Latest news with #CDC-recommended
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
RFK Jr. Just Let It Slip That He Knows One Of His Health Initiatives May Have Terrible Consequences, And I Knew It Was Bad, But Damn
Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., has touted his plan to Make America Healthy Again (MAHA), which includes stances backed by questionable scientific evidence. He has spoken out against vaccines, called on states to ban fluoride, and made ableist comments about autism. Just last week, he actually let it slip that he's well aware that at least one of those initiatives could have some terrible consequences. Related: On Fox's The Faulkner Focus, news anchor Harris Faulkner asked RFK, Jr. about his stance on removing fluoride from drinking water. In particular, she questioned him about dentists' concerns that children from low-income families may not be able to get the preventative care that they'd need to protect them from tooth decay. Kennedy replied, "You know, it is an issue. It's a balance. You're gonna see probably slightly more cavities." The secretary went on to say, "Although in Europe, where they banned fluoride, they did not see an uptick in cavities. The issue is, parents need to decide because the science is very clear on fluoride. The National Toxicity Program issued a said there's a direct inverse correlation between the amount of fluoride in your water and loss of IQ." The American Dental Association (ADA) released a statement in April 2025, saying that the ADA "believes that good oral health depends on proper diet, nutrition, oral hygiene, and optimally fluoridated water. Eighty years of community water fluoridation at optimal levels has proven to be safe and effective at reducing tooth decay to improve oral health." And not all European countries have banned fluoride in their drinking water. In May 2025, the BBC reported that some areas have naturally occurring fluoride in their water, while others choose to fluoridate their milk, salt, or bottled water. In addition, the National Toxicology Program's study that the secretary cited specifically says that "lower IQ in children" can occur with the consumption of water containing "more than 1.5 milligrams of fluoride per liter," which is twice the CDC-recommended saturation of 0.7 milligrams per liter. They added directly, "It is important to note that there were insufficient data to determine if the low fluoride level of 0.7 mg/L currently recommended for U.S. community water supplies has a negative effect on children's IQ." Related: Historically, there are cities in the US and internationally that have removed fluoride from their water supply and seen increased cavities as a result. The New York Times reported that Calgary, in Alberta, Canada, is reintroducing fluoride into its water supply after 10 years, starting just this week. They noted that "The Alberta Children's Hospital saw a stark increase in the number of children from Calgary who needed antibiotics to treat dental infections after fluoride was removed from the drinking water." Unsurprisingly, people on Reddit had some thoughts on the secretary's comments. "Could we, instead, maybe focus on banning lead in our drinking water? We'll tell him it's to reduce obesity." —Stank_Dukem "So, honestly asking says it's a balance…so what are we gaining for the increase in dental costs to the tune of $300/year average for all Americans?" —pixiegod Related: "I used to be a dental hygienist. All this will do is cause people who have no money to now have to spend it on dental, but they can't. They won't because they can't. Increasing poverty. I hate this MF." —Apprehensive_Cheek77 "For the kids and adults who don't have access to dental care for whatever reason, this is going to be devastating. It hurts nothing and helps those who need it most." —brookmachine "How does having more cavities in children's mouths make us great and healthy again?" —Impressive_Car_4222 Related: The conversation continued over on Twitter (X), with one user saying, "More cavities for kids in families who can't afford dental care." "Gonna see slightly more cavities, but luckily in exchange for that we're going to get absolutely no benefits whatsoever so I guess it's a fair tradeoff," said another. And finally, "This isn't public health. It's policy by privilege." If you'd like to watch the full clip, you can do so below. And I'd love to know: Are you concerned about the levels of fluoride in Americans' drinking water, or do you think it should be left as-is? Let us know in the comments. Also in In the News: Also in In the News: Also in In the News:
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
RFK Jr. Just Let It Slip That He Knows One Of His Health Initiatives May Have Terrible Consequences, And I Knew It Was Bad, But Damn
Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., has touted his plan to Make America Healthy Again (MAHA), which includes stances backed by questionable scientific evidence. He has spoken out against vaccines, called on states to ban fluoride, and made ableist comments about autism. Just last week, he actually let it slip that he's well aware that at least one of those initiatives could have some terrible consequences. Related: On Fox's The Faulkner Focus, news anchor Harris Faulkner asked RFK, Jr. about his stance on removing fluoride from drinking water. In particular, she questioned him about dentists' concerns that children from low-income families may not be able to get the preventative care that they'd need to protect them from tooth decay. Kennedy replied, "You know, it is an issue. It's a balance. You're gonna see probably slightly more cavities." The secretary went on to say, "Although in Europe, where they banned fluoride, they did not see an uptick in cavities. The issue is, parents need to decide because the science is very clear on fluoride. The National Toxicity Program issued a said there's a direct inverse correlation between the amount of fluoride in your water and loss of IQ." The American Dental Association (ADA) released a statement in April 2025, saying that the ADA "believes that good oral health depends on proper diet, nutrition, oral hygiene, and optimally fluoridated water. Eighty years of community water fluoridation at optimal levels has proven to be safe and effective at reducing tooth decay to improve oral health." And not all European countries have banned fluoride in their drinking water. In May 2025, the BBC reported that some areas have naturally occurring fluoride in their water, while others choose to fluoridate their milk, salt, or bottled water. In addition, the National Toxicology Program's study that the secretary cited specifically says that "lower IQ in children" can occur with the consumption of water containing "more than 1.5 milligrams of fluoride per liter," which is twice the CDC-recommended saturation of 0.7 milligrams per liter. They added directly, "It is important to note that there were insufficient data to determine if the low fluoride level of 0.7 mg/L currently recommended for U.S. community water supplies has a negative effect on children's IQ." Related: Historically, there are cities in the US and internationally that have removed fluoride from their water supply and seen increased cavities as a result. The New York Times reported that Calgary, in Alberta, Canada, is reintroducing fluoride into its water supply after 10 years, starting just this week. They noted that "The Alberta Children's Hospital saw a stark increase in the number of children from Calgary who needed antibiotics to treat dental infections after fluoride was removed from the drinking water." Unsurprisingly, people on Reddit had some thoughts on the secretary's comments. "Could we, instead, maybe focus on banning lead in our drinking water? We'll tell him it's to reduce obesity." —Stank_Dukem "So, honestly asking says it's a balance…so what are we gaining for the increase in dental costs to the tune of $300/year average for all Americans?" —pixiegod Related: "I used to be a dental hygienist. All this will do is cause people who have no money to now have to spend it on dental, but they can't. They won't because they can't. Increasing poverty. I hate this MF." —Apprehensive_Cheek77 "For the kids and adults who don't have access to dental care for whatever reason, this is going to be devastating. It hurts nothing and helps those who need it most." —brookmachine "How does having more cavities in children's mouths make us great and healthy again?" —Impressive_Car_4222 Related: The conversation continued over on Twitter (X), with one user saying, "More cavities for kids in families who can't afford dental care." "Gonna see slightly more cavities, but luckily in exchange for that we're going to get absolutely no benefits whatsoever so I guess it's a fair tradeoff," said another. And finally, "This isn't public health. It's policy by privilege." If you'd like to watch the full clip, you can do so below. And I'd love to know: Are you concerned about the levels of fluoride in Americans' drinking water, or do you think it should be left as-is? Let us know in the comments. Also in In the News: Also in In the News: Also in In the News:
Tom's Guide
19-06-2025
- Health
- Tom's Guide
Want to sleep better tonight? Eat more of this food type today, says new study
While we come across many effective sleep trends here at Tom's Guide, most of these need to be followed consistently over time to see any kind of impact. However, the latest research suggests there is one way to see results overnight. According to a new study led by researchers at University of Chicago Medicine and Columbia University, eating more fruits and vegetables during the day can lead to more sound sleep the same night. Here, we're looking into the study findings in detail to understand how your diet is linked to sleep and the quantity of fruits and veggies you should aim to consume in a day. As a bonus, we've also listed three of the top fruits and veggies, backed by science, that can maximise your efforts to eat for a better sleep. Scroll down to find out more… The study, recently published in the Journal of the National Sleep Foundation, included 34 healthy young adults (28 men and six women) who met the criteria of being aged 20 and 49, and generally sleeping between 7 to 9 hours on an average. During the study, participants recorded their consumption of food and drinks over multiple 24-hour periods using the Automated Self-Administered 24-Hour Dietary Assessment Tool, an app, while their sleep pattern data was collected via a wrist monitor they wore throughout the duration of the study. Researchers used the sleep fragmentation index (SFI) to measure sleep quality during the study, which indicates the number of times someone wakes up and shifts in sleep stages from deep to light sleep during the night. Lower SFI means less disrupted sleep, while higher SFI indicates a night with more sleep disruption. The results showed that, "greater fruit and vegetable intakes during the day were associated with lower SFI during the subsequent night," while greater carbohydrate intake was also associated with lower SFI. Interestingly, red meat and processed meat led to "a trend toward more fragmented sleep," according to the researchers. Using their results and prediction models, the researchers suggest that eating the CDC-recommended intake of fruit and vegetables could see a lower SFI, and therefore an improvement in sleep quality, compared to someone who ate none. "A 5-cup increase (from no intake) in fruits and vegetables, meeting dietary recommendations, would be associated with 16% better sleep quality," they said in the study. '16 percent is a highly significant difference,' co-author of the study Esra Tasali MD, director of UChicago Sleep Center, said. 'It's remarkable that such a meaningful change could be observed within less than 24 hours," she added. Our sleep cycle is influenced by melatonin (the sleepy hormone) which our body naturally produces. We already know that what we consume can impact sleep, for example, research has previously shown that magnesium and tryptophan can help boost the production of melatonin, which translates to better sleep overall. Tweaking our diet is one way in which we can include sleep-friendly nutrients, which can lead to a more restorative sleep. And this new research has shown that it may be as simple, and affordable, as adding more of your favorite fruits and veggies. "Dietary modifications could be a new, natural and cost-effective approach to achieve better sleep," says Dr Tasali, who added that the study results are an important step in the right direction. 'The temporal associations and objectively-measured outcomes in this study represent crucial steps toward filling a gap in important public health knowledge," she explains. The researchers in the study suggest that eating five cups of fruits and veggies in a day, as recommended by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, could improve sleep quality. So what does that look like? The American Heart Association suggests consuming 2 cups of fruits and 2 1/2 cups of vegetables per day. Each of the below fruit and veggie portions, they say, is the equivalent of one cup: Fruits: 8 large strawberries, 22 grapes or 1 medium apple, pear, orange, peach, grapefruit or nectarine or 2 to 3 kiwis. Vegetables: 1 large bell pepper, 1 medium potato, 2 medium carrots or 12 baby ones, 2 cups raw or 1 cup cooked leafy veggies (lettuce, kale, spinach, greens), 1 large ear corn or a large sweet potato. According to the researchers, the bottom line is that a diet rich in complex carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables can be beneficial for sleep in the long run. 'Small changes can impact sleep. That is empowering — better rest is within your control," says co-senior author Marie-Pierre St-Onge, PhD, director of the Center of Excellence for Sleep & Circadian Research at Columbia. Perhaps the one fruit that should be in your radar for better sleep now is avocado. A recent study supported by the Avocado Nutrition Center, saw that daily consumption of an avocado improved sleep health, diet and blood lipids (including lower cholesterol). The study aimed to look at the effect of consuming one avocado a day on the American Heart Association's cardiovascular health score, Life's Essential 8 (LE8), the eight components of cardiovascular health. Researchers recruited 969 American adults for the study, all of whom had an elevated waist circumference (a cardiovascular risk factor for US adults) and asked them to add one large Hass avocado to their regular diets for 26 weeks. They also had a control group for the study period, who did not consume the additional avocado. The study calculated one of the LE8 sleep health "based on self‐reported average hours of sleep per night and scored according to 4 levels," and the participants saw an improvement of an average 3.20 points in their sleep health compared to the control group after the 26 weeks. Avocados have approximately 13 mg tryptophan, 45 mcg folate (also promotes melatonin production) and 15 mg magnesium per serving (1/3 medium avocado) — which may be why they are involved in better sleep health and sleep quality. Looking for a quick healthy nighttime snack before bed? The kiwi fruit could be a great option. Research has shown they can improve sleep in a variety of ways in adults. Eating two medium-sized kiwis, one hour before bedtime led to a significant improvement in sleep efficiency and sleep time, as well as decreased "waking time after sleep onset, and sleep onset latency" in a study conducted at Taipei Medical University. According to the researchers, kiwi fruit "is rich in antioxidants, vitamins C and E, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and carotenoids, and it contains approximately twice the concentration of serotonin as tomatoes," who note that serotonin plays a role in REM sleep. As well as being full of vitamins, potassium and antioxidants, Kiwis can also, per the Cleveland Clinic, help maintain good gut health, which is yet another reason to add them to your diet. "Eat your greens" is a phrase you've probably heard since childhood, and the good news is, whoever said it to you was looking out for your wellbeing, because dark, leafy greens can also improve your sleep. Dark leafy vegetables like spinach, swiss chard and kale are, say the Cleveland Clinicnatural sources of magnesium. Among other benefits, they are also known to be rich in calcium, which has been shown to aid in production of melatonin.
San Francisco Chronicle
12-06-2025
- Health
- San Francisco Chronicle
Vaccines could get more expensive and harder to access after RFK Jr. purged a CDC panel
U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. shook up a key federal vaccine advisory committee this week, ousting its sitting 17 members Monday and naming eight new individuals Wednesday, including ones known for anti-vaccine views and for spreading misinformation. The changes could potentially impact vaccine cost and availability in California and the uncertainty is making families anxious, experts say. 'I've been having several conversations every day with families who are trying to get their children vaccinated early because parents are worried that these vaccines will not be available for their children in the near future,' said Eric Ball, chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics in California. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice provides vaccine recommendations to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The group's guidance doesn't just have medical implications; it also has financial consequences for people seeking vaccinations. 'Under the Affordable Care Act, if ACIP recommends a vaccine, insurance companies have to cover it,' said Dorit Reiss, a professor of law at UC College of the Law San Francisco, who specializes in vaccine-related law and policies. The federally funded Vaccines for Children program also covers recommended vaccines for uninsured and underinsured children, Reiss said. Potentially, the new ACIP members could alter recommendations, which would in turn affect coverage for vaccines. Nothing is certain, however: 'We don't know how this (newly) constituted committee will vote,' Reiss said. The advisory committee is scheduled to meet on June 25 to review scientific data and vote on vaccine recommendations. If problems do arise around vaccine access, there could be additional issues for California's immunization mandates for schools. 'How can you mandate a vaccine if people can't access it?' Reiss said. The sweeping changes to ACIP, established in 1964, are unprecedented, experts say. 'I can't even think of a time when an individual member has been removed from the committee,' said Yvonne Maldonado, a professor of global health and infectious diseases at Stanford and one of the 17 experts removed from the vaccine advisory committee this week. 'We are really in uncharted territory here, in terms of the membership changing so radically and so quickly,' Maldonado said. Maldonado explained that the existing process for evaluating vaccine safety and effectiveness is 'incredibly rigorous,' with numerous safety checkpoints. 'Vaccines are foundational to public health,' Maldonado said. 'They save millions of lives.' Reiss added that the United States has a system that allows people who experience problems due to a CDC-recommended vaccine to seek compensation from the government. This limits the liability of vaccine companies. If new advisory committee members remove current vaccine recommendations, Reiss said she is concerned 'that some manufacturers might leave the vaccine market.' In an editorial published Monday in the Wall Street Journal, Secretary Kennedy wrote that the 17 ACIP members were 'retired' because 'the committee has been plagued with persistent conflicts of interest.' Experts roundly disagreed with the claims and numerous medical organizations quickly spoke out. 'That's very telling,' said Catherine Flores, executive director of the California Immunization Coalition, a statewide nonprofit advocacy and education organization around immunizations. While past ACIP vaccine experts were thoroughly vetted, details about the process for the newly announced group aren't clear, Flores said. Flores is concerned some committee members may lack the previous ACIP members' level of expertise about vaccines. 'We are very concerned about what's next,' Flores said.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Columbus among U.S. cities that are ‘hot spots' for mosquitos, pest company says
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Mosquito season has arrived, with a pest control company naming Columbus as a hot spot for the insect this year. Orkin releases an annual list of the cities seeing the most residential mosquito treatments, revealing 'hot spots' for the bugs. For this year's ranking, treatments performed by Orkin from April 2024 through March 2025 were considered. Columbus announces $2B bond issue for November ballot On Orkin's 2025 list of the top 50 mosquito hot spots, Columbus came in at No. 23, jumping nine spots from last year. Los Angeles was the city that saw the most treatments, taking the No. 1 spot for the fourth year in a row. Chicago came in at No. 2, and was followed by New York, Atlanta and Detroit. Cleveland (No. 9) and Denver (No. 10) broke into the top 10 for the first time. California remained a popular area for mosquito activity overall, having five cities in the top 50, the report said. The list by Orkin is based solely on the number of treatments in each city and does not factor in population sizes, which likely impacted the rankings. The cities sitting at the top of the list are some of the most populated in the country. Beyond being a nuisance, mosquitoes pose a threat to people's health, Orkin stated. The insect causes over 600,000 malaria-related deaths globally each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). They can also transmit other diseases such as the West Nile virus, Eastern Equine Encephalitis and Zika virus. Poisonous plant rapidly spreading across Ohio: what to do if you see it 'Mosquito control isn't just about avoiding itchy bites,' Orkin entomologist Frank Meek said. 'It's about safeguarding your health and your community. Proactive measures are key to controlling these seasonal surges in mosquito activity.' Orkin recommends taking preventative action to reduce mosquito activity, including wearing CDC-recommended repellants, installing tight-fitting screens on windows and doors, trimming shrubs and grass, as well as eliminating standing water. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
