Tufts Health & Nutrition Letter (APRIL 30, 2024): The new issue features Vitamin Supplements – Yes, of No?; A large analysis clarifies the concerns about ultra-processed foods, and more….
Category Archives: Health
Ideas & Research: Harvard Magazine May/June 2024
HARVARD MAGAZINE May/June2024 :
Plants on a Changing Planet
How long will the world’s forests impound carbon below ground?
by Jonathan Shaw
MARYVILLE, Tennessee, lies near the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, a range home to more tree species than exist in all of Europe. Benton Taylor grew up amidst this abundance, but as a boy, he barely noticed the plants. In the nearby national park, a family friend was raising—together with a menagerie of other mammals—a pair of bears orphaned as cubs. Taylor dreamed of studying these apex denizens of the forest, who forage at the top of the food chain. But as his education and understanding grew, his curiosity shifted to seed-dispersing animals, plants, and the soil and nutrients that sustain them: a trip down the trophic pyramid, driven by an appreciation of forests as ecological systems in which plants are primary producers. “Now I’ve half moved into the basement,” jokes the assistant professor of organismic and evolutionary biology, whose research encompasses the strategies plants use to obtain essential nutrients such as nitrogen, and how that, in turn, affects their ability to store another vital element with a global climate impact: carbon.
Diversifying Diet – A little-known diet improves cardiovascular health through several distinct mechanisms.
by Nina Pasquini
DIVERSIFYING one’s assets is useful not only in finance but also in diet, according to an October study from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (HSPH). Though not many people have heard of the “portfolio diet”—consisting of plant-based foods proven to lower unhealthy cholesterol, such as nuts, oats, berries, and avocados—it is one of the easiest ways to improve long-term cardiovascular health. “The idea was that each of these foods lowers cholesterol quite minimally, but if you make a whole diet based on these different foods, you will see large reductions in [unhealthy] cholesterol,” said Andrea Glenn, an HSPH postdoctoral research fellow in nutrition and the lead author of the study. The more of these foods one eats, the higher the protection—but one need not include them all to reap the diet’s benefits, she said. “Like a business portfolio, you can choose the ones you want.”
The Gravity of Groups
Mina Cikara explores how political tribalism feeds the American bipartisan divide.
by Max J. Krupnick
Technology Quarterly: ‘Health And AI’ (April 2024)
The Economist (April 1, 2024): The latest issue of THE ECONOMIST TECHNOLOGY QUARTERLY is focused on:
A new prescription
AIs will make health care safer and better, reports Natasha Loder. It may even get cheaper too
AIs will make health care safer and better
Artificial intelligence has long been improving diagnoses
Medical AIs with human faces are on their way
Artificial intelligence is taking over drug development
Can artificial intelligence make health care more efficient?
Health & Nutrition Letter April 2024 (Tufts) Preview
Tufts Health & Nutrition Letter (APRIL 2024): The new issue features 5 Ways to ID Ultraprocessed Foods; Should You Eat Gluten Free?; Q&A: Daily Food Choices and Myth: Carbs and Weight…
Consuming Plant Protein in Midlife Can Help Women Age Well
Intake of Dietary Fiber Associated with Lower Risk of Death
Research: New Scientist Magazine – Feb 24, 2024
New Scientist Magazine (February 22, 2024): This issue features ‘The Human Brain’ – How it works, why it fails and the secrets to using it better…
New evidence finally reveals how male and female brains really differ
The strange truth about why thinking hard makes you feel exhausted
Why the brain’s microbiome could hold the key to curing Alzheimer’s
Supercommunicators review: Learning how to change deeply held beliefs
Are you truly healthy? These new tests provide the ultimate check-up
How we will discover the mysterious origins of life once and for all
With privacy concerns rising, can we teach AI chatbots to forget?
Health: Ultra-Processed Foods (UPF) Explained
The Independent (February 21, 2024): Studies show that the average British person consumes more than half of their calories from ultra-processed foods. Their consumption can cause extreme health issues and early deaths, putting a massive strain on health services across the world.
An evaluation of global dietary guidelines highlights the need for clearer warnings on what common foods fall under the ‘UPF’ banner. Some of them may surprise you. Today, Decomplicated examines what exactly defines ultra-processed foods, the impact they have on both society and the environment, and what can you do to minimize your consumption of them.
Old Age: What Is ‘Normal’ And ‘Abnormal’ Aging?
CBS Sunday Morning (February 18, 2024): This isn’t your grandfather’s old age. CBS News chief medical correspondent Dr. Jonathan LaPook talks with experts about the distinctions between normal and abnormal aging as it affects memory issues, a workforce continuing beyond traditional retirement age, and the testing of surgeons who currently work without age limits.
Health & Nutrition Letter January 2024 (Tufts)
Tufts Health & Nutrition Letter (JANUARY 2024): The new issue features ‘Healthy Lifestyle May Outweigh a Genetic Risk Factor for Heart Disease; How to Stick to Those Resolutions!; Check Your Nutrition Knowledge; Special Report – Expand Your Plant Palate; The Facts About Pea Protein; and more…
Health & Nutrition Letter December 2023 (Tufts)
Tufts Health & Nutrition Letter (DECEMBER 2023): The new issue features Type of Carbohydrate May be More Important Than Amount for Body Weight; Beware of “Health-Washing” – Front package health claims can be misleading; Sweetened Beverages and Risk of Adverse Liver Outcomes…
Beware of “Health-Washing”
Front-of-package health claims can be helpful—but they can also be misleading. Learn how to tell the difference.
Some health claims on packages or in advertising may be inappropriate or even misleading. This is sometimes referred to as “health-washing.”
Common Claims. Even FDA-approved claims (like organic, “non” or “free,” reduced, light, natural, and naturally raised) don’t guarantee the food or beverage is an overall healthy choice. Here are some red flags to look out for:
- Organic, gluten-free. Desserts, breads, and cereals made with organic ingredients and/or gluten-free flour can still be full of refined carbohydrates, sugar, or salt, and not much better for your health than the regular versions.
Type of Carbohydrate May be More Important Than Amount for Body Weight
Health: How Organs In Our Bodies Age Over Time
WIRED (November 13, 2023) – Dr. Jeffrey Laitman joins WIRED to break down how our organs and body parts age from head to toe. From hearing and hair loss to sagging skin and deteriorating joints, Dr. Laitman highlights the impact of aging on the human body—and what we can do about it.
Director: Lisandro Perez-Rey; Director of Photography: Francis Bernal