“An international team of scientists has reported that people gain more weight on an ultra-processed diet compared to a minimally processed diet, even when they eat the same number of calories. The study in humans also revealed that a diet high in ultra-processed foods introduces higher levels of pollutants known to affect sperm quality (PrestonContinue reading “Ultra-processed food consumption is detrimental for cardiometabolic and reproductive outcomes, regardless of excessive caloric intake: New research”
Category Archives: Plastic
Green roofs can capture nearly all microplastics that contaminate rainwater in modern cities: New research
“Green roofs can capture nearly all the microplastic particles that contaminate rainwater in modern cities, according to a new study. The findings add to the list of benefits of green roofs, which have previously been shown to reduce energy needed for heating and cooling buildings and calm the flow of stormwater. These nature-based solutions canContinue reading “Green roofs can capture nearly all microplastics that contaminate rainwater in modern cities: New research”
Microplastics shed by food packaging are contaminating our food and drink, new scientific review finds
Tearing off plastic wrap from the meat or prepackaged fruit and vegetables you purchased at the supermarket may contaminate your food with micro- and nanoplastics, according to a new research review published in the journal NPJ Science of Food. “Plastic contamination may also occur when you’re unwrapping deli meat and cheese, steeping a tea bagContinue reading “Microplastics shed by food packaging are contaminating our food and drink, new scientific review finds”
Dietary & lifestyle strategies to reduce human exposure to microplastics and nanoplastics
In a recent commentary published in the journal Brain Medicine, three medical doctors (MDs) identified dietary and lifestyle-based strategies that may reduce human exposure to microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs). This commentary was published shortly after a research study published in Nature Medicine reported that the human brain contains “approximately a spoon’s worth of microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs).”Continue reading “Dietary & lifestyle strategies to reduce human exposure to microplastics and nanoplastics”
How microplastics may alter gut health: New research & strategies for limiting plastic pollution
A new review published in the journal Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology has concluded that microplastics may alter gut health (Bora et al., 2024). Microplastics are small particles of plastic less than five millimeters long; they are found in many food and beverage products including beer. They are also present in water bottles, seafood,Continue reading “How microplastics may alter gut health: New research & strategies for limiting plastic pollution”
Per- And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS): What they are, where they are found, and how to limit exposure
Per – and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large group of synthetic chemicals characterized by a chain of carbon atoms bound to fluorine atoms through a process called fluorination.1 PFAS are a class of thousands of chemicals known or suspected to be endocrine-disrupting chemicals. According to the Endocrine Society and the International Pollutants Elimination NetworkContinue reading “Per- And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS): What they are, where they are found, and how to limit exposure”
New research finds nearly 90% of proteins tested, even vegan alternatives, contain microplastics
Using less plastic and purchasing and consuming fewer pre-packaged highly processed foods should be on everyone’s sustainability list for 2024. Why is this the case? A new study by researchers at the University of Toronto and Ocean Conservancy published in the journal Environmental Pollution (2024) evaluated microplastics in different types of protein-containing foods in theContinue reading “New research finds nearly 90% of proteins tested, even vegan alternatives, contain microplastics”
More than half of consumers are ‘climatarians’ and show concern for environment, new market research suggests
“Consumers are adapting their attitudes about food to a changing climate and aiming for more sustainable eating habits, research in Tetra Pak’s 2023 Index suggests.” The research also indicates that consumers are gravitating towards healthier products, a trend that is hampered little by economic concerns. “According to Tetra Pak’s Index 2023, based on research conductedContinue reading “More than half of consumers are ‘climatarians’ and show concern for environment, new market research suggests”
Do chemicals in plastic consumer products, and other endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), contribute to obesity?
In a recent study published in Environmental Science & Technology, Dr. Martin Wagner and co-authors investigated whether everyday plastic consumer products contain chemicals that induce adipogenesis, a key process in the development of obesity. These investigators found that, indeed, the chemicals extracted from one third of the products trigger the differentiation and proliferation of adipocytes or fatContinue reading “Do chemicals in plastic consumer products, and other endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), contribute to obesity?”
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