The commission argues our current global food production, distribution and consumption patterns are driving environmental damage, worsening our health and undermining some human rights. When examined across nine planetary boundaries, our food system probably violates six of them: Here are some suggested food distributions that would be consistent with the planetary health diet assuming an energy intake of 2400 kilocalories (kcal)/day: Food group Flexitarian food intake (grams per day) Vegan food intake (grams per day) GrainsA 196 196 RootsB 50 50 VegetablesC 300 500 Fruits 200 300 LegumesD 75 100 Nuts and seeds 50 50 OilsE 46 54 Sugar 30 … Read More
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“Robust evidence shows that diabetes is preventable through lifestyle modifications aiming at weight loss. A meta-analysis including 19 randomized clinical trials confirmed the long-term beneficial effect of lifestyle interventions, even with modest weight loss. Most of these interventions targeted weight loss through an energy-reduced, healthy low-fat diet combined with increased physical activity. However, no previous trial has assessed the effect of energy reduction in the context of a relatively high-fat diet, such as the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet). The PREDIMED (Prevención con Dieta Mediterránea) trial demonstrated that an ad libitum MedDiet supplemented with either extra-virgin olive oil or mixed nuts reduced diabetes incidence … Read More
“Recovery is still largely viewed as lifelong abstinence — not just forever avoiding the specific substances someone once relied on, but also typically steering clear of all nonmedical drug use besides caffeine and nicotine. Most public recovery stories — like Mr. [Robert F] Kennedy’s — are tales of total abstinence, often propelled by participation in 12-step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous. In reality, most people who resolve addictions [..] do not reject all substance use forever. For example, though I am in recovery from heroin and cocaine addiction, I still occasionally drink alcohol and use marijuana without issue. Though definitions vary, many experts now agree: If substance … Read More
David Wallace-Wells and Emily Oster argue that the effects of MAHA will be long-lasting. “[Economist and CEO of ParentData Emily Oster] There’s two really core issues for the future. One is that this [mRNA vaccines] is the fastest technology we have to generate vaccines, full stop. The difference in the amount of time it takes to make a vaccine in the traditional manner versus with this technology is very, very large. If you think about a future pandemic, having access to this technology is the difference between a vaccine and three months or four months or six months and a … Read More
As researchers work to make death optional, investors see a chance for huge returns. But has the human body already reached its limits? Excerpt – Health became a competition, encouraged by the advent of watches that track your vital signs and biomarker-based “clocks” that measure your aging. Podcasters converted sad-sack men into biohackers, who juiced themselves with everything from Ayurvedic herbs to electromagnetic-frequency beds. (Most biohackers are men, for the same reason that most gambling addicts are men.) In 2013, there were fewer than a hundred longevity clinics around the globe; a decade later, there were more than three thousand. … Read More
The workout is simple, and its health benefits are backed by nearly 20 years of research. “What is ‘Japanese walking’? [..] interval walking is a form of interval training, which involves alternating between bursts of intense activity and more gentle movement or rest. In this case, it’s basically just alternating between fast and slow walking. But compared with more classic forms of high-intensity interval training, interval walking is more approachable for many people, especially those who haven’t exercised in a while or who are recovering from injuries that make high-impact activities like running difficult, said Dr. Carlin Senter, the chief of primary-care … Read More
It’s long been obvious why cigarettes are bad. The risks of alternatives like Zyn and Juul are much hazier. “it’s easier than ever to get a nicotine buzz without any tobacco at all: Just puff on a vape or pop a tiny nicotine pouch between your teeth and upper lip. These cigarette alternatives have been around for a while, but only recently have they gone fully mainstream. In January, the FDA officially sanctioned the sale of Zyn, among the most recognizable nicotine-pouch brands. In the past three months alone, Philip Morris International, which makes Zyn, shipped 190 million cans of … Read More
“Current US guidelines recommend absolute risk estimation of cardiovascular disease (CVD) to guide decisions on preventive therapies, but communicating absolute risk alone can be challenging for patients and clinicians. In 2021, the European Society of Cardiology guidelines added a recommendation to calculate risk age along with absolute risk to improve communication. Risk age represents the age of a hypothetical person with the same predicted absolute risk but optimal risk factor levels. This may help individuals understand how their risk compares with chronological age (is my risk age older than my actual chronological age?) and may motivate adherence to lifestyle modifications … Read More
A Q&A with the co-author of the new book ‘Food Intelligence’ “[STAT’s Sarah Todd] Are there food policies being floated by MAHA right now that you think are particularly right or particularly wrong? [Former NIH researcher on ultra-processed foods Kevin Hall] I hope that there really is something horrible about these food dyes that they’re going to be able to address by replacing them. But someone from the FDA I had a conversation with said that they were worried that if we replace synthetic food dyes with natural food dyes, the natural food dyes are coming from plants. And plants … Read More
“Should employers offer financial incentives for employees who monitor and report “ideal health behaviors”? Should employers offer financial incentives for employees who meet BMI requirements? In this commentary, I take issue with these practices as described in the case above, arguing that labeling behaviors that influence a person’s weight in normative terms contributes to a phenomenon called healthism, an ideology that emphasizes one’s personal responsibility for one’s own health. Engaging in practices that support healthism is morally wrong, because healthism ignores social factors that constrain individuals’ choices and reinforces oppressive social hierarchies. Thus, we ought not to label behaviors influencing a person’s … Read More