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Incidence of stroke and related deaths are rising substantially around the world, with <keyword id="19900550" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="air-pollution" source="keywords">air pollution</keyword>, <keyword id="21334318" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="high-temperatures" source="keywords">high temperatures</keyword> and metabolic risk factors such as high blood pressure and physical inactivity, driving these increases, according to estimates published in The Lancet Neurology journal. Researchers found that the contribution of high temperatures to poor health and early death due to stroke has increased 72% since 1990 and is likely to continue increasing in the future, thereby highlighting how environmental factors can impact growing stroke burden. Further, for the first time, particulate matter or PM air pollution was found to have the same contribution as smoking towards causing a fatal form of brain bleed, according to the researchers forming the <keyword id="20691740" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Global-Burden-of-Disease" source="keywords">Global Burden of Disease</keyword>, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) group. The GBD study, the "largest and most comprehensive effort to quantify health loss across places and over time", is coordinated by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), University of Washington, US. Globally, the number of people experiencing a stroke for the first time rose to 119 lakh in 2021 -- up by 70% since 1990 -- while deaths related to stroke rose to 73 lakh, which was up by 44% since 1990, making the neurological condition the third leading cause of death after ischaemic heart disease (short supply of blood to heart) and COVID-19. They added that over three-fourth of those affected by strokes live in low- and middle-income countries. According to lead author Valery L. Feigin from Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand, the rapid growth in the number of people affected by stroke strongly suggested that <keyword id="23228151" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="stroke-prevention" source="keywords">stroke prevention</keyword> strategies currently used are not sufficiently effective. "New, proven effective population-wide and motivational individual prevention strategies that could be applied to all people at risk of having a stroke, regardless of the level of risk, as recommended in the recent Lancet Neurology Commission on Stroke should be implemented across the globe urgently," said Feigin. The researchers also estimated that stroke-related liabilities attributable to 23 modifiable risk factors, including air pollution, excess body weight, high blood pressure, smoking and physical inactivity, increased from 100 million years of healthy life lost in 1990 to 135 million in 2021. These risk factors are present in huge numbers in Eastern Europe, Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, they said. The authors also acknowledged substantial progress made in reducing the global stroke burden from risk factors linked to poor diet, air pollution and smoking. Poor health resulting from diets high in processed meat and low in vegetables declined by 40 % and 30%, respectively, while that due to PM air pollution and smoking fell by 20 % and 13%, respectively, they found. The results suggested that strategies for reducing exposure to these risk factors over the past three decades such as clean air zones and public smoking bans have been successful, the authors said. They called for implementing and monitoring the evidence-based recommendations set out in the 2023 World Stroke Organization-Lancet Neurology Commission on stroke for drastically reducing the global burden of stroke in the years to come and improving brain health and overall well-being of millions of people around the world. The recommendations include stroke surveillance programmes that monitor indicators of stroke such as incidence, recurrence, death rates and risk factors in a country, and care and rehabilitation services for people affected by stroke.

Stroke cases increasing globally, air pollution, high temperatures driving numbers, notes Lancet Study

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Supplements aren't regulated in the US like drugs are.</li><li>It's important to do your homework before taking them, the director of the Office of Dietary Supplements said.</li></ul><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/vitamins-dietary-supplements-not-worth-buying-dietitians-2023-7">Supplements</a> are a polarizing topic. While some people swear by them, others think they're a total waste of time and money.But the US' top supplements expert, Stefan Pasiakos, told Business Insider that neither view is helpful."You need to come at it from an objective standpoint and let the evidence speak for itself," said Pasiakos, who leads the Office of Dietary Supplements at the National Institutes of Health, a government body that assesses the latest scientific findings on supplements to strengthen public understanding.Pasiakos, a nutritional scientist by training, joined the ODS in July 2023 with the goal of bringing a high level of scientific objectivity to the supplement field, he said. By providing people with clear information, he hopes he can help them make informed choices that optimize their health.Dietary supplements from <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/multivitamins-for-memory-older-adults-benefit-2023-10">multivitamins</a> to probiotics have become staples in our bathroom cabinets, with almost 58% of Americans saying they had taken some kind of supplement in the past 30 days, according to the latest <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db399.htm#:~:text=Among%20U.S.%20adults%20aged%2020,60%20and%20over%20(80.2%25).">data from the CDC</a> published in 2021. It's no surprise, then, that the US dietary supplement market had an estimated value of $45.1 billion in 2023, according to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/828481/total-dietary-supplements-market-size-in-the-us/">Statista</a>.But the FDA doesn't approve supplements before they hit the market, meaning, unlike drug manufacturers, companies don't have to conduct multiple clinical trials to prove their products work, quantities of ingredients don't always have to be listed, and products are sometimes contaminated by or cut with other substances not mentioned on the packaging. One <a target="_blank" href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2807343?utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_medium=social_jamajno&amp;utm_term=10743549280&amp;utm_campaign=article_alert&amp;linkId=225481243">2023 study</a> published in JAMA Network Open found that 89% of the 57 dietary supplements tested didn't accurately list their ingredients.While this means doing your homework before taking a supplement is crucial, it doesn't mean they can't play a role in supporting and promoting health, Pasiakos said.He shared three common misconceptions about supplements that could prevent people benefiting from them.<h2 id="bae5144e-ea2f-428c-9907-12d3c1c6ad15">1) The more supplements, the better</h2>When it comes to vitamins, minerals, and nutrients, more is not always better, Pasiakos said. It's common for people to think that because something is "natural" you can't have too much of it, but that's untrue, he said.There are instances where consuming above and beyond what's recommended is unsafe, and for a lot of natural products, we simply don't know where those upper levels are, Pasiakos said.When people take above the recommended daily limit of a supplement, the effects can be serious. In May 2023, a man died after taking <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/man-killed-by-vitamin-d-supplements-2024-2">too much vitamin D</a> over nine months.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/risks-popular-supplements-vitamin-d-magnesium-2024-4">Overdosing on magnesium</a>, meanwhile, can in extreme cases, cause paralysis and death, while overdosing on vitamin C can lead to kidney problems and vitamin B12 deficiencies, professor Rob Chilcott, the head of toxicology at the University of Hertfordshire, UK, previously told BI.<div type="image" title="A woman browses the supplement aisle in a store." height="1414" width="2121" msid="113962537" hostid="261" sizebytes="152838"></div><h2 id="14b98670-a04a-4851-b255-b229a967fb8a">2) Supplements are 'tainted and adulterated'</h2>People tend to fall into two camps, those who think all supplements are "tainted and adulterated" and others who think they all work, Pasiakos said.Pasiakos said that certain resources, such as the ODS's supplement fact sheets, can help people make informed decisions about supplements, while the third party NSF Product Certification program can guarantee a product contains what the label says it does.But it's important to know that verification programs are not backing any health claims a company might make about their product. "It's simply saying that what's on the label is in the dietary supplement," he said."All I would say is that people make sure that they become educated on these products, understand what's in them, and know that the industry is not out to get them. But there are certainly aspects of certain dietary supplements that may be considered unsafe," he said.<h2 id="9b3c3c37-ffd3-424f-984c-6059a8335205">3) Supplements are a silver bullet</h2>Pasiakos said people are always looking for a silver bullet to make them healthy, but they won't find it in dietary supplements.Like many dietitians, Pasiakos takes a food-first approach to his health. He sees supplements as complementary to a healthy diet, not as a way to replace or substitute one."You can't look at dietary supplements without understanding the underlying diet," he said. If you don't know what a person is eating and getting from their diet nutrient-wise, you can't advise them on what dietary supplements they should take, he said."I can't just ignore that. So that's why I look at it that way."

3 common myths about supplements that prevent people from improving their health, according to the US' top expert 

Around 26 per cent of <keyword id="19896991" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cancer" source="keywords">cancer</keyword> patients in <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="India" source="keywords">India</keyword> have tumours in the head and neck, and there is an upward trend of such cases in the country, a study has found. The findings of the study, conducted on 1,869 cancer patients across the country, were released on the World <keyword id="20775483" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="head-and-neck-cancer" source="keywords">Head and Neck Cancer</keyword> Day observed on Saturday. Cancer Mukt Bharat Foundation, a Delhi-based non-profit organisation, conducted the study by collating data from calls received on its helpline number from March 1 to June 30. Dr. Ashish Gupta, a senior oncologist who is heading the Cancer Mukt Bharat Campaign in India, said that India is seeing surge in head and neck cancer cases, especially among young men, due to increased <keyword id="20681485" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tobacco-consumption" source="keywords">tobacco consumption</keyword> and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. "Around 80-90 pc of oral cancer patients have been found to use tobacco in some form, be it smoking or chewing. Most of the head and neck cancer are preventable, unlike other cancers for which the reason is unknown. It is a preventable cancer that can be prevented with lifestyle modification. "There is a need to raise awareness to quit tobacco and early check-ups for early pickup of the disease," Gupta said. In India, nearly two-thirds of cancer cases are detected late likely due to low adoption of proper screening, he said. Gupta added that the Cancer Mukt Bharat campaign aims to reduce the incidence and impact of cancer on individuals and communities through education and early detection. "If found early in stages one or two, most head and neck cancers are curable in more than 80 pc of patients. In the field of cancer treatment, we get new medicines almost every week which can treat cancer in better way leading to better outcomes and good quality of life. "A combination of surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy can be used for treating head and neck cancer. Latest cancer treatment has evolved to prioritize not just curing the disease, but also ensuring a good quality of life for survivors," he said. Under the Cancer Mukt Bharat Campaign, a free national helpline number (93-555-20202) was launched recently, which is operational from 10 am to 5 pm from Monday to Saturday. Cancer patients can call on this number to speak to leading oncologists directly or even do a video call to discuss about their treatment without paying any fees. Head and neck cancer was closely followed by gastrointestinal cancers which was 16 per cent. Fufteen per cent cancers in India re breast cancers and and blood cancers make up 9 per cent of them. These data are in line with the latest GLOBOCAN data -- a database that gives global cancer statistics -- on India. GLOBOCON data is part of International Agency for Research on Cancer's Global Cancer Observatory. India is expected to have 2.1 million new cancer cases by 2040, a big jump from the numbers in 2020, as per a recent GLOBOCAN report. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/apple-to-manufacture-iphone-16-pro-models-in-india-soon-after-launch/articleshow/112045172.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/apple-to-manufacture-iphone-16-pro-models-in-india-soon-after-launch/articleshow/112045172.cms" target="_blank">Apple to manufacture iPhone 16 Pro models in India soon after launch</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/pixel-9-series-design-and-specs-revealed-ahead-of-launch-next-month/articleshow/112039063.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/pixel-9-series-design-and-specs-revealed-ahead-of-launch-next-month/articleshow/112039063.cms" target="_blank">Pixel 9 series design and specs revealed ahead of launch next month</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/webstories/akums-drugs-ipo-opens-soon-price-band-to-risk-factors-all-you-need-to-know/slidelist/112033450.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/webstories/akums-drugs-ipo-opens-soon-price-band-to-risk-factors-all-you-need-to-know/slidelist/112033450.cms" target="_blank">Akums Drugs IPO opens soon – Price band to risk factors, all you need to know</a>

Cancers in head and neck rising, account for 26% cases in India: Study

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A 3-year-study of Zepbound and Mounjaro found the GLP-1 drugs can help prevent diabetes.</li><li>The weekly injections cut the risk of developing diabetes by 94% among adults with high blood sugar.</li></ul>First, these new injectable drugs were meant to treat diabetes. Then, they became approved for weight loss. And now, a new study suggests losing weight with some <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/weight-loss-glp-1-drugs-ozempic-wegovy-mounjaro-effects-future-2023-12">GLP-1 drugs</a> can also prevent diabetes.Results from a three-year study of over 1,000 patients, funded by drugmaker Eli Lilly, suggest that taking <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/eli-lilly-mounjaro-zepbound-approved-weight-loss-stronger-than-wegovy-2023-11">Zepbound</a> or Mounjaro may reduce the risk of developing diabetes by 94% among patients at risk. Those patients were both overweight and had pre-diabetes — higher-than-normal blood sugar readings put them at greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the near future."These data reinforce the potential clinical benefits of long-term therapy for people living with obesity and pre-diabetes," Dr Jeff Emmick, senior vice president of product development at Eli Lilly, said in a release.<h2 id="ce50f17b-ef75-4c48-9639-252137ecba17">Patients on the drug lost a lot of weight — lowering their risk of developing diabetes</h2><div type="image" title="a close up of a person measuring their waist size " height="1414" width="2121" msid="112660673" hostid="261" sizebytes="139486"></div>The weight loss benefits of taking Eli Lilly's dual-agonist drug, (generically called tirzepatide) were profound.Patients on the highest dose of the drug lost, on average, more than 22% of their body weight in this study, while patients on the lowest dose lost around 15%. Patients in a control group on a placebo jab only lost about 1%.Weight loss, along with eating healthy and exercising more, is already a well-known strategy for reducing the risk of developing diabetes among people with pre-diabetes.Hormone-mimicking shots like Zepbound, Mounjaro, Ozempic, and Wegovy make your body feel full with less food; they slow down digestion and improve blood sugar control. Tirzepatide tends to be a more powerful medication than semaglutide (the drug branded as Ozempic and Wegovy from Novo Nordisk), because it acts on two separate hormone receptors (GLP-1 and GIP) rather than one.<h2 id="29c21add-aa70-4d9e-a9ac-a10698deeb61">The big unanswered question</h2>How long people will need to remain <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-long-do-you-have-to-take-ozempic-probably-forever-2023-6">on these drugs</a> is unclear. If someone on Zepbound or Mounjaro loses a substantial amount of weight, to the point that they no longer have pre-diabetes or obesity, can they stop taking their drug?That is something doctors and researchers can't answer. Studies suggest that most people who do that will rebound, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/quit-wegovy-ozempic-no-evidence-stop-taking-works-2023-12">regaining all they've lost</a>, and often more. Plus, insurers tend not to cover a drug that costs more than $1,000 a month for someone without any diagnosable health conditions.These weekly injectables for weight loss and diabetes are also being tested as prevention and treatment tools for various other conditions including <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/glp-1-for-dementia-alzheimers-early-study-looks-promising-2024-7">dementia</a>, liver disease, and drug and alcohol <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ozempic-treat-addiction-alzheimers-depression-2023-5">addictions.</a>But it's unclear how often the drugs will be covered by insurance, and whether people will want to deal with common side effects like nausea and gastrointestinal issues for life.

Eli Lilly's weight-loss drug may prevent diabetes — but there's 1 unanswered question

Raising concerns over growing <keyword id="20260846" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="obesity" source="keywords">obesity</keyword> and increase of consumption of highly <keyword id="20490015" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="processed-foods" source="keywords">processed foods</keyword> laden with sugars and fat, the Economic Survey said 54 per cent of the total disease burden in India is due to <keyword id="21833035" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="unhealthy-diets" source="keywords">unhealthy diets</keyword>. Obesity presents a "concerning situation" and <keyword id="19948547" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="preventive-measures" source="keywords">preventive measures</keyword> must be taken to enable citizens to have a <keyword id="20000886" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="healthier-lifestyle" source="keywords">healthier lifestyle</keyword>, it said. "Obesity is emerging as a serious concern among India's adult population," said the Survey, which was tabled on Monday by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Parliament. If India needs to "reap the gains of its demographic dividend, it is critical that its population's health parameters transition towards a balanced and diverse diet", it said. Citing a report from the Indian Council for Medical Research, the Economic Survey observed that the rise in consumption of highly processed foods laden with sugars and fat, coupled with reduced physical activity and limited access to diverse foods, exacerbate micronutrient deficiencies and overweight/obesity problems. Estimates show that the adult obesity rate in India has more than tripled, and the rise in children is the steepest in the world for India, behind Vietnam and Namibia, the survey stated, referring to a World Obesity Federation report. The survey further said as per National Family Health Survey (NFHS), the incidence of obesity is significantly higher in urban India than in rural India. In urban India, it is 29.8 per cent in men versus 19.3 per cent of rural India. The percentage of men facing obesity in the 18-69 age bracket has increased to 22.9 per cent in NFHS-5 from 18.9 per cent in NFHS-4. For women, it has increased from 20.6 per cent (NFHS-4) to 24 per cent (NFHS-5). "Combined with an ageing population in some states, obesity presents a concerning situation. Preventive measures must be taken to enable citizens to have a healthier lifestyle," the survey said. In some states, such as in the NCT (Delhi), the proportion of women with obesity is 41.3 per cent, as against 38 per cent for men. In Tamil Nadu, for men, obesity is 37 per cent and it is 40.4 per cent for women. In Andhra, it is 36.3 per cent for women while for men it is 31.1 per cent. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/google-pixel-9-pro-fold-to-launch-in-india-on-august-14-alongside-the-pixel-9-series/articleshow/111855704.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/google-pixel-9-pro-fold-to-launch-in-india-on-august-14-alongside-the-pixel-9-series/articleshow/111855704.cms" target="_blank">Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold to launch in India on August 14 alongside the Pixel 9 series</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/webstories/oneplus-nord-4-vs-realme-gt-6t-which-mid-range-phone-should-you-buy-under-35000/slidelist/111803604.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/webstories/oneplus-nord-4-vs-realme-gt-6t-which-mid-range-phone-should-you-buy-under-35000/slidelist/111803604.cms" target="_blank">OnePlus Nord 4 vs Realme GT 6T – which mid-range phone should you buy under ₹35,000?</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/reliance-jio-and-airtel-added-3-45-million-subscribers-in-may-2024-while-vi-lost-nearly-a-million/articleshow/111800758.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/reliance-jio-and-airtel-added-3-45-million-subscribers-in-may-2024-while-vi-lost-nearly-a-million/articleshow/111800758.cms" target="_blank">Reliance Jio and Airtel added 3.45 million subscribers in May 2024, while Vi lost nearly a million</a>

Rising obesity a concern, preventive measures must be taken for healthier lifestyle: Eco Survey

<ul class="summary-list"><li>There's no one secret to living to 110 like <keyword id="22369316" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Supercentenarians" source="keywords">supercentenarians</keyword>.</li><li>But supercentenarians tend to share nine traits, according to an expert.</li></ul>A <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/aging-secrets-longevity-advice-japan-supercentenarian-2023-12">supercentenarian</a> expert shared with Business Insider the nine things people who live to 110 and beyond have in common. Jimmy Lindberg has studied thousands of supercentenarians in her role as a scientific advisor for <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/supercentenarians-biggest-regrets-life-longevity-researchers-2023-12">Longeviquest</a>, an organization that verifies the ages of the world's oldest people. Shesaid factors out of our control —such as <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/longevity-runs-in-family-lessons-traits-to-live-longer-2023-12">long-living relatives</a>, being born in the winter months, and being female (95% of supercentenarians are women) — are associated with <keyword id="20186177" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="longevity" source="keywords">longevity</keyword>. Living somewhere warm helps, too. It's unsurprising that research also suggests wealth is a factor. According to the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ft.com/content/6d8bad29-3147-44a2-bc61-70f8ceff6c6f">Financial Times</a>, the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/rich-people-live-nine-years-longer-than-poor">poorest Americans live 50 fewer years</a> than their wealthy counterparts, as they are more likely to be obese, be exposed to opioid use and gun violence, and have less financial security and access to medical care. But "<keyword id="19919252" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="lifestyle" source="keywords">lifestyle</keyword> is of course a contributor" to a long, healthy life, Linberg said. Here are the factors she shared. <h2>Be resilient</h2><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/longevity-tips-age-gap-best-friend-2023-12">Being resilient</a> and able to endure hard times is one of the key predictors of longevity in supercentenarians, Lindberg said. "You don't have to be a super endurance athlete or anything like that, but you have to keep going," she said. A 2023 study by researchers at the Complutense University of Madrid on the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/longevity-aging-recommendations-centenarians-have-in-common-study-2023-11">traits centenarians tend to share</a> found looking for a silver lining and carrying on in the face of adversity was common. Business Insider has previously reported on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-become-more-resilient-to-help-overcome-trauma-2020-8">how to build resilience</a>. <h2>Be spiritual</h2><keyword id="19968430" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="spirituality" source="keywords">Spirituality</keyword>, meaning believing in something greater than ourselves versus following a specific religion, is also very common among the supercentenarians that Lindberg has studied. This is reflected in research, with one 2016 study by a team at Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health finding that women who attended a religious service more than once a week were 33% less likely to die of any cause, potentially because it provided social support and boosted their optimism. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/joseph-maroon-aging-expert-longevity-tips-secrets-healthy-lifespan-2024-2">Dr. Joseph Maroon</a>, an 84-year-old neurosurgeon and Ironman triathlete, previously told BI that he believes spirituality has contributed to his health and longevity as much as diet and fitness. <h2>Maintain a <keyword id="20279412" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="healthy-weight" source="keywords">healthy weight</keyword></h2>"There haven't really been any obese supercentenarians," Lindberg said. "They tend to maintain a relatively healthy weight throughout their lives." <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/obesity-changes-how-the-brain-reacts-to-food-permanently-study-2023-6">Obesity</a> is associated with an increased risk of conditions including heart disease, cancer, diabetes, kidney diseases, and liver disease — all of which increase the risk of early death. One 2022 studypublished in the journal JAMA Network Open on 29,621 people found that those with a BMI of more than 30, which is considered "obese," lived to 77.7 on average, while people with "normal" or "overweight" BMIs (18.5-29.9) lived almost five years longer, to around 82. BI has previously reported on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-lose-weight-without-dieting-2018-4">how to lose weight healthily</a>. <h2>Take steps to prevent chronic disease</h2>Chronic diseases, such as heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer's, and diabetes, are the leading causes of death and disability in the US, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Whether we develop chronic diseases is partly out of our control due to a range of factors from our genes to our environment, but there are certain steps we can take to lower our risk. They include not smoking, eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables and low in sodium and saturated fats, being physically active, and reducing how much alcohol you drink, according to the CDC. Eating a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/health/diet-nutrition/mediterranean-diet">Mediterranean diet</a> can help reduce the risks of developing chronic disease, BI previously reported. <h2>Have a strong support network</h2>Multiple studies have found links between maintaining strong social relationships with living longer, including the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/good-relationships-help-you-live-longer-reduce-physical-pain-2023-1">Harvard Study of Adult Development</a>, an 85-year-long project that followed three generations to see what kept them healthy and happy. Dr. Robert Waldinger, the study's lead researcher, previously told BI that healthy relationships had a surprisingly large impact on people's odds of living longer. And, according to professor Rose Anne Kenny, a gerontologist at Trinity College Dublin, having good relationships is just as <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/longevity-antiaging-friendship-social-interaction-relationships-2023-9">important to longevity</a> as eating well and exercising. Correction: July 10, 2024 — An earlier version of this story misstated Dr. Maroon's age. He is 84 not 83.

Supercentenarians who live past 110 have 9 things in common, according to a scientist who studies them 

A newly developed model could predict an individual's chances of developing osteoporosis, in which the bones degrade and become weak and brittle, according to a study. Testing the AI-based model on real-world health data of people, researchers identified the ten most important factors for predicting risk of osteoporosis, including weight, age and grip strength, along with blood pressure and smoking and alcohol habits. For the model, the researchers at the <keyword id="21366828" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tulane-University" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Tulane University" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Tulane University">Tulane University</keyword>, US, created a <keyword id="22247759" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="deep-learning-algorithm" source="keywords">deep learning algorithm</keyword> using data from over 8,000 participants aged 40 and older in the Louisiana Osteoporosis Study at the same university. A form of artificial intelligence, deep learning algorithms mimic human brains to find trends in large datasets. Using the model could potentially lead to earlier diagnoses and better outcomes for patients with <keyword id="22247758" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="osteoporosis-risk" source="keywords">osteoporosis risk</keyword>, according to the authors of the study detailing the model, which is published in the journal Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence. "The earlier osteoporosis risk is detected, the more time a patient has for <keyword id="22247760" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="preventative-measures" source="keywords">preventative measures</keyword>," said lead author Chuan Qiu, a research assistant professor at the Tulane School of Medicine. The model requires more work before the AI-based platform can be used by the public to predict one's chances of having osteoporosis, Qiu said. "Our final aim is to allow people to enter their information and receive highly accurate osteoporosis risk scores to empower them to seek treatment to strengthen their bones and reduce any further damage," Qiu said. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/vraj-iron-and-steel-ipo-allotment-how-to-check-allotment-ipo-gmp-listing-date-and-more/articleshow/111394752.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/vraj-iron-and-steel-ipo-allotment-how-to-check-allotment-ipo-gmp-listing-date-and-more/articleshow/111394752.cms" target="_blank">Vraj Iron and Steel IPO allotment – How to check allotment, IPO GMP, listing date and more</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/reliance-jio-and-airtel-price-hike-new-plans-and-how-you-can-save-money/articleshow/111331794.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/reliance-jio-and-airtel-price-hike-new-plans-and-how-you-can-save-money/articleshow/111331794.cms" target="_blank">Reliance Jio and Airtel price hike – new plans and how you can save money</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/webstories/upcoming-smartphones-launching-in-india-in-july-2024/slidelist/111304902.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/webstories/upcoming-smartphones-launching-in-india-in-july-2024/slidelist/111304902.cms" target="_blank">Upcoming smartphones launching in India in July 2024</a>

Scientists develop AI-model to predict one's osteoporosis risk

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Colon cancer rates among people under 50 are rising.</li><li>Evidence suggests eating fiber-filled whole grains and avoiding red meat can help reduce the risk.</li></ul><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/colon-cancer-risks-young-people-reduce-diet-alcohol-2024-2">Colon cancer rates in younger people</a> are rising, but research suggests a healthy diet can lower the risk of developing the disease.Cancer is typically associated with older people, but the percentage of colorectal cancer cases in those under 55 doubled between 1995 and 2019, from 11% to 20%, according to the American Cancer Society. It's now the deadliest cancer among men under 50 in the US and the second deadliest for women the same age.Around $24.3 billion was spent in the US on colorectal cancer-related healthcare in 2020, accounting for 12.6% of all cancer treatment costs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Experts don't know what's behind the uptick in cases. However, it's understood that lifestyle factors such as being overweight, being physically inactive, drinking alcohol, and eating lots of red meat and ultra-processed foods <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/colon-cancer-doctor-prevention-risk-oncologist-2024-3">increase colon cancer risk</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.thecancerdietitian.com/">Meredy Birdi</a>, a cancer dietitian based in London, told Business Insider."Around 75% of our diet should come from plants. And within that, there's fiber and whole grains," she said. Whole grains such as quinoa and brown rice are high in fiber, which feeds the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/boost-improve-gut-health-simple-effective-methods-2024-1">"good" microbes in the gut</a> that protect the colon lining, Birdi said. There's good evidence that eating fiber lowers colorectal cancer risk, she said.She shared three <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/health/diet-nutrition/high-fiber-foods">high-fiber</a> lunch recipes that could help prevent colorectal cancer with BI.<h2 id="73d3a7b4-88bb-4652-bc12-df02df903945">Scrambled eggs with cottage cheese, chives, and wholewheat toast</h2><div type="image" title="A cropped image of a woman's hand holding a piece of toasted bread with scrambled eggs on top, as she enjoys a healthy breakfast in the morning - stock photo" height="1414" width="2121" msid="112287432" hostid="261" sizebytes="102074"></div>Birdi is a fan of this quick all-day brunch-style <a target="_blank" href="https://www.eatingbirdfood.com/cottage-cheese-eggs/">recipe</a>. It's simple to make and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/high-protein-dinner-meals-ideas-recipes-weight-loss-maintenance-2024-2">high in protein </a>from the eggs and cottage cheese.To make it, mix two large eggs and full-fat cottage cheese in a bowl, seasoning with sea salt and pepper. Then, add the mixture to a nonstick skillet over medium-low heat with some olive oil. Scramble for three to five minutes until the eggs have set and are no longer runny.She pairs the eggs with whole wheat toast for fiber and sprinkles some chopped chives on top for flavor.<h2 id="9a695aae-ed3f-4eeb-a7f0-fc09fc9ad0f1">Baked beans on toast with spinach and cherry tomatoes</h2><div type="image" title="Avocado on toast with baked beans on turquoise green plate - stock photo" height="1528" width="1962" msid="112287435" hostid="261" sizebytes="288042"></div>Beans are a great source of fiber and plant-based protein. They feature heavily in the diets of people who live in the world's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/blue-zones-dan-buettner-optimized-longevity-lifestyle-2024-1">Blue Zones</a>, regions where the population lives around 10 years longer than the country's average.Tinned <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/beans-could-be-secret-for-living-longer-2023-9">baked beans</a> in tomato sauce on toast is a popular dish in the UK, but it can easily be recreated with any kind of bean if that's not for you.To make it, heat up the beans in a microwave or on the stove and toast some whole wheat bread at the same time. Birdi mixes in a handful of spinach and a handful of cherry tomatoes to her baked beans to boost the nutritional content. Once everything is heated through, put on top of the toast and enjoy.<h2 id="57fc9f13-4cdc-4456-8c40-69261f2751d2">Lentil and vegetable soup</h2><div type="image" title="Lentil soup stock image" height="1414" width="2121" msid="112287436" hostid="261" sizebytes="432550"></div>For a nutritious and comforting lunch that is packed with fiber, Birdi recommended a lentil and vegetable soup. One cup of lentils contains around 15 grams of fiber."Add a sprinkle of nuts or seeds on top like flaked almonds, pumpkin, chia, or flax seeds, to further bolster fiber," she said.She's a fan of this <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/red-lentil-chickpea-chilli-soup">recipe</a> but recommended adding some carrots, celery, and tomatoes for added nutrients.

A cancer dietitian shares 3 lunches that could help prevent colon cancer, a condition on the rise in young people 

Two years ago, while gearing up for the production of his latest cinematic venture, Blitz, <keyword id="23099016" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Oscar-winning-director" source="keywords">Oscar-winning director</keyword> <keyword id="22615264" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Steve-McQueen" source="keywords">Steve McQueen</keyword> received life-altering news: he had prostate cancer. It was a revelation that came during a routine check-up, weeks before the cameras were set to roll. "I was just doing stuff in bed on the computer — working, emailing, and whatever," McQueen shared in a candid interview with Deadline, reflecting on the moment he learned about the small tumour growing on his prostate. Despite the devastating news, McQueen chose to keep his diagnosis under wraps, focusing instead on managing the Blitz production. "I kept it private at that stage," he explained, determined not to alarm his cast and crew. In true McQueen fashion, he didn’t let the diagnosis derail his plans. Delaying the shoot by just two weeks, he underwent surgery to remove the tumour. Fast forward two years, McQueen is back in the director’s chair, fully recovered, and living life to the fullest. "I really just wanted to get on with the job," he said, summing up his no-nonsense approach. This wasn’t McQueen’s first brush with the harsh reality of prostate cancer. His father tragically passed away from the disease in 2006, a loss that left a profound mark on him. Yet, in hindsight, it was this tragedy that may have saved McQueen’s life. "In some ways, you could say my dad saved my life because, unfortunately, he died of it," McQueen reflected. His father’s battle prompted McQueen to stay vigilant about his own health, which led to the early detection that ultimately spared him a worse fate. Having faced prostate cancer head-on, McQueen is now on a mission to spread awareness, particularly within the Black community, where the risk is higher. "One in 12 Black men will die of prostate cancer," McQueen stated passionately. "For me, it was about preempting it. The fact that I was preempting the situation for years was, again, my saviour in that way. So, just preempt it and get it early." McQueen expressed frustration at the hesitancy among men to seek screenings. "The tragedy of this is no one has to die of it," he emphasised, highlighting the life-saving importance of early detection. McQueen’s advocacy extends to his art. In 2021, he released Embarrassed, a short film tackling the stigma around prostate cancer in the Black community. Featuring stars like Idris Elba and Morgan Freeman, the film opened conversations about a topic too often shrouded in silence. His latest short, Proactive for Your Prostate, stars David Harewood and furthers his campaign to encourage Black men to prioritise regular screenings. "The tragedy of this is no one has to die of it," he reiterated. (With inputs from agencies)

Oscar-winning director Steve McQueen speaks out on prostate cancer diagnosis and recovery journey

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Eva Longoria shared wellness practices that she lives by.</li><li>Longoria, who will turn 50 in March, added that she's 'excited' to age.</li></ul><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/eva-longoria-john-wick-investments-money-worth-2024-10">Eva Longoria</a>'s 50th birthday is fast approaching, and she's more than ready for the milestone.In an interview with <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.marieclaire.com/culture/eva-longoria-nov-2024-cover/">Marie Claire</a> published on Wednesday, the "<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/then-and-now-desperate-housewives-2019-6">Desperate Housewives</a>" actor shared a list of wellness practices she lives by."I'm <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/daily-cold-plunge-at-home-benefits-not-worth-it-review-2024-5">cold-plunging</a>; I've got <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/beauty/red-light-therapy">red lights</a> on; I strength train with weights; I meditate; I'm journaling," she said. "I wake up with the sun; I'm doing the grounding; I have an <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/oura-smart-ring-review-why-wont-solve-back-to-work-2021-9">Oura ring</a> to track deep sleep; I'm taking <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/health/diet-nutrition/magnesium-benefits">magnesium</a> and other supplements.""I'm doing everything. Not because I don't want to age but because I do want to age," said Longoria, who turns 50 in March."For me, age is just a number, but I'm excited," Longoria added. "I refuse to believe my greatest success is behind me."In 2016, Longoria told "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.thecut.com/2016/04/eva-longoria-workout-routine-diet.html">The Cut</a>" that people should prioritize their time and efforts toward wellness."Everything is about balance. I think people waste more time than they think. They think, 'I don't have time to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/health/mental-health/how-to-meditate">meditate</a>,' or 'I don't have time to work out,' and yet they have time to be on Instagram for 30 minutes — like, that could have been their meditation session," she said.For Longoria, exercise is not just something she does. "It's part of my life," she told "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.today.com/health/eva-longoria-workout-rcna158708">Today</a>" in June.Longoria, who has a bachelor of science degree in kinesiology from Texas A&amp;M University-Kingsville, said she usually does <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-trainer-mom-older-strength-training-habit-five-years-longevity-2024-11">strength training</a> and trampoline cardio. She also said she eats in moderation and has no hard and fast rules for restricting her diet."I'm lucky that I gravitate to healthy things. I love fish and vegetables. I love chicken and vegetables. I love beef and vegetables," she said.A representative for Longoria did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider sent outside regular business hours.<h2 id="3c93f288-1cc0-43d5-b693-4d1c8bb07ea9">Simple habits to age well</h2>As humans live longer than ever, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/raadfest-cheat-death-longevity-loma-linda-blue-zone-2023-9">antiaging procedures</a> — from <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/stem-cell-injections-knee-joints-longevity-wellness-industry-bryan-johnson-2024-7">stem-cell injections</a> to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-plasma-exchange-therapy-why-is-it-longevity-treatment-2024-10">plasma exchange therapy</a> — are all the rage among <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/inside-bryan-johnson-dont-die-summit-singapore-longevity-health-biohacking-2024-10">wealthy longevity-seekers</a>.But the key to aging well may lie in simple everyday habits. In November, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/longevity-tips-nobel-prize-scientist-cycles-daily-2024-11">Venki Ramakrishnan</a>, a Nobel laureate and the author of "Why We Die," shared three habits he lives by: eating nutritious foods in modest portions, cycling every day, and getting eight hours of good-quality sleep every night.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-get-better-sleep-millionaire-advice-2024-6">Sleep</a>, in particular, is "a way of resetting things and regenerating things," he said.Like Ramakrishnan, Mary Ní Lochlainn, a researcher in geriatric medicine at King's College London, includes <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/scientist-healthy-aging-research-eats-works-out-longevity-resistanc-training-2024-10">exercise in her daily routine</a>. Besides cycling, she adds resistance training to build muscle mass and prevent frailty. She also consumes vitamin D supplements and practices <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/intermittent-fasting-benefits-and-risks-for-longevity-weight-loss-cancer-2024-4">intermittent fasting</a>, she told BI earlier this month.It's also important that these habits are picked up early. "People think 'I'll do all of that later,' but actually, it's much better to just be doing it now," she said.

Eva Longoria, 49, says she's doing 'everything' to age well — from cold-plunging to red-light therapy

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is President-elect Trump's pick to lead the US Department of Health and Human Services.</li><li>RFK has been vocal in his opposition to fluoride in tap water, and vaccine mandates.</li></ul>"Make America Healthy Again" is the new healthcare slogan from Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Trump's new pick for Health and Human Services secretary.Trump has said in the past that he'll let Kennedy "go wild" on health. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-robert-f-kennedy-jr-rfk-department-health-human-services-2024-11">As head of HHS</a>, Kennedy will be responsible for overseeing many federal health agencies, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).Kennedy is a former environmental justice lawyer, who pivoted in recent years to running an anti-vaccine charity. He ran for president himself as an independent candidate in the 2024 race, before dropping out to join Trump's inner circle.Here's what we know so far about Kennedy's public health philosophy, and what kinds of reforms he might fight for in 2025 and beyond.<h2 id="79c799a9-93e2-4522-9d2c-5e71f4588e27">Kennedy's MAHA ideas include shifts in some basic public health protocols</h2><div type="image" title="tap water" height="4000" width="6000" msid="115314143" hostid="261" sizebytes="655952"></div>He has said he would:<ul><li>Lobby against <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fluoride-in-water-why-it-is-controversial-risks-benefits-2024-11">fluoride</a> in the water system</li></ul>Though the federal government isn't in charge of this issue, Kennedy has made it clear he's not in favor of fluoridated water, and would encourage water districts to get rid of it.<ul><li>Get rid of vaccine mandates</li></ul>Kennedy, previously at the helm of one of the biggest <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/robert-f-kennedy-jr-views-vaccines-autism-testing-debunked-2023-7">anti-vaccine charities</a>, has been careful in recent interviews to say that he wouldn't ban vaccines."I'm not going to take away anybody's vaccines," he told <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/trump-win-rfk-jr-says-wont-take-away-anybodys-vaccines-rcna178955">NBC</a> after Trump's election. "If vaccines are working for somebody, I'm not going to take that away. People ought to have choice."Like with fluoride, Kennedy can't actually control which routine vaccines kids get for school, that task is largely up to each individual state to decide. But he could change which vaccines federal employees are required to take, or have an influence on US <a target="_blank" href="https://www.hhs.gov/immunization/who-and-when/military-members/index.html">military</a> vaccine protocols.His stance has public health officials spooked, because part of what makes vaccination work so well is the fact that nearly everyone in our society does it."We have a very short memory of what it is like to hold a child who has been paralyzed with polio, or to comfort a mom who lost their kid from measles," CDC Director Mandy Cohen <a target="_blank" href="https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/cdc-fda-officials-warn-kids-could-die-from-rfk-jr-s-anti-vaccine-stance/">said</a> on Wednesday at a conference in Washington DC. "I don't want to have to see us go backward in order to remind ourselves that vaccines work."<ul><li>Encourage people to use more "functional medicine" and make "alternative" healthcare mainstream</li></ul>Kennedy has said he'd push for more coverage of functional medicine, and devote 50% of the National Institutes of Health budget to "preventive, alternative and holistic approaches to health." Typically, visits to functional medicine doctors, and the kinds of tests and treatments they provide for health concerns like allergies, gut issues, or disease prevention, are not necessarily covered by traditional health insurance.He also floated the idea of giving every American a Health Savings Account for medical spending, which is basically a debit card-like alternative to a traditional private healthcare plan. With a HSA, you put money you earn into a tax-free account to use for healthcare expenses like doctor's visits and prescriptions, instead of paying monthly premiums to insurance.In a Wall Street Journal <a target="_blank" href="https://www.wsj.com/opinion/trump-can-make-america-healthy-again-rfk-jr-reforms-chronic-disease-crisis-a9b4b8c0">opinion piece</a> he published in September, Kennedy also said in wants to "reform the Prescription Drug User Fee Act," a move he hopes would boost competition in the drug market.<h2 id="a747df1e-458d-41c6-be6f-aed4a6408629">A big chunk of the other ideas Kennedy has for improving human health have to do with our nutrition and fitness</h2><div type="image" title="fruit loops" height="3024" width="4032" msid="115314148" hostid="261" sizebytes="1059522"></div>These are aimed at improving rates of chronic health issues like obesity and type 2 diabetes."I don't think you have to be too smart to say we have a chronic disease crisis going on in this country that starts in childhood with terrible diets," FDA Commissioner Robert Califf <a target="_blank" href="https://www.statnews.com/2024/11/12/fda-commissioner-califf-trump-election-rfk-jr-public-health-food-nutrition/">recently told</a> STAT. "There is work that needs to be done."Some of Kennedy's biggest ideas on this front include:<ul><li>Getting rid of artificial food coloring and banning some additives and chemicals</li></ul>The European Union has banned specific dyes like red #40, which studies have linked to hyperactivity and neurobehavioral issues like ADHD in some kids. California is currently trying to copy the strategy, with limited success.On the campaign trail with Trump, Kennedy has made Fruit Loops the poster child for this issue, pointing out how the US version contains more artificial colors and additives than versions sold elsewhere.<ul><li>Ending FDA scrutiny of things like raw milk and supplements</li></ul>Kennedy has claimed that the FDA is battling a "war on public health" and is suppressing the use of anything "that advances human health and can't be patented by Pharma."<a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/RobertKennedyJr/status/1849925311586238737">On X</a>, he recently listed out the items he feels the agency is overregulating: "psychedelics, peptides, stem cells, raw milk, hyperbaric therapies, chelating compounds, ivermectin, hydroxychloroquine, vitamins, clean foods, sunshine, exercise, nutraceuticals."The FDA does not tell consumers that they can't drink raw milk, take supplements, or enjoy sunshine and exercise. Rather, the agency often issues warnings about the health hazards of certain items. Raw milk increases your risk of developing E. coli, and in rare cases can be fatal.The FDA is also responsible for ensuring drugs are safe and effective before they are put on the market. It doesn't approve dietary supplements, but the agency warns consumers when it finds contamination in our supplements and food supply.<ul><li>Changing the rules for food stamps</li></ul>Kennedy doesn't want people to use SNAP benefits to buy ultra-processed foods. He has also said he wants to ban ultra-processed foods in school lunches.<ul><li>Getting rid of conflicts of interest and ties to food and drug companies at various federal agencies</li></ul>Kennedy said he'd work to ensure members of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee have no connections to food or drug companies. He also wants to reform farm subsides, cutting back on corn and soy.<ul><li>Requiring medical students at federally-funded institutions to take nutrition classes</li></ul>Doctors only tend to receive about <a target="_blank" href="https://theconversation.com/diet-related-diseases-are-the-no-1-cause-of-death-in-the-us-yet-many-doctors-receive-little-to-no-nutrition-education-in-med-school-236217">three hours</a> of nutrition education during medical school.<ul><li>Coming up with some new "presidential fitness standards"</li></ul>"My uncle John F. Kennedy was right in 1960 <a target="_blank" href="https://archive.org/stream/the-soft-american-kennedy/The%20Soft%20American%20-%20Kennedy_djvu.txt">when he wrote</a>, 'The physical vigor of our citizens is one of America's most precious resources.'" Kennedy recently wrote in an op-ed.<h2 id="314334a6-b0ff-45de-83d9-23c9a86f7b1d">He also has a couple of ideas for Big Pharma reform</h2>Kennedy's said he wants to:<ul><li>Negotiate drug prices</li></ul>This is something a lot of countries do, but the US does not. Lots of politicians (like Bernie Sanders) have said this is something they want to do. In practice, it's been <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.sanders.senate.gov/press-releases/news-sanders-statement-on-medicare-negotiating-drug-prices/">pretty hard</a>.<ul><li>Crack down on pharmaceutical ads</li></ul>Again, the US is one of the few places in the world where drugmakers can sell commercials that run in primetime TV and market drugs directly to consumers.<h2 id="d5d943f7-f1ea-4ec2-9259-d9fd87aa5c73">It's pretty unclear how realistic this all is</h2>A lot of what Kennedy wants to do for public health is in conflict with Project 2025, which would basically deregulate the entire food industry.The Project 2025 plan, drafted by a consortium of conservative DC think tanks, would lift federal restrictions on sugar, get rid of dietary guidelines altogether, eliminate mandatory food labeling, and defund school lunches for kids.

Cheat sheet: How RFK Jr., Trump's pick for HHS secretary, promises to 'Make America Healthy Again'

<ul class="summary-list"><li>RFK Jr. says under President Trump, he'll advise US water systems to remove fluoride.</li><li>The federal government is not in charge of the US water supply. It's a local thing.</li></ul><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/rfk-jr">Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>, the man widely expected to become a health leader in President-elect Donald Trump's White House, has promised to lobby to remove fluoride from the American water supply.Nearly 63% of the US population has fluoridated water flowing through their taps, according to the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/php/statistics/2022-water-fluoridation-statistics.html">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a> (CDC).US health experts describe fluoridated water — a voluntary practice for local water districts — as one of modern medicine's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm4850bx.htm">greatest public health achievements</a>, up there with the recognition that smoking is bad for you.Meanwhile, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/robert-f-kennedy-jr-views-vaccines-autism-testing-debunked-2023-7">Kennedy</a>, a former environmental lawyer who was instrumental in the fight to clean up the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.riverkeeper.org/blogs/honoring-our-foundation-in-science/">Hudson River in New York</a>, says there's no need to fluoridate drinking water anymore since most toothpaste contains fluoride. He's not alone. An important debate over fluoride is gaining fresh steam among scientists and legal experts. Some recent studies suggest more research is still needed on safe fluoride levels for kids. Plus, a federal ruling in California this year questioned the US government's recommended dose.While many medical professionals — chiefly dentists — support some level of fluoridation, there is growing agreement that we still aren't sure how much fluoride is too much.<h2 id="73e9cfea-f185-4392-8a29-deb966cdc1f8">120 years ago, fluoride was the mystery culprit behind brown teeth in Colorado</h2><div type="image" title="woman with brown teeth" height="2752" width="1912" msid="115231235" hostid="261" sizebytes="398436"></div>The reason most Americans have fluoride in their drinking water stretches back more than a century to a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/health-info/fluoride/the-story-of-fluoridation">mysterious outbreak</a> scattered across the Midwest and western US.In the early 1900s, dentists started noticing that children in specific towns, including Colorado Springs, Colorado; Oakley, Idaho; and Bauxite, Arkansas, were developing hard, chocolate-colored teeth.It took more than 20 years, but eventually, researchers discovered that these unusual brown stains were caused by high amounts of naturally occurring fluoride in the drinking water in certain areas of the country.They also found that the fluoride — a mineral compound found in rocks and dirt — was strengthening teeth. It was hardening tooth enamel and helping to repair some early-stage tooth decay.By 1945, scientists had learned enough about fluoride to harness the technique to prevent cavities for the masses. They proposed microdosing the mineral into the public water supply to give kids just enough fluoride to protect their teeth and help heal dental decay without giving them so much that their teeth would go brown.The experiment worked.In 1945, Grand Rapids, Michigan, was the first city to purposefully fluoridate its water. In the first 10 years of the program, the rate of cavities in kids decreased by more than <a target="_blank" href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1551218/?page=1">60%</a>. Thus, the idea of fluoridated water as a boon for public health was born.<h2 id="ffc42276-b971-4331-bd76-9f4c2877d29f">US water districts decide their own fluoride levels</h2><div type="image" title="tap water" height="4000" width="6000" msid="115231232" hostid="261" sizebytes="655952"></div>Kennedy has <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/RobertKennedyJr/status/1852812012478398923">said</a> he'd aim to convince local authorities nationwide to remove any added fluoride from taps."I think fluoride is on its way out," Kennedy <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nbcnews.com/video/rfk-jr-talks-health-care-agenda-following-trump-win-223717957893">told NBC</a> News the day after the election, adding: "I'm not going to compel anybody to take it out, but I'm going to advise the water districts. I'm going to give them good information about the science, and I think fluoride will disappear."The federal government does not control water supplies in the US. That task is up to states and local water systems.The US Environmental Protection Agency does mandate a limit for fluoride in tap water: four milligrams per liter. That limit is meant to prevent crippling health issues caused by excess fluoride intake, like a bone-weakening disease called skeletal fluorosis.<h2 id="e730cbbb-f6d0-4962-9881-0475436e9095">The US lowered fluoride levels in drinking water in 2015</h2><div type="image" title="crest toothpaste vintage ad w nina simone and daughter" height="4416" width="3531" msid="115231221" hostid="261" sizebytes="896112"></div>The amount of fluoride added to a water supply varies not only by city and county but also by the individual water system supplying a given neighborhood.For many years, the federal recommendation fluctuated based on location. In warmer climates — where it was assumed that kids consumed more water to stay cool — officials recommended 0.7 milligrams of fluoride per liter. Colder areas were advised to add 1.2 milligrams per liter.After reviewing evidence in 2015, the US Public Health Service decided that the discrepancy wasn't needed. The recommendation for fluoridation is now set at 0.7 milligrams per liter nationwide.Most major cities in the US hover around the 0.7 figure. Some places naturally have elevated levels of fluoride in their water due to geological factors. In Lordsburg, New Mexico, for example, water samples collected earlier this year had concentrations of fluoride between <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://cityoflordsburg.com/fluoride-mcl-notice-2024/">5.2 and 6.4 milligrams</a> per liter. Authorities there advise that children under 9 years old shouldn't drink tap water.<h2 id="c03fabfb-6a1d-488a-8229-718ca0e2727d">Places with fluoride-free water generally have worse dental health</h2><div type="image" title="toothbrush with paste" height="3209" width="4813" msid="115231228" hostid="261" sizebytes="238252"></div>Proponents of ditching fluoride often point to the many European countries that do not fluoridate their water. Those countries are not 100% fluoride-free, though: unlike people in the US, many Europeans consume fluoridated salt.Hawaii is the only US state without any fluoride in municipal taps; fluoridated water is only available there on military bases. A <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://health.hawaii.gov/about/files/2013/06/Hawaii-Smiles-Report.pdf">2015 report</a> from Hawaii's health department said the state also has the highest prevalence of tooth decay among 3rd graders in the US."It's obvious; you can see it in the quality of their enamel," Anthony Kim, dental director at the Waimanalo Health Clinic, told the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.civilbeat.org/2020/02/why-hawaii-continues-to-keep-fluoride-out-of-its-drinking-water/">Honolulu Civil Beat in 2020</a>. "Sadly, especially among the kids."Researchers in Canada see the same phenomenon. The rate of cavities detected in Alberta spiked after the city went fluoride-free in 2011, according to a <a target="_blank" href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.17269/s41997-024-00858-w">February 2024 study</a>. Calgary did the same and saw <a target="_blank" href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9542152/">similar tooth issues</a> in kids. The city now plans to re-fluoridate its water supply, but cost issues and global supply chain problems post-pandemic have <a target="_blank" href="https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/calgary-s-plan-to-reintroduce-fluoride-into-drinking-water-pushed-back-to-2025-1.6845098">created delays</a>.The military supports fluoridation. In 2016, the <a target="_blank" href="https://ilikemyteeth.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/DoD-Fluoridation-Memo-March-2013.pdf">US Department of Defense</a> said dental decay was a "significant" reason military personnel were classified as non-deployable. As such, fluoridated water is now mandated on any military base with more than 3,300 people.Rumors have circulated that drinking fluoridated water can lead to bone cancer (osteosarcoma), but long-term studies from both <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://academic.oup.com/ije/article/43/1/224/736028">the UK</a> and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1877782111001822">US</a> haven't found any credible evidence of higher rates in areas where people drink fluoridated water.<h2 id="726f1d49-c5ff-447d-b2cc-6cf2412f9906">Is there any truth to claims of IQ issues?</h2><div type="image" title="anti fluoride protesters" height="2574" width="3594" msid="115231239" hostid="261" sizebytes="497810"></div>On November 2, Kennedy said on X that fluoride is an "industrial waste" that is linked to "IQ loss."He linked to a ruling from a federal judge in California in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cand.uscourts.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/17-cv-2162-Food-_-Water-Watch-Inc.-et-al.-v.-EPA-et-al-Opinion.pdf">October.</a> The judge, appointed by former President Obama, said that while he could not "conclude with certainty" that fluoridated water could reduce the IQ of children, there is evidence that it can be "hazardous at dosages that are far too close to fluoride levels in the drinking water of the United States."His ruling came weeks after a headline-grabbing paper in which a group of independent scientists reviewed existing evidence on fluoridation for the <a target="_blank" href="https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/sites/default/files/2024-08/fluoride_final_508.pdf">US National Toxicology Program</a>. Their review concluded that some studies of fluoride consumption have found links between higher fluoride water levels and lower IQs in kids.There are a couple of big caveats to keep in mind. First, those studies were conducted in other countries, including Canada, China, India, Iran, Pakistan, and Mexico, not the US.Second, the association with lower IQs was only apparent when children were drinking water loaded with fluoride, at more than 1.5 milligrams per liter. That's double what's recommended in the US and 50% more fluoride than what was first used in Grand Rapids in 1945."More studies are needed to fully understand the potential for lower fluoride exposure to affect children's IQ," the experts said.Those new studies are starting to trickle out. Fluoride and aluminum researcher Ashley Malin, an assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of Florida, recently found <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38767917/">a potential link</a> between a woman's fluoride levels during pregnancy and neurobehavioral problems in her toddler three years later."At this point, I would advise that pregnant women reduce their fluoride intake," Malin told Business Insider.Malin brushes her teeth without fluoride, drinks filtered water (using a reverse osmosis water purifier or buying bottled water), and says that the most fluoride she consumes is probably from the black chai tea she occasionally drinks.<h2 id="5b5f129c-cdf6-4dba-a89c-6887474b296d">Settling on the right dose</h2><div type="image" title="retro photo of kid brushing teeth" height="3000" width="2487" msid="115231240" hostid="261" sizebytes="496682"></div>It's hard to tease out <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cochrane.org/CD010856/ORAL_does-adding-fluoride-water-supplies-prevent-tooth-decay">exactly how beneficial fluoridated water is</a> for preventing cavities, in part because fluoridating water isn't the only way that tooth care has improved dramatically since the 1940s. (The level of fluoride in many toothpastes is much higher than what's in the water.)The California ruling last month didn't get prescriptive about what the EPA should do about all this uncertainty. It only recommended some kind of "regulatory action" on fluoride."It should be noted that this finding does not conclude with certainty that fluoridated water is injurious to public health," the verdict read.A federal judge wants the EPA to better answer now whether 0.7 milligrams per liter of fluoride is safe enough.The EPA has said in the past that reviewing their fluoride numbers is a "low priority" item for the agency. Public health experts and dentists generally agree that <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/news-events/nidcr-news/2024/big-hopes-little-teeth">fluoridated tap water</a> is a safe, effortless, and equitable way to ensure people get enough fluoride to prevent most childhood cavities.However, scientists haven't quite settled on the optimal fluoride level in tap water to maintain healthy teeth yet.

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