Soft drinks hard facts. A slow death from sugar sweetened drinks

Chronic overconsumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) is amongst the dietary factors most consistently found to be associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes (T2D) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in large epidemiological studies. Studies have shown that SSB overconsumption increases intra-abdominal obesity and ectopic lipid deposition in the liver, and also exacerbates cardiometabolic risk. Similar to the prevalence of obesity and T2D, national surveys of food consumption have shown that chronic overconsumption of SSBs is skyrocketing in many parts of the world, ...

Pesticide exposure has a big impact on kids IQ and mental development

Residential proximity to agricultural pesticide use has been associated with many adverse health conditions including neural tube defects and autism. In a long term study of 283 mothers and children 7 years old living in an agricultural area in the US researchers found a decrease of 2.2 points in Full-Scale IQ and 2.9 points in Verbal Comprehension for each increase in toxicity-weighted use of organophosphate pesticides. In separate analysis, they observed similar decrements in Full-Scale IQ with each standard deviation increase of use for two organophosphate pesticides ...

Probiotics with prebiotics promote weight and stomach fat loss.

Since 2006 there has been a large body of scientific evidence showing the gut microbiota is interlinked with obesity and other metabolic conditions including type 2 diabetes. Probiotics are live micro-organisms that confer health benefits to the host and prebiotics are fibers that selectively improve the growth of beneficial gut microbes. Previous animal studies have shown probiotics prevented weight gain, improved insulin sensitivity, as well as reduced endotoxemia and tissue inflammation In a study of 225 healthy volunteers randomized into four groups those taking the ...

Folic acid supplementation in mums linked to reduced leukaemia in kids.

Childhood leukaemia is a major cause of death and suffering in kids today. While chemical exposure has been linked with increased rates of leukaemia this study also shows a strong link with low folic acid levels in mums and increased rates. Folic acid and its derivates, known as folates, are chemoprotective micronutrients of great interest because of their essential role in the maintenance of health and genomic integrity. The supplementation of folic acid during pregnancy has long been known to reduce the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs) in the foetus. Folate met...

Sickness from the smelling industry and the health effects of fragrance compounds.

In the past few decades, synthetic fragrance compounds have become ubiquitous components of personal care and household cleaning products. Overwhelming consumerism trends have led to the excess usage of these chemicals. It has been observed that this fragrance-laden unhealthy lifestyle runs parallel with the unprecedented rates of diabetes, cancer, neural ailments, teratogenicity, and transgender instances. The link between fragrances as and the health outcomes can remain latent for decades. The adverse effects of the fragrance constituents as phthalates, paraben, gluta...

Chemicals found in makeup and frying pans have again been linked with early menopause.

Studies have found around 15 chemicals that are positively associated with younger menopausal age and the two major culprits were phthalates found in everyday makeup and personal care products. Of the 13 chemicals the strongest influence was 3.8 years younger for mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl)phthalate, compared with less-exposed women. Another study found a link between early menopause and elevated serum levels of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), or teflon an industrial chemical used in several nonstick and stain-repellant applications. Manufactured for decades, PFOA is n...

200 scientists rally against triclosan in colgate toothpaste and cleaning products.

Two hundred scientists any benefits of triclosan and triclocarban—used in some soaps, toothpastes, detergents, paints, carpets—are outweighed by the risk. While other studies and the FDA in the US say there is no benefit from using these ingredients over basic soap and cleaning products. these two chemicals have been used for years without any definitive proof they’re providing benefits. The compounds are used in an estimated 2,000 products but are being phased out of some uses. In February the EU banned triclosan in hygiene products. U.S. manufacturers are phasin...

BPA linked with boys memory.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a high-production-volume chemical that is used to produce polycarbonate plastics and resins used in some food can linings and other consumer products around the home and everyone is exposed predominantly from their diet. There is growing evidence that prenatal BPA exposure increases the risk of neurobehavioral disorders in children. Some experimental studies in rodents suggest that prenatal BPA exposure is associated with behavior problems and that these effects may be sex-specific. Prenatal exposure to BPA may increase the risk of neurobehavioral dis...

Higher vitamin D linked with lower metabolic syndrome particularly as we age.

Increasing evidence has suggested a protective role of vitamin D on metabolic syndrome (MetS). In this study of 1790 workers, ages 18 to 69 y, an inverse trend was observed between vitamin D (25(OH)D) and MetS.The higher the vitamin D the lower the risk of Metabolic Syndrome. So get out into the sun. A number of other studies have shown a link between low vitamin D and diabetes and metabolic syndrome. In a study of 15,088 subjects Vitamin D levels were inversely associated with hypertension, diabetes mellitus and hypertriglyceridemia. Other cross-sectional studies hav...

Common household disinfectants linked with birth defects, miscarriages and fertility.

Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) are antimicrobial disinfectants commonly used in commercial and household settings and everyone is virtually exposed to these chemicals every day. Two common quaternary ammonium compounds, alkyldimethylbenzyl ammonium chloride (ADBAC) and didecyldimethyl ammonium chloride (DDAC), are combined in common cleaners and disinfectants. In this study introduction of a cleaner containing ADBAC+DDAC in the living chambers caused neural tube defects (NTDs) in mice and rats. They found increased neural tube defects with exposure to the disinfect...