Sipping sodas – sugary or diet – seems to slightly increase a person’s risk of developing a potentially dangerous irregular heart rhythm, a new study shows. Folks had a 20% greater risk of atrial fibrillation if they drank two liters or more of artificially sweetened beverages each week, researchers reported March 5 in the American… read on > read on >
All Food:
A Cheaper Way to Protect Kids’ Teeth From Cavities
A cheap cavity-fighting liquid typically used to treat sensitive teeth appears to work as well as dental sealants in preventing tooth decay, a new study finds. A single treatment of either silver diamine fluoride (SDF) or a typical dental sealant prevented 80% of cavities for four years among thousands of New York City elementary schoolchildren,… read on > read on >
Scientists Develop Biopsy-Free Means of Spotting Oral Cancers
Analysis of a “chemical score” from mouth lesion swab samples might allow patients to skip painful biopsies, getting oral cancers promptly diagnosed in a noninvasive way, scientists report. Right now, dentists and other specialists must send excised tissues from suspicious mouth lesions to labs for standard biopsies, which are costly and invasive. However, researchers at… read on > read on >
Yogurt Makers Can Make Limited Claims About Type 2 Diabetes Prevention: FDA
Yogurt makers can now make limited claims about the food’s power to help prevent type 2 diabetes, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says. In a statement released Friday, the agency said it will not object to “qualified health claims” that say there is some evidence that eating at least 2 cups of yogurt a… read on > read on >
One Leafy Green Needs Refrigeration to Prevent E.Coli
Salad lovers, take note: Lettuce is more vulnerable to E. coli contamination than other leafy greens, researchers report. The physical composition of green leaf and romaine lettuce makes it a happy home for E. coli bacteria, particularly at room temperature, according to a report published recently in the journal Food Microbiology. Other leafy greens –… read on > read on >
Breastfeeding 101: Tips for New Moms
There’s a host of studies supporting the numerous ways breastfeeding helps baby’s development — and the health of mothers, too. However, too many women are hesitant to start breastfeeding or stick with it if they do, according to Nadine Rosenblum, a perinatal lactation program coordinator at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. “There are still so… read on > read on >
Over 1 Billion People Are Now Obese Worldwide
(HealthDay news) — More than 1 billion adults and children around the world are now obese, a new global analysis estimates. Nearly 880 million adults now are living with obesity, as well as 159 million children, according to the report published Feb. 29 in The Lancet journal. Obesity rates for kids and teenagers quadrupled worldwide… read on > read on >
Vaping, Skipping Breakfast Ups Headache Risk for Teens
Vaping and skipped meals appear to be the main causes of frequent headaches among teens, a new study says. Teens who ate breakfast and dinner with their family had a lower risk of frequent headaches than those who regularly missed meals, researchers report Feb. 28 in the journal Neurology. Meanwhile, vaping also was associated with… read on > read on >
‘Ultra-Processed’ Foods Harm Your Health in More Than 30 Different Ways
Ultra-processed foods can cause dozens of terrible health problems among people who eat them too often, a new review warns. Researchers linked diets high in ultra-processed foods to an increased risk of 32 separate illnesses. In particular, these foods are strongly tied to risk with early death, heart disease, cancer, mental health disorders, overweight and… read on > read on >
Say Goodbye to PFAS Chemicals in Food Packaging: FDA
PFAS “forever” chemicals, increasingly linked to health risks, will no longer be added to food packaging handled by American consumers, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Wednesday. “Grease-proofing materials containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances [PFAS] are no longer being sold for use in food packaging in the U.S.,” Jim Jones, the agency’s Commissioner for… read on > read on >