A government-endorsed study that asserts a diet heavy in ultra-processed foods can remain balanced and nutritious has elicited sharp criticism among nutrition researchers who allege it confuses the public about one of the major health issues of our time: ultra-processed foods. In a novel stance, scientists at the Agricultural Research Service’s Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research…

Exercise is crucial for health and longevity. A huge study published in JAMA Internal Medicine in May 2016 on 1.44 million Americans and Europeans linked a high level of physical activity to a reduction in the risk of 13 different cancers, including breast, colon, lung, and liver.1 A low level of fitness is known to be a risk…

Medical misdiagnoses cause 795,000 American deaths or permanent disabilities each year, according to a recent study published in the British Medical Journal. But some medical experts are questioning the legitimacy of the data used in the paper, critiquing the methodology and definition of “diagnostic error.” The debate highlights the challenges of accurately capturing the prevalence…

Health Viewpoints Fiber might just be the key to healthy weight management—and nature packages it in perfectly balanced ratios with carbs when you eat them as whole foods. Think unprocessed fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts, and seeds. Research suggests that carbohydrates are meant to come packaged in nature-balanced ratios of total carbohydrates to fiber….

With paid leave, older adults are spending less time looking after their grandchildren and more time looking after their parents. In 2004, California passed a law requiring employers above a certain size to provide paid family leave to their employees. Much of the research looking at this policy has examined its effect on the work,…

Hold onto your stir-fry pans! New research has sizzled its way onto the food scene, suggesting a diet high in soybean oil might not be as gut-friendly as previously thought. Soybean oil, by far the most widely consumed and produced edible oil in the United States, has been linked to ulcerative colitis, a chronic inflammatory…

For thousands of years, people have been searching for the “elixir of immortality,” but where can we uncover the secret to longevity? In Okinawa, Japan, the number of centenarians is remarkable, with 90 individuals (pdf) per 100,000 people—three times higher than the number in the United States among a similar population. Mr. Lobsang Gyaltsen, an…

Health Viewpoints About a week ago I was invited to participate in a teleconference with Tim Ballard, a former special agent of the Department of Homeland Security, where he served on the [Internet] Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force [Program]. Tim left government service to found Operation Underground Railroad—a nonprofit organization for combatting the trafficking of…

There are many variations to the following, but the basic procedure here will get you through just about any situation when it comes to making any kind of herbal extract you’d care to. Fill a blender half-full with the herb or herbs of your choice (any kind of blender will do in a pinch, but…

The safety of artificial sweeteners has long stirred a heated debate. Several studies have shown that artificial sweeteners can increase the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. Experts advise choosing natural sugars whenever possible, while individuals with diabetes may want to consider xylitol. Artificial sweeteners are used in food processing and beverages to replace real sugar….