on Green Queen.

  • What Does California’s War on Ultra-Processed Food Mean for Plant-Based Meat Brands?

    plant based meat health
    7 Mins Read

    California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed an executive order to crack down on ultra-processed foods – will plant-based meat get caught in the crossfire?

    Despite health and nutrition being a top food concern for Americans, the percentage of people who say they ate mostly healthy foods fell from 83% in 2022 to 71% in 2023.

    According to the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, nearly three-quarters of US consumers aged 20 and above are overweight and obese, while almost four in 10 children and teenagers are prediabetic.

    One of the main causes of these conditions is diet. In fact, unhealthy diets contribute to over 675,000 deaths in the US every year. That said, one of the states with the lowest adult obesity rates (28%) is California – although one in four still are clinically obese. Meanwhile, a third of the state’s residents have prediabetes.

    To bring these numbers down further, Governor Gavin Newsom has signed an executive order targeting ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and synthetic food dyes, aiming to limit the associated health risks these ingredients and products pose to the human body.

    It chimes with Robert F Kennedy Jr’s war against UPFs, which could become a major talking point if he is confirmed as president-elect Donald Trump’s health secretary. RFK Jr is also known for his disdain for what he calls ‘fake meat’.

    With plant-based meat already taking reputational hits for its link to ultra-processing, how will Newsom’s executive order impact vegan food producers?

    What are UPFs, and how does California define them?

    plant based meat ultra processed
    Courtesy: VegFather

    UPFs are at the bottom rung of the Nova classification, which places food into four subgroups, based on the amount of processing. They comprise industrial formulations and techniques like extrusion or pre-frying, and cosmetic additives and substances deemed to be of little culinary use – think high-fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, and modified starch.

    In the US, 73% of the food supply is made up of UPFs, contributing to 60% of the country’s calorie consumption.

    Newsom’s executive order describes UPFs as those “generally characterized as industrial formulations of chemically modified substances extracted from foods, along with additives to enhance taste, texture, appearance and durability, with minimal to no inclusion of whole foods”.

    It goes on to provide examples of foods commonly thought of as ultra-processed, such as packaged snacks, chips, crackers, cookies, candy, sugary beverages and processed meats like hot dogs and lunch meat.

    The document doesn’t allude to plant-based meat analogues per se, though these are likely to be in focus over the next few months, alongside the aforementioned foods.

    There could also be a win for whole-food plant-based brands. Alluding to the dietary committee report, the order notes that diets higher in fruits and vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts, unsaturated vegetable oils, and seafood, and lower in processed meats, sugar, refined grains, and saturated fats are associated with favourable health outcomes, including lower risks of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and colorectal and breast cancer.

    What does the executive order intend to do?

    california ultra processed foods
    California Governor Gavin Newsom | Courtesy: Gage Skidmore/CC

    Newsom has directed the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to provide recommendations for potential actions that can limit the harms associated with UPFs, which could include the use of warning labels on packaging for certain foods.

    The state Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, meanwhile, has been asked to work with the CDPH to assess the feasibility of state-level evaluation of food additives that companies have reported to the federal Food and Drug Administration as GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe). It could allow California to take state-level action if companies fail to notify the FDA of the GRAS status of certain food additives.

    Meanwhile, the California Department of Social Services has been tasked to recommend actions that can help the state reduce purchases of sodas, candy and other UPFs. The Department of Healthcare Services will report to the governor on whether Medi-Cal plans and community investment funds for hospitals can help enhance access to fresh, healthy foods and mitigate the impact of food deserts.

    While these are all due on April 1, the state’s Department of Education has been directed to identify areas where the state can adopt higher standards for healthy school meals by October 1.

    The latter date is also the deadline for the Department of Food and Agriculture to explore developing new standards and partnerships to ensure universal school food programmes have fresh ingredients grown locally in the state.

    Will plant-based meat be affected?

    impossible burger eu
    Courtesy: Impossible Foods

    It’s most likely that vegan products will come under scrutiny amid California’s anti-UPF drive. The state is home to two of the most well-known meat alternative makers – Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods – which have been victims of misinformation about the health impacts of UPFs.

    The executive order cites the dietary guidelines committee’s assessment of scientific evidence between UPFs and ill health, confirming that they have an adverse impact on obesity and type 2 diabetes risk. However, the group’s draft for the 2025-30 national dietary recommendations ignores UPFs due to a lack of compelling research on the subject.

    Multiple studies have linked UPFs to a range of health impacts. Experts have taken issue with the correlation between food processing and nutrition, since one has nothing to do with the other. The Nova classification describes how much processing a food has gone through, it doesn’t group them based on their health effects.

    This results in some convoluted interpretations of food and health. While Coca-Cola, Oreos, Corn Flakes, Lay’s, and Haagen Dazs are all unsurprisingly considered UPFs (though not by every study), so are tofu and whole-grain bread.

    Simply put, not all UPFs are bad for you, as a 2023 WHO study put it, suggesting that plant-based meat products – among other foods – are “not associated with risk of multimorbidity” (the medical term for having two concurrent life-threatening diseases), unlike other common UPFs.

    Meat analogues have been painted with the same brush as sodas, chips and confectionery, and that has played a part in hurting their sales, which fell by 12% in 2023, and have kept dwindling since.

    If California legally requires them to have a warning label, it will likely make things worse, especially in the Ozempic era. Over one in eight Americans have tried GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, and a survey of regular users found that they spend 6-9% less on groceries – primarily UPFs – six months after they start injecting them.

    Finally, since any regulations introduced will only be bound to California, companies that sell products nationwide will stand to lose, as they may be forced to reformulate products either nationally or within the state – both of which come with a huge set of challenges.

    How does it fit within the wider context of the Trump administration?

    trump rfk food health
    Courtesy: Gage Skidmore/Flickr/CC

    California was the first state to codify President Joe Biden’s federal guidelines to reduce sugar and salt in school meals – an effort that will continue even if the Trump administration enacts lower standards.

    Newsom has done a ton of work around school nutrition, outlawing sodas on K-12 campuses, introducing caffeine restrictions on all school grades, requiring entrées to meet calorie, fat, and trans fat standards, and proposing a sugar limit on almond milk and other non-dairy alternatives (which is expected to take effect this year).

    Despite his differences with the incoming federal government, his thinking on UPFs dovetails with RFK Jr. The latter has been a vocal critic of processed food, and has vowed to remove them from school lunches should he become health secretary.

    “The food we eat shouldn’t make us sick with disease or lead to lifelong consequences. California has been a leader for years in creating healthy and delicious school meals, and removing harmful ingredients and chemicals from food,” Newsom said. “We’re going to work with the industry, consumers and experts to crack down on ultra-processed foods, and create a healthier future for every Californian.”

    The executive order notes how, despite the “emerging evidence” around the ill effects of UPFs, “food companies have opposed efforts across the country to regulate ultra-processed foods and the proliferation of food additives, while continuing to market and sell their products without disclosing to consumers the potential harms their products may cause”.

    Almost a dozen Big Food companies have been sued in Pennsylvania for allegedly causing illnesses in kids with “addictive” ultra-processed foods, blaming them for fraudulent misrepresentation and unfair business practices.

    What happens if a new warning label appears on plant-based meat products in California? With companies increasingly touting their health benefits on packaging, could they be in danger of facing similar lawsuits?

    In Trump’s America, unfortunately, everything is possible.

    The post What Does California’s War on Ultra-Processed Food Mean for Plant-Based Meat Brands? appeared first on Green Queen.

    This post was originally published on Green Queen.

  • Australia news live: two injured after tree blown over in Sydney CBD; Jewish leader concerned attacks against community could become normalised

    NSW police say two women have minor injuries after a tree fell in heavy winds at Hyde Park in Sydney’s CBD. Follow today’s news live

    Alleged attack in Dover Heights ‘disgusting and dangerous’, NSW premier says

    The NSW premier Chris Minns has labelled the alleged attack at Dover Heights overnight as a “disgusting and dangerous act of violence”. In a statement issued this morning, he said:

    This is a disgusting and dangerous act of violence that is the latest example of a rising level of antisemitic attacks in our community.

    Civil society stands united in condemning this flagrant racism. I’ll be getting an update from police this morning.

    It is important that the community and police continue to work together to make NSW a safer place for everyone.

    Continue reading…

    This post was originally published on Human rights | The Guardian.

  • 65% of Dogs Are Overweight, But a New Dog Food Is Changing That

    For millions of people all over the US, dogs are valued family members. In fact, in 2023, a Pew Research study found that 97 percent of Americans who currently live with an animal consider them to be part of their family. It makes sense: dogs provide emotional support, joy, playfulness, and companionship. In 2021, one Swns Digital study even found that a third of Americans say they love their dog more than they love their partner. So, of course, most of us want our companion pooches to live long lives.  

    But right now, research suggests the mainstream dog food industry might be getting in the way of our dog’s health. In fact, it could even be putting them at risk. That’s why PawCo Foods wants to make a difference. The dog food company is different from many others on the market—it prioritizes fresh, nutritionally complete, plant-based, science-led recipes that will support your dog to thrive. Because that’s what every dog guardian wants. 

    pawco foods greenbitesPawCo Foods specializes in nutritionally complete, plant-based fresh dog food.

    What’s wrong with the dog food industry?

    In 2025, 65 percent of dogs in the US are either overweight or obese, and it’s putting their health at risk. According to PawCo Foods, this excess body weight can increase the risk of everything from diabetes to heart disease to joint problems—similar to the effects of obesity in humans. These conditions not only reduce dogs’ quality of life but they can also impact their lifespan. 

    Unfortunately, most of the dog food kibble on the market makes obesity more likely. Many products are highly processed and made with low-quality animal byproducts that have been rejected for human consumption. They also often contain fillers, such as carbohydrates in the form of cornmeal or wheat flour, even though carbs are not essential for dogs. 

    And just like with human food, dog food can be ultra-processed, too. In fact, most of the kibble on the market would fall into the ultra-processed category. It is cooked under high pressure, which reduces its nutritional value, and contains processed meat meals and grains alongside artificial preservatives and flavorings.

    “Many of the chronic diseases we see in humans are now becoming common in pets—things like chronic kidney disease, gastrointestinal issues, and cancers,” board-certified veterinary nutritionist Donna Raditic, DVM, told Global Insights in 2024. “These are diseases which we are learning in human studies are associated with diets high in UPF.”

    But by moving away from kibble and embracing good nutrition, it is possible to reduce the risk of disease in dogs and improve their quality of life? Just ask Bella and her guardian, Matt, both of whom are big fans of PawCo’s dog food.

    VegNews.com.Pawco

    Many mainstream dog food products are ultra-processed and made with animal byproducts.

    PawCo: Science-led, nutritionally complete, plant-based dog food

    In a testimonial video for PawCo, Matt described how his dog Bella, a pit bull-boxer mix, faced severe health challenges before he rescued her in 2016. 

    Malnourished and suffering from chronic gastrointestinal issues, Bella struggled to find relief despite various premium dog foods. “Throughout the years, we tried different foods, various kibbles, and we ran into some issues when she was just a little over one year old,” Matt says. “We also tried different foods like the premium fresh food brands, and those worked great for a while. She loved them. But eventually, we ran into the same issues we always did.” 

    When Bella’s health took a dire turn, Matt decided to try plant-based dog food—and discovered PawCo Foods. “I think this is the longest we’ve gone, probably in the last five years, of not having any issues with her gut,” says Matt. “No vet visits.”

    It’s not a miracle that Bella’s health dramatically improved with PawCo’s products. It’s science. 

    Mahsa Vazin, PhD, a former research and development scientist at Impossible Foods, left her role with the plant-based meat giant to launch PawCo in 2022. Today, the science-led company specializes in fresh, nutritious, vet-approved dog food made with plants. 

    “There’s a lot of research that shows [how] dogs on plant-based diets can live an average of 1.5 years longer,” the founder, who was inspired to launch PawCo by her own dog, Paco, said. “In human years, that’s equal to an extra decade of living.”

    PawCo Foods productsPawCo offers a range of nutritious products, from GreenBites to Magic Toppers.

    Indeed, in the same year that PawCo Foods was founded, one study from the University of Guelph in Canada suggested that dogs who eat plant-based diets could live up to 18 months longer than those on meat-based diets—that’s 18 extra months of muddy walks, cuddles, and playtime for guardians. And for many dogs, it’s more than 10 percent of their expected lifespan. Another study, conducted at the University of Winchester in the UK and also published in 2022, surveyed the guardians of more than 2,500 dogs and found that “nutritionally sound” plant-based diets are likely healthier for the animals than conventional meat diets.

    “We believe our study of 2,536 dogs is by far the largest study published to date, exploring health outcomes of dogs fed vegan and meat-based diets,” the researchers said in a statement about the study, which was published in the journal Plos One, at the time. “It analyzed a range of objective data, as well as guardian opinions, and reported veterinary assessments of health. It revealed that the healthiest and least hazardous dietary choices for dogs are nutritionally sound vegan diets.”

    Bella is living proof of these findings, and she’s not alone. PawCo has been flooded with positive reviews since its launch. There’s a Boston terrier who was so thrilled by her PawCo food that she couldn’t resist excited spins after eating. And like Matt, other dog guardians proclaim how the food has eased their dog’s digestive issues, while many say their vets have been pleased by their dog’s health progress since switching to PawCo. Plant-based dog food products such as those made by Vazin and her PawCo team prioritize nutrient-dense, high-quality ingredients, without artificial flavors or unnecessary fillers. 

    High-quality, nutrient-dense, and good for the gut

    The majority of PawCo Foods’ products are formulated to support the health of vulnerable senior dogs, but the brand is also committed to taking care of puppies, too. 

    Take its GreenBites, for example. They are chock full of nutrients that can benefit the joint, heart, skin, and digestive health of dogs at all life stages. In Bella’s favorite Pumpkin & Cranberries, pumpkins offer a source of vitamins A, K, and E, while cranberries are rich in anti-inflammatory antioxidants. In Peanut Butter & Apple, the peanut butter provides protein and B vitamins, while the apples are high in fiber. 

    VegNews.PawCo.1.2025.1360x336

    Each blend also contains GreenMeat, a protein-packed, plant-based meat that has been formulated specifically for dogs. No other brand on the market offers GreenMeat, which was developed by a team of food scientists and board-certified animal nutritionists to ensure it is nutritionally complete. That means it has everything your dog needs to thrive—and nothing else (carbohydrates, be gone). 

    PawCo’s commitment to innovation and optimal dog health is evident in recent updates to its formulas. GreenBites and LuxBites now include DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid essential for brain, joint, and immune health—particularly for puppies and seniors. LuxBites, enriched with fermented proteins and postbiotics, are specifically crafted to support gut health—a crucial aspect of any dog’s well-being.

    VegNews.PawCo.2PawCo’s LuxBites now include DHA, an essential nutrient for dog health.

    Just like in humans, a dog’s gut is incredibly important to their overall health. The digestive system is key for breaking down food and absorbing nutrients. But it’s also responsible for around 70 percent of a dog’s immune system, and when healthy and balanced, it helps to keep inflammation in check.

    Over time, chronic inflammation can increase the risk of chronic diseases. This is particularly relevant to older dogs, who, like older humans, are at a higher risk of developing everything from cancer to kidney disease as they age.

    As well as GreenBites and LuxBites, PawCo also offers Magic Toppers—a range of powders designed for sprinkling over your dog’s dinner—which are formulated to support gut health as well as heart, joint, and skin health, too. Other nutrient-dense options include its shelf-stable, fiber-rich InstaBites, which are designed specifically for adult dogs. 

    Taste is at the center of everything

    Just like humans, dogs can vary widely when it comes to mealtime preferences. While there are always exceptions, food-motivated breeds like Beagles, Labradors, and Golden Retrievers are typically eager to gobble up whatever is served. Smaller breeds, on the other hand—such as Shih Tzus, Chihuahuas, and Yorkshire Terriers—are known for being notoriously picky. 

    This can be frustrating for dog guardians who want to ensure their pets are getting the right nourishment. For many people, the biggest challenge with their companion animals is actually getting them to eat. In fact, in 2022, one OnePoll survey found that more than half of dog guardians say their dogs are picky eaters, while nearly 50 percent said they “often” struggle to get their dog to eat. 

    But PawCo has also thought of tricky eaters. Its range of flavors—which, in addition to Peanut Butter & Apple and Pumpkin & Cranberry, includes Blueberry & Veggies and Green Mix & Carrots—are designed to tempt even the most reluctant of dogs.

    “We have customers that email us and say, ‘this product is a godsend,’” says Mahsa. “They had been looking for something that was healthy and nutritious and that their dog would actually eat, and now PawCo is something that makes owners and their pets very happy.”

    Some customers have chosen to rave publicly about their success with PawCo. For example, one social media user commented that “my dog had become almost impossible to feed due to allergies and general pickiness. He loves this food. So glad we gave it a try.” Another added that “I just ordered this for my two little Yorkies last week, and they absolutely love it. I immediately noticed a huge difference in my eight-year-old dog. She’s running around like a puppy.”

    It’s easy to try PawCo’s products. You can head to its website to order a trial package such as the Ultimate Trial Box, which is packed with the brand’s GreenBites, LuxBites, InstaBites, and Magic Toppers. If you and your pooch love it, you can then opt for a subscription. If you prefer to order just when you need it, you can also head to Amazon, where a range of the brand’s products are available for one-time purchase. 

    VegNews.PawCo.1.2025.1360x336Thank you to PawCo Foods for partnering with VegNews on this story. 

    This post was originally published on VegNews.com.

  • Does new ME/CFS research finally prove that long Covid is the same thing?

    A research paper into myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS) has claimed that the majority of long Covid patients live with it – and that Covid-19 has exacerbated the number of people living with this debilitating illness.

    ME/CFS: a debilitating illness

    Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS) is a debilitating condition often triggered by viruses, which can rival cancer and late-stage AIDS in severity.

    It’s a chronic systemic neuroimmune disease which affects nearly every system in the body. As a result, it causes a range of symptoms that hugely impact patients’ daily lives. These typically include influenza-like symptoms, cognitive impairment, multiple forms of pain, and heart, lung, blood pressure, and digestive dysfunctions, among other significantly debilitating symptoms.

    In particular, post-exertional-malaise (PEM) is the hallmark feature of ME. This involves a disproportionate worsening of other symptoms after even minimal physical, social, mental, or emotional exertion.

    At least 25% of people live with severe ME. In these cases, people living severe ME are mostly, if not entirely permanently bed-bound or hospitalised. On top of this, they are often unable to digest food, communicate, or process information and are fully dependent on others for their care.

    Now, researchers have shed some light onto the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the number of people living with ME/CFS – and how long Covid could be related.

    A new study

    The research paper “Incidence and Prevalence of Post-COVID-19 Myalgic Encephalomyelitis” explores the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infection and the onset of ME/CFS. It leverages data from the RECOVER-Adult observational cohort study in the US, involving over 15,000 participants.

    The study aimed to determine:

    1. The incidence rate of ME following SARS-CoV-2 infection.
    2. The prevalence of ME in infected versus uninfected participants.

    Participants were categorised into:

    1. Acute infected: Enrolled within 30 days of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
    2. Post-acute infected: Enrolled over 30 days after infection.
    3. Uninfected: Documented negative for SARS-CoV-2.

    Exclusion criteria included pre-existing ME, hospitalisation for COVID-19, and incomplete symptom data. ME diagnosis followed the 2015 Institute of Medicine criteria, based on self-reported symptoms and survey responses.

    Are nearly ALL long Covid cases actually ME/CFS?

    Key findings from the study included:

    1. Incidence and Prevalence:
      • The incidence of ME/CFS among acute infected participants was 2.66 per 100 person-years, significantly higher than 0.93 per 100 person-years in uninfected participants.
      • The prevalence of ME was 4.5% in infected participants versus 0.6% in uninfected participants.
    2. Symptom Patterns:
      • PEM was the most common symptom, reported by 24% of infected participants.
      • Cognitive impairment, unrefreshing sleep, and fatigue were also prevalent among those with ME.
    3. Demographics and Risk Factors:
      • ME was more common among white females aged 46–65, living in rural areas, with lower educational attainment, and less likely to be vaccinated.
      • Comorbidities such as chronic pain, fibromyalgia, and autonomic dysfunction were higher among ME participants.
    4. Long COVID Overlap:
      • Nearly 89% of ME cases met the criteria for long COVID, with the majority categorised in a symptom cluster characterised by severe PEM, brain fog, and other disabling symptoms.

    What does the study show?

    This study underscores a notable increase in ME/CFS incidence post-COVID-19 compared to pre-pandemic estimates. The overlap with long COVID suggests as a minimum shared pathophysiological mechanisms. However, what is more likely – as many patients would attest to – is that long Covid quite literally is ME, just with a different viral trigger and therefore differences in some symptoms.

    The study shows that the public health threat of post-viral illness – that is, ME – has been sorely and often intentionally downplayed or ignored. This must change to protect future generations.

    Featured image via the Canary

    By Steve Topple

    This post was originally published on Canary.

  • Mushroom Drinks, Veg-Led Meals, Bold Labels & Gut Health: UK Supermarket Own Ranges Get Trendy

    supermarkets healthy food
    6 Mins Read

    Health is a central focus for some of the UK’s largest retailers this year, as nutrition and wellness become a priority for consumers.

    From gut health to brain food to ’30 plants a week’, health-forward eating is at the heart of new product development at some of the largest supermarkets in the UK this year.

    In 2024, polling suggested that two-thirds of Brits believe brands have a responsibility to help people make healthier choices, and 83% feel eating healthily is a form of self-care. At the same time, they chose a billion more meat-free meals for health, amid growing concerns about ultra-processed foods (UPFs), a group that often includes plant-based meat, and is often misconstrued as a scale of nutrition.

    Awareness about the gut health benefits of plants is also on the rise, thanks to personalised nutrition apps like Zoe and documentaries like Netflix’s Hack Your Health.

    A December survey revealed that 90% of Brits agree that diet is an important factor in overall health, and among these consumers, 28% are likely to cut back on UPFs this year, while another 25% are looking to reduce sugar, salt and fat. At the same time, one in six is aiming to eat more sustainably.

    Just as food manufacturers are responding to the Ozempic-induced gut health boom in the US, British retailers are keying into local demands for better-for-you foods this year.

    Tesco targets gut health

    gut health diet
    Courtesy: LaylaBird/Getty Images

    The UK’s largest retailer has been spotlighting whole foods for a while. Fruits, vegetables, legumes, and the like drove its plant-based sales hike last year, and it introduced a meat-free Root & Soul ready meal range that put vegetables front and centre.

    Tesco revealed in October that “veg-led meals” account for 40% of its plant-based sales, prompting it to go big on whole foods – rather than meat alternatives – in its vegan range for Christmas.

    Its latest survey shows that gut health is a top concern for 37% of Brits this year, and 70% of them are adding more fibre to their diet to maintain a healthy microbiome. Over one in five (22%) also plan to consume more plant-based foods.

    Playing into that trend and not to be outdone by microbiome-forward brands like Zoe, Tesco is reportedly launching its own gut-health-focused range this year, filing a trademark application for the name Gut Sense, covering kefir, cereal bars, nuts, vitamin-infused beverages, and supplements.

    “There is no longer a ‘one size fits all’ approach to improving health and we’re seeing a new era of health that is more targeted and tailored to the individual,” Tesco nutritionist Natasha Maynard said after the latest poll. “We believe in encouraging small changes which can have a big impact and help people to stick with much healthier and more sustainable diets long term. Considering things like increasing fruit, vegetables and fibre in diets is great for our health.”

    Sainsbury’s makes healthy choices easier with bold labels

    sainsbury's healthy choice
    Courtesy: Sainsbury’s

    Hoping to make it easier for consumers to identify healthy foods, Sainsbury’s has rolled out a new ‘Healthy Choice’ logo this month.

    The neon-green label now appears on 1,300 own-label products to highlight better-for-you products, such as those high in fibre, protein, calcium or omega-3 or calcium, or those that count as one of the five a day.

    This coincided with the launch of a line of raw-pressed juices and shots that use watermelon juice as a base, and will be followed by new kefir and yoghurt ranges to cater to gut wellness.

    These moves are a response to the 77% of consumers who want to make their diets healthier, but lack the inspiration or time to do so, according to research by the retailer. They’re also part of Sainsbury’s push to make 85% of its sales come from healthy and better-for-you foods by 2025/26 (it’s currently at 81%).

    M&S heads for the brain and gut with mushroom drinks

    m&s brain food
    Courtesy: M&S

    Mushrooms, weight loss, cognitive health, and gut wellness all inform Marks & Spencer’s new products for 2025. The high-end grocer has unveiled 100 new and updated products targeting health-conscious consumers.

    “Eating healthily can be really complicated, with lots of confusing and conflicting information out there. It’s our job at M&S to help cut through the noise and focus on supporting customers and innovating in areas that matter the most to them,” said Rebecca Brown, a senior nutritionist at M&S.

    In a new Brain Food range, M&S is highlighting nutrients that benefit cognitive health, such as omega-3, iodine, zinc, iron, and vitamins B9 and B12, with products like Brain Food Ball (with almond butter and mixed berries), Oat of the Blue (an oat and coconut milk refresher with spirulina, and Super Seeded Nut butter (peanut butter mixed with chia, pumpkin, sunflower and golden linseeds).

    Its new Yay! Mushrooms drinks, meanwhile, were developed with scientists at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, featuring lion’s mane or reishi mushrooms.

    There’s also a high-protein Balanced for You range – with options like Bang Bang Cauliflower and a Chocolate Hazelnut Spread – and new offerings from its Count on Us weight-loss lineup.

    And the private-label Good Gut range now has a Gut Shot in partnership with Zoe, a 35 Plants Salad, and an almond-date Gut Ball.

    Waitrose counts your plants

    waitrose plant varieties
    Courtesy: Waitrose

    Finally, Waitrose is honing in on the advice to eat 30 plants a week for a healthy gut – popularised by nutritionists like Tim Spector – with a new Plant Varieties logo on over 50 products, including fresh soups, snacks, cereals, and meals from its vegan PlantLiving range.

    The John Lewis-owned supermarket’s research found that 46% of Brits are looking to eat 30 different plants a week, and 87% say having the number of plant varieties on labels would help them actively do so. Awareness is an issue here – people often don’t realise that items like coffee, dark chocolate and spices also count.

    “Whether it’s mixing more different herbs and spices into your meals, snacking on mixed nuts or adding lentils into your bolognese sauce, there are lots of ways to reach 30 plants. The new logo is a great way to teach customers about plants in food and how to integrate more variety into the diet,” said Dr Joanne Lunn, lead nutritionist at Waitrose.

    The supermarket has committed to increasing the volume of fruits, vegetables and protein sold by 10%, as well as fibre sales from key categories by 25% by 2030.

    The move means meals like its Vegetable Tikka Masala & Rice will have a label showing it has 10 plants, as would its crunchy vegetable crispbakes. The label will be extended to more products later in the year.

    “Adding the plant varieties logo to our products takes the brain power away from adding variety to your diet and eating well and brings the focus back to delicious meals – which we know is so important for our customers,” said Maddy Wilson, director of own-brand at Waitrose.

    The post Mushroom Drinks, Veg-Led Meals, Bold Labels & Gut Health: UK Supermarket Own Ranges Get Trendy appeared first on Green Queen.

    This post was originally published on Green Queen.

  • Swapping Bacon for Nuts May Lower Dementia Risk by 20 Percent, New Study Finds

    New research conducted by Mass General Brigham, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard found that a higher intake of processed red meats correlates with a heightened risk of developing dementia. Conversely, substituting these meats with alternative protein sources such as nuts, legumes, or fish may reduce this risk by approximately twenty percent.

    In the US, red meat consumption remains substantial. Data from the US Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service indicates that in 2021, the per capita availability of beef was 56.2 pounds, while pork stood at 47.5 pounds. Although these figures represent availability rather than direct consumption, they provide insight into the significant presence of red meat in the American diet.

    VegNews.baconinapan.unsplashUnsplash

    The study analyzed data from 133,771 individuals, with an average age of 49 at the outset, over a period extending up to 43 years. During this time, 11,173 participants were diagnosed with dementia. The research utilized information from the Nurses’ Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study, both of which have tracked participants’ health and lifestyle factors over several decades. These studies provided detailed dietary information, updated every two to four years, allowing for a comprehensive analysis of red meat consumption patterns.

    Increased meat consumption and dementia

    A standard serving of red meat is defined as three ounces, roughly equivalent to the size of a bar of soap. The study found that individuals consuming an average of one-quarter or more of a serving of processed red meats daily—equivalent to approximately two slices of bacon, one and a half slices of bologna, or a hot dog—had a 13 percent higher risk of developing dementia compared to those consuming less than 10 percent of a serving each day. This association remained significant even after adjusting for various factors, including socioeconomic status and family history of dementia.

    older adults having dinnerCanva

    Cognitive function was objectively measured using standard assessments. The findings indicated that higher processed meat consumption was associated with worse cognitive performance, with cognitive aging accelerated by approximately 1.6 years per average daily serving. Additionally, the study examined self-reported subjective cognitive decline (SCD), which can precede detectable markers of cognitive decline on standard evaluations. A greater risk of SCD was linked to the consumption of both processed and unprocessed meats. Specifically, SCD risk increased by 14 percent for those consuming one-quarter or more servings of processed meat daily, and by 16 percent for individuals eating one or more daily servings of unprocessed meat, compared to those consuming less than half a serving.

    The researchers are delving deeper into the mechanisms connecting red meat consumption with dementia risk, particularly focusing on the gut microbiome. One area of interest is Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), a compound produced by gut bacteria during the digestion of meat. TMAO may contribute to cognitive dysfunction by promoting the aggregation of amyloid and tau proteins, which are implicated in Alzheimer’s disease. However, research in this area is still limited. Additionally, the high levels of saturated fat and salt in red meat may adversely affect brain cell health, further contributing to cognitive decline.

    unsplash animal meat steakUnsplash

    Daniel Wang, the corresponding author of the study, emphasized the importance of considering dietary impacts on brain health, stating, “Dietary guidelines tend to focus on reducing risks of chronic conditions like heart disease and diabetes, while cognitive health is less frequently discussed, despite being linked to these diseases.” He expressed hope that the study’s results would encourage greater consideration of the connection between diet and brain health.

    These findings align with previous research suggesting that dietary patterns can influence cognitive health. For instance, studies have indicated that diets emphasizing plant-based foods, lean proteins, and low-fat dairy—while limiting processed foods and red meat—are associated with better cognitive function and a reduced risk of cognitive decline.

    As the US population continues to age, dementia poses an increasing challenge for patients and families. Dietary modifications represent a potentially modifiable risk factor for dementia. The research team plans to continue exploring the factors linking red meat consumption with dementia risk, with a particular focus on the role of the gut microbiome and compounds like TMAO. Understanding these mechanisms could provide further insights into how dietary choices impact cognitive health and inform future dietary guidelines aimed at reducing the risk of dementia.

    This post was originally published on VegNews.com.

  • Portuguese Biotech Startup Bags $15M to Bring Infant Formula Nutritionally Closer to Breast Milk

    carbocode
    3 Mins Read

    Portuguese startup CarboCode, which is producing human-identical breast milk molecules via biocatalysis and fermentation, has raised $15M from investors.

    Based in Cantanhede, Portugal, biotech player CarboCode has closed a €15M ($15.3M) Series C funding round led by Iberis Capital.

    The company has developed a proprietary tech platform for the large-scale production of human-identical breast milk lipids and molecules to supercharge the nutritional attributes of infant formula. Naturally present in breast milk and organ membranes, they are vital for cognition, inflammation control, and gut health.

    It will use the funds to launch a new manufacturing facility, hire researchers take its staff count past 50, and secure regulatory approvals in the US, Europe, and China.

    Targeting gut health and brain function benefits for infants

    fermented infant formula
    Courtesy: CarboCode

    Founded by Ferenc Horvath and Jorge Santos in 2017, CarboCode is based at the Biotechnology Innovation Center in Biocant Park, Cantanhede, and specialises in the production of human-identical glycosphingolipids (GSLs) and gangliosides. It also has a research centre in Konstanz, Germany.

    GSLs play a critical role in brain development and cognitive function in infants, and breast milk has been found to be a better source of these lipids than commercially available baby formula.

    Gangliosides, meanwhile, regulate cell signalling and are crucial in the maturation of the central nervous system. They protect against immune attacks, and support a balanced immune response and healthy gut microbiome. These too, however, are largely absent from conventional infant formula products.

    CarboCode synthesises these molecules in their natural form by combining proteins and metabolic engineering with biocatalysis and fermentation.

    In 2022, it invested €45M to build a new industrial factory in the Cantanhede industrial park, which will be able to produce 100 tonnes of gangliosides every year when it begins operating in 2029. The investment was part of an €80M drive to accelerate commercialisation, with the rest allocated for R&D.

    “Access to human-identical gangliosides presents a rare opportunity to make a real positive impact on people’s lives,” said Santos, who is the firm’s CEO. “CarboCode’s technologies enable the production of these compounds, driving our commitment to making this dream a short-term reality.”

    CarboCode expects turnover north of €100M by end of decade

    precision fermentation breast milk
    Courtesy: Prostock Studio

    The B2B startup’s initial product line will focus on the absence of gangliosides in formula, and it says it will supply ingredients to industry giants like Danone, Nestlé, Abbott, and Mead Johnson.

    The infant formula market is set to surpass $84B by 2029, by which time, CarboCode expects to have an annual turnover exceeding €100M ($102M). But beyond infant nutrition, the startup is also aiming to target cosmetics, dermatology, and cognitive health.

    As a company producing human-identical breast milk molecules through biotechnology, it would need to pass stringent regulatory checks before coming to market. The latest capital injection will help the company do so, with an aim to secure approval in the EU and the US by 2027, and China by 2028.

    Most of the world’s 130 million babies born annually are fed infant formula at some point. Research has shown that about 5-10% of women are physiologically unable to breastfeed, but many more say they’re not producing enough or have nutritional deficiencies in their milk.

    While some startups are making vegan baby formula, several others are working on fermentation-derived breast milk ingredients, including Yali Bio, Checkerspot, and The Live Green Co (all of which are working on fats). Nūmi, meanwhile, is developing cultivated breast milk with as many constituents as possible),

    Others are banking on lactoferrin, the iron-regulating whey protein found in human milk and bovine colostrum just after birth. While 60% of its supply goes to infant nutrition, it’s a highly expensive ingredient, prompting startups like Wilk to work on a cell-cultured version, and a host of others – such as Helaina, TurtleTree, De Novo Foodlabs, Triplebar Bio, and Daisy Lab – to leverage precision fermentation to produce the protein.

    The post Portuguese Biotech Startup Bags $15M to Bring Infant Formula Nutritionally Closer to Breast Milk appeared first on Green Queen.

    This post was originally published on Green Queen.

  • Will the GLP-1 Boom Reduce Food Waste? Latest ReFED Report Lists 2025 Trends

    food waste trends
    5 Mins Read

    Ozempic, inflation and the Trump presidency will likely dictate how the US deals with food waste in 2025, according to ReFED, a leading non-profit.

    Last year was a big year for food waste policy in the US. The Biden White House introduced the first-ever strategy to fight food waste, published in collaboration with the USDA, the Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency, three agencies that renewed a recurring collaborative agreement to keep food from ending up in the bin and landfills.

    Retailers, meanwhile, made the most significant progress ever reported by cutting food waste by a quarter between 2019 and 2022. And the number of businesses signed up to the US Food Loss and Waste 2030 Champions pledge grew to 50, with giants like Danone, Hilton, Starbucks, Kroger, Walmart, Unilever and Tyson Foods replicating the government’s commitment to half food waste by 2030.

    These efforts have sparked what research non-profit ReFED calls a “food waste moment” in the US, where a range of external factors come together to produce opportunities for real progress in food waste reduction.

    This is crucial when you consider that 38% of all food goes to waste, which is worth $473B, according to research organisation ReFED. It is the single largest volume of material sent to landfills and incinerators, and accounts for 58% of methane emissions from solid municipal waste landfills.

    Will this food waste moment – and momentum – continue in 2025? ReFED is confident about further progress, laying out the key trends we could see in the coming months.

    GLP-1: a boon or bane for food waste?

    ozempic grocery sales
    Courtesy: Howdy Howdy USA/Novo Nordisk | Composite by Green Queen

    Ozempic was picked as the Name of the Year by the American Name Society in 2024, a reflection of the weight-loss drug’s explosive popularity in the US. With companions like Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound, GLP-1 medications have now been used by one in eight Americans.

    It has shaken the food system to its core. Large producers – from Nestlè to Coca-Cola – are responding with products that meet the needs of GLP-1 users (or seekers), retailers and restaurants are losing sales, and fibre-forward startups are seizing the moment.

    But Ozempic and the like are also affecting how much food is wasted. A 2024 Ohio State University study found that one in four GLP-1 users wasted more food since taking the drugs, thanks in large part to nausea from the injectables.

    Interestingly, the effects of these weight-loss drugs on food waste withered with time – people who had been taking the medications for over a year were less likely to throw away food than those who had been on them for less than 90 days. As they shift to eating more vegetables on their shrunk appetites, the likelihood of them wasting food diminishes.

    With the number of users forecast to rise to anywhere between 10 to 70 million by 2028, GLP-1 drugs are here to stay. They are set to boost America’s GDP by 1% by that year, and command a $105B market by the end of the decade.

    “Their influence will only continue to grow,” said ReFED, which will publish analysis on the links between GLP-1 drugs and food waste this year.

    Inflation and the Trump administration could prove highly influential

    trump food policy
    Courtesy: Trump White House/Flickr/CC

    According to ReFED, the average family of four spends more than $3,000 a year on food that ends up in the bin. At the same time, GLP-1 users are spending up to 9% less on groceries than they were before taking the medications.

    But 13.5% of households are food insecure in the US, with the amount of food lost or wasted potentially able to feed around 46 million Americans – or more than the states of New York and Florida, combined.

    Inflation has kept prices sky-high – 75% of Americans are very concerned about the cost of food – and informed how people voted in this election. “There’s a real opportunity for the new administration and other policymakers to help consumers make the connection between cost and food waste, and implement solutions that maximise the value of the food they’re already purchasing,” suggests ReFED.

    Speaking of which, after the gains in 2024, this year could be “the most consequential yet for food waste policy”. It holds a lot of potential – from the Farm Bill and action on date label legislation to organic waste bans – and some trepidation. Whether Donald Trump retains Biden’s national strategy on the matter remains to be seen, but ReFED says trends from his first term indicate a willingness to fight food waste.

    Another source of uncertainty is investment. A large part of funding to tackle food waste has come from venture capital activity in recent years, but this sector has been in derisking mode. “Expectations for the new year provide a mixed bag, since lower interest rates may manifest in 2025 but are moderated by overall climate funding seeing a near-term decline and the potential for tariffs,” notes ReFED. “We believe food waste funding will likely be headed for a similar (if not flat) year compared to 2024.”

    At the same time, whenever money does flow, the focus will likely be on supply chain tech development – think demand planning software and shelf-life extension. And with tariffs in sharp focus, food systems may be localised in the medium or long term, making investors focus on regional food opportunities.

    The other major trend identified by ReFED is the enhancement of datasets, which would provide a more detailed view of food waste hotspots. 2025 is also the first time EU companies must start reporting under the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, which include climate impacts that will encompass food waste.

    “While non-EU-based companies don’t need to report until 2028, it still sets the stage to get a better picture of food waste generation at multinational companies,” states the non-profit.

    The post Will the GLP-1 Boom Reduce Food Waste? Latest ReFED Report Lists 2025 Trends appeared first on Green Queen.

    This post was originally published on Green Queen.

  • Climate change threatens the mental well-being of youths. Here’s how to help them cope.

    We’ve all read the stories and seen the images: The life-threatening heat waves. The wildfires of unprecedented ferocity. The record-breaking storms washing away entire neighborhoods. The melting glaciers, the rising sea levels, the coastal flooding.

    As California wildfires stretch into the colder months and hurricane survivors sort through the ruins left by floodwaters, let’s talk about an underreported victim of climate change: the emotional well-being of young people.

    A nascent but growing body of research shows that a large proportion of adolescents and young adults, in the United States and abroad, feel anxious and worried about the impact of an unstable climate in their lives today and in the future.

    Abby Rafeek, 14, is disquieted by the ravages of climate change, both near her home and far away. “It’s definitely affecting my life, because it’s causing stress thinking about the future and how, if we’re not addressing the problem now as a society, our planet is going to get worse,” says Abby, a high school student who lives in Gardena, California, a city of 58,000 about 15 miles south of downtown Los Angeles.

    She says wildfires are a particular worry for her. “That’s closer to where I live, so it’s a bigger problem for me personally, and it also causes a lot of damage to the surrounding areas,” she says. “And also, the air gets messed up.”

    In April, Abby took a survey on climate change for kids ages 12-17 during a visit to the emergency room at Children’s Hospital of Orange County.

    Firefighters work to put out a fire that broke out at the Altadena Golf Course in Los Angeles on Jan. 9, 2025. Barbara Davidson for the Washington Post)

    Rammy Assaf, a pediatric emergency physician at the hospital, adapted the survey from one developed five years ago for adults. He administered his version last year to over 800 kids ages 12-17 and their caregivers. He says initial results show climate change is a serious cause of concern for the emotional security and well-being of young people.

    Assaf has followed up with the kids to ask more open-ended questions, including whether they believe climate change will be solved in their lifetimes; how they feel when they read about extreme climate events; what they think about the future of the planet; and with whom they are able to discuss their concerns.

    “When asked about their outlook for the future, the first words they will use are helpless, powerless, hopeless,” Assaf says. “These are very strong emotions.”

    Assaf says he would like to see questions about climate change included in mental health screenings at pediatricians’ offices and in other settings where children get medical care. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that counseling on climate change be incorporated into the clinical practice of pediatricians and into medical school curriculums, but not with specific regard to mental health screening.

    Assaf says anxiety about climate change intersects with the broader mental health crisis among youth, which has been marked by a rise in depression, loneliness, and suicide over the past decade, though there are recent signs it may be improving slightly.

    A girl in a red tee shirt and jeans walks on the grass in a yard
    Abby Rafeek, a high school student who participated in a climate change anxiety survey, says wildfires are of particular concern to her because they cause “a lot of damage to the surrounding areas” and “the air gets messed up.” Jenna Schoenefeld for KFF Health News

    A 2022 Harris Poll of 1,500 U.S. teenagers found that 89 percent of them regularly think about the environment, “with the majority feeling more worried than hopeful.” In addition, 69 percent said they feared they and their families would be affected by climate change in the near future. And 82 percent said they expected to have to make key life decisions — including where to live and whether to have children — based on the state of the environment.

    And the impact is clearly not limited to the U.S. A 2021 survey of 10,000 16- to 25-year-olds across 10 countries found “59 percent were very or extremely worried and 84 percent were at least moderately worried” about climate change.

    Susan Clayton, chair of the psychology department at the College of Wooster in Ohio, says climate change anxiety may be more pronounced among younger people than adults. “Older adults didn’t grow up being as aware of climate change or thinking about it very much, so there’s still a barrier to get over to accept it’s a real thing,” says Clayton, who co-created the adult climate change survey that Assaf adapted for younger people.

    By contrast, “adolescents grew up with it as a real thing,” Clayton says. “Knowing you have the bulk of your life ahead of you gives you a very different view of what your life will be like.” She adds that younger people in particular feel betrayed by their government, which they don’t think is taking the problem seriously enough, and “this feeling of betrayal is associated with greater anxiety about the climate.”

    Abby believes climate change is not being addressed with sufficient resolve. “I think if we figure out how to live on Mars and explore the deep sea, we could definitely figure out how to live here in a healthy environment,” she says.

    If you are a parent whose children show signs of climate anxiety, you can help.

    Louise Chawla, professor emerita in the environmental design program at the University of Colorado-Boulder, says the most important thing is to listen in an open-ended way. “Let there be space for kids to express their emotions. Just listen to them and let them know it’s safe to express these emotions,” says Chawla, who co-founded the nonprofit Growing Up Boulder, which works with the city’s schools to encourage kids to engage civically, including to help shape their local environment.

    Chawla and others recommend family activities that reinforce a commitment to the environment. They can be as simple as walking or biking and participating in cleanup or recycling efforts. Also, encourage your children to join activities and advocacy efforts sponsored by environmental, civic, or religious organizations.

    Working with others can help alleviate stress and feelings of powerlessness by reassuring kids they are not alone and that they can be proactive.

    Worries about climate change should be seen as a learning opportunity that might even lead some kids to their life’s path, says Vickie Mays, professor of psychology and health policy at UCLA, who teaches a class on climate change and mental health — one of eight similar courses offered recently at UC campuses.

    “We should get out of this habit of ‘everything’s a mental health problem,’” Mays says, “and understand that often a challenge, a stress, a worry can be turned into advocacy, activism, or a reach for new knowledge to change the situation.”

    KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF.

    This story was originally published by Grist with the headline Climate change threatens the mental well-being of youths. Here’s how to help them cope. on Jan 12, 2025.

    This post was originally published on Grist.

  • More Research Casts Doubt on Keto and Paleo Diets: “Go Talk to a Dietitian”

    Emerging research has cast doubt on the popular paleo and keto diets, which emphasize high protein and low carbohydrate intake. While these dietary approaches have garnered a loyal following due to their short-term weight loss success, experts and recent studies are uncovering troubling health risks associated with their restrictive nature.

    Keto’s rise and risks

    The keto diet originated in the 1920s as a therapeutic tool for managing epilepsy, according to the National Library of Medicine. By severely limiting carbohydrates—often to fewer than 50 grams per day—keto forces the body into a metabolic state known as ketosis, where fat is burned instead of glucose for energy. While this can yield dramatic short-term weight loss, emerging evidence suggests significant long-term risks.

    VegNews.SteakKetoPaleo.UnsplashUnsplash

    A study published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition analyzed more than 100 peer-reviewed papers on the keto diet and concluded that “the ketogenic diet is especially unsafe for pregnant women and people with kidney disease and may increase chronic disease risk for the general population.” The study linked the diet to elevated levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol—commonly known as “bad” cholesterol—and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease.

    Vanessa Rissetto, a registered dietitian and co-founder of the nutrition company Culina Health, emphasizes the risks associated with carbohydrate restriction.

    “Carbs are the main energy source for the body,” she told Fortune. “People on keto will likely be lacking fiber, minerals, and micronutrients, which impacts gut health, sleep, and energy—not to mention the potential overconsumption of red meat, which is directly linked to colon cancer and other health issues.”

    The Cleveland Clinic warns of several adverse effects of the keto diet, including nutrient deficiencies, liver strain, kidney problems, constipation, and brain fog. While proponents argue that ketosis offers metabolic benefits, the diet’s high reliance on saturated fats has drawn criticism for its potential to harm cardiovascular health.

    The paleo diet’s controversial premise

    The paleo diet’s guiding philosophy stems from the idea that modern health issues result from the mismatch between contemporary diets and the foods consumed by our Paleolithic ancestors. Popularized by Loren Cordain’s 2001 book The Paleo Diet, like the keto diet, the approach emphasizes whole foods like lean meats, fish, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds while excluding grains, legumes, dairy, and processed foods.

    eating steak

    However, critics argue that the diet’s historical accuracy is flawed and its health claims are overstated. “It’s impossible to eat a true Paleolithic diet because food itself has changed so much—due to how we’ve changed the processing and farming of food and the evolution of plants,” said Federica Amati, a nutrition scientist at the health science company Zoe.

    A study published in the journal Nutrients found that individuals following a paleo diet had higher levels of a blood biomarker associated with cardiovascular disease. While some studies have observed short-term benefits, such as weight loss and improved glucose control, long-term adherence to the diet raises concerns about nutrient deficiencies, particularly in calcium and vitamin D due to the exclusion of dairy products.

    Comparing the two diets

    Although keto and paleo differ in their origins and specific guidelines, both diets share a reliance on high-protein, low-carbohydrate frameworks. Keto emphasizes macronutrient ratios, with 60 percent of daily calories coming from fats, 30 percent from protein, and 10 percent from carbohydrates, according to the Cleveland Clinic. In contrast, paleo’s focus lies in avoiding processed foods and agricultural products like grains and legumes.

    VegNews.Carbs.GettyGetty

    This overlap in carbohydrate restriction aligns both diets against recommendations from the US Dietary Guidelines, which advise consuming 45 to 65 percent of daily calories from carbohydrates. Critics of these diets highlight that cutting carbs—a primary energy source—can lead to unintended health consequences, including fatigue, digestive issues, and poor gut health.

    New research on plant-based proteins

    Adding to the critique of keto and paleo diets, a recent study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition examined the relationship between plant-based and animal-based protein intake and cardiovascular disease. Researchers analyzed data from three large prospective cohort studies: the Nurses’ Health Study, the Nurses’ Health Study II, and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study, which collectively included over 200,000 participants.

    VegNews.Beans.VanessaLoring.PexelsVanessa Loring | Pexels

    The findings revealed that higher plant-to-animal protein ratios were associated with a significantly lower risk of cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease. Specifically, replacing just 3 percent of energy from animal protein with plant protein resulted in an 18-percent lower risk of cardiovascular disease and a 24-percent lower risk of coronary heart disease. However, the study found no significant impact on stroke risk.

    During the study’s 30-year follow-up, the median plant-to-animal protein ratio increased from 0.36 to 0.50, reflecting a gradual shift toward plant-based eating. While the optimal ratio for preventing cardiovascular disease remains uncertain, the research underscores the benefits of incorporating more plant-derived proteins into the diet.

    Environmental and ethical considerations

    Beyond individual health impacts, keto and paleo have been criticized for their environmental toll. Both diets heavily rely on animal products, which are associated with higher greenhouse gas emissions, water usage, and land degradation compared to plant-based diets.

    Amati highlights these concerns, stating, “They’re terrible for the environment and fairly unsustainable.”

    A study by the University of Oxford supports this perspective, finding that shifting from animal-based diets to plant-based alternatives could reduce food-related greenhouse gas emissions by up to 73 percent. This aligns with the growing movement toward sustainable eating practices, which prioritize not only personal health but also the planet’s well-being.

    Expert recommendations

    Health professionals increasingly advocate for balanced and varied diets over restrictive approaches like keto and paleo. “To be in good health, you need a variety of food groups,” said Amati. “Everyone should have a personalized nutrition approach.”

    VegNews.healthyveganmeals.pexelsPexels

    Rissetto echoes this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of moderation and gradual dietary shifts. “Go talk to a dietitian and have them walk you through this and work with you so you can have longevity … and maybe some sustainability around it,” she advises.

    Instead of rigid dietary rules, experts recommend focusing on plant-forward eating patterns, which emphasize whole grains, legumes, fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats. Such diets are supported by extensive research, including studies linking the Mediterranean diet to reduced risks of heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic conditions.

    This post was originally published on VegNews.com.

  • Profile in Persecution: Ali Husain Matrook Abdulla

    Ali Husain Matrook Abdulla was a 15-year-old minor and school student when Bahraini authorities arrested him on 26 August 2024 in Karranah while spending time with friends. The arrest was carried out without a warrant. During his detention, he endured torture, denial of family visits, denial of access to his lawyer, deprivation of his right to education, and medical neglect. He has been held at the Dry Dock Detention Center for five months without trial, as Bahraini authorities repeatedly delay and continue to postpone his hearings.

    On the evening of 26 August 2024, Ali was with his friends in the village of Karranah when plainclothes officers and officers from the Ministry of Interior (MOI) arrested him without presenting an arrest warrant. During the arrest, an officer slapped him on the face. The officers then transferred him to Budaiya Police Station before sending him for medical examinations. Unaware of Ali’s arrest, his parents attempted to contact him, but their calls went unanswered. They later learned of his detention from witnesses who saw him being apprehended and taken to Budaiya Police Station. When his family inquired at the station, officers at the police station denied he was being held there. In reality, Ali was not at the station at the time, as he had been sent for a medical examination, a detail the officers failed to disclose. Ten hours later, the station called to inform the family that Ali was there and requested they send him clothes and shoes. Ten minutes later, Ali called his family, informing them he was being transferred to Roundabout 17 Police Station and asked for the clothes to be sent there instead.

    On 27 August 2024, the day after Ali’s arrest, at approximately 8:30 A.M., Ali’s mother visited Budaiya Police Station to inquire about him and requested to see him, unaware that he had already been transferred for interrogation at Roundabout 17 Police Station. Officers informed her that he was charged with arson and possession of Molotov cocktails but stated that Ali was no longer at the station and had been transferred for interrogation without disclosing his destination.

     

    During interrogation at Roundabout 17 Police Station, officers slapped Ali in the face and subjected him to psychological torture to force a confession. One officer threatened him, saying, “If you don’t talk and confess, I’ll beat you with this stick or bring something else from outside.” Fearing further abuse, Ali falsely confessed. His lawyer was not allowed to be present during the interrogation. The following day, 28 August 2024, Ali was brought before the Public Prosecution Office (PPO). Although his lawyer was present, he was only allowed to exchange greetings with Ali and was not permitted to consult with him. Consequently, the Juvenile and Family Prosecution decided to detain him for one week pending investigation. Following this, Ali was transferred to the Dry Dock Detention Center.

    On 4 September 2024, Ali appeared before the Juvenile and Family Prosecution for the second time, where his detention was extended for another two weeks pending investigation, based on his coerced confessions obtained under threats and torture. This pattern of extending his detention every two weeks continued after each appearance before the Prosecution, relying on the same coerced confessions, until his referral to trial on 19 December 2024. During these sessions, Ali’s lawyer was consistently prohibited from attending. As of 6 January 2025, it was revealed that Ali faced charges in two separate arson cases. On 8 January 2025, he discovered a third arson charge against him, related to an arson incident in Karranah on 24 August 2024, which had been referred to the High Criminal Court.

    Ali was not brought before a judge within 24 hours of his arrest, does not have adequate time and facilities to prepare for trial, is unable to present or challenge evidence, and is denied access to his attorney. As a result, his mother serves as an intermediary, communicating with the lawyer and relaying the information to her son through phone calls. On 19 December 2024, after nearly four months of arbitrary pre-trial detention, Ali and several of his peers were referred to trial, with the first court session initially scheduled for 23 December 2024. However, the session was later postponed to 30 December 2024. He remains detained at Dry Dock Detention Center, awaiting trial, as his court sessions continue to be postponed. 

    Ali has been subjected to medical neglect while in detention. Before his arrest, he was receiving dental treatment at a private clinic, but his detention prevented him from completing the treatment. As a result, his front teeth remained exposed after nerve extraction and gum surgery, causing him frequent, severe pain. Initially, authorities denied him medical care and even refused to provide painkillers. After a complaint was filed with the Ombudsman, treatment resumed, with one tooth being treated and a promise to continue treatment on one tooth per week. However, this treatment was later discontinued, and his care was limited to pain relief medication. Ali experienced three consecutive fainting episodes due to severe pain. Additionally, comprehensive medical examinations revealed low blood pressure, but neither he nor his family were provided with detailed results.

    Ali, a first-year high school student, has been deprived of his education while in detention. The Ministry of Education refused to allow him to take exams or continue his studies. His mother was summoned to the ministry and presented with two options: either withdraw Ali from school or accept a certificate marked “Deprived” with a zero average. The Ministry of Education justified this by stating that Ali had not attended any school days due to his detention.

    Since his arrest, Ali’s family has been denied visits with him in detention. They submitted multiple complaints to both the Ombudsman and the National Institute for Human Rights (NIHR) regarding mistreatment, denial of medical care, and the deprivation of his right to education. However, most of these complaints have yielded no results.

    Ali’s warrantless arrest as a minor, torture, denial of family visits and lawyer access, deprivation of his right to education, medical neglect, and prolonged arbitrary pre-trial detention are clear violations of the Convention Against Torture (CAT), the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), all of which Bahrain is a party to.

    Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB) calls upon Bahraini authorities to fulfill their human rights obligations by immediately and unconditionally releasing Ali. It calls on the Bahraini government to investigate allegations of arbitrary arrest, torture, coerced confessions, denial of family visits and lawyer access, deprivation of the right to education, and medical neglect, and to hold the perpetrators accountable. ADHRB also demands compensation for the violations Ali has suffered in detention. At the very least, ADHRB advocates for a prompt, fair trial for Ali under the Bahraini Restorative Justice Law for Children, and in accordance with international legal standards, leading to his release. Furthermore, ADHRB calls on the Dry Dock Detention Center administration to provide Ali with immediate, appropriate medical care, including the completion of his dental treatment, holding it responsible for any further deterioration in his health. It also demands that the center allow Ali to resume his education and permit family visits without delay.

    The post Profile in Persecution: Ali Husain Matrook Abdulla appeared first on Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain.

  • Annual ‘Winners’ For Most Egregious US Healthcare Profiteering Announced

    The 2024 “winners” of the annual Shkreli awards, given each year to perpetrators of the most egregious examples of profiteering and dysfunction within the healthcare industry, have been released from the Lown Institute, an independent healthcare thinktank.

    The recipients are chosen by a panel made up of health policy experts, clinicians, journalists and advocates. The awards are named after Martin Shkreli, the infamous “pharma bro” who rose to international notoriety after increasing the price of lifesaving anti-parasitic drug Daraprim 50-fold.

    The post Annual ‘Winners’ For Most Egregious US Healthcare Profiteering Announced appeared first on PopularResistance.Org.

    This post was originally published on PopularResistance.Org.

  • How to Take Care of Your Vaginal Health With Diet

    Last year, researchers set out to find how many people in the UK were uncomfortable talking about vaginas. The result? More than two in five of the women surveyed said they would feel “mortified” to discuss their genitals, even with a close friend.

    Jump to the foods

    In more concerning findings, around three in 10 said they would avoid going to a doctor if they felt something was wrong with their vagina. And it’s not just Brits. All over the world, women and individuals with vaginas feel ashamed to talk about them for many reasons, from cultural taboos to fear of judgment. 

    doctor and patient

    But being open about vaginal health is important. Of course, vaginas play a key role in reproduction and sex, but they also play a protective role, too, by helping to remove unwanted bacteria from the body. When there is something wrong, symptoms can be painful and unpleasant, but most conditions can be easily treated with the right medication. 

    There are many ways to support vaginal health. Staying hydrated, practicing safe sex, wearing comfortable clothing, and gently washing (not douching) are all important for taking care of the vagina. But the food we eat can have a big impact, too.

    woman using blenderPexels

    Like the gut, the vagina has its own microbiome. Eating a well-rounded diet filled with nutrient-dense foods and probiotics can help to maintain vaginal health. We spoke to Ayla Barmmer, MS, RD, LDN, the Founder and CEO of FullWell, to find out more. But first: How do you know your vagina is healthy?

    What are the signs of a healthy vagina?

    It’s important to know what’s normal and healthy with your vagina, so if things are off, you know it’s time to visit a healthcare professional. A healthy vagina should not feel irritated, itchy, or burn. These symptoms may indicate infections or imbalances. For example, thrush, a yeast infection that can be treated with antifungal medicine, often causes itching and irritation, as well as thick, off-white cottage cheese-like discharge. 

    Thrush is a common infection, and it’s often harmless. But if it’s persistent, it might be worth checking in with your doctor. “There are a lot of possible causes of yeast-infection-like symptoms, so if you are dealing with reoccurring infections, it’s worth working with a practitioner to assess what is going on,” advises Barmmer.

    woman with doctorGetty

    Healthy vaginal discharge can change throughout the menstrual cycle, but generally, it should be clear, white, or slightly cloudy. If it has a strong fishy odor, this could be a sign of another easily treated condition called bacterial vaginosis. 

    Vaginas are generally resilient. They are self-cleaning—the discharge they produce actually helps them to clean themselves. They are also generally quick to heal when things go wrong, and they can easily stretch for childbirth. But they are not immune from challenges. 

    Vaginas rely on hormones, for example, and these can be disrupted for many reasons. “

    Hormonal balance, particularly estrogen, is essential for vaginal health,” explains Barmmer. 

    “Estrogen maintains vaginal tissue integrity, elasticity, lubrication, and overall resilience. When estrogen levels decline—due to menopause, stress, or other disruptions—the vaginal environment can become drier and more susceptible to infections.” 

    Vaginas also need to maintain the right pH balance. In fact, the pH level of the vagina is a key factor in protecting against infections and maintaining a healthy environment. A healthy vaginal pH is slightly acidic, typically ranging between 3.8 and 4.5 on the pH scale. Lactobacillus acidophilus, a type of beneficial bacteria commonly found in the human body (especially in the gastrointestinal tract, mouth, and vagina) plays a key role in maintaining this pH. It produces lactic acid, which lowers the pH of the vagina, making it acidic. This acidity helps to inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria and yeast.

    person chopping cilantroAlyson McPhee | Unsplash

    “The vaginal environment is dynamic and influenced by the body’s overall balance,” adds Barmmer. “This ecosystem—composed of Lactobacillus acidophilus and other endogenous flora, glycogen, estrogen, and pH—is constantly shifting in response to hormonal changes, diet, and lifestyle.”

    Can food help to support a healthy vagina?

    Food can play a key role in supporting a healthy vagina. But perhaps not in the way you’ve heard in the past.  

    “There are several myths I come across in practice,” explains Barmmer. “One of the most common is the belief that eating pineapple will drastically change vaginal taste or smell.” She explains that while some of the nutrients in pineapple may support the health of the vagina, it’s unlikely to affect the odor. “Vaginal smell is determined mainly by the balance of bacteria and pH levels,” she says.

    woman eating plate of vegetables

    Other common myths include that cutting sugar will prevent yeast infections completely, or that applying certain foods directly to the vagina will change the pH balance. “This isn’t safe or necessary,” says Barmmer.

    Research suggests, however, that following a healthy, balanced diet will help support vaginal health. “Consuming probiotic-rich foods or supplements orally—especially those with researched strains like Lactobacillus acidophilus La-14—is a much better way to support your vaginal microbiome,” Barmmer adds. 

    “Ultimately, vaginal health is a reflection of overall body balance. By focusing on a nutrient-dense diet that includes prebiotic fiber, probiotics, vitamins, and healthy fats, you’re giving your body what it needs to keep the vaginal environment dynamic, resilient, and in balance naturally.”

    The best foods for vaginal health and why, according to a dietitian

    Vaginal health is not just influenced by diet. Hormones, medications, and stress also play a role, says Barmmer. But the foods we eat can make a significant difference. “Supporting your microbiome with prebiotics, probiotics, and a nutrient-rich diet is one of the best ways to promote balance,” she explains. Below, with the help of Barmmer, we’ve listed a few of the foods that can help to support overall vaginal health—plus delicious recipe inspiration, too.

    VegNews.TandooriTofuSkewersNadine Horn and Jörg Mayer

    1 Yogurt

    “Probiotic-rich foods like yogurt, kefir, and fermented vegetables introduce beneficial bacteria, especially Lactobacillus, which produce lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide to maintain proper pH,” Barmmer says. Yogurt sauce is a delicious way to incorporate yogurt into your meals. But, if you prefer to eat yogurt as a simple snack, check out our guide to dairy-free yogurt. 
    Try it in a recipe: Vegan Tandoori Tofu Skewers With Yogurt Sauce

    VegNews.CelebrationGranola

    2 Walnuts and other sources of omega-3

    Omega-3s, Barmmer notes, are specially important. “Omega-3 fatty acids in chia seeds, walnuts, and monounsaturated fats from avocados and olive oil are critical for hormone production and reducing inflammation,” she says.
    Try it in a recipe: Nutty Vegan Cinnamon Walnut-Pecan Granola

    VegNews.OnionBhajisDan Jones

    3 Onions (or anything with prebiotic fiber)

    “Prebiotics serve as food for beneficial bacteria, including those in the vaginal and gut microbiome, allowing them to thrive,” Barmmer explains. “Foods like garlic, onions, bananas, asparagus, oats, and legumes are excellent sources of prebiotic fiber.” For more whole-food sources of  prebiotics, check out our guide.
    Try it in a recipe: Vegan Carrot and Onion Indian Bhajis

    VegNews.VanillaTartsSara Stevens

    4 Cranberries

    “[Cranberries] contain compounds that prevent harmful bacteria from adhering to vaginal and urinary tract walls, reducing the risk of infections,” Barmmer says.  
    Try it in a recipe: Vegan Vanilla Tarts With Cranberry Compote

    VegNews.LemonySpinachChickpeaPilafKaty Beskow

    5 Leafy greens

    “Spinach, kale, and other greens provide essential nutrients that support circulation and overall tissue health, which can help maintain a healthy environment,” advises Barmmer. Try your hand at this spinach-packed pilaf, and for even more recipes rich in leafy greens, check out some of our favorite recipes here. 
    Try it in a recipe: Vegan Spinach, Chickpea, and Lemon Pilaf

    VegNews.FudgewichesHannah Kaminsky

    6 Magnesium-rich foods, like dark chocolate 

    “Dark chocolate, leafy greens, and nuts help regulate cortisol and support adrenal health, indirectly balancing estrogen and other hormones,” Barmmer explains. “By supporting hormonal balance through nutrition, you’re also supporting vaginal tissue health, pH balance, and natural lubrication—key components of overall vaginal wellness.” Whether you’re looking for dark chocolate to enjoy on its own or bake into your favorite brownie recipes, check out our guide to vegan chocolate. 
    Try it in a recipe: Vegan Double Dark Chocolate Fudgewiches

    VegNews.VeganEggSaladHannah Sunderani

    7 Foods that contain plant-based estrogens, like tofu

    “Flaxseeds, soy products (like tofu and tempeh), and sesame seeds contain plant-based estrogens that help mimic natural estrogen in the body, providing support for vaginal tissue,” the dietitian notes. This tofu egg salad recipe makes incorporating tofu into your diet quick and easy, but for even more inspiration, bookmark our favorite 35 tofu recipes.
    Try it in a recipe: Easy Vegan Tofu Egg Salad

    VegNews.SesameBroccoliNoodlesAshley McLaughlin

    8 Cruciferous vegetables

    “Broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts help the body metabolize estrogen efficiently, which is essential for maintaining balance,” Barmmer explains. 
    Try it in a recipe: Sesame Ginger Broccoli Noodles

    VegNews.StrawberryOatBites



    9 Strawberries and other vitamin C-rich foods

    A crucial antioxidant, vitamin C “supports immune function and tissue health, helping to reduce the risk of infections. Citrus fruits, bell peppers, and strawberries are excellent sources,” Barmmer says.
    Try it in a recipe: Healthy Vegan Strawberry Chia Oat Bites

    VegNews.ChimichurriAvocadoSalad.ThePerfectBlendThe Perfect Blend

    10 Avocados and other sources of vitamin E

    “Known for its moisturizing and anti-inflammatory properties, vitamin E helps combat dryness and supports tissue integrity,” Barmmer highlights. “It’s abundant in avocados, nuts, and seeds.”
    Try it in a recipe: Vegan Chimichurri Avocado Salad

    This post was originally published on VegNews.com.

  • VPNs, training, and mental health workshops: How CPJ helped journalist safety in 2024

    Haitian journalist Jean Marc Jean was covering an anti-government protest in Port-au-Prince in February 2023 when he was struck in the face by a gas canister fired by police into the crowd. One of at least five journalists injured while covering civil unrest in the country that month, Jean arrived at the hospital with a deep wound next to his nose that damaged one of his eyes beyond repair.

    A freelance journalist, Jean lacked financial support from the outlets he worked for to cover his steep medical bills. CPJ stepped in to cover the cost of the journalist’s hospital stay, surgery, a new glass eye and, eventually, glasses, so he could continue reporting.

    Jean is one of more than 600 journalists who received a combined $1 million in financial grants in 2024 from CPJ’s Gene Roberts Emergency Fund. In addition to medical care, the funds can be used to cover costs associated with exile, legal fees, and basic living supplies in prison. Overall, CPJ drastically stepped up its assistance work last year, helping more than 3,000 journalists with financial grants, safety training, and other kinds of support amid rising threats to the media and declining press freedom.

    Here are five other ways CPJ’s Emergencies department helped journalists in 2024:

    ——————

    Supporting journalists in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon to cover and survive war

    Protesters and media members in Sidon, Lebanon, carry pictures during an October 26, 2024, sit-in condemning the killings Al Mayadeen television network’s Ghassan Najjar and Mohammad Reda, and Al Manar’s Wissam Qassem, who were killed in an Israeli strike in the southern Lebanese town of Hasbaya. (Photo: Reuters/Aziz Taher)

    The Israel-Gaza war continues to be one of the deadliest conflicts for journalists since CPJ began keeping records in 1992. Israeli military operations have killed 152 journalists in Gaza and six in Lebanon; Hamas killed two Israeli journalists in its October 7, 2023 attack. As Israel conducts what rights groups call ethnic cleansing in northern Gaza, the country continues to forbid foreign journalists from accessing the territory without military accompaniment, leaving the coverage to the beleaguered local press.

    In February, CPJ gave $300,000 to three organizations supporting Gaza’s journalists: the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism, and Filastiniyat. Through these grants, journalists were able to access food, basic necessities like blankets and tents for shelter, and journalistic equipment including cameras, phones, and laptops so they can continue to be the world’s eyes and ears on Gaza.

    “We keep hitting what feels like rock bottom, only to discover even deeper levels of suffering and loss,” Hoda Osman, executive editor of Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism, told CPJ. “Yet Palestinian journalists persist. Their resilience cannot be overstated, and their work is essential—especially with foreign journalists barred from entering Gaza—but it is utterly unsustainable without continuous and significant support.”

    As the war spread to Lebanon, CPJ provided grants to Lebanese freedom of expression groups the Maharat Foundation and the Samir Kassir Foundation to help journalists who were forced to flee their homes temporarily due to Israeli bombardment.

    Providing resiliency and mental health workshops to journalists in Ukraine

    A journalist walks on September 2, 2024, near residential buildings damaged during a Russian military attack in the frontline Ukrainian town of Chasiv Yar, in the Donetsk region. (Photo: Oleg Petrasiuk/Press Service of the 24th King Danylo Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces/Handout via Reuters.)

    Journalists living through and reporting on active conflict can face acute mental health challenges. Last year, CPJ partnered with Hannah Storm, a specialist in journalism safety and mental health and the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine to provide resiliency and mental health workshops for Ukrainian journalists experiencing anxiety and stress due to their coverage of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, now about to enter its fourth year.

    In 2024, CPJ helped to host three online mental health workshops attended by 160 Ukrainian journalists, who learned how to prevent burnout when working in a war zone, how to remain calm while reporting during air raids and explosions, and how to work effectively under shelling.

    “Despite the challenging and uncertain times they are living through, participants shared their insights and experiences, enabling a real sense of solidarity which I hope can be sustained,” Storm, the trainer, told CPJ.

    Distributing VPNs to journalists covering civil unrest in Venezuela and Senegal

    Senegalese protesters from civil society groups and opposition political parties protest in the capital of Dakar against the postponement of presidential election scheduled for February 25, 2024. (Photo: Reuters/Zohra Bensemra)

    Journalists covering civil unrest around the globe in 2024 had to contend with threats to their physical safety and obstructions to their work, including internet shutdowns in countries with repressive regimes.

    After Senegal postponed the February 2024 election, prompting mass protests in which more than two dozen journalists were attacked, Senegalese authorities censored news and information by shutting down mobile internet. In response, CPJ partnered with virtual private network (VPN) provider TunnelBear to distribute VPNs to 27 journalists reporting in and on Senegal, which helped them to continue working in the event of future online blocking.

    Across the world in Venezuela, CPJ provided 25 journalists with VPNs to continue their coverage after authorities repeatedly imposed digital shutdowns as protests erupted over President Nicolás Maduro’s widely disputed claim to have won the country’s July 28 presidential election. Ongoing suppression by the Venezuelan government had far-reaching consequences throughout the rest of 2024; CPJ supported three Venezuelan journalists with exile support and trained 30 Venezuelan journalists on their digital, physical, and psychological safety in partnership with local network Reporte Ya.

    “The use of a VPN is an essential tool for practicing journalism in Venezuela,” a Venezuelan journalist who received a VPN from CPJ said. “This is especially important in an environment where surveillance and censorship are constant concerns. By encrypting the connection, a VPN allows you to research and communicate with confidential sources with greater confidence.”

    Helping U.S. journalists safely cover the 2024 election

    Journalists prepare for an election night event for Kamala Harris, the Democratic Party’s U.S. presidential candidate, at Howard University in Washington, D.C. on November 5, 2024 (Photo: Reuters/Mike Blake)

    Elections and times of political transition pose special risks to journalists. In a year that saw around half the world’s population go to the polls, the 2024 U.S. presidential election was no exception. Ahead of the election, CPJ trained more than 740 journalists reporting on the U.S. on physical and digital safety, and provided U.S.-based journalists with resiliency and know-your-rights advice through a summer webinar series with partner organizations.

    Jon Laurence, Supervising Executive Producer at AJ+, told CPJ that the training was “invaluable.” “Many of our staff members who were deployed to cover the conventions were able to attend the training and felt much better resourced as a result.”  

    Reporters covered the November 5 election against a backdrop of retaliatory violence, legal threats, police attacks, and the specter of the January 6, 2021 U.S. Capitol insurrection. To make sure that journalists were as prepared as possible, CPJ reissued its legal rights guide for U.S.-based journalists, and distributed an updated election safety kit.

    Providing grants to incarcerated journalists around the globe

    A view of the entrance sign of Evin prison in Tehran, Iran, October 17, 2022. (Photo: West Asia News Agency via Reuters/Majid Asgaripour)

    Last year, CPJ provided a record 53 journalists with prison support in the form of a financial grant to help them access basic necessities behind bars, like food, water, and hygiene products. The grant can also be used by family members or lawyers to visit the journalist in prison, and to provide much-needed connection and emotional support. Recipients included journalists jailed in Myanmar, Iran, Azerbaijan, and Cameroon. For the first time, CPJ was also able to provide support to almost every imprisoned journalist in Belarus. Families of the 23 journalists helped by this grant were able to give care packages, consisting of items like stationery and medicine, to their loved ones. Some of the Belarusian journalists CPJ helped have since been released, and CPJ will keep fighting – and supporting – the hundreds who remain behind bars for their work.

    For more information about CPJ’s journalist safety and emergency assistance work, visit CPJ’s Journalist Safety and Emergencies page. If you’re a journalist in need of assistance, please email emergencies@cpj.org.


    This content originally appeared on Committee to Protect Journalists and was authored by Lucy Westcott.

    This post was originally published on Radio Free.

  • If you rightly have anxiety over Trump’s presidency – here’s what you can do to help yourself

    With the last of any celebrations over, what is left is for some people a sickly feeling as they face the coming year. That might be because of what’s going on in the world, with wars, acts of terror and the uncertainty of a second term with a more vindictive Donald Trump on the horizon. Or it could be due to issues much closer to home, such as managing financially or dealing with difficult relationships. We all have worries and uncertainty that can often cause symptoms we might describe as ‘anxiety.’

    But anxiety is only one part of three ways of feeling that often get lumped together. It’s important to disentangle these because the treatment options for them can be different.

    So, what is anxiety, hyperarousal and agitation, and how are they different from each other? 

    What is anxiety?

    If you can imagine a pyramid that has three levels, anxiety is at the bottom and underpins the other two. 

    You can have anxiety or feel anxious when you are worried, tense or afraid. For example, you might feel anxious during big events like job interviews, waiting for results regarding your health, or trying to find something important that you’ve lost. It can produce symptoms like:

    • A racing heartbeat
    • Mild sweating
    • Mild problems with sleep
    • A churning stomach

    But with anxiety you can, to a certain extent, ‘switch off’ by distracting yourself from your worries and preoccupations through, for example, work or listening to music or producing some art.

    Being able to distract herself is something Souris, who has suffered from long-term mental health problems, can do sometimes when she is anxious. She said: “I try to redirect myself towards some ‘purposeful’ physical activity like cleaning my home, such as washing the floor.”

    If you can’t distract or ‘redirect’ anxious feelings or find ways to switch-off and control these worries and preoccupations, then it might be you move up the pyramid to the next level that is ‘hyperarousal’.

    Spiralling

    This is the situation Souris has been in. She said:

    Sometimes my inability to switch-off is just because I’m interested in a topic. But I wish I could shut-it out and go to sleep but instead I’m up for hours and hours arguing with myself.

    When it spirals, I wish I could put my head in a container. Somewhere impenetrable where nothing gets in or out. It makes me feel like I want some sort of anaesthetic or respite.

    This ‘spiralling’ can be a significant worsening of the anxiety symptoms and one area that’s particularly noticeable is in sleep. This is what Souris pointed to when she said she wanted some type of ‘anaesthetic’. Problems with sleep can include:

    • Nightmares,
    • Night sweats
    • A feeling that you didn’t sleep enough for the next day.

    Along with that you may feel hypervigilant – a feeling that you can’t relax even at calm moments, and you may experience physical symptoms such as muscle pains, tension headaches and migraines.

    A panic attack is when there is a period of sudden and intense anxiety with both psychological and physical symptoms such as

    • A racing heartbeat
    • Feeling faint, light-headed or dizzy, and that you are going to pass out.
    • Sweating, trembling fingers, shaking
    • Feeling like you’re losing control
    • Feeling sick
    • Shortness of breath.

    Such panic-attacks can be very distressing and it’s important to try and find out the triggers for what is causing them as well as get the appropriate therapy and treatment. Contact your GP or 111 to get further help and and look at the support from MIND on panic attacks:

    https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/anxiety-and-panic-attacks/panic-attacks/

    Or the support from the NHS:

    https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/feelings-symptoms-behaviours/feelings-and-symptoms/anxiety-fear-panic/

    Escalating symptoms

    After this comes agitation that sits at the top of the pyramid and is hyperarousal turned-up to maximum volume.  Agitation can be present due to anxiety alone or as part of other mental health problems, such as severe depression, psychosis or during a ‘manic’ phase when someone has bipolar affective disorder. It can be extremely serious as the person suffering might not be able to switch-off at all. Physically that might mean:

    • Pacing the floor,
    • wringing your hands

    But nothing works as you are so wound-up. Sleep is something you never think will ever happen again as you pace indoors, outdoors, throughout the day and night. Suicide is a danger with agitation as the constant agitation won’t stop no matter hard you try.

    Due to the potential danger, if you are or know someone who is feeling agitated, then it’s important to get help as soon as possible. If a GP appointment can’t be found soon enough, contact 111 and explain the symptoms – it might mean an A&E visit is required. 

    How to get help for anxiety

    The NHS treats anxiety seriously with several diagnosed conditions that have anxiety at their core such as generalised anxiety, panic disorder, agoraphobia and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

    If you feel you need support with anxiety, and anxiety related issues you can now refer yourself for free ‘Talking Therapies’ like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) from the NHS without having to wait for a GP appointment.

    Here is the link for finding this therapy: https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/mental-health/find-an-nhs-talking-therapies-service

    NHS Talking Therapies is the first line of treatment  for people with anxiety https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/talking-therapies-medicine-treatments/talking-therapies-and-counselling/nhs-talking-therapies/ and this can be helpful for many people.

    If you don’t want to refer yourself for Talking Therapies you can still get the referral through your GP, if you prefer it this way. Also, see a GP if:

    • You’re struggling to cope with anxiety, fear or panic
    • If the things you are trying –for example the talking therapies, are not helping
    • If you’re anxious about a health condition

    As we land in 2025, it’s completely normal to feel worried about what’s going to happen this year. But if you can’t ‘switch off’ and these worries are impacting on your daily life – making it difficult to do what you should be doing, then it’s important to seek out help.

    Featured image via the Canary

    By Ruth Hunt

    This post was originally published on Canary.

  • High-Protein, High-Fibre: Tennis Star Sloane Stephens Hypes Up Daily Harvest’s GLP-1 Friendly Vegan Smoothies

    daily harvest sloane stephens
    4 Mins Read

    Vegan meal startup Daily Harvest has launched a line of smoothies that pack 20g of plant protein per serving – and it’s tapped Sloane Stephens to help spread the message.

    Already the owner of a vegan body care brand and following a plant-forward diet, US tennis star Sloane Stephens has partnered with ready meal maker Daily Harvest to promote its new high-protein smoothie range.

    The New York-based vegan startup has rolled out ready-to-blend smoothies that pack 20g of protein from chickpeas and peas per 190g serving, and up to 10g of fibre. It plays onto the two most sought-after macronutrients in American diets at the moment, while also aiming to deliver on the demand for clean-label food products.

    Available in dark chocolate, vanilla bean, and mixed berry flavours, the smoothies are available for $8.99 on Daily Harvest’s website, and can soon be found at Kroger and its subsidiaries, including Fry’s, Fred Meyer, Dillon’s, King Soopers, QFC, Ralphs and Smith’s.

    Sloane Stephens: ‘Daily Harvest supports my peak performance’

    daily harvest protein smoothies
    Courtesy: Daily Harvest

    The “nutrient-dense” smoothies contain whole-food ingredients like fruits and vegetables, dates and seeds, alongside vanilla bean and cocoa powders (depending on the flavour). The dark chocolate smoothie is being positioned as reminiscent of brownie batter, with the vanilla bean versions akin to classic milkshakes, and mixed berry evoking frozen yoghurt nostalgia. They also contain high levels of micronutrients like calcium, iron, and potassium, and are free from nuts and added sugars.

    Buyers only need to empty the frozen contents into a blender, mix it with a liquid (like almond or oat milk), and whizz away. The idea is to pour the resulting smoothie back into the cup, minimising the need for additional cutlery – but at the same time, it does mean you need to wash your blender. And the product will likely not appeal to people who don’t have access to one.

    One person it did allure is Stephens. The US Open winner says Daily Harvest’s meals and smoothies have become a go-to for maintaining peak performance, “whether I’m training, spending time with my family or running my business”. That business is Doc & Glo, which sells cruelty-free body lotions, scrubs, mists and deodorants.

    Daily Harvest and Doc & Glo are working together to highlight their “commitment to supporting active lifestyles and overall wellbeing”, according to the announcement.

    “As a professional athlete, I know the importance of fueling my body with clean, nourishing foods that can keep up with my demanding schedule,” said Stephens. “What I love most is how they make healthy eating effortless – just what I need to stay energised during my busy days.”

    According to Daily Harvest, the new smoothie range is a response to one of its “most frequent” customer requests. “We’ve always prioritised engaging our loyal and highly engaged member base to help co-create and innovate across our portfolio,” said CEO Ricky Silver.

    “As consumers continue to seek high-protein options to fuel their busy lives, no one wants to compromise on the need for real, wholesome ingredients,” he added. “Our new high-protein smoothies deliver on taste, satiety and nutrient density; no tradeoffs necessary.”

    Can Daily Harvest attract Ozempic users?

    daily harvest glp 1
    Courtesy: Daily Harvest

    In October, a report by 84.51° – the market research division of Kroger, where the new smoothies will debut – high-protein is the prized nutritional attribute in food products for consumers at its stores. Other major priorities include functional benefits and clean ingredients, both verticals that Daily Harvest is hitting on.

    A 3,000-person survey last year also found that the two nutrients Americans are most interested in consuming are protein (71%) and fibre (64%), figures that increased from the poll’s 2023 edition.

    The high-fibre content in the Protein Smoothie range will speak to consumers at a time when GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Mounjaro are all the rage. More than one in eight Americans have already tried these injectable weight-loss drugs, which work by replicating a hormone found in our body.

    That hormone – incretin – can also be regulated by dietary fibre. In the US, only 5% of adults meet the daily requirement of fibre intake, with the average consumption half this amount. At the same time, as of March 2024, 21% of US weight-loss drug users had been spending more on protein in the previous six months.

    Meanwhile, over six in 10 Americans say they’d rather make a dietary change than take an injectable weight-loss drug if they wanted to lose weight. This has prompted food manufacturers – including giants like Nestlé and Conagra – to revamp their offerings and marketing to cater to those that use GLP-1 drugs, or are interested in doing so.

    Daily Harvest itself began offering a GLP-1 companion collection of meals, with dishes like broccoli and white bean soup, dragonfruit and lychee smoothie, and bean and cabbage bowl. It was in response to “relatively slow” sales, Silver had said.

    But he has indicated that the company won’t be aggressively pushing sales of these kits. “We definitely see it as an opportunity (but) not something we need to drastically pivot our focus toward,” he told Reuters in May. “Our food is already foundationally good for people taking these drugs.”

    As for the protein smoothies, he hinted that there’s more of where that came from: “This launch is just the beginning – we’re excited to continue developing new protein-forward recipes that make it easier than ever for our customers to feed themselves and their families healthfully.”

    The post High-Protein, High-Fibre: Tennis Star Sloane Stephens Hypes Up Daily Harvest’s GLP-1 Friendly Vegan Smoothies appeared first on Green Queen.

    This post was originally published on Green Queen.

  • Is Plant-Based Meat Healthy? You Bet It Is, According to All the Latest Research

    plant based meat health
    5 Mins Read

    A Eurocentric review of health studies has shown that plant-based meat has multi-pronged health benefits, despite their association with ultra-processed foods.

    Poor diets are responsible for nearly a million deaths in Europe every year, and are the largest driver of cardiovascular disease. At the same time, there’s an emerging phenomenon of a “double burden” of malnutrition, where obesity coincides with undernutrition.

    While the underconsumption of whole grains and legumes is the biggest driver for diet-related illnesses in the continent – pointing to a need for increased intake of whole plants – the overconsumption of red and processed meats is a key factor too.

    Vegan meat analogues present a solution to the problem for meat-eaters. They’re already better for the climate, help boost food security, reduce pandemic risks, and counter antimicrobial resistance – but in most parts of the world now, health trumps everything when it comes to choosing food today.

    diet related diseases
    Courtesy: GFI Europe

    Here, plant-based meats have been dealt a tough hand. Despite being nutritionally superior on many fronts to animal protein, minus the health issues, they’ve been tarred with the same brush as ultra-processed foods (UPFs).

    Yes, most plant-based meat is ultra-processed. But no, ultra-processed doesn’t automatically translate to bad-for-you. To illustrate that, alternative protein think tank the Good Food Institute (GFI) Europe compiled data from the latest research around meat alternatives and health – and the results demonstrate their outsized potential for better nutrition and wellbeing.

    For example, these products could reduce levels of LDL cholesterol and, consequently, heart disease, lower the risk of bowel cancer, enhance gut health, and help maintain a healthy weight.

    “We urgently need more tasty, affordable options to help reduce the current overconsumption of processed meat – which is doing a lot of harm to our health and the planet,” said Amy Williams, nutrition lead at GFI Europe. “Innovative products like plant-based meat and dairy, alongside traditional whole foods such as beans, will both have important roles in achieving this.”

    How plant-based meat fares on the nutrition scale

    is plant based meat healthy
    Courtesy: GFI Europe

    GFI Europe’s health analysis explored the nutritional differences between conventional meat and plant-based versions from four European countries, across various formats.

    In almost every category – from burgers to sausages to chicken nuggets – plant-based meat products are lower in calories, the overconsumption of which is one of the main causes of obesity.

    Similarly, vegan meats contain a much greater amount of fibre than their animal-based counterparts (where any small amount of fibre comes from plant-based ingredients). A high fibre intake is linked to a healthy gut and microbiome – an increasingly important aspect in health conversations – and a reduction in inflammation and cardiovascular disease.

    When it comes to protein, some sausages and strips/shawarmas have a higher concentration for plant-based versions, but overall, conventional meat has slightly more protein per 100g. That said, plant-based meat is on par with animal proteins in terms of the percentage of calories from protein across all but one category (fillets). With at least 20% of calories coming from protein, vegan alternatives comfortably meet the EU definition of high-protein foods.

    But do plant-based products contain complete proteins? It depends. Soy and quinoa contain all the essential amino acids, but for products not using these, a blend of ingredients – such as wheat and pea protein – can help achieve an optimal amino acid profile.

    Meanwhile, across every format, animal proteins have more saturated fat than plant-based meat, and the difference is often significant. That said, there are large variations in terms of sodium levels, although vegan meats tend to have slightly more salt content.

    is plant based meat bad for you
    Courtesy: GFI Europe

    Overcoming the challenges of UPFs and fortification

    For plant-based meat, one of the greatest potential areas for maximising the health dividends of plant-based meat, however, are micronutrients. These products offer a simple way to provide key micronutrients that may sometimes be lacking in whole foods – the way they’re made can add important nutrients and make others more bioavailable (or easier for the body to process).

    But several challenges remain. Fortification with nutrients like vitamin B12, iron, calcium or omega-3s can be expensive, and fortified food can’t be certified as organic (even though animal meat can). The growing focus on shorter ingredient lists, meanwhile, can penalise products with a higher nutritional value, where some additional ingredients are micronutrients.

    The focus on cleaner labels has dovetailed with concern around UPFs, but GFI Europe’s report is further proof that the level of processing doesn’t dictate how healthy a food is. Its analysis of macronutrient studies shows that conventional processed meat ticks seven of the eight boxes in common UPF definitions, including high calories, fat and salt, convenience, low fibre, big ingredient lists, and the fact that it can’t be made in a normal kitchen.

    is plant based meat upf
    Courtesy: GFI Europe

    Despite the nutritional benefits, plant-based meat saw a decline in volume by 3.2% in Europe between 2022 and 2023, with the UPF debate a major contributor to this shift. So how can these products overcome this slump?

    GFI Europe says governments and investors need to back R&D efforts to better optimise the health potential of plant-based meats across several focus areas. These should focus on next-gen products that optimise nutrient bioavailability, improve functionality, and broaden the range of available options, as well as on novel processing technologies to better maintain or boost the nutritional value.

    The diversification of ingredient crops and expansion of breeding specifically for use in plant-based meat is important too. This would improve the functionality of raw ingredients, cut the number of processing steps and ingredients, and allow protein crops to be grown locally.

    As for manufacturers, it’s imperative to better communicate the health benefits of their products so consumers can understand how to incorporate plant-based meat into a healthy and balanced diet. They’re also encouraged to innovate and further improve the nutritional quality of their offerings through measures like salt reduction and micronutrient fortification.

    The post Is Plant-Based Meat Healthy? You Bet It Is, According to All the Latest Research appeared first on Green Queen.

    This post was originally published on Green Queen.

  • Are Parasite Cleanses Safe? An Expert Weighs In

    According to one content creator, Josh Farris, who also describes himself as a holistic lifestyle teacher, parasites are “probably contributing to sickness, disease, and inflammation in your body.” To deal with them, his advice is to “open up the detox pathways” (which refers to cleansing the colon, the liver, the gallbladder, and the kidneys) and then to drink herbal tea. “Over time, I promise you, you’re gonna start pooping and releasing parasites that you didn’t know were inside of you,” he says.

    woman holds mug of herbal teaPexels

    Farris, who is also known as the Gut Guy, isn’t alone. Parasites, specifically the concept of “cleansing” them from your body, are big on TikTok right now. The app has plenty of advice for parasite removal, including: eating organic papaya, sipping on wormwood tea once a day, drinking nothing but water for seven days, and eating frozen castor oil pills.

    But do we really need to remove parasites from our bodies with herbal cleanses? And if we are concerned about parasites, what should we do? We spoke to Katherine Metzelaar, MSN, RDN, CD, a dietitian and certified intuitive eating counselor, to find out more.

    What are parasite cleanses?

    According to Metzelaar, engaging in a “parasite cleanse” can involve anything from taking herbal supplements to consuming detox drinks to engaging in strict diets. “They usually claim to ‘detoxify’ your system, but the methods and ingredients can vary a lot depending on the product or plan,” she explains.

    However, she notes that there isn’t much “solid evidence” to back these claims.

    “For most people, the body’s natural detox systems—like the liver and kidneys—already do a great job of keeping things in check,” she says. 

    “When it comes to actual parasitic infections, proven medical treatments are the way to go.”

    Do we all have parasites?

    A quick scroll on TikTok might make you believe that everyone has parasites, but that’s likely not the case. They are quite common, though. 

    According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 60 million people in the US may have toxoplasma gondii, which is a parasite that can cause toxoplasmosis, one of the most common parasitic infections worldwide. It doesn’t always have symptoms, but if it does, they can include fever, headache, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes.

    VegNews.stomachpain.pexelsPexels

    Other common parasitic infections include trichomoniasis, a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by a parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis. According to the CDC, it affects around 3.7 million Americans in the US, but the good news is it’s easy to treat with medication.

    What to do if you think you have a parasitic infection

    The type of medication needed to treat a parasite infection depends on the parasite. Tapeworm, for example, which can be contracted by consuming undercooked meat, is often treated with anthelmintic drugs, while trichomoniasis may be treated with antiprotozoal drugs. Essentially, these are drugs targeted at the organisms that are causing the disease (in this case, helminth parasites or protozoic parasites).

    To determine whether you need them, the best thing to do is to visit a doctor and describe any unusual symptoms you may have. They can work with you to diagnose the problem and find the right solution.

    “If you think you might have a parasitic infection, avoid cleanses and talk to a doctor right away. They can run tests to confirm what’s going on and recommend safe, effective treatments,” says Metzelaar.

    “Delaying medical care or using unproven remedies like the parasite cleanses on social media or online could and likely will make the problem worse or lead to other health issues.”

    Many health claims on social media are not accurate. According to research conducted by the healthcare software company Tebra in 2024, 45 percent of medical advice on TikTok was either “false or misleading.” It also found that 67 percent of videos in the “alternative medicine” category contained misleading information.

    “Be wary of exaggerated claims, fear-based marketing, and glowing testimonials that sound too good to be true,” warns Metzelaar. “Many of these cleanses aren’t just unproven—they can also be harmful.” 

    While herbal teas tend to be harmless (and may even have health benefits) when enjoyed as part of a balanced diet, when they’re used in a restrictive diet, they can become dangerous. “Over-restrictive diets that are sometimes also prescribed alongside the ‘protocol’ can lead to nutrient deficiencies and negatively impact your overall health,” Metzelaar explains. 

    VegNews.DoctorPatient.CottonbroStudio.PexelsCottonbro Studio | Pexels

    She added that some ingredients being touted as parasite cures can irritate the digestive system, for example, or interact with medications. “I always recommend consulting a doctor before trying anything,” she says.

    Finally, she notes that aside from obtaining professional medical advice, one of the best things we can do to help support our bodies to fight any infection is to nourish them well with healthy nutrient-dense foods, like fruits and vegetables.

    “A balanced diet supports your immune system by providing essential nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants,” she explains. “These help your body stay strong and better equipped to handle infections. Eating a variety of foods also promotes a healthy gut microbiome, which plays a big role in your immune defense. The more foods we restrict the more challenging it is for our digestive systems.”

    This post was originally published on VegNews.com.

  • Invasive lobular carcinoma: a silent killer the Labour government is failing to act upon

    Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) is the second most common type of breast cancer, representing up to 15% of all breast cancers cases, and is the sixth most prevalent cancer among women. This type of cancer may be hard to detect with a screening mammogram or ultrasound, as it spreads in straight lines rather than forming lumps. As a result, these tumours can grow significantly and be diagnosed at more advanced stages. Over the next 10 years, approximately 3.75 million people globally are expected to be diagnosed with ILCs.

    Currently, 22 individuals in the UK and 1,000 women worldwide are diagnosed with ILC each day. Unfortunately, specific treatments for ILC are yet to be created for this type of cancer.

    Lack of hope in diagnostics and bespoke treatments

    During the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, Heather Cripps, a public servant at the Home Office, experienced severe back pain and was prescribed pain medication for what was initially believed to be a musculoskeletal issue. Unfortunately, her condition worsened rapidly, and she was eventually diagnosed with stage four ILC (the cancer had spread from its primary site). By the time of diagnosis, the cancer had already spread to her spine. Heather underwent chemotherapy for three years but tragically passed away on 30 August at the age of 48.

    At a parliament debate on ILC on 10 December 2024, Helen Hayes, Labour MP for Dulwich and West Norwood, said:

    We need to do better for women affected by lobular breast cancer, in memory of Heather and many more women like her who will not live to see their children grow up.

    Like Heather, many women are diagnosed with ILC too late and with poorer long-term outcomes. This is due to the difficulty of detecting these tumours through physical exams or standard imaging techniques such as mammograms and ultrasounds. ILC cells typically spread through breast tissue in a diffuse pattern, rather than forming a distinct lump.

    ILCs: no specific treatments

    Most ILCs are diagnosed at a more advanced stage with up to 30% of patients with early-stage primary ILC may experience metastasis to other organs, which can occur many years after the initial diagnosis.

    Currently, there are no specific treatments designed for ILC, which is known to have poorer long-term outcomes. The available therapies were not tailored made for the unique biology of this cancer type.  Moreover, although MRIs are widely recognised as significantly more effective than mammograms at detecting and monitoring ILC, they are not recommended for use under the NICE guidelines for detection or ongoing monitoring. 

    Women’s health in the UK has been neglected and underfunded. A report by the NHS Confederation highlights that prioritising women’s health could contribute £319 million in gross value added (GVA) to the UK economy.

    Research from Breast Cancer Now shows that breast cancer currently costs the UK economy £2.6 billion, a figure expected to increase to £3.6 billion by 2034.

    Lack of investment in research

    ILC remains poorly understood, as it is a type of cancer that has received limited research and funding. To provide accurate diagnostics and effective treatments for patients with ILC, further research and financial support are essential to fully uncover its basic biology.

    The Manchester Breast Centre has announced its plans to conduct research aimed at understanding the basic biology of ILC, which could lead to the development of targeted treatments. This research is expected to take around five years and require an investment of £20 million. The Centre is collaborating with the Lobular Moon Shot Project.

    The Lobular Moon Shot Project was founded in 2023 by Dr Susan Michaelis, a former Australian pilot, to address the urgent need for ILC research funding. This is a £20 million research project and a volunteer-driven initiative supported by an increasing number of women diagnosed with ILC and their families. 

    Generic government responses

    Dr Michaelis was first diagnosed with ILC in 2013 and later diagnosed with stage four metastatic lobular breast cancer in 2021. Her cancer has since spread to her neck, spine and pelvis area, head, eye area, and ribs. 

    In December 2023, Dr Michaelis, along with several MPs supporting her cause, met with former health secretary, Ms Victoria Atkins. Convinced of the need for action, Ms Atkins agreed to fund the Lobular Moon Shot Project and integrate it into England’s 2024 women’s health strategy, but a change of parliament has not yet seen this become a reality. Currently, the Lobular Moon Shot Project has the backing of over 200 MPs. 

    Several MPs have written to the government expressing their concerns, only to receive generic responses from civil servants stating that £29 million has been allocated to the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR). However, these responses fail to clarify that the funding is not specifically targeted at lobular breast cancer. Despite repeated efforts from MPs to reach out to the health secretary, Wes Streeting, regarding the project, they have yet to receive a reply.

    Health secretary Wes Streeting, and under-secretary at the department of health and social care, Baroness Merron, did not respond to a request for comment from the Canary.

    Silence from Labour

    Dr Michaelis commented:

    Each year, 11,500 people die from secondary (metastatic) breast cancer, yet none of the studies referenced by the government tackle the unique biological challenges of invasive lobular carcinoma. This area remains a scientific black hole, with crucial work still undone. That’s precisely why we are calling for dedicated funding.

    The 10 National Institute for Healthcare Research Network studies cited in the government’s letter to MPs are a smokescreen. A closer examination reveals that nine out of 10 of these studies do not appear to address lobular breast cancer. We need to focus on understanding the basic biology of the disease through a ‘Moon Shot’ approach, instead of attempting to repurpose drugs that were not designed for this disease. 

    Cancer Research UK has allocated no funding to ILC research, and Breast Cancer Now has dedicated less than 1% of their research budget funding. This means the government needs to step in and resolve this unmet clinical need. This would equate to under £240 per person in the UK who would be diagnosed with the disease over the next 10 years.

    The former health secretary, Victoria Atkins, had agreed to fund the project. Since the general election in 2024, 180,000 people globally have been diagnosed with ILC, and we are still waiting to hear from the new health secretary, Wes Streeting.

    ILCs: the silent killer

    Katie Swinburne, diagnosed with ILC at the age of 47, endured a double mastectomy, radiotherapy and chemotherapy and is now on a 10-year endocrine treatment therapy. Her experience was shared during the parliament debate on 10 December:

    It’s very hard to accept that none of my treatment is specific to lobular breast cancer and no one can tell me if it’s working or has been effective… I find myself living in fear of recurrence. I deserved to have an early diagnosis; I did not get this. I deserve a specific treatment; I do not have this. I have three young children; they deserve to have a mum. I deserve effective follow up; I do not get this. I need you to change this for me, my husband, my family, all the women with a lobular diagnosis and all the women who will be diagnosed in the future.

    Featured image via the Canary

    By Monica Piccinini

    This post was originally published on Canary.

  • St John Ambulance issues stark warning over workplace health in 2025

    England’s leading first aid charity St John Ambulance has declared 2025 the year of holistic workplace health, warning that organisations must proactively address outdated approaches to first aid in the workplace to best protect their employees.

    St John Ambulance: first aid is not what it used to be

    As businesses reopen for the first full working week of the year, employers are being urged to recognise that the traditional concept of workplace first aid is dangerously outdated.

    First aid is no longer solely about treating physical illness or injury, or maintaining emergency first aid kits, but integrating both physical and mental health first aid to holistically keep workers safe.

    Between 2023 and 2024, across the UK there were 33.7 million working days lost due to workplace injury or illness. Sick leave due to stress, depression, or anxiety accounted for 16.4 million (about half) of those lost workdays.

    A core component of wellbeing

    Lisa Sharman, head of Education and Commercial Training at St John Ambulance, said:

    Workplaces that do not upgrade their approach to first aid to incorporate mental health first aid, and a focus on mental wellbeing, are in significant danger of failing to provide holistic care for their employees.

    She added:

    First aid – both physical and mental – is a core component of employee wellbeing – and in 2025, it demands a more sophisticated approach from businesses.

    Mental health first aid focuses on identifying, understanding, and responding to signs of mental health issues or crises, providing initial support and guidance to professional help if needed.

    Mental wellbeing is about proactively maintaining good mental health through practices like stress management, resilience building, and creating a supportive environment. Together, they complement each other: mental wellbeing promotes prevention and ongoing health, while mental health first aid equips people to respond effectively when issues arise.

    Mental and physical health are deeply interconnected. The workplace has changed dramatically in recent years, health requirements are evolving, and people’s expectations of their employer have shifted.

    A holistic workplace first aid strategy draws on physical health interventions, mental health support, preventative training, and integrated wellness programmes.

    By investing in holistic health approaches, organisations can reduce incidents and build more resilient, productive teams.

    As we start the new year, we are calling on organisations to adapt in order to proactively contribute to improved employee resilience, reduced workplace incidents, and enhanced overall organisational health.

    Workplace illness: a growing problem

    Workplace illness is a rapidly growing economic cost for England employers. Of the £21.6 billion cost to business during 2022-2023, £7.1 billion was lost to workplace injury and more than twice that amount to ill health.

    St John Ambulance provides a range of physical and mental health first aid courses for the workplace that adopt a uniquely practical approach to creating competent and confident workplace first aiders.

    St John Ambulance is also one of the most trusted providers for first aid training, with organisations across England rating their courses at 4.9 out of 5, based on more than 40,000 reviews.

    The St John Ambulance Workplace First Aid Training Courses range from First Aid and Emergency First Aid at Work, to specialist training on defibrillators, pediatric first aid, annual refreshers and more.

    The St John Ambulance Mental Health First Aid Training Courses range from Mental Health Awareness to Manager training, e-learning modules, Workplace First Aider and Workplace First Responder courses, helping workers to spot the signs and respond to the needs of a person experiencing a mental health issue.

    St John Ambulance can help

    Employers have a legal duty of care to ensure that employees are provided with a safe working environment. They must take reasonable care to prevent personal injury (including mental or physical harm) that may arise in the workplace. Employers can address first-aid provision in the workplace with the latest Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidance.

    For more information, and to book a training course with St John Ambulance, visit https://www.sja.org.uk/course-information/make-the-biggest-difference-in-your-workplace/

    Featured image supplied

    By The Canary

    This post was originally published on Canary.