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Category: healthy living

Published on Leave a comment on Our Pets Are Early Warning Systems For Pollutants

The NY Times recently published a nice article on how our pets are sensitive to the same pollutants in the environment as humans, and can act as early warning systems or sentinels. This is because they respond faster and are more sensitive than humans to many pollutants - whether in the air (air pollution), in household dust, water, or on the ground and lawns.

Since they live shorter lives than us, negative effects, such as cancers, show up faster in pets than in humans. For example, they get the same cancers as us from lawn pesticides us, but years faster. A recent study found that on days with an increase in air pollution (from fine particulate matter) pet dogs and cats significantly increase veterinary visits.

Do go read the whole article. Excerpts from NY Times: In a Toxic World, Pets Could Be Vital Health Watchdogs

On a frigid February night in 2023, a freight train carrying toxic chemicals derailed in East Palestine, Ohio. For days, the train’s hazardous contents spilled into the surrounding soil, water and air. It was an environmental and public health catastrophe, and efforts are underway to monitor the long-term health effects on the people of East Palestine.

But one team of scientists is focused on a different group of local residents: the dogs. After the derailment, the researchers recruited dog owners in and around East Palestine, asking them to attach chemical-absorbing silicone tags to their pets’ collars. ...continue reading "Our Pets Are Early Warning Systems For Pollutants"

Published on Leave a comment on Certain Types Of Fiber May Lower the Risk of Developing Crohn’s Disease

A problem with the Western diet that most of us eat is that it is low in fiber. A diet low in fiber and large amounts of ultraprocessed foods is suspected to play a role in the increasing incidence of intestinal bowel diseases (IBD) in the US and Canada.

A recent study, which was presented at the United European Gastroenterology Week 2025 found that a diet rich in fermentable fiber (specifically inulin and beta-glucan) may lower the risk of developing Crohn's disease. Each fiber type was associated with a 30% lower risk of developing Crohn's disease.

On the other hand, a lower intake of these fibers was linked to impaired intestinal permeability and inflammation.

Beta-glucan is a fiber found in cereal grains such as oats, barley, rye, sorghum, wheat, and mushrooms, seaweed, and yeast. It is a soluble fiber associated with a number of additional health benefits, such as decreasing inflammation, improve blood sugar management, and lowers cholesterol levels.

Inulin is a prebiotic fiber found in some plant foods, such as garlic, leeks, onions, asparagus, chicory root, Jerusalem artichokes, dandelion greens, apples, and bananas.

There are different fibers in different foods - so a variety of fiber foods is optimal for our health. Fiber is found in whole grains, seeds, nuts, legumes, fruits, and vegetables.

From Medscape: Fermentable Fiber May Lower Crohn’s Disease Risk

Increased intake of two fermentable fibers, inulin and beta-glucan, was associated with a significantly reduced risk of developing Crohn’s disease (CD) among first-degree relatives of patients with the condition. ...continue reading "Certain Types Of Fiber May Lower the Risk of Developing Crohn’s Disease"

Published on Leave a comment on Eating Peanut Products In Infancy Reduces the Rate of Peanut Allergies

Some more good news on the peanut allergy and other food allergy front. In 2015, medical advice changed to : Yes, please introduce tiny amounts of foods such as peanuts and eggs in the first year of life to prevent food allergies. And...since then, the incidence of food allergies, including peanut allergies, in children has dramatically gone down when that advice is followed.

A recent study found that the incidence of peanut allergies in children has really dropped since parents started introducing peanut products in infancy. Introducing tiny amounts frequently of the food of concern (nuts, eggs, etc.) in the first year of life (by 4 to 6 months of age) challenges and trains the immune system. [Official instructions on how to feed peanut products to infants]

Unfortunately, many doctors and parents are still not following the advice because it is so opposite from earlier medical advice, which for decades said to avoid, avoid, avoid the food (e.g., nuts, eggs) in early childhood. It is thought that if more doctors and parents followed the new advice for infants, then food allergy rates would drop even more.

By the way, the rate of dog and cat allergies also drops when there is more furry animal exposure in the first year of life. Same reason.

From Medscape: Food Allergy Rates Fall After 2015 Peanut Feeding Advice

Peanut allergies in babies and children up to age 3 dropped by more than one-quarter since the first consensus statement recommending the introduction of peanut products in infancy was issued in 2015, according to a new study published in Pediatrics. ...continue reading "Eating Peanut Products In Infancy Reduces the Rate of Peanut Allergies"

Published on Leave a comment on List of Banned Words In the United States Is Growing
Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Well, the forbidden words list in the USA is growing this year. That is, forbidden words in the US government. Censored words. Some of the many words: climate change (yes, it exists), clean energy (e.g., wind), global warming (temperatures are increasing, with new records being set continuously), water pollution, air pollution, solar energy, gender (we are all a gender), transgender, abortion. And on and on. Denying something's existence doesn't make it not exist.

The words are not allowed on government sites, in grant proposals, grant applications, or in research. Different government departments have different banned words lists (e.g., 110 words or phrases in the US Dept. of Agriculture research service - such as clean water, microplastics) Who knew that in 2025 that censorship would be so large scale? Yes, this is an attack on knowledge, on research, on medicine, and science. On all of us.

3 articles about the large-scale censorship. From NPR: Energy Dept. tells employees not to use words including 'climate change' and 'green'

The Department of Energy has told employees to avoid using certain words, including "climate change," "green" and "sustainable," according to an internal email sent to staff and obtained by NPR. ...continue reading "List of Banned Words In the United States Is Growing"

Published on Leave a comment on Weed-Killer Glyphosate and Cancer

Remember when back in 2015 the IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) said that the pesticide glyphosate (the active ingredient in Roundup) is a probable human carcinogen (cancer causing)? And the American chemical industry and FDA pooh-poohed that? Well, there have been a number of studies since then finding that yes, glyphosate results in tumors and other health harms, and is cancer causing (carcinogenic).

Glyphosate is a commonly used herbicide (weed killer), the most used herbicide in the world. Its use has been increasing annually, especially due to the increase in genetically modified crops being grown.

In the latest study, an international team of researchers found that long-term daily exposure (starting prenatally and continuing after birth) to low glyphosate levels considered "safe" by government agencies resulted in multiple benign and malignant tumors, and increased rates of early death in the rats after birth. Yes, the study was done with rats, but... they are mammals, just like us humans. Rats are frequently used in studies to assess chemical safety.

The doses used in the study are currently considered safe by regulatory agencies and correspond to the EU Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) and the EU’s No Observed Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL) for glyphosate. By the way, European standards are STRICTER than USA standards. A person eating a typical diet with non-organic foods easily ingests the levels considered acceptable by European governing bodies, and in the US ingests even more. [NOTE: Eat organic foods to avoid glyphosate.]

From Environmental Health News: Common pesticide causes multiple malignant tumors in rats

In short: Exposure to glyphosate herbicides caused multiple benign and malignant tumors in rats, including leukemia and cancers of the skin, liver, thyroid, nervous system, ovary, uterus, and kidneys, among others. ...continue reading "Weed-Killer Glyphosate and Cancer"

Published on Leave a comment on Loss of Smell from A COVID Infection Can Linger For At Least Two Years

Millions of us have had a least one COVID infection. Many suffered a loss of smell during the infection. A recent study by NYU Langone researchers found that the loss of smell can linger for at least 2 years after the infection. And even if you thought that your smell was never impacted or that it has recovered, it actually may not have fully recovered, but only partially recovered.

Among the 3525 participants in the study that reported a loss of smell during a COVID infection - 80% still  had not fully recovered their sense of smell 2 years later, and for 23% it was severely diminished or lost. Interestingly, 66% of persons who originally had a COVID infection, but did not notice any smelling issues, also scored abnormally low on the evaluation done 2 years after the infection.

It can be said that their sense of smell has dulled (olfactory dysfunction). This reduced ability to smell is called hyposmia. Researchers administer a 40-odor test to persons to determine their smelling ability. To help recover the sense of smell, vitamin A supplementation and olfactory training are being tried.

From Science Daily: Millions could be living with hidden smell loss after COVID without knowing

People who suspect that their sense of smell has been dulled after a bout of COVID-19 are likely correct, a new study using an objective, 40-odor test shows. Even those who do not notice any olfactory issues may be impaired. ...continue reading "Loss of Smell from A COVID Infection Can Linger For At Least Two Years"

Published on Leave a comment on Preventing Diabetes With A Mediterranean Diet and Increased Physical Activity

There has been lots of research in the past decade over the benefits of eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and legumes, especially a Mediterranean style diet. Health benefits include lowering chronic inflammation and a lower incidence of a number of chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes.

A recent study conducted in Spain added a twist to this. The researchers found that eating a lower calorie Mediterranean diet and increased levels of physical activity, resulted in a 31% reduction in the development of type 2 diabetes, as well as a greater weight loss and reduction of their waist size. The comparison group were persons who ate a Mediterranean diet, but without lowering their calorie intake or increasing physical activity over the 6 years of the study.

The subjects in this study were 4756 overweight or obese adults with metabolic syndrome, but without prior cardiovascular disease or diabetes - thus a group that was at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes. The calorie reduction goal was to eat about 600 fewer calories per day.

Excerpts from Science Daily: Scientists found a smarter Mediterranean diet that cuts diabetes risk by 31%

Eating a Mediterranean-style diet with fewer calories, adding moderate physical activity, and receiving professional guidance for weight management can lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 31%. That is the key finding of PREDIMED-Plus, a large clinical trial led in Spain by the University of Navarra together with more than 200 researchers from 22 universities, hospitals, and research institutes. The project was carried out in over 100 primary care centers within Spain's National Health System. ...continue reading "Preventing Diabetes With A Mediterranean Diet and Increased Physical Activity"

Published on Leave a comment on Record High Levels of Carbon Dioxide In Our Atmosphere

The US government would like to shut the Mauna Loa observatory in Hawaii down because it measures levels of atmospheric CO2, a measure of climate change. Well, unlike the US government, the rest of the world is very, very concerned about increasing CO2 levels in our atmosphere, and what increasing levels of greenhouse gases are doing to our climate and environment.

The United Nation's World Meteorological Organization (WMO) does not hesitate to loudly announce that CO2 levels are steadily rising, with record high levels in 2024, and what this means for our world going forward. Their words: it's "turbocharging our climate and leading to more extreme weather".

The important thing to know is that CO2 levels keep increasing, and each year new record high levels are set. Highest ever levels were in 2024. A big reason CO2 levels are increasing is due to the burning of fossil fuels (oil, gas, coal). The increase in wildfires is also contributing.

Excerpts from New Scientist: CO2 levels in Earth's atmosphere jumped by a record amount in 2024

Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels jumped by a record amount in 2024 to push concentrations to their highest point since measurements began, the UN’s World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has reported.

Between 2023 and 2024, the global average concentration of CO2 surged by 3.5 parts per million (ppm) to reach 423.9 ppm, the WMO has said. This is the largest increase since modern measurements started in 1957 and is well in excess of the 2022 to 2023 increase of 2.3 ppm. ...continue reading "Record High Levels of Carbon Dioxide In Our Atmosphere"

Published on Leave a comment on Carbon Dioxide Levels Still Going Up Even When Not Monitored

If there is no data about something, then there is no problem because there is no data that says whether there is a problem or not. Duh... It's the new official US government policy (ignorance is bliss!), whether there is a government shut-down or not.

Unfortunately, in 2025 the US has stopped data collection and actually eliminated many  departments and sites that have been collecting information - whether diseases, losses due to major disasters (which are increasing due to climate change), toxics and pollutants in our air and water, and even how much carbon dioxide is in the air.

The US government announced in 2025 that it would close the Mauna Loa observatory (the Global Monitoring Laboratory) that measures carbon dioxide in the air. Carbon dioxide levels have been steadily increasing since measurements started, due to the burning of fossil fuels (climate change!). Well, with the government shutdown, this is what one sees when going to the site: Nothing much. Many of the old measurements are no longer there, as well as nothing new being graphed.

Luckily, at this point not all data has been removed. As you click through the site, can still see that in August 2025 the carbon dioxide levels were 425.48 ppm and that 10 years ago the weekly level was 398.62 ppm. It's going up year by year.

From Global Monitoring Laboratory: Trends in Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

Published on Leave a comment on Bottled Water A Major Source of Microplastics and Nanoparticles
Credit: Wikipedia

Many studies are finding the existence of microplastics everywhere in the environment and in our bodies. Microplastics occur when plastic items degrade over time. A recent study confirmed that drinking from plastic water bottles is a major source of the microplastics and nanoparticles that we ingest.

Microplastics are 1 µm to 5 mm in size and nanoplastics are even smaller (less than 1 µm).  They are usually invisible to the naked eye.

Study researchers did a review of over 141 studies and concluded that the average person ingests 39,000 to 52,000 microplastics each year, and those who drink bottled water ingest about 90,000 more particles than persons only drinking tap water.

Research on long-term health impacts (if any) of ingesting and breathing in microplastics and nanoparticles is just starting, but what has been done is concerning - at a minimum they are causing inflammation in our bodies. Other research suggests numerous health effects (e.g., respiratory issues, reproductive problems, disruption of the immune system).

Bottom line: buy, drink, and store as beverages in glass bottles, and drink tap water. Avoid single-use plastic water bottles.

From Phy.org: Chronic risks from single-use plastic water bottles are dangerously understudied, says study

The sun-drenched paradise of Thailand's Phi Phi islands isn't the usual starting point for a Ph.D. But for Sarah Sajedi, those soft, sandy beaches—or rather, what she found under them—inspired her pivot from a business career to an academic one. ...continue reading "Bottled Water A Major Source of Microplastics and Nanoparticles"