Latest news with #researchStudy
Zawya
08-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Eco labels in South Africa don't do the job: how to help customers make informed choices
South Africans want to shop more sustainably, according to research published in the journal Sustainable Development. But most can't tell which products are environmentally friendly. Some food manufacturers have introduced eco labels – a certification symbol placed on product packaging. This indicates the product meets specific environmental standards set by a third party organisation. These labels are meant to signal to consumers that a product has been produced in a way that limits harm to the environment. But our recent study with 108 South African consumers showed low recognition of eco labels, widespread confusion, and a need for clearer guidance. The results show that most South African shoppers are unfamiliar with these labels or unable to differentiate between real and fictional ones. In the European Union eco labels like the EU Energy Label are easily understood and highly visible. They are also usually supported by government awareness campaigns. Other examples of labelling systems that work well include those of Germany and Japan. These countries show that long term institutional support, mandatory labelling in key sectors, and consistent public messaging can greatly improve eco label recognition. We concluded from our research that South Africa lacks that national visibility and public education, leaving even motivated consumers unsure of what labels to trust. Based on our findings we recommend steps businesses, government and nonprofits can take to ensure that eco labels are clear, visible and understood. Eco labelling at its best The EU Energy Label is used on appliances such as fridges, washing machines and light bulbs to indicate their energy efficiency on a scale from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient). In countries like Germany and Japan, eco labels are government backed as well as being integrated into school curricula, public service announcements and shopping platforms. Germany's Blue Angel label, which states 'protects the environment', has been in use since the 1970s. It appears on over 12,000 products and services, including paper goods, cleaning products, paints and electronics, that meet strict environmental criteria. It is supported by ongoing public education campaigns. In Japan the the Eco Mark appears on products with minimal environmental impact. It appears on items like stationery, detergents, packaging and appliances. Many retailers display explanations next to these products to help consumers understand the label. South Africans struggle to identify eco labels We conducted a structured online survey of 108 South African consumers. Participants were asked about their environmental awareness and their ability to recognise both real and fictional eco labels across ten images. According to the global directory of eco labels and environmental certification schemes, there are around 50 eco labels in South Africa. The EU Energy Label was the most recognised (87%). The Afrisco Certified Organic label, which is a legitimate South African label, was the least recognised, identified by just 22% of respondents. Fictional labels were mistakenly identified as real by many participants, revealing widespread confusion. Only 3 out of 10 labels were recognised by at least half the participants, suggesting a general lack of eco label awareness. These include the Energy Star Eco label; the EU Energy label and the Forest Stewardship council label. Age and employment status were significantly related to environmental awareness. Older and employed individuals showed higher levels of awareness. These findings suggest that consumers are not opposed to eco labels, they simply lack the knowledge and confidence to use them effectively. Eco labels have the potential to build brand trust, drive green purchasing behaviour, and support national sustainability goals. But they only work if consumers recognise and trust them. In South Africa, inconsistent use, small label size, and a lack of consumer education are holding eco labels back from achieving their purpose. What businesses can do Based on our findings, we recommend the following: - Use recognised and credible labels: Third-party certified labels are more trustworthy and reliable. - Improve label visibility: The most recognised label in our study was the EU Energy Label and was also the most prominent. Small, cluttered logos go unnoticed. - Educate your market: Explain what eco labels mean through packaging, marketing, and digital platforms. - Partner with government and NGOs: Awareness campaigns at national and community levels can help standardise eco label understanding. - Tailor communication efforts: Awareness efforts should consider age and employment demographics, as these affect levels of environmental engagement. The way forward South Africans are willing to support environmentally responsible products, but they need help identifying them. Businesses, government and nonprofits all have a role to play in making eco labels clearer, more visible, and more trustworthy. Eco labels must become more than symbols. They should be tools for transparency and trust, and a gateway to more sustainable shopping. All rights reserved. © 2022. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
CTV News
01-07-2025
- Health
- CTV News
A cough medicine could hold new hope in the fight against dementia; research
Research study in London shows a common cough medicine as a potential treatment to slow dementia, reports CTV London's Reta Ismail.
Medscape
27-06-2025
- Health
- Medscape
MRI Reveals Joint Damage After Cancer Treatment
TOPLINE: According to a UK study, whole-body MRI showed that patients with arthralgia who had previously received immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy had similar levels of inflammation and erosions as those with clinical arthritis, with distinct imaging patterns. METHODOLOGY: Researchers recruited 60 adults (mean age, 65 years; 43% women; 100% White) with new musculoskeletal symptoms during or within 6 months after receiving treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors and 20 healthy control individuals (mean age, 62 years; 40% women; 100% White) from the UK, who underwent gadolinium contrast-enhanced whole-body MRI. A total of 35 patients had arthralgia and 25 had inflammatory arthritis. Two independent masked assessors graded joint, tendon, bursal, entheseal, and whole spinal imaging lesions, with consensus reporting and a 6-month follow-up. TAKEAWAY: Distinct global inflammatory patterns were identified on the MRI scans: polymyalgia rheumatica (extracapsular; 12%), peripheral inflammatory arthritis (37%), spondyloarthropathy (n = 1), and a non-specific pattern (20%). Median total appendicular joint synovitis, joint erosion, enthesitis, and tenosynovitis scores were significantly higher in both arthralgia and inflammatory arthritis groups than in control individuals, with no significant differences found between the arthralgia and inflammatory arthritis subgroups. Among the patients exposed to immune checkpoint inhibitors, acromioclavicular (77%), glenohumeral (75%), wrist (73%), and metacarpophalangeal (59%) joints were most frequently affected by synovitis. Patients with a peripheral inflammatory arthritis pattern were most likely to require disease-modifying antirheumatic drug therapy, showing the highest initial and ongoing glucocorticoid requirement. IN PRACTICE: "[The study] results suggest that the overall burden of musculoskeletal toxicity associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors is currently under-recognised and highlights the range and extent of inflammation in all patients presenting with new musculoskeletal symptoms after exposure to an immune checkpoint inhibitor. Rheumatology assessment should be considered by oncologists for patients who develop arthralgia alone," the authors wrote. SOURCE: This study was led by Kate Harnden, MBChB, Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, Leeds, England. It was published online on June 10, 2025, in The Lancet Rheumatology. LIMITATIONS: Feet and ankles were not imaged during the study due to logistical constraints. The 6-month follow-up period was relatively short for determining long-term musculoskeletal outcomes. Some patients were classified as having non-specific inflammation patterns, whose significance was unclear. A few participants had preexisting autoimmune diseases, possibly increasing their baseline risk for arthritis. Additionally, intra-assessor agreement was not measured. DISCLOSURES: This study received support from the National Institute for Health and Care Research Leeds Biomedical Research Centre. One author reported receiving a EULAR bursary travel award, and some authors reported having financial ties with various sources. Details are provided in the original article. This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Why Non-alcoholic Beer Isn't Always the Healthy Option
Nearly half of UK adults now regularly drink alcohol-free beers, wines and spirits, according to mindful drinks specialists Club Soda's 'Drink for Everyone' 2025 report. Thousands of non-alcoholic drink options are now popping up in both pubs and supermarkets, with online retailer Ocado now stocking 261 adult alcohol-free drink options and more than 1,400 British breweries producing alcohol-free beer. As we know, alcohol – especially when consumed in large quantities – is detrimental to our health. From cognitive and liver function to metabolic health, the consequences of alcohol can be far-reaching thanks to its chemical makeup. However, now some experts are questioning whether some non-alcoholic options could also have potentially negative health consequences. In one new study, researchers investigated the effects of a range of non-alcoholic beers on 44 healthy young men's liver, glucose, fat metabolism, and body composition. In the (deep breath) investigator-blinded, single-centre, randomised study, researchers compared the effects on the metabolism, health, and gut microbiome of three different kinds of non-alcohol beer – pilsener, mixed beer and wheat beer – which the men drank daily. Over four weeks, the 44 men in the study drank either 660ml of water or 660ml of one of the three non-alcoholic beers, depending on the group to which they had been randomly assigned. The researchers collected blood and faecal samples before and after the four weeks, and also measured participants' body composition and scanned their liver. They found that those who drank the non-alcoholic beers – particularly the mixed and wheat beers – had increased levels of fasting glucose (the amount of sugar in your blood after not eating for at least eight hours) and increased insulin levels, respectively. While your body needs insulin to regulate blood sugar, having too much of it for too long can lead to various health complications, including insulin resistance, diabetes and some cardiovascular issues. The pilsener beer came out slightly better, with both the pilsener and water decreasing cholesterol and LDL levels without significantly affecting glucose metabolism. The high calorie and sugar content is likely what drives these 'unfavourable effects on metabolism', the researchers concluded. While the alcohol has been removed from these drinks, the team highlighted that they often still contain a considerable number of calories and sugar (which hasn't transformed into ethanol during the fermentation process). The small residual alcohol content (up to 0.5%), they added, could have also contributed to the results. They also concluded that while non-alcoholic pilsner had fewer adverse effects compared to the other drinks, there was no overarching benefit when compared to not drinking non-alcoholic beers at all. What's important to remember here, however, is that a lot of soft drinks are also high-calorie and high-sugar. Although you don't want to be drinking them all the time, it's unlikely your health will significantly suffer from consuming them in moderation. Essentially, the same principle applies here. The men in this study drank the equivalent of two non-alcoholic beers a day, and while BBQ season might mean more indulgence than usual, it still doesn't really reflect a balanced approach. If you are being extra vigilant about your health, these results are potentially quite useful when choosing which type of non-alcoholic beer to drink. For instance, according to this study, you might be best choosing pilsener drinks over mixed and wheat beers – particularly if you're going to be drinking quite a few. However, more extensive studies are needed before scientists can say anything with complete conviction. The researchers themselves flag several limitations of the study, including the fact it was small and only examined a very specific population. Ethically speaking, they also couldn't include a control group for alcoholic beer. At the end of the day, it's all about balance and making informed choices that are right for you. Part of the benefit of having so many new non-alcoholic and low-alcohol options is the wide range of formulas available. Among the thousands of products, there are low-calorie and low-sugar options. Essentially, the message is simple: when it comes to non-alcoholic alternatives, 'in moderation' still applies. You Might Also Like The 23 Best Foods to Build Muscle 10 of the Best Waterproof Boots to Buy in 2019 6 Ways to Improve Your Mental Health
CBC
01-06-2025
- Health
- CBC
A brisk walk a few times a week could help keep colon cancer away, study suggests
James Smith woke up from a colonoscopy to be told devastating news. At 59, he was diagnosed with colon cancer. Doctors found a mass so large it completely blocked their view of the rest of his colon. Smith said he was shocked. "It was hard, it was a hard diagnosis," he said. "It was hard to believe it was actually happening." Smith underwent surgery and four rounds of chemotherapy. When his doctors suggested he join a study to examine regular exercise and its possible role in preventing cancer recurrence, he said yes. He was concerned — through the course of his treatment he had lost about 26 kilograms, as well as muscle mass. But he joined, anyway. "At the beginning it was difficult, I won't deny. It was like, 'How am I going to do all this?'" Though he wasn't included in the final study, he ended up finding the program helped him gain a sense of control over the cancer and his treatments. Smith is now cancer-free and his prognosis is good, he says. The study, which was published in the New England Journal of Medicine on Sunday, found that for patients with colon cancer, structured exercise did make a difference. Seven years after being diagnosed, 90 per cent of the patients who took part in the structured exercise program over a three-year period were still living. In the group that had only received an informational pamphlet, 83 per cent of participants were still alive. The researchers don't know exactly why the program had such an impact. But the findings could have significant future implications for how patients with colon cancer, one of the most common cancers, receive treatment. Helping with traditional treatments The study enrolled 889 patients from 55 hospitals in Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom. The clinical trial focused on high-risk stages 2 and 3 colon cancer patients who had received surgery and chemotherapy. Half of the group was given the traditional take-home pamphlet recommending diet and exercise and the other half was prescribed a structured exercise program for three years. The study lasted for 15 years, with about half of the participants joining in the beginning and the rest later on. Patients in the exercise group were assigned a physiotherapist or a personal trainer to check in with at least once a month. But they were free to decide what kind of exercise they wanted to do. They just had to do it for up to 45 minutes, depending on the type, three times a week. For Smith, that meant walking briskly on a treadmill. Other participants biked, swam or hit the gym. In each case, the exercise had to include a sustained, elevated heart rate. (They didn't specify a figure.) "If someone saw you walking, they would think you are late for an appointment," said Kerry Courneya, a kinesiology professor at the University of Alberta and the lead author of the study. Courneya launched the research because previous studies had hinted at the benefits of exercise, but nothing was definitive enough to convince doctors. The exercise program is not meant to replace traditional treatments, like surgery and chemotherapy, but is meant to enhance them. "There was a lot of skepticism with the observational studies, and many health-care providers and oncologists felt like they didn't act on them because they were methodologically limited." Researchers found differences in cancer recurrence, as well. Eighty per cent of the exercise group was cancer-free five years after their diagnosis, compared with about 74 per cent in the group that received the pamphlet. Colon cancer typically recurs in about 30 to 40 per cent of patients. Benefits comparable to some chemo drugs Dr. Chris Booth is a senior author of the study and an oncologist at Queen's University in Kingston. Booth suggests that when combined with traditional treatments, the benefits of the prescribed exercise program are comparable to some chemo drugs. "There are treatments we use every day that have much smaller benefits and some of the treatments we think are important have benefits that are comparable to this [exercise]." Dr. Sami Chadi is a colorectal surgeon and clinician investigator at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, part of Toronto's University Health Network. He was not involved in the research, and already encourages his patients to exercise. But he says he plans to use this research to help convince his patients to follow a structured exercise routine. "I don't think there is any question about it. I think a structured exercise program after surgery and after treatment is absolutely necessary, so we should be strongly recommending it as strongly as we recommend chemotherapy to our Stage 3 patients." The researchers don't know why exactly the exercise program impacted the recurrence and improved survival. They do know it wasn't about weight loss or improved cardiovascular function, because there was no significant change in either factor during the study. Dr. Booth describes it as a mystery that he aims to solve. "We banked blood on all the patients," he said. "In the next couple of years, we will be doing detailed biomarker analysis to try and understand what it is about exercise that is reducing the risk of cancer recurrence." WATCH | Dr. Booth on the study's findings: Prescribed exercise could be as effective as chemo for colon cancer, researcher says 2 minutes ago Duration 1:25 Dr. Christopher Booth, oncologist from Queen's University, discusses the results of his study that looked at the impact of an exercise program on people with colon cancer. In the meantime, he says this study should give enough evidence to convince patients, doctors and governments that structured exercise programs should be an important part in their arsenal to reduce the risk of a recurrence of colon cancer. As for Smith, it's been nearly five years since his diagnosis. He is doing well and still exercising and playing hockey in Edmonton. Recurrence is still something he worries about, but he's thrilled to hear the results of the research, calling them fantastic.
