The United States has an opioid epidemic, but there’s one bright spot in the fight against it: Prescriptions for these addictive drugs have declined for patients with private insurance. Amid guidelines over the past decade from governments, health systems and insurers aimed at reducing opioid prescriptions, previous studies have pointed to a nationwide drop in…  read on >  read on >

Enjoying just two slices of Jarlsberg cheese every day may help stave off osteoporosis, a small Norwegian study suggests. The protective effect of cheese on bone-thinning appears to be an exclusive benefit of Jarlsberg, and a mere 2 ounces a day seems to be enough to protect bone health, the investigators reported. “Jarlsberg cheese might…  read on >  read on >

Women who are their own bosses might have healthier hearts to show for it, a new study suggests. The study, of more than 4,600 working U.S. women, found that those who were self-employed typically got more exercise and were less likely to be obese or have high blood pressure or diabetes — major risk factors…  read on >  read on >

Most Americans swear by dietary supplements, with nearly 3 of 4 people taking some type of supplement on a daily basis, a new HealthDay/Harris Poll has revealed. But many have a mistaken belief in the effectiveness of these supplements, which for the most part don’t help folks live longer or healthier lives, said Thunder Jalili,…  read on >  read on >

More young children may struggle with eating disorders than previously thought, a new study reveals. Data on nearly 12,000 U.S. children between the ages of 9 and 10 that was collected as part of a federally funded study found that 5% had engaged in binge eating, researchers reported. Another 2.5% had taken measures to avoid…  read on >  read on >

The U.S. Department of Agriculture plans to toughen regulations on certain raw chicken products. The agency has notified food processors that new rules would require they lower the amount of salmonella found in breaded and stuffed chicken products, which include frozen foods such as chicken cordon bleu and chicken Kiev. These foods appear to be…  read on >  read on >

Edgewell Personal Care Co. has recalled three batches of its Banana Boat Hair & Scalp Sunscreen Spray SPF 30 because trace levels of benzene were found in some samples during an internal review. Benzene is a human carcinogen. Exposure can happen through inhalation, orally or through the skin, potentially leading to leukemia, cancer of the…  read on >  read on >

Whether it’s fact or brag, tweets suggest people ate healthier during COVID lockdowns and restaurant closures, a new study finds. Tweets about healthy foods rose 20% between May 2020 and January 2021, while those about fast food and alcohol dropped 9% and 11%, respectively, researchers found. “Our findings provide insight into the impact of public…  read on >  read on >