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Category: healthy living

Published on Leave a comment on Drinking Orange Juice Daily Has Health Benefits

Many of us drink a daily glass of orange juice thinking it is healthy for us and because it contains vitamin C. But is that true?

While some in the medical field view orange juice as basically orange-flavored sugar in a glass, others find orange juice to be a healthy beverage - one that is linked to a lower incidence of cardiovascular diseases.

A recent study found that there are numerous health benefits from drinking  orange juice daily. Regular consumption can influence the activity of thousands of genes in our immune cells - genes that help control blood pressure, improve inflammation, metabolism, and blood sugar control. Studies have also found improvements in cholesterol and blood vessel health - thus influencing long-term heart health.

How much orange juice to drink for health benefits? One cup of pure pasteurized orange juice daily should be sufficient. Note that in the study, adults drank 500 ml (2 cups) of pure pasteurized orange juice for 2 months. After 60 days, many genes associated with inflammation and higher blood pressure became less active.

From Science Daily: Drinking orange juice every day may change thousands of genes

Most of us think of orange juice as a simple breakfast habit, something you pour without much thought. Yet scientists are discovering that this everyday drink may be doing far more in the body than quenching thirst. ...continue reading "Drinking Orange Juice Daily Has Health Benefits"

Published on Leave a comment on Scented Cleaning Products, Nanoparticles, and Your Lungs
Human lungs Credit: Wikipedia

It has long been known that fragrances or scents in products used indoors (e.g.,  in cleaning products, air fresheners, personal care products) are a source of indoor air pollution due to the chemicals in the fragrances. But it turns out that there is another reason to avoid scented cleaning products - they produce nanoparticles that are inhaled deep into the lungs.

A small study found that fragrances in scented cleaning products (both conventional and essential oil or botanical cleaning products) emit small ultrafine particles called nanoparticles that travel deep into a person's lungs within minutes.  This is because chemicals in the scented cleaning products quickly react with ozone indoors. The inhaled particle dose can sometimes be equivalent to or greater than standing near heavy traffic! This is invisible air pollution - we can not see the nanoparticles, but they get deep into the lungs.

Bottom line: Choose unscented cleaning products. Also, use exhaust fans when cleaning, and open windows for a short while to improve ventilation.

From Science Daily: That fresh cleaning smell could be filling your home with nanoparticles

A room that smells like citrus, pine, or flowers is often associated with cleanliness. Those familiar scents, however, can signal chemical reactions taking place in the air. ...continue reading "Scented Cleaning Products, Nanoparticles, and Your Lungs"

Published on Leave a comment on Seven Solvents Used In Workplaces and Parkinson’s Disease

Scientists have been stating for years that most Parkinson's disease cases are from exposure to environmental toxins, such as certain pesticides (e.g., paraquat) and certain chemicals used in manufacturing (e.g., trichloroethylene).

A recent study presented at the 2026 International Congress of Parkinson's Disease found that occupational exposure to seven solvents used in workplaces increased the odds of developing Parkinson's disease, with the risk increasing with exposure to more of the different solvent types.

The solvents associated with the greatest risk of Parkinson's disease were: kerosene, TCE (trichloroethylene), and carbon tetrachloride. After that was exposure to mineral spirits, methyl ethyl ketone, jet fuel, and toluene.

Excerpts from Medscape: Seven Workplace Solvents Linked to Parkinson’s Disease

Occupational exposure to specific solvents is linked to increased odds of Parkinson’s disease (PD), with the risk increasing as the number of solvent types rise. ...continue reading "Seven Solvents Used In Workplaces and Parkinson’s Disease"

Published on Leave a comment on Pesticides and Men’s Reproductive Health
Human sperm Credit: Wikipedia

A recent study reviewed health effects from pesticide exposure in men. The review of studies on this issue found many adverse health effects from pesticides, including harmful effects on sperm, semen quality, infertility, and other reproductive problems. In other words: male reproductive dysfunction.

Of course, the more exposure, the more problems. And certain types of pesticides have greater effects, including organophosphates (e.g., chlorpyrifos) and carbamates. Unfortunately, the US EPA disregards these reproductive health effects.

Even though study after study finds harmful effects from pesticide exposure, it doesn't seem to be having an impact on use. Billions of pounds of pesticides are applied globally. And residential use (lawn and garden pesticides) continues to be very high.

In fact, recently I've been seeing both homeowner and professional pesticide applications on lawns with one hand holding the pesticide sprayer and the other hand looking at and holding a phone! And no gloves. Yikes! Do they not understand that they are absorbing the chemicals and that there are health effects?

From Beyond Pesticides: Literature Review Captures Science On Adverse Health Effects in Men With Pesticide Exposure 

A review published in Annual Research & Review in Biology, titled “Pesticide and Herbicide Exposure and Male Reproductive Health: A Critical Narrative Review of Semen Quality, Sperm Genomic Integrity and Mechanistic Evidence,” highlights the current scientific literature linking pesticides to adverse reproductive effects in men. ...continue reading "Pesticides and Men’s Reproductive Health"

Published on Leave a comment on Study Finds About 12% of Cancers Are From Infections

Many of us don't think of cancer being caused by viruses. A recent study reported that an estimated 2.3 million new cancer cases throughout the world were from infections. Which is about 12% of all cancer cases.

An oncovirus is a virus that can cause cancer. Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) and human papillomavirus (HPV) caused the largest share of these cancers - each causing 4% of new cancers. Vaccines already exist for HPV and HBV (hepatitis B virus) and have been shown to reduce the incidence of cancer.

From CIDRAP: More than 2 million new cancer cases caused by infections in 2024, study finds

Many people fear cancer and want to know what they can do to prevent it. In some cases, genetics, random mutations, or environmental factors are to blame, making it difficult to avoid a diagnosis. A paper published yesterday in The Lancet Oncology, though, calls attention to a preventable cause of cancer—infections. ...continue reading "Study Finds About 12% of Cancers Are From Infections"

Published on Leave a comment on Gut Microbiome Tests Sold To Consumers Are Unreliable and Flawed
Oral microbes Credit: Wikipedia

All sorts of microbiome tests are now available to consumers, but are they any good? The microbiome is the community of microbes (bacteria, viruses, fungi) that live in and on our bodies. Each body part (e.g., sinuses, gut, vagina, skin) has a different microbiome, but the one that has been studied the most (with stool tests) is the gut microbiome.

A recent study by researchers at the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) evaluated the performance of seven commercial (sold directly to consumers) microbiome kits or tests that promise to give you an analysis of your gut microbiome (and health advice) by analyzing a stool (fecal) sample that you mail them. The researchers found that the test results do not give you dependable or reliable information about the actual composition of your gut flora.

They also found that for the same stool samples there were major discrepancies among the results from different companies, and even from the results of the same identical samples sent to each company (3 of the same stool sample was sent to each company).They found that the same sample could be labeled healthy vs unhealthy by different providers.

They point out that you can't make conclusions or recommendations on how to improve (gut) health from the results because the results are so flawed. [An earlier study of tests from 31 companies found the same kind of flawed results.]

Why is this happening? This is because there is no government regulation or oversight of the tests - thus the test manufacturers don't have to prove that they are reliable and actually measure what they say they measure. There are no quality assurance requirements. No standardization of tests. [An earlier 2024 study of microbiome tests sold to consumers and manufacturer claims found the exact same thing.]

Bottom line: The tests may sound great, but don't do it! The companies typically just want to sell you their supplements - which you probably don't need!

Instead, try to improve your diet - a diet rich in whole foods and fiber, which will also feed your beneficial gut microbes. This includes fruits and vegetables, nuts, whole grains, seeds, legumes, whole grains. Also, some fish, some dairy, eggs, some olive oil. For example, Mediterranean style diet.

From Medscape: Commercial Microbiome Tests: Unreliable Results

Commercial home tests that analyze stool samples promise insights into a person’s gut microbiome. But how reliable are those results? A study published in Communications Biology delivers a sobering verdict: the tested microbiome analyses do not provide dependable information about the actual composition of the gut flora. ...continue reading "Gut Microbiome Tests Sold To Consumers Are Unreliable and Flawed"

Published on Leave a comment on Eat More Whole Grain Foods For Heart Health
Whole grain breads Credit: Wikipedia

Over the years, study after study has found a link between high whole-grain intake and a reduced risk of a number of chronic diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease. A recent review of studies also found that ....(drum roll)... eating a diet rich in whole grain foods is good for heart health and lowering chronic inflammation.

The review of 87 studies found that eating 4 to 6 servings of whole grain foods per day benefits heart health in a number of ways. The studies found that daily consumption of this amount of whole grain foods resulted in improvements in body weight, waist size, blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, triglycerides, fasting glucose, insulin resistance, and some markers of inflammation.

There was a dose response effect - the more whole grains eaten, the better the health effects. Best health effects were from 4 to 6 servings daily (60 to 100 grams per day).

Bottom line: Whole grains have a number of health effects and can easily be added into the diet. Examples of whole grain foods: Oatmeal, barley, quinoa, wild rice, bulgur (cracked wheat), farro, millet, buckwheat, rye, spelt, brown rice, popcorn, whole wheat flour, whole grain breakfast cereals, and whole wheat bread and crackers.

By the way, 4 to 6 servings of whole grain foods per day is more than current US guidelines of 2 to 4 servings per day. But both agree that for health benefits need to eat "real whole foods" (not ultra-processed foods).

From Science Daily: Scientists find the whole grain “sweet spot” for better heart health

Eating four to six servings of whole grains each day may improve several major risk factors for cardiovascular disease, according to new research published September 15 in the European Heart Journal. ...continue reading "Eat More Whole Grain Foods For Heart Health"

Published on Leave a comment on August Set A New Record As the Hottest Month Globally

Once again, the global record for hottest month was broken this summer. August was the hottest month globally on record, and this past summer was the hottest on record for the lower 48 states (United States). .

What we are seeing is that month after month new heat records are being set, with the baseline being set higher and higher. And yet these are soon broken. Scientists agree that a big contributing factor is human caused climate change (due to burning of fossil fuels - gas, oil, coal). Are governments taking note and doing something? Hmmm...

Excerpts from NPR: This summer was hot. August shattered global heat records

If you thought this summer felt hotter than normal, you were right. Temperatures around the world were unusually warm, surpassing several heat records, including in the U.S.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration this week announced that for the Lower 48 states, this summer– from June to August– was the warmest in 132 years of record-keeping. ...continue reading "August Set A New Record As the Hottest Month Globally"

Published on Leave a comment on Apparently We Do Not Have A Right To Clean Drinking Water

Do you trust that your drinking water is safe to drink? If the answer is no - you are absolutely correct in being suspicious. A recent ruling by a (Trump appointed) judge in Mississippi ruled that we do not have a right to clean water. Specifically, the US constitution offers no right to clean water or to truthful health information. What??!!

From The Guardian: US federal court says no constitutional right to clean water in Mississippi case

A US appellate court has decided that the federal constitution does not guarantee a right to clean water. ...continue reading "Apparently We Do Not Have A Right To Clean Drinking Water"

Published on Leave a comment on Stop Cold Sores In Their Tracks With Ice Cubes

Stop cold sores by icing them? Yes!

Years ago I read that applying ice cubes to an emerging cold sore can stop it dead in its tracks. Nowadays that method of dealing with cold sores (caused by herpes simplex virus) is not mentioned on medical sites. Yet my experience has been that applying ice and holding it on the emerging cold sore absolutely works.

The sore stops developing at the point when the ice is applied. When applied early in development the cold sore never fully emerges, and so the fluid filled blister and weeping stages never occur.

Instead, it will go directly to the scab stage, or even regress to nothing if you get it early enough. The key is to get ice directly on the spot before the sore fully erupts, and to press or hold the ice directly on it for lengthy periods of time - perhaps a total of 30 to 40 minutes (if it's very early in development) up to one hour. For best results, can do a second time in one day. Repeat on day 2 if needed or desired.

Method: Apply an ice cube directly on the area where the cold sore is emerging (but wrap part of it in a paper towel so you can hold it comfortably). Hold it on the spot till the ice cube melts. Then apply a second ice cube to the area until the ice melts. Perhaps even a third (or 4th?) ice cube. Yes, the skin will be a little red afterwards, but that soon goes away.

Big question: Would this method work for everyone? Don't know of any studies looking at this. But some people on Reddit mention successfully stopping cold sores by using ice cubes ("ice the cold sore"). Here and here and here. Some other comments from Redditt:

"I know this sounds crazy but ice will stop a cold sore in its tracks without fail for me! You have to get the ice on there as soon as you feel the tingle though because once it starts to break skin it's much harder to stop. Let an ice cube melt entirely on it, and then another. And maybe a third lol."

"100% works. Anyone not doing this is suffering for no reason. Ice ice ice it!"

"Ice it. Right when you feel it. It stops it from replicating. Stops it right in it's tracks. Won't even get any blisters. It's amazing!"

"Honestly I put ice in a ziploc bag and hold it up to the spot anytime I feel a cold sore coming, usually gets rid of it but only when you do it right when you feel it coming.