Big snow event in the northeast earlier this week.
21" of heavy snow by the time it ended. (This photo was taken before the snowstorm ended.)
Author: Sima
Consuming Coffee Or Tea Daily Associated With Lower Risk of Dementia
Once again, a recent study found that daily consumption of coffee has health benefits.
Recent research found that drinking a moderate amount of coffee (2 to 3 cups of daily) or 1 to 2 cups of tea daily was associated with a lower risk of dementia and better cognitive function. Decaf coffee appeared to have no effect on risk of dementia or cognitive functioning.
Persons with the highest intake (2 to 3 cups or more daily) of caffeinated coffee had an 18% lower risk of dementia compared with those who drank little or no caffeinated coffee. The large study followed people for as long as 43 years.
From Medical Xpress: Consuming 2–3 cups of coffee daily associated with lower dementia risk, better cognitive function
A new prospective cohort study by investigators from Mass General Brigham, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard analyzed 131,821 participants from the Nurses' Health Study (NHS) and Health Professionals Follow-Up Study (HPFS), finding that moderate consumption of caffeinated coffee (two to three cups a day) or tea (one to two cups a day) reduced dementia risk, slowed cognitive decline, and preserved cognitive function. ...continue reading "Consuming Coffee Or Tea Daily Associated With Lower Risk of Dementia"
Elderberries Have Health Benefits
People are always looking for foods that seem especially beneficial for health. Colorful vegetables and fruits fall into this category, especially berries, because of the polyphenols they contain. Recent research found that elderberries may help with insulin control, reduce fat production, and improve metabolic health - at least in this study using mice.
Interestingly, the researchers found that the microbes in the gut break down the polyphenols in foods. The researchers pointed out that other fruits and berries have similar effects to elderberries. But be careful - don't eat large amounts of raw elderberries by the fistful, because unripe elderberries also contain cyanide, which can cause nausea and vomiting.
Excerpts from Food and Wine: This Antioxidant-Rich Berry Could Be a Big Deal for Blood Sugar Control, Researchers Say
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- Researchers at the Cleveland Clinic found that a compound in elderberries, cinnamic acid, may help improve insulin control and reduce fat production in mice with a healthy gut microbiome.
- The study shows that gut bacteria can transform elderberry compounds into metabolites that support improved metabolic health, potentially informing treatments for insulin resistance and fatty liver disease.
- While promising, scientists caution that more research is needed before recommending elderberry supplements — and remind readers that raw elderberries can be toxic if eaten unripe.
Physical Activity Slows Down Kidney Function Decline That Occurs With Aging
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a growing problem globally, especially in aging populations. As people age, their kidney function declines - and this is a normal part of aging. A recent study found that physical activity slows this kidney function decline.
The study followed healthy individuals (aged 50 to 64 years at the start), who had varying physical activity levels, over an 11 year period. The researchers found that there is a dose response effect from physical activity - more active persons had a slower annual kidney function decline, as well as a much lower risk of accelerated kidney function decline.
The slowest level of kidney decline was in persons who were physically active almost every day (at least 5 days a week) and who engaged in more intense exercise. Note that physical activity is not just doing exercises - it's physical activity of all sorts. Yes, walking counts.
The researchers viewed physical activity as having reno-protective effects - in both the general population and in persons with CKD. This is because it lowers the risk of developing CKD, but it also slows kidney function decline. By the way, other studies have also found physical activity or exercise beneficial in slowing down the kidney function decline that occurs with aging.
From Medscape: Physical Activity May Slow Kidney Function Decline
Increased physical activity was associated with a substantially lower risk for kidney function decline, with the strongest effects seen with higher frequencies and intensities of activity, according to a new longitudinal study. ...continue reading "Physical Activity Slows Down Kidney Function Decline That Occurs With Aging"
Every Tree Has A Microbiome
Not only humans and many foods (e.g., fruits) have microbiomes - the community of bacteria, viruses, archaea, and fungi living on and in the organism. Researchers found that trees also have microbiomes, and when a tree is diseased, the microbiome changes.
A single tree can be home to a trillion microbial cells! The microbes interact and depend on each other.
Additionally, different tree species have different microbiomes, and different parts of the tree have different microbiomes - the tree bark (sapwood) vs tree interior(heartwood). Makes sense!
Excerpts from NY Times: In Every Tree, a Trillion Tiny Lives
Scientists have found that a single tree can be home to a trillion microbial cells — an invisible ecosystem that is only beginning to be understood.
A forest is a complex, dynamic ecosystem in which a rich array of living things, from old-growth trees to microscopic fungi, interact and depend on one another for survival. ...continue reading "Every Tree Has A Microbiome"
Organic Farmland Is Shrinking in the US
Organic food sales in the USA are up, up, up - yet it turns out that organic farmland in the United States is shrinking. The decrease in organic acreage is approximately 1.5 million acres from 2021 to 2023. Yet, in 2024, organic sales were more than $71 billion dollars. What is going on?
Unfortunately, a big reason is because the United States is being flooded with cheap foreign imports, which may or may not be real organic foods. It turns out that organic standards are not the same for United States organic farms and foreign organic foods.
"...industry observers contend that a significant number of organic farmers who follow the letter and spirit of the law have been forced out of business because competing on an uneven playing field is not financially viable."
Forging of documents, no farm inspections necessary - it's basically "take our word for it being organic". Hah! This has been documented over and over, yet nothing has been done to correct the fraud. The group Organic Eye is an organic industry watchdog documenting the organic certification abuses.
An excellent group to support is the Real Organic Project - local farmers who are following the letter and spirit of organic certification. In other words, they are practicing organic as it's meant to be.
Another group that scores organic foods (e.g., organic dairy and organic eggs) and whether they are real organic or not is Cornucopia Institute. A fantastic resource when trying to decide what eggs or dairy foods to buy at the grocery store (ranking of 5 is best to 1 is poor/basically no documentation that it's actually organic).
From Organic Insider: The Quiet Decline of U.S. Organic Acreage — and What It Will Take to Reverse It
For decades, organic has been surging in popularity among consumers, with the sector growing 5.2% in 2024 and topping more than $71 billion in sales. ...continue reading "Organic Farmland Is Shrinking in the US"
Bacteria Found In Kidney Stones
The incidence of kidney stones is on the rise worldwide, with 1 in 11 people expected to develop a stone at some point. There are several subtypes of kidney stones, with calcium oxalate (CaOx) stones occurring in more than 70% of cases. Recent research found live bacteria in calcium oxalate stones, along with biofilms.
Biofilms are communities of bacteria sticking to one another and coated with a protective slime. In these kidney stones, the biofilms were in-between mineral layers. Several bacterial species were most common in the kidney stones: E. faecalis, P. mirabilis, and E. coli.
Prior to this study, calcium oxalate kidney stones were not considered bacterial. The researchers thought that the bacteria might explain why people tend to have recurrent kidney stones.
Kidney stones begin as tiny crystals that can accumulate and clump together in urine. One easy way to decrease risk of developing kidney stones is do drink plenty of water (want to dilute your urine). Low fluid intake and dehydration is associated with increased kidney stone formation, due to concentrated urine.
An interesting earlier study looked at the microbiome of the kidneys and found that the beneficial bacteria L. crispatus is found in the absence of kidney stones, while the presence of E.coli was associated with the development of kidney stones. The researchers found that the L. crispatus somehow blocked E.coli's ability to form kidney stones.
From Medical Xpress: Previously unknown bacterial component in kidney stone formation discovered
In an unexpected finding, a UCLA-led team has discovered that bacteria are present inside the most common type of kidney stone, revealing a previously unrecognized component involved in their formation. ...continue reading "Bacteria Found In Kidney Stones"
Only 32 Fossil Fuel Companies Are Responsible For Half of Carbon Dioxide Emissions
The world is getting hotter, the storms stronger, climate change is here, and there is no end in sight. A recent report by Carbon Majors found that half of the world's CO2 emissions (a driver of climate change) is from only 32 fossil fuel companies.
The biggest state-owned polluter was Saudi Aramco (1.7bn tons of CO2 emissions in 2024), and the biggest private investor polluter was Exxon Mobil (57.458million tons of CO2 in 2024). Seventeen of the top 20 polluters were state controlled companies. Of course, all top polluters oppose any phase out of fossil fuels (oil, gas, coal) - this could hurt their profits!
Carbon Majors is a database of production data from 178 of the world's largest oil, gas, coal, and cement producers. They discuss one thing that could be done: a surcharge on fossil industry profits. Their reasoning: Make polluters pay.
Excerpts from The Guardian: Half of world’s CO2 emissions come from just 32 fossil fuel firms, study shows
Just 32 fossil fuel companies were responsible for half the global carbon dioxide emissions driving the climate crisis in 2024, down from 36 a year earlier, a report has revealed. ...continue reading "Only 32 Fossil Fuel Companies Are Responsible For Half of Carbon Dioxide Emissions"
Weakening Formaldehyde Regulations Will Harm Us
Many environmental protections are now in the process of being rolled back in the United States, including those for formaldehyde. This is a huge win for the chemical industry (more profits!), and a loss for us. For our health and for the environment.
Formaldehyde is used in many consumer products, such as personal care products, paints, crafting products, particle board, composite wood (e.g., furniture, cabinets), textiles, plastics, furniture foam. The problem is that it out-gasses and we inhale it, which can lead to health harms, such as effects on the skin and respiratory system and several types of cancers. Formaldehyde causes more cancer than any other chemical in the air.
The EPA is now proposing raising levels of formaldehyde that are "safe" for us to be exposed to. It wants to double the allowable threshold levels! The EPA sets standards for chemicals that say that any level of exposure below that threshold is considered safe. Therefore, levels of exposure to formaldehyde that are now considered a cancer risk will not be if the changes are approved.
Why these rollbacks? Chemical industry friendly people are now in charge of the EPA (top staffers are from the chemical industry) and the new focus is on economic development, prioritizing business interests, and not protecting human health and the environment. Of course research scientists and research are being thrown out.
Excerpts from The Guardian: Trump’s EPA wants to weaken formaldehyde protections – this is what it could mean
Donald Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to increase the levels of exposure to highly carcinogenic formaldehyde it considers safe. If successful, people would continue to be exposed to concerning amounts of the toxin in thousands of everyday products used across the economy, experts and advocates say. ...continue reading "Weakening Formaldehyde Regulations Will Harm Us"
Link Between Forever Chemicals and Multiple Sclerosis
Scientists have long known about some factors linked to a higher risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS).These include low levels of sunlight exposure, low vitamin D blood levels, smoking, and being infected with the Epstein Barr virus in adolescence and adulthood (infectious mononucleosis). Recent research has identified another risk factor - exposure to mixtures of PFAS and PCBs.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks myelin in the central nervous system, including the brain.
Researchers in Sweden found that people exposed to both PFAS and PCBs, resulting in higher levels of these chemicals in the blood, are at higher risk for MS. And the higher the levels of both in the blood, the higher the risk. The research was important in that it showed the need to look at mixtures of chemicals people are exposed to (real life!), not just chemicals in isolation.
PFAS (per- and polyfluorinated substances) are commonly known as "forever chemicals" due to their buildup and persistence in people and the environment. They are of great concern because they are endocrine disruptors, have harmful health effects (e.g., cancer, kidney disease, fertility problems), and unfortunately are found in many products that people use daily (e.g., nonstick pots, nonstick finishes). In the study, PCB exposure was primarily from foods, especially Baltic Sea fish, and water.
Bottom line: We can't avoid all exposures to environmental toxins, but we can lower our exposures, for example, by avoiding nonstick cookware. [More tips on avoiding harmful chemicals.]
From Medical Xpress: Exposure to PFAS and PCBs linked to higher odds of multiple sclerosis
People who have been exposed to both PFAS and PCBs are more likely to be diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). These new research findings are based on analyses of blood samples from more than 1,800 individuals in Sweden, one of the most comprehensive studies to date on the influence of chemical environmental exposure on the development of MS. ...continue reading "Link Between Forever Chemicals and Multiple Sclerosis"