A phthalate found in many plastic and personal care products may decrease fertility in female mice, a new study found. Researchers at the University of Illinois found that giving female mice oral doses of the phthalate DiNP for 10 days disrupted their reproductive cycles, decreasing their ability to become pregnant for up to nine months […]
Laughter may be best medicine — for brain surgery
Neuroscientists at Emory University School of Medicine have discovered a focal pathway in the brain that when electrically stimulated causes immediate laughter, followed by a sense of calm and happiness, even during awake brain surgery. The effects of stimulation were observed in an epilepsy patient undergoing diagnostic monitoring for seizure diagnosis. These effects were then […]
100% Orange Juice May Play an Important Role in Supporting Intake of Certain Underconsumed Nutrients
Orange juice may do more for children’s diet and overall health than you think, according to results of a recently published study in Nutrition Research. Data from this study suggest children (ages 2-18 years) who drink 100 percent orange juice tend to have improved nutrient adequacy and diet quality, as well as certain diet and […]
Fillet Oh Fish! Is farmed salmon one of the most toxic foods in the world?
You may be shocked to discover that farmed salmon has more in common with junk food than health food. This is the grim reality revealed in Nicolas Daniel’s documentary “Fillet-Oh-Fish,” which includes exclusive footage from fish farms and factories across the globe. Among the experts featured is Kurt Oddekalv, a respected Norwegian environmental activist who […]
Fasting ramps up human metabolism
Fasting may help people lose weight, but new research suggests going without food may also boost human metabolic activity, generate antioxidants, and help reverse some effects of aging. Scientists at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST) and Kyoto University identified 30 previously-unreported substances whose quantity increases during fasting and indicate a […]
E-cigarettes can damage DNA
Researchers report that vaping may modify the genetic material, or DNA, in the oral cells of users, which could increase their cancer risk. But the long-term effects of e-cigarette usage, commonly called “vaping,” are unknown. The popularity of electronic cigarettes continues to grow worldwide, as many people view them as a safer alternative to smoking. […]
Hair products for Black women contain mix of hazardous ingredients
First study to measure range of hormone disrupting chemicals in products used by Black women A new report published in the journal Environmental Research shows that Black women are potentially exposed to dozens of hazardous chemicals through the hair products they use. The study, by scientists at Silent Spring Institute, is the first to measure concentrations of endocrine-disrupting […]
Dental flossing and other behaviors linked with higher levels of PFAS in the body
First study to show association between Oral-B Glide dental floss and higher exposures A new study suggests certain types of consumer behaviors, including flossing with Oral-B Glide dental floss, contribute to elevated levels in the body of toxic PFAS chemicals. PFAS are water- and grease-proof substances that have been linked with numerous health problems. The […]
Millions of Americans exposed to elevated nitrate levels in drinking water
More than 5.6 million Americans are potentially exposed to nitrate in drinking water at levels that could cause health problems, according to a new study. In this first analysis of its kind, researchers found that water systems with higher nitrate levels also tend to serve communities with higher proportions of Hispanic residents. The findings add […]
Manuka honey curbs activity, growth of bacteria even at low dilutions
Even low dilutions of Manuka honey can curb the activity and growth of bacterial biofilms — the thin but resilient layer of microbes that build up on, and stick to, any surface including plastic, according to new research from the University of Southampton. The findings, published online in the Journal of Clinical Pathology,raise the prospect of […]