Latest news with #BethIsraelDeaconess
Fox News
3 days ago
- Health
- Fox News
Two of these fruits a day can boost gut health, fight cancer risk, doctor says
Eating two of a specific type of fruit each day may keep the gastroenterologist away. Dr. Trisha Pasricha, a gastroenterologist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, "prescribes" two kiwis a day to her patients to help with digestion and deliver a boost of vitamins and antioxidants. "I hesitate to say there's any one magic fruit out there that will cure all your gut health woes, but in some respects, kiwis do seem to rise above some of the other tried-and-true methods out there, like prunes or psyllium fiber," Pasricha told Fox News Digital. A single kiwi packs up to eight grams of fiber, which prevents constipation and promotes regular bowel movements, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). But the superfood also contains actinidin, an enzyme that helps digestion by breaking down proteins. It's not found in many other foods. Actinidin is so powerful that it's used commercially as a meat tenderizer, Pasricha wrote in her "Ask A Doctor" column for The Washington Post recently. Pasricha said she recommends it over other high-fiber foods such as prunes, which can actually contribute to bloating and are harder to convince people to eat. She has seen kiwis work wonders for her patients and her own family, she said, but a 2022 study proved what she and other gastroenterologists have long observed anecdotally. Scientists from New Zealand, Italy and Japan found that two kiwis a day helped participants have more frequent and complete bowel movements and helped alleviate abdominal pain, indigestion and straining while going to the bathroom. "The fiber helps with digestive issues and constipation, specifically by adding bulk to stool so it can move through the colon easier and also softening stool so it's easier to push out," New York-based certified holistic nutritionist Robin DeCicco told Fox News Digital. The study found the fruits proved to be more effective than psyllium husk, a supplement Pasricha said has "long reigned queen in the gastroenterology world." Meanwhile, researchers in Norway found in 2011 that kiwi consumption helped prevent DNA breaks that can cause cancerous growths and reduced triglycerides, which are tied to heart attack risk. A 2023 study done in China also suggested that people who ate more kiwis had a 13% lower risk of colorectal cancer. "More research needs to be done to fully understand kiwi consumption and cancer risk – but the scientific groundwork has been laid," Pasricha wrote in her column. The little green fruits are also bursting with vitamins C, E and K and antioxidants known to protect against cancer, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, according to Pasricha. Those effects are gleaned from a healthy diet, she stresses, not supplements. She recommends eating kiwi at any point in the day. "My kids and I eat them after dinner as dessert," she said. While she enjoys eating the kiwi skin, which is loaded with even more fiber, she said it's not necessary. She advises adding them to a balanced diet of colorful fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes and to consult a doctor about any gut issues. DeCicco suggested getting additional kiwi in your diet by adding it to Greek yogurt with cinnamon, raw nuts and berries; giving a salad of lettuce, tomato, cucumbers and avocado some sweetness; eating it on the side of eggs; and blending it into a protein smoothie.
Medscape
30-06-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Sharp Obesity Increase Since Pandemic in Black Youth
A report comparing childhood obesity prevalence before the COVID pandemic and since the height of the pandemic shows a dramatic rise in the numbers for Black children and Black adolescents with obesity. Findings were published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Researchers, led by Michael Liu, MD, MPhil, with the Center for Outcomes Research at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, found that overall, the prevalence of obesity didn't change significantly. Prevalence was 20.3% from January 2011 to March 2020, when COVID shutdowns began, and rose to 22.0% from August 2021 to August 2023. But after accounting for secular trends, 'no overall increase in obesity prevalence was seen during the pandemic relative to the pre-pandemic period (adjusted difference, 0.52 percentage points; 95% CI, 2.3-3.3 percentage points). Pandemic-related increases in obesity prevalence were observed only in Black children and adolescents, the authors wrote, for whom rates were 22.4% in the decade before the pandemic and 35% in the 2 years after the height of COVID. Racial Disparities Clear Now, 'In the US, more than in 1 in 3 Black youth, more than 1 in 4 Hispanic youth, nearly 1 in 5 White youth, and 1 in 10 Asian youth currently meet the criteria for obesity,' the authors reported. Prevalence of severe obesity overall and across all subgroups remained stable between 2011 and August 2023. Researchers used serial cross-sectional data from the 2011 to August 2023 survey cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and included 17,507 children aged 2-11 years and adolescents aged 12-19 years. Height and weight from in-person examinations were used to calculate BMI. Obesity in this study was defined as a BMI at or above the age- and sex-specific 95th percentile according to the CDC growth charts. Severe obesity was defined as a BMI of 120% or more of the 95th percentile. Addressing Underlying Factors The next step is to address the factors that have led to the disparities documented in this report through public health and policy interventions, Therese F. Anderson, MD, assistant professor of family medicine at Mayo College of Medicine in Jacksonville, Florida, told Medscape Medical News . She pointed out the authors discuss multiple factors that have contributed to an increase in obesity during the COVID-19 pandemic and thereafter, including disruption in daily routines with school closures and reduced access to structured exercise and activity, leading to increased screen time and sedentary behaviors. Mealtimes were disrupted, and there was more reliance on ultraprocessed foods. 'Studies thus far have shown that Black and minority youth were disproportionately impacted due to higher rates of food insecurity, lower neighborhood resources — such as access to parks and safe spaces for exercise — as well as increased economic stress during the pandemic,' she noted. Anderson said these new numbers add support for policies and funding in areas such as improvement of access to healthy foods, expansion of food assistance programs, incentives to build grocery stores in food deserts, and promotion of safe spaces for activity. Medicaid Coverage for GLP-1s 'Additionally, expanding state Medicaid programs to fund weight management programs as well as medications like GLP-1s [glucagon-like peptide-1s], which are FDA approved for age 12 and up, are potential avenues for improvement. Currently, there are only 13 states with coverage for GLP-1s under Medicaid,' Anderson said. Pediatricians have an important role in addressing childhood obesity, she said. First, she said, is promoting family-based approaches to lifestyle modifications, such as healthy meals and family exercise. 'Secondly, we need to continue to advocate for policy changes as they impact the health of Black and minority youth. For example, the American Academy of Pediatrics is urging lawmakers to reject funding cuts to Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP),' she said. 'Lastly, we need to familiarize ourselves with new interventions as they are emerging, such as telehealth and medications like GLP-1s.' Financial disclosures for authors are available with the full article. Anderson reported having no relevant financial relationships.
CNN
12-06-2025
- Health
- CNN
PFAS exposure before birth could put your teen at risk for high blood pressure, study finds
Get inspired by a weekly roundup on living well, made simple. Sign up for CNN's Life, But Better newsletter for information and tools designed to improve your well-being. Prenatal exposure to a class of dangerous, widely used chemicals could be linked to your child having high blood pressure as a teen, according to a new study. Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS — sometimes called 'forever chemicals' because they don't fully break down in the environment — are a class of about 15,000 human-made chemicals linked to cancers, endocrine-related conditions and developmental problems in children. New data shows the synthetic compounds could also be linked to a teen's risk of developing cardiovascular disease later in life, according to the study published Thursday in the Journal of the American Heart Association. Researchers looked at data from 1,094 children over an average of 12 years. The study team compared measurements of eight types of PFAS chemicals in maternal plasma samples 24 to 72 hours after birth and the children's blood pressure from medical records, according to the study. The kids who were exposed to higher levels of PFAS chemicals in utero were more likely to have higher blood pressure in childhood and adolescence, the research found. The connection was particularly strong in adolescents, male children and Black children, said senior study author Dr. Mingyu Zhang, assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. The study is observational, meaning that while it shows associations, it cannot prove that PFAS exposure is the cause of the elevated blood pressure, Zhang said. While researchers did adjust for other factors that could be at play, there could be other elements driving the connection between PFAS and blood pressure, he added. That said, the results are strong because this study is one of the largest and most diverse while also using rigorous methods, said Dr. Carmen Marsit, Rollins Distinguished Professor of Research at Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health in Atlanta. He was not involved in the research. The topic is important to investigate because if a child has high blood pressure, they are more likely to also have higher blood pressure later on, Zhang said. And that is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, the No. 1 cause of death in the United States. The largest effects were shown in adolescents who were exposed to a mixture of different PFAS chemicals during pregnancy compared with those who were not, which implies that there may be a synergistic impact on cardiometabolic health, Marsit said. 'Most children will be exposed to multiple different PFAS chemicals, so this is worrisome,' he said. The fact that adolescence is the age when prenatal exposure to PFAS is most linked with higher blood pressure suggests that some of the PFAS chemicals could take a long period of time to show their impacts, Marsit said. A long latency of the effects would mean that people don't just need to worry about reducing exposures, but interventions also need to be developed to prevent the health outcomes in people who were exposed earlier, he added. Not only are PFAS forever chemicals –– they also are everywhere chemicals. Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey shows that this class of chemicals can be found in nearly every person in the United States, Marsit said in a previous CNN story. There are things you can do to reduce your exposure, however, he added. Major sources of exposure include food, water, and waterproof or stain-resistant items, Marsit said. Helpful steps include drinking filtered water –– using filters like those listed by the Environmental Working Group –– out of metal or glass containers, he said. Plastics contain PFAS and other toxic chemicals, Marsit said. A focus on fresh food can also help, as packaging for foods are often coated in PFAS chemicals, he added. And avoid using nonstick cookware, opting instead for metal, cast-iron or ceramic pots and pans, he said. Dusting, vacuuming, and washing your hands before eating or drinking can also reduce PFAS exposure, Marsit said. Healthy lifestyle choices can reduce the risk of high blood pressure for children who have been exposed to PFAS, Zhang said. 'These include maintaining a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet, reducing salt intake, and encouraging physical activity,' he added. But ultimately, an individual cannot solve PFAS exposure alone, Zhang said. 'We also need policy-level actions to limit and phase out PFAS use in products and industry, and to strengthen monitoring and regulation of PFAS in water systems,' he added.
CNN
12-06-2025
- Health
- CNN
PFAS exposure before birth could put your teen at risk for high blood pressure, study finds
Get inspired by a weekly roundup on living well, made simple. Sign up for CNN's Life, But Better newsletter for information and tools designed to improve your well-being. Prenatal exposure to a class of dangerous, widely used chemicals could be linked to your child having high blood pressure as a teen, according to a new study. Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS — sometimes called 'forever chemicals' because they don't fully break down in the environment — are a class of about 15,000 human-made chemicals linked to cancers, endocrine-related conditions and developmental problems in children. New data shows the synthetic compounds could also be linked to a teen's risk of developing cardiovascular disease later in life, according to the study published Thursday in the Journal of the American Heart Association. Researchers looked at data from 1,094 children over an average of 12 years. The study team compared measurements of eight types of PFAS chemicals in maternal plasma samples 24 to 72 hours after birth and the children's blood pressure from medical records, according to the study. The kids who were exposed to higher levels of PFAS chemicals in utero were more likely to have higher blood pressure in childhood and adolescence, the research found. The connection was particularly strong in adolescents, male children and Black children, said senior study author Dr. Mingyu Zhang, assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. The study is observational, meaning that while it shows associations, it cannot prove that PFAS exposure is the cause of the elevated blood pressure, Zhang said. While researchers did adjust for other factors that could be at play, there could be other elements driving the connection between PFAS and blood pressure, he added. That said, the results are strong because this study is one of the largest and most diverse while also using rigorous methods, said Dr. Carmen Marsit, Rollins Distinguished Professor of Research at Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health in Atlanta. He was not involved in the research. The topic is important to investigate because if a child has high blood pressure, they are more likely to also have higher blood pressure later on, Zhang said. And that is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, the No. 1 cause of death in the United States. The largest effects were shown in adolescents who were exposed to a mixture of different PFAS chemicals during pregnancy compared with those who were not, which implies that there may be a synergistic impact on cardiometabolic health, Marsit said. 'Most children will be exposed to multiple different PFAS chemicals, so this is worrisome,' he said. The fact that adolescence is the age when prenatal exposure to PFAS is most linked with higher blood pressure suggests that some of the PFAS chemicals could take a long period of time to show their impacts, Marsit said. A long latency of the effects would mean that people don't just need to worry about reducing exposures, but interventions also need to be developed to prevent the health outcomes in people who were exposed earlier, he added. Not only are PFAS forever chemicals –– they also are everywhere chemicals. Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey shows that this class of chemicals can be found in nearly every person in the United States, Marsit said in a previous CNN story. There are things you can do to reduce your exposure, however, he added. Major sources of exposure include food, water, and waterproof or stain-resistant items, Marsit said. Helpful steps include drinking filtered water –– using filters like those listed by the Environmental Working Group –– out of metal or glass containers, he said. Plastics contain PFAS and other toxic chemicals, Marsit said. A focus on fresh food can also help, as packaging for foods are often coated in PFAS chemicals, he added. And avoid using nonstick cookware, opting instead for metal, cast-iron or ceramic pots and pans, he said. Dusting, vacuuming, and washing your hands before eating or drinking can also reduce PFAS exposure, Marsit said. Healthy lifestyle choices can reduce the risk of high blood pressure for children who have been exposed to PFAS, Zhang said. 'These include maintaining a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet, reducing salt intake, and encouraging physical activity,' he added. But ultimately, an individual cannot solve PFAS exposure alone, Zhang said. 'We also need policy-level actions to limit and phase out PFAS use in products and industry, and to strengthen monitoring and regulation of PFAS in water systems,' he added.
WebMD
21-05-2025
- Health
- WebMD
You Could Be at Risk of IBD and Not Know It
May 21, 2025 – There's mixed news on the war against inflammatory bowel disease. Cases in the U.S. fell in the 1990s, then rose in the past 25 years. But modern medicine now has plenty of new weapons to deploy – if patients seek treatment. The term "inflammatory bowel disease" (IBD) refers to chronic conditions in the intestines, mainly Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Between 2.4 million and 3.4 million Americans have IBD. It's not much of a killer – 71,628 people died of IBD-related causes between 1999 and 2022, about 3,000 per year – but in 2018, the death rate started climbing by about 10% per year, according to a new study in Clinical and Experimental Gastroenterology. Doctors are optimistic, though. "What I tell my patients is: 'There's never been a better time in human history to have Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis because the number of available therapies has increased significantly over the last several years, and that's anticipated only to continue,' " said Loren G. Rabinowitz, MD, a gastroenterologist who specializes in IBD at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Why Is IBD on the Rise? IBD is easier than ever to find, thanks to better diagnostic tools like endoscopy, imaging, and stool tests. That could explain the rising number of cases. "We're more aware of it," said gastroenterologist Benjamin Click, MD, a professor at the University of Colorado. "We're looking more at even older people who come in with signs and symptoms and making those diagnoses potentially in populations that we may not have historically." But that's not the whole story. "The data suggests we're probably still witnessing a real rise in the incidences of not only inflammatory bowel diseases but a lot of these autoimmune conditions," said Click. Our modern way of life could be a culprit. As countries industrialize, IBD becomes more common, research finds. One explanation is the adoption of the Western diet, which is low in fruits, vegetables, grains, and fish and high in ultra-processed foods. This eating style might disturb gut bacteria and weaken the gut lining, promoting inflammation. Inflammation is normally a helpful immune response to injury or infection. But in inflammatory bowel disease, the immune system overreacts, attacking harmless gut bacteria and damaging the mucus lining of the intestines. Other potential contributors include antibiotic overexposure and smoking, researchers say. Wait, IBD Can Kill You? Don't panic: Death from IBD is rare. "Patients typically have a normal lifespan with Crohn's and ulcerative colitis," said Rabinowitz. "That's particularly true if the inflammation is treated well and treated early on, and when patients get quickly connected with a gastroenterologist who can monitor their symptoms over time." And studies might also overestimate IBD-related deaths by including cases where the condition was present but not the primary cause, said Click. But IBD can turn deadly if it progresses unchecked. Severe cases can lead to fulminant colitis, an intense and life-threatening inflammation of the colon, or bowel perforation, a hole in the small intestine or colon that lets contents leak out. IBD also raises the risk of colorectal cancer, especially when it's not well-controlled. Colorectal cancer patients with IBD tend to fare worse than those without IBD, research suggests. Inflammatory diseases including IBD have also been linked to an increased risk of diseases of the heart and blood vessels, the top killer in the U.S. and the world. It turns out that chronic gut inflammation can lead to body-wide inflammation, which can affect the blood vessels and contribute to heart problems. How Has Your IBD Risk Changed? While IBD can affect anyone at any age, a few groups stand out: Older adults. New IBD cases are rising in adults over 70, especially women, according to a study in Digestive Diseases and Sciences. While IBD used to be thought of as largely a younger person's disease, "we are diagnosing IBD in older individuals more than ever," said Click. "We also know that, in general, our population is aging, and we are seeing more individuals age with their IBD, perhaps influencing some of the epidemiologic trends." But why older women? It could simply be that women tend to have a longer lifespan, researchers say, giving them more time to develop the disease. Women. More bad news for women: While IBD-related deaths went up for everyone between 1990 and 2019, the increase was especially pronounced in women, according to a study in Annals of Gastroenterology. One possible explanation: Bias. Doctors sometimes mistake IBD symptoms for other conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or hemorrhoids, and research suggests this brushoff may happen more often in women: Women with IBD were four times as likely as men to be misdiagnosed, even though symptoms were similar between the sexes. This aligns with a larger trend in medicine that women's symptoms are often downplayed or blamed on less serious disorders, especially when symptoms include weakness and pain, the researchers say. This could mean IBD is more often missed early in women, increasing the risk of serious or even fatal complications. Midwesterners. IBD is most common in Midwestern and Eastern states, the Annals of Gastroenterology study found. And IBD deaths were highest in the Midwest, especially among men, according to the Clinical and Experimental Gastroenterology study. That region has the highest population of White Americans, who historically have had the highest rates of IBD. But it was the South that saw the largest increase in IBD deaths from 1999 to 2022. The South has the country's highest Black population, researchers noted, and previous studies suggest that racial gaps in health care access could limit IBD care. Symptoms, Treatment, and the Link to Colon Cancer Catching – and treating – the condition early can lower the risk of complications, especially for Crohn's disease, Click said. What to look for: More frequent bathroom trips. Changes in the "frequency or liquidity" of your bowel movements that last for weeks should be reported to your doctor, said Rabinowitz. Stool that looks black or tarry. These can be signs of blood in your stool, which "should always prompt a discussion with your physician," she said. Bowel movements at night. This counts especially if diarrhea is regularly waking you up. Severe abdominal pain. Particularly, watch for belly pain that doesn't improve after you have a bowel movement. Unintentional weight loss. This means you're shedding pounds without trying to with diet and exercise. If you have relatives, especially siblings, with Crohn's or ulcerative colitis, seeking help is extra important. Among people who had a sibling with IBD, 1.7% developed the disorder over 10 years, compared to just 0.4% of those with no affected siblings, a study found. And if you need more motivation to get checked, there's this: Colorectal cancer is on the rise in young adults, according to the American Cancer Society. It can start with symptoms similar to IBD, such as bloody stool, diarrhea, and not being able to keep on weight. You've probably heard about the uptick in colorectal cancer in young people. Whether there's a link to the rise in IBD cases remains to be seen, said Click. Researchers are looking at several IBD risk factors tied to early life, like whether you were breastfed, antibiotic use, processed and sugar-rich diets, and exposures to smoke, pesticides, and "forever chemicals" in plastics, said Click. "If these also influence the development of early colorectal cancer, then a connection is certainly plausible." Until that research comes in, focus on evidence-backed lifestyle changes to help reduce your risk. Eat less ultra-processed and fast food and follow a Mediterranean diet, experts say. Add fermented foods – like sauerkraut or kimchi – to the mix to nourish good gut bacteria and promote a "less inflammatory microbiome," Click said. Advances in diagnosis and treatment are expected to improve IBD outcomes in the coming years. Immunosuppressive medications can reduce chronic inflammation, while steroids are often used to manage short-term flares. Regular colonoscopies can help doctors find and remove colon polyps before they have a chance to turn into cancer. Intestinal ultrasounds help doctors catch early changes in the gut. And for people at higher risk, blood tests can spot signs of IBD before symptoms arise.
