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<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><keyword id="22003702" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="urolithin-a" source="keywords">Urolithin A</keyword> supplements are gaining popularity with longevity investors and influencers.</li><li>Studies suggest the plant compound may recharge old cells, boost muscle, and fortify immune health.</li></ul>In late September, a select group of people gathered in Gstaad, a posh ski town in the Swiss Alps, for the fifth annual <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/longevity-investments-ultra-rich-are-making-supplements-devices-2024-10">Longevity Investors Conference</a>. Researchers and founders demoed new products, while venture capitalists and CEOs scouted out fresh partnerships. Would-be investors were largely looking for short-term wins, not far-off moonshots. They want products that can realistically be used in the next several years, like at-home red light therapy panels and scaleable blood tests that can <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-the-maximum-age-of-humans-115-or-older-2023-3">measure aging</a>. This year, the conversation quickly turned to the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/5-supplements-for-longevity-and-anti-aging-expert-recommendations-2023-12">supplement</a> du jour, the compound that has drawn investment from both Nestlé and L'Oréal: Urolithin A. Derived from an antioxidant found most abundantly in pomegranates, it is what gastroenterologists call a "postbiotic" — something our guts produce in small amounts after digesting foods, including berries, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/blue-zones-expert-shares-cheap-longevity-supplements-beans-walnuts-2024-5">walnuts</a>, and pecans, which contain bioactive compounds called ellagitannins. Recent <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1568163724002241/">studies</a> suggest few of us (40% at best) have the microbiome to produce good amounts of urolithin A from our diet. Short-term studies have found that urolithin A supplements can help worms live longer, mice run longer, and humans get stronger. There's also reason to believe that topical creams and serums could do something similar for your skin, increasing firmness and bringing back some youthful elasticity. This is a saturated market. There's no shortage of supplement companies putting out their own compounds and conducting studies, vying for the attention of deep-pocketed investors. Urolithin A — in particular, the supplement company <keyword id="19895626" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="timeline" source="keywords">Timeline</keyword>, which is exclusively focused on an expensive and patented form of this compound — is rising above the fray. The company's magic sauce combines smart branding, enticing data from well-controlled clinical trials, and the fact that this compound has proven effective in a full spectrum of products, from skincare to smoothie powder. Timeline's research has also opened new avenues to developing antiaging <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.vandria.com/press-release-21082024/">pharmaceutical drugs</a>. <h2>Discovering a compound with huge business potential</h2> <div type="image" title="timeline supplements" height="2800" width="2100" msid="114595250" hostid="261"></div>Urolithin A is a promising antiaging compound because it promotes "mitophagy," a cleanup process that keeps our cells healthy and youthful. It refreshes our mitochondria, which kicks cells into action. Timeline cofounder and president Chris Rinsch went all in on urolithin A back in the early 2000s. Rinsch, a molecular biologist and former biotech VC, was impressed by early lab research that showed pomegranates' effect on cell rejuvenation. He had an educated hunch that this postbiotic could have huge potential as a wellness product. Starting in 2008, Rinch's supplement company, Amazentis, funded over a dozen <a target="_blank" href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Rinsch%20C&amp;sort=date&amp;page=2">studies</a> on urolithin A, including some relatively large, placebo-controlled trials in people — a rarity in supplement research. "The intention was to really bring the rigor of science coming from the biotech industry to the nutrition space because we felt there could be some really important innovations, particularly in this field of longevity," Rinsch told Business Insider. Right away, in-house and independent researchers were impressed with the nutraceutical effects. "It was a dream compound to work on," Johan Auwerx, one of the first independent consultants who worked with Amazentis on urolithin A, said. Auwerx, now a consultant for Timeline (and a few drug companies), is an academic research scientist who studies metabolism and mitochondria. He's worked on industry-disrupting antiaging supplements before, including once-buzzy resveratrol and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-nad-longevity-supplement-hollywood-uses-prevent-aging-2024-7">NAD+ boosters</a>, the hot new supplement that elite biohackers and celebrities are taking for longevity. He found evidence that urolithin A could not only extend life and improve fitness in animal models but also improve strength in adults from age 40 to 90. That is unusual because what works in animals rarely translates so seamlessly to humans. It was enough to run with. In early 2020, Rinsch launched the supplement brand Timeline at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200123005820/en/Amazentis-Announces-the-Launch-of-Timeline%E2%84%A2-Cellular-Nutrition-at-the-World-Economic-Forum-in-Davos">Davos</a>. The company started out with a powder supplement meant to be eaten in yogurt and smoothies. Timeline has since added oral capsules (around $100 for a one-month supply), face creams ($250 for a bottle of day cream), and a serum ($280 per bottle). Rinsch said the company's sales were up 100% last year. They are projected to double again by the end of 2024. <div type="image" title="Dr. Mark Hyman speaking into a microphone." height="683" width="1024" msid="114595261" hostid="261"></div><h2>Longevity researchers, while quietly impressed, urge caution</h2>A lot of Timeline's success can be attributed to marketing. It has become a favorite of longevity influencers with huge followings in the US; Timeline partners with stars including Bulletproof Coffee founder Dave Asprey, longevity guru Dr. <keyword id="23762392" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mark-hyman" source="keywords">Mark Hyman</keyword>, and Gwyneth Paltrow's functional medicine coach, <keyword id="23762391" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="will-cole" source="keywords">Will Cole</keyword>. Urolithin A has also captured the attention of longevity researchers, who are typically more skeptical about products promising to make you young again. Timeline was on the agenda at this year's ARDD, an annual <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/longevity-experts-eat-nordic-meals-salad-sourdough-moderation-2024-9">longevity research conference</a> held in Copenhagen in August. Dr. Dominic Denk, a cancer researcher at Frankfurt University Hospital in Germany, told Business Insider on the sidelines of ARDD that he believes "pretty much all dietary supplements don't work." Urolithin A surprised him, though. He studied how urolithin A impacted cancer treatments in mice and was so impressed by the positive results that he did a follow-up study, testing its impacts on aging in healthy people. "People just tell me they feel more sharp, more refreshed, less out of breath," Denk said. Pretty soon, he started taking Timeline himself in a bid to keep his muscles healthy and strong and avoid some of the chronic inflammation that is a hallmark of so many age-related diseases and illnesses, from cancer to the flu. He cautioned that he "wouldn't recommend people throughout all continents just take the stuff." Human studies of Timeline's urolithin A have been conducted on wealthy, white populations, chiefly in Switzerland, so we don't know for sure how effective this would be for everyone. Most of the trials have only lasted for a few months. The lack of long-term data makes some researchers less certain about the true benefits of this buzzy supplement. Andrea <keyword id="23762393" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="maier" source="keywords">Maier</keyword>, a leading longevity supplement researcher and doctor who has no affiliation with Timeline, said it's not clear what dose of urolithin A is best, for how long, or what the long-term effects, negative and positive, might include. Even though she thinks the supplement might hold promise for antiaging and is "quite safe," she'd like to see more research. "We cannot really say much," Maier, who is a professor at the National University of Singapore, and who also runs two longevity clinics, said. "For me, not ready for prime time, neither for clinical practice nor really consumer use." Auwerx doesn't take Timeline supplements and agrees more research is needed, but he said he could imagine trying them if he were <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/longevity-experts-use-walking-test-to-measure-biological-age-2024-9">older and not as strong</a> or sharp as he is now. <h2>Why are skincare and food giants interested in this compound?</h2> <div type="image" title="woman putting on serum" height="3087" width="4631" msid="114595255" hostid="261"></div>It's an unusual business model for a supplement company to focus on only one compound, but Timeline has investments from Nestlé and L'Oréal, the biggest food and cosmetics brands in the world. Both are looking to build out their product lines for the growing set of longevity-seekers poised to spend big in the coming years, hoping to improve their health and prevent the declines that often come with old age. Auwerx said that speaks to the rare versatility of this supplement. "I'm telling you, every tissue where mitochondria are important, you could see a use for urolithin," Auwerx said. "But it should be tested." Correction — October 25, 2024: An earlier version of this story misstated Chris Rinsch's current title at Timeline. Since 2023, he has been the cofounder and president. He was formerly the founding CEO.

Nestlé and L'Oréal are betting on a longevity supplement made from pomegranate juice

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Ferring Pharmaceuticals, a Swiss biopharma firm, focuses on worker well-being and DEI.</li><li>Purvi Tailor, head of human resources in its US business, is on BI's <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/workforce-innovation-board-tackles-topics-such-as-c-suite-innovation-ai-worker-wellness-2024-8">Workforce Innovation board</a>.</li></ul>A lot of companies say they are like a family, but at Ferring Pharmaceuticals, a privately owned biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Switzerland, family-centrism is part of doing business."In the US, we are a leader in several therapeutic areas, including reproductive medicine, orthopedics, and gastroenterology," said Purvi Tailor, Ferring's head of human resources in the US. "Our mission is to help people build families and live better lives. It's a purpose that the employees that work here can feel very connected to."Tailor joined Ferring in 2021 following roles at Johnson &amp; Johnson, American Express, and JP Morgan.She said that Ferring has grown more intentional about focusing on worker well-being, which is particularly important for the highly competitive field of healthcare. "The war for talent is always on and the best talent always have options," she said.The following interview has been edited for length and clarity.What are the benefits for companies focused on worker well-being?Our overarching philosophy is that if our workers have a good sense of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/flexibility-can-increase-worker-well-being-2024-8">well-being</a>, ultimately, it helps our business be that much more successful. We've defined well-being in a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/employee-wellbeing-programs-help-companies-perform-better-and-manage-cost-2024-7">holistic way</a>, so it's not just about physical well-being; it's also about mental well-being and financial well-being. We've implemented various initiatives in the last two to three years that focus on each of those.You can provide a lot of tools and resources, but if you don't have the right culture within the company that people are experiencing, that obviously has a much more detrimental impact on employee experience. So, our approach is twofold. First, the benefits and the policies. And second, creating the right type of workplace that people want to be a part of.What specific programs are targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion?Relative to other companies that I've worked for, in some ways we've had the luxury to start a little bit later. Whereas some companies have been doing this for 20 years, for us it became more of a burning platform over the last couple of years.Since Covid and all the various things that have happened since, having an inclusive culture has really become one of the more important things for us.Because inclusion is something that can be very personal and difficult, we're partnering with an external event vendor to create smaller group experiences. We put a lot of things on the table and really try to make it an inclusive environment for understanding, sharing stories, and talking about different scenarios that happen in the workplace.We used scenarios that we've seen either happen at Ferring or outside, but real, lived, everyday kind of things that actually happen. Leaders found that really meaningful because it gave them an opportunity in a very safe environment to explore those situations and recognize them when they see them.The goal is to make sure that when they go back to their offices or desks, they're like, 'Okay, actually, I'm gonna be able to use that as I start to see things.'As Ferring has grown in the US, you've had to start many programs from scratch. What advice do you have for other companies that are just getting started thinking about DEI and worker well-being initiatives?What's really important is to ensure that whatever you're doing, you can connect it with the values of your company.With all of the various things that we're doing, especially in the wellness and DEI space, they align well with our values and our mission of helping people live better lives. It needs to come from an authentic place. Because it's sort of obvious when people are faking it.Our head of DEI in the US has so much passion for this space, and that really drives her as an individual and her purpose. The quality of what she puts out is remarkable, and she's able to create the right narrative that employees and leaders who are in positions to share it are able to grab some of that enthusiasm.What policies demonstrate your focus on worker well-being?One of the biggest things we've done in the last two years is a fertility benefit program called Building Families at Ferring with unlimited financial support for your journey, whether that's IVF, surrogacy, or adoption. So it covers all the many pathways that people could take to build a family.It also offers 26 weeks of paid parental leave and the policy is agnostic of your marital status and your family structures. It's truly a benefit for all that want to build a family.It's so core to our business. We thought we needed to give back to employees in the same way that we want to show up in the marketplace.What workforce issues are commonplace in the pharmaceutical industry?Attrition is systemic; it's just the norm. Over the last few years, we've managed to really stabilize the organization from an attrition perspective more so than we ever have in the previous five years.For us, retention of our talent is critical, as I know it is for all companies. You want to retain the best and make sure that they're developing and getting to whatever their aspirations are. Pharma is very competitive.We recently launched a uro-oncology business, and in the early part of this year, we hired about 60 people with roles across functions, including sales, marketing, finance, and medical. If the pharma market is generally very competitive, oncology is even more so. The things that we can do to make this a great place to work are a big part of how we approach that piece of talent management.

In the competitive world of pharma, companies need to focus on worker well-being to retain top talent, says Ferring's HR exec

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A new study found hundreds of unique viruses called bacteriophage on toothbrushes and shower heads.</li><li>Phage target bacteria, not humans, and could be a useful tool against disease.</li></ul>The next big breakthrough in <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/disease-prevention-ideas-us-could-learn-from-uk-israel-canada-2022-12">disease-fighting innovation</a> could be no further away than your bathroom.A recent study found hundreds of viruses on samples from toothbrushes and shower heads, including many that have never been seen before, let alone examined.But this specific kind of viruses, known as bacteriophage, aren't concerning for human health because they target and infect bacteria, not us, according to Erica Hartmann, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Northwestern University who led the study."It's still a big deal; it's just not scary. It's actually really exciting," Hartmann told Business Insider.Understanding how these infectious particles work could be a valuable step in protecting us from <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/health/conditions-symptoms/what-is-the-difference-between-bacteria-and-virus">harmful pathogens and bacteria</a>, including those that cause tuberculosis and other serious diseases."The more we know about what's in shower heads and what's on toothbrushes with regard to viruses and microbes, the more we can advance in understanding how we get sick and even devise new tools to fight those pathogens," Miryam Wahrman, a professor of Biology at William Paterson University of New Jersey who was not involved with the study, told Business Insider.<h2 id="cfd924b0-3be2-4e3b-8329-12a9c8ebdb95">Unexplored ecosystems are living on your household items</h2>Researchers from Northwestern University were inspired to investigate toothbrushes because of a previous study investigating whether <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/photos-show-droplets-aerosols-emerge-when-flush-toilet-2022-12">flushing the toilet could release aerosols</a> that might contaminate a toothbrush left out on the countertop.The good news is that the study, nicknamed "Operation Pottymouth," found no evidence of poop-related germs on toothbrushes."Overwhelmingly, we find that microbes on your toothbrush come from your mouth," Hartmann said.The research team decided to put all those used toothbrushes to good use and took a closer look at what's hanging out there.In a previous study, they also analyzed samples taken from <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/home/how-to-clean-shower-head">shower heads</a> to offer even more insight into our bathrooms' microscopic occupants.The researchers weren't surprised to find that these household items were home to many germs because of their warm, moist environments.But they were blown away by how many different kinds of viruses were present. There was so much diversity that there was almost no overlap between the samples, meaning each toothbrush and shower head was host to its own unique microscopic world.The findings were published October 9 in <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiomes/articles/10.3389/frmbi.2024.1396560/full">Frontiers in Microbiomes</a>."I'd encourage people to look at things they see every day and think of these as places where we could be making exciting discoveries for new biotechnology," Hartmann said.<h2 id="a5e9a1f5-fb1b-4af8-9e10-a9a211c4ecf9">Phages could be the new frontier in disease-fighting biotech</h2>There's no reason to be grossed out by the tiny inhabitants sharing our homes."I don't think there's any need to change behavior or enhance cleaning. These are not viruses that are going to infect you, these are viruses that are potentially cool," Hartmann said.It's a common misconception to think of all germs and microorganisms as potential threats, but plenty of microbes are neutral, beneficial, and sometimes <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/foods-better-than-probiotics-for-gut-health-2023-8">necessary for human health</a>.Bacteria and viruses have sparked groundbreaking innovations in science, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/longevity-stem-cell-biotech-reverse-aging-cellular-reprogamming-2024-9">biotechnology</a>, and healthcare that we benefit from every day, such as penicillin and DNA research."Microbes are everywhere all the time, and the vast majority of them won't make you sick," Hartmann said. "If we approach with wonder and curiosity instead of fear, we can work with microbes instead of against them."Phage are exciting because they specialize in attacking and replicating inside bacteria, including bacterial pathogens. These pathogens make us sick and can become resistant to our current protective strategies, like <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/health/treatments/how-long-does-it-take-for-antibiotics-to-work">antibiotics</a>."The enemy of our enemy is our friend. They are potentially a very helpful tool for us," Wahrman said.Researchers have known about the existence of phage for more than a century, but antibiotics have gotten most of our attention. Now that some pathogens have outsmarted antibiotics, phage are a wide-open frontier for innovation.In the future, phage might be a rich source of biotech innovations like <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ampliphi-phage-therapy-treatment-bacterial-infections-2017-10">phage therapy,</a> in the same way pharmaceuticals have developed medicines from plants or animals. Rather than scouring remote reaches of the planet, these discoveries could come from digging deeper into what surrounds us every day."There are a lot of things waiting to be discovered just under our noses or on our toothbrushes," Hartmann said.

Your toothbrush is home to hundreds of new viruses. They could be the future of biotech.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The high price of weight-loss drugs is frustrating for patients who can't access them, a doctor said.</li><li>Patients struggle to afford these drugs, leading to cycling, rationing, or using risky alternatives.</li></ul>Pharmaceutical companies are facing a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/novo-nordisk-ceo-faces-senate-questions-over-high-prices-of-ozempic-and-wegovy-in-us-1033798280">new wave of criticism</a> for the high price of groundbreaking weight-loss drugs.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-weight-loss-meds-injections-compare-costs-results-side-effects">GLP-1 medications</a> like semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound) have skyrocketed in popularity, helping people lose up to 15-20% of their body weight and even slash their <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wegovy-reduces-risk-of-heart-attack-stroke-death-study-2023-8">risk of heart attack</a>.But a list price of around $1,000 per month or more means the treatments are out of reach for many patients.It puts doctors in an awkward position, too — wanting to prescribe these potentially life-changing drugs, but knowing they could be sending their patients on a complicated financial journey."Patients that I speak to have tried nearly every strategy to obtain anti-obesity medications," <a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="https://trueyouweightloss.com/about/meet-the-team/dr-christopher-mcgowan/">Dr. Christopher McGowan</a>, a gastroenterologist and obesity medicine specialist, told Business Insider.Many insurers have dropped coverage in the past year, McGowan said."While it's clear that semaglutide and tirzepatide represent tremendous advances in obesity management, what does it matter if no one can afford them?" McGowan said.The end result is that the people who need these drugs most are taking uncharted, unresearched risks to get the medications.<h2 id="98c0484b-95b1-476a-be13-71c0822e754e">Patients are rationing doses to cut costs</h2>GLP-1 medications work by mimicking a hormone in the body that helps regulate appetite and blood sugar.The <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/weight-loss-glp-1-drugs-ozempic-wegovy-mounjaro-effects-future-2023-12">latest generation of these class of drugs</a>, medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound, are once-weekly injections.The caveat is that in order to maintain the weight loss, you need to keep taking the drugs, but McGowan said that's just not possible at the current price point."This is why we so often see patients cycling on and off medications. Unfortunately, short-term use doesn't translate into long-term benefit," he said.In some cases, patients say they've tried to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-its-really-like-find-affordable-weight-loss-drugs-patient-2024-9">space out their doses</a>, and found their weight creeping back up.<h2 id="ffe4633a-0741-4479-9135-9ecd9bb4e9ff">Copycat drugs are dominating the online market</h2>A booming industry of websites and telehealth companies have jumped at the chance to sell patients their weight loss drugs for cheap, but there's a major catch, according to McGowan.These providers are offering <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/buy-compounded-semaglutide-online-risks-wegovy-ozempic-2023-1">compounded semaglutide</a> and tirzepatide, which contains the same active ingredient as branded products, but isn't FDA-approved."The compounded GLP-1 market has absolutely exploded," he said. "These drugs are everywhere and can be obtained with incredible ease and at a fraction of the cost of brand-name medication. However, this entirely unregulated industry presents significant risks related to quality, safety, and efficacy."<h2 id="538abdcc-03f9-459d-8b0f-54139cf4de87">It could take years for prices to drop</h2>Political pressure on pharmaceutical companies may move the needle when it comes to drug prices, according to Ted Kyle, a health professional with decades of experience in policy, marketing, and obesity care."It's going to be really messy but five years from now, prices will more reasonable, access much better, and more people will be getting care with a whole lot less blame and shame," Kyle told Business Insider.The competitive pressure will also help drive prices lower as companies aim to attract consumers back to their brand with <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/eli-lilly-cut-price-zepbound-tirzepatide-weight-loss-drug-copycats-2024-8">cheaper options for weight-loss drugs</a>.But McGowan said he isn't optimistic that the situation will improve for his patients in the near future."We can beg insurers to cover medication and plead with pharmaceutical companies to lower prices, but there simply isn't any incentive for them to do so right now," McGowan said.

A doctor shares how his patients are trying to afford weight-loss drugs — and what happens if they can't

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A woman who had life-changing results on a popular weight loss drug struggled to afford it for years.</li><li>She found stability with a cheaper version of the medication through the booming telehealth market.</li></ul><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@tacklingtara">Tara Rothenhoefer</a>, a 49-year-old Florida resident, says her life changed when she joined a clinical trial for a promising new weight-loss medication.Over the course of the 18-month trial, from 2020 to 2021, she <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mounjaro-weight-loss-drug-not-easy-way-out-2023-10">lost more than 200 pounds</a> — more than a third of her body weight. Suddenly, she didn't have pervasive "<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/weight-loss-drug-semaglutide-helping-dispel-harmful-stereotypes-patients-say-2022-12">food noise</a>" or preoccupation with eating that had bothered her for years, allowing her to freely pursue healthy habits.Rothenhoefer had been testing a drug, sold by pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly, which later won FDA approval for weight loss in 2023 under the brand name <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://businessinsider.com/eli-lilly-mounjaro-zepbound-approved-weight-loss-stronger-than-wegovy-2023-11">Zepbound</a>. A similar version of this drug, called Mounjaro, has been available to people with type 2 diabetes since 2022.But when the trial ended, she was faced with the prospect of paying over $1,000 per month to continue this drug, or try to keep the weight off unmedicated — an incredibly tricky feat since the drug's effects are not long-lasting, as far as we know.Now, after three years of navigating a nightmarish maze of shortages and lack of insurance coverage, she finally has steady, affordable access to her medication.She's not only one.The high price of weight-loss medication has left out millions of Americans who could benefit, as highlighted in recent <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/novo-nordisk-ceo-faces-senate-questions-over-high-prices-of-ozempic-and-wegovy-in-us-1033798280">Senate Committee Hearings</a>, where Novo Nordisk's CEO faced tough questions about its versions of similar drugs, Ozempic and Wegovy.Here's how she, like many others, has found a way around the snarls of the healthcare system to stay on the drug.<h2 id="b6ae44a3-53cb-4a2c-8ff1-f68263c11f64">At first, she tried the pharma solution: coupons</h2>After the trial ended, Rothenhoefer's doctor issued her a prescription for Mounjaro but she knew she couldn't afford it with her office job.Not a problem, manufacturer Eli Lilly told her — she could get a coupon, allowing her to access the drug at a steep discount.Providing coupons is a common practice for drug makers to incentivize patients to try their product, instead of a competitor's, especially when it's a new offering in an already-hot and high-priced market.However, the coupon expired in June 2023. And all she could do was ration out her remaining doses and hope for the best."My insurance doesn't cover it. Most people can't afford it. I had no choice," she said.<h2 id="9f175e6c-deef-4bd9-8285-ccf7d1bc03be">Spreading out doses to try to make the drug last longer</h2>Rothenhoefer did what she could to make her supply of medication last, and tried to dose every 10 to 14 days instead of weekly, but the scale began creeping back up regardless of what she did."I was having a lot of fluctuations in weight even though my habits were the same," she said.Research suggests that people who lose weight on GLP-1 medications need to continue taking them or they'll <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/zepbound-weight-gain-stop-taking-tirzepatide-2023-12">regain the weight</a> so Rothenhoefer needed a long-term plan just to keep her weight stable."I'm in maintenance, which I'll be in for the rest of my life," she said.But she's since been able to find a steady, affordable supply, and now takes a dose of 7.5 - 10 mg of compounded tirzepatide weekly, delivered to her door, and plans to stay this course for at least the next year, if not longer.<h2 id="86a425c0-21ca-447d-a94f-5bc79360d4e5">The promise of cheaper 'compounded drugs'</h2>Rothenhoefer said she had heard about a cheaper version of the GLP-1s known as compounded tirzepatide.The active ingredient in Mounjaro and Zepbound is tirzepatide, one type of <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>, which mimic hormones that our bodies naturally produce to control appetite and blood sugar. (Ozempic and Wegovy contain a similar drug called <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-weight-loss-meds-injections-compare-costs-results-side-effects">semaglutide</a>.)<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/buy-compounded-semaglutide-online-risks-wegovy-ozempic-2023-1">Compounded medications</a> are custom formulations of drugs provide by specialized pharmacies. Since brand name GLP-1 drugs have long been in shortage, drug compounders are legally allowed to fill the gap in demand with their own versions of the same active ingredients, semaglutide or tirzepatide.While regulated, these compounded drugs aren't FDA-approved, raising concerns from doctors about variations in quality.The grey market of weight-loss drugs is vast and complicated.Some weight-loss clinics or med spas offer injections for as little as $20, with way of vetting what you're getting, and some online clinics are simply money scams, a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/scientist-cheaper-ozempic-sold-online-contains-dangerous-ingredients-2024-8">recent study found</a>.Rothenhoefer contacted a telehealth company with a verified, credentialed compounding pharmacy.The price for her dose of the compounded version is $329 monthly, compared to the brand name's list price of more than $1,000 per month.Pharmaceutical companies are pushing back against their low-cost competitors in the GLP-1 market.In August, Eli Lilly halved the price of its <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/eli-lilly-cut-price-zepbound-tirzepatide-weight-loss-drug-copycats-2024-8">weight-loss drug Zepbound </a>through single-dose vials — a bid to lure customers back to brand-name drugs, analysts said.But Rothenhoefer said that if manufacturers want people to buy their products, prices need to keep dropping."I think everyone would be on the branded if it were accessible and affordable. But there are people out there that are alive now that might not have been or might have been in five years if they didn't get their health under control," she said of patients like her who are now using compounded medications.<h2 id="bc1e401f-b010-4062-a1c7-ffc442cacc15">A huge relief</h2>Previously, Rothenhoefer said she was constantly worried about protecting the dwindling stockpile of medication in her refrigerator.Now, with reliable access, a huge burden has been lifted, Rothenhoefer said. She is no longer fixated on rushing to get ice in a cooler for her meds as a first priority, and is free to think about everything else that matters."I don't have any fear at all anymore," she said. "My mind has been totally put at ease and I can now focus on the rest of my life."

Weight-loss drugs are life-changing — and expensive. Here's one woman's solution.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Online platforms reflect a growing demand for menopause care like hormone-replacement therapy.</li><li>More research is needed to better tailor virtual clinics' treatment plans.</li></ul>When Jodi Miller was 49, she started to experience mood swings, hot flashes, weight gain, and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/teledermatology-future-of-skincare-musely-ceo-jack-jia-2024-6">adult acne</a> — some of the many <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/health/reproductive-health/menopause-age">symptoms of menopause</a>.When Miller, then a middle-school teacher in Rochester, New York, sought care from her OB-GYN, she said she felt dismissed."I was told to stop focusing on the negative and to start focusing on the positive," Miller, who is turning 50 this month, told Business Insider.Levels of estradiol, or estrogen produced by the ovaries, typically drop to below 20 picograms per milliliter, compared with the 40 to 300 pg/mL produced during a normal menstrual cycle, according to Dr. Mary Jane Minkin, an OB-GYN and clinical professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences at the Yale School of Medicine.This hormonal shift can lead to hot flashes and night sweats and negatively affect bone health, cardiovascular function, cognition, and skin elasticity. It can also lead to discomfort during sex because these hormonal shifts contribute to the thinning and drying of a woman's vaginal walls, Minkin said.Frustrated by the lack of support for her menopause symptoms, Miller reached out to Midi Health, a virtual care clinic that specializes in helping patients navigate <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/perimenopause-symptoms-tech-founder-shares-treatment-2024-9">perimenopause</a> and menopause, or the stages in midlife when a woman's hormones fluctuate and then decrease drastically.Since launching in September 2022, Midi Health says it has served more than 100,000 patients. It's one of a few dozen <a target="_blank" href="https://sjfventures.com/sjf-ventures-market-analysis-outlines-startups-disrupting-menopause-care-and-opportunities-for-investors/#_ftn3">menopause-care startups</a> that have launched since 2010 and one of a handful of virtual and hybrid clinics that offer menopause-symptom support, such as hormone-replacement therapy, to women.An estimated 1.3 million women in the US reach menopause each year. Now, as millennials — one of the country's largest generational groups — enter their 40s and many begin to experience perimenopause symptoms, some health professionals anticipate an uptick in patients seeking this specialized care.<h2 id="cabb2b87-466e-4def-9596-2a67fa519cac">Patients are demanding solutions for common and debilitating menopause symptoms</h2>The menopause market — which includes supplements, medical devices, HRT, and telehealth services — is valued at an estimated $5.3 billion in the US and projected to grow by about 4.8% each year until 2030, according to an analysis from Grand View Research, a US- and India-based consulting firm for the energy, healthcare, and technology industries, among others.One reason menopause-care initiatives are gaining visibility is women's increasing presence in executive roles in the workplace, said Dr. Neel Shah, the chief medical officer of Maven Clinic, a digital platform that employers and health plans use to provide care for women and families.With more women in top decision-making and hiring roles — many experiencing perimenopause or menopause themselves — there tends to be more awareness and empathy for employees seeking this type of midlife health support, Shah said.And <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-employers-can-help-menopausal-women-2022-1">companies need to retain talent</a>, so preventing absenteeism and attrition due to employees' severe perimenopause or menopause symptoms could motivate employers to seek solutions like telehealth clinics for their workers, Shah said.Miller, for example, said that her hot flashes and heart palpitations made it difficult for her to teach her classes. She was also transitioning to a career in higher education at the time and becoming an empty nester."I felt so horrible, and my energy levels were so low that I was ill-equipped to manage it all," Miller said.Shah added that millennials entering perimenopause and menopause may be more willing to advocate for the care they want than previous generations experiencing the same symptoms.Fortunately for Miller, a combination of treatments — including low-dose HRT for estrogen and progesterone, another sex hormone — helped her manage tough-to-handle symptoms. After undergoing the therapy, she said she experienced fewer hot flashes and an increased sex drive. Miller's doctor also prescribed her a low-dose antidepressant to help get rid of her mood swings and a GLP-1 medication to help her lose about 60 pounds, which helped regulate her blood pressure.According to Joanna Strober, Midi Health's CEO and cofounder, doctors may also prescribe supplements and lifestyle changes to patients who want to manage their symptoms.<h2 id="4b765042-0d6a-48bb-8bfe-e17b54eb8608">Ramping up menopause research</h2>As the demand for women's midlife-healthcare support grows, research and education are critical to improving treatments and support."We started Midi out of a realization that very few doctors or medical providers are trained in understanding the issues of women in this age category, particularly with regard to their hormones," Strober said.Knowledge about perimenopause and menopause is still evolving, so more research into effective treatments and interventions is needed to improve and tailor treatments, Minkin said.Researchers are collecting data as part of two long-term National Institutes of Health projects: "The Study of Women's Health Across the Nation" and "Menopause Strategies: Finding Lasting Answers for Symptoms and Health." These studies aim to develop a better understanding of women's menopause symptoms like depression, insomnia, and hot flashes, with the goal of developing <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/health/reproductive-health/how-to-stop-hot-flashes">more helpful treatments</a>.Another influential — but controversial — piece of research has been the Women's Health Initiative. Study results published in 2002 described some types of HRT as increasing some health risks, such as breast cancer and blood clots. In response, doctors resisted prescribing the therapy, Shah said.However, the interpretation of the data in the media and in clinical practice lacked nuance, and secondary research papers have since demonstrated HRT's benefits in most women, according to Shah. "To be honest, the medical profession is still catching up on the data," Shah said.To further address the need for perimenopause and menopause research and medical care, Congress introduced in May the bipartisan Advancing Menopause Care and Mid-Life Women's Health Act. The bill is being reviewed by the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. If it's passed, the legislation would boost federal research and public-health promotion of menopause care. Additionally, in his 2024 State of the Union address, President Joe Biden called on Congress to invest $12 billion in women's health research, which would include menopause.Most recently, a phase 3 Bayer study found that the nonhormonal treatment elinzanetant can help reduce the severity and frequency of hot flashes, according to a September 10 press release from the pharmaceutical company.<h2 id="4a418015-96ba-41b3-bf0f-9ec33fffe2f5">Expanding treatment options and providers for patient satisfaction</h2>Overall, Minkin said, advancing women's health during perimenopause and menopause requires a comprehensive approach that blends technological innovations like online care platforms with strong research and educational initiatives.An estimated 30% of residency programs in the US offered a formal menopause curriculum, according to a 2023 report published in the journal Menopause. Minkin said this may be a lingering effect of the Women's Health Initiative's preliminary results. She added that an increased focus on menopause across all levels of medical training was needed."Addressing the physiological, mental-health, and social-support needs of women during these stages of life demands a multifaceted strategy," Minkin said. "By integrating technological tools with a strong foundation in research and education, we can work toward closing this gap and improving menopause care for all women."After roughly a year of treatment for her menopause symptoms, Miller is flourishing."I'm getting my doctorate in higher educational administration, and I would have never been able to navigate such an enormous responsibility without menopause care," Miller said. "I feel like anything is possible now."

Women are demanding better menopause care. Online platforms are heeding the call.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>At a longevity conference in Copenhagen, investors and scientists ate "New Nordic" cuisine.</li><li>The fare included lots of veggies, nuts, seeds, and sourdough bread.</li></ul>"How was the food?" isn't usually the question to ask someone after a weeklong industry conference. But at the 11th Aging Research and Drug Discovery meeting in Copenhagen last week, the food was good.As leading scientists studying <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-improve-longevity-supplements-vs-exercise-and-diet-2024-3">aging and lifespan</a> mixed and mingled with investors, pharmaceutical executives, and clinicians in a gilded university, there were no stale granola bars or bags of oily potato chips in sight. Instead, the conference enlisted cooking help from some trendy locals practicing "New <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nordic-diet-fiber-foods-fish-seeds-help-manage-blood-sugar-2022-3">Nordic Cuisine</a>."For about 20 years, Copenhagen has arguably been the beating heart of the "New Nordic" movement, focused on fresh and seasonal ingredients, plus <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/easy-kimchi-sauerkraut-pickle-recipes-by-ex-noma-fermentation-chef-2024-8">inventive picklings</a> and smoking techniques. It's an ethos on display at Noma, the local restaurant here that's been named <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/photos-dining-experience-noma-famed-copenhagen-restaurant-closing-down-2023-7">best in the world five times running.</a> Noma cofounder Claus Meyer, who drafted the first New Nordic Food Manifesto, is also behind the company that catered ARDD 2024.The food from Meyers was delicious, flavorful, and nutritious. While it wasn't 100% perfectly aligned with every single piece of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/anti-aging-foods-brain-heart-health-better-immunity-longevity-2023-9">nutrition advice that longevity researchers</a> swear by for healthy aging, it had a lot of the core concepts locked down, just by nature.<h2 id="14e9459e-0d2d-4077-902e-26cac5a41aab">For breakfast, sourdough bread, yogurt, and overnight oats</h2><div type="image" title="bread in bakery" height="1493" width="2009" msid="113099688" hostid="261" sizebytes="202348"></div>OK, I'll admit there were some Danishes in the morning (this is Denmark, after all!), but the breakfast menu also included many hearty, healthy Scandinavian breads.Fermented <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/lost-35-pounds-body-fat-percentage-foods-always-buy-fitness-2022-10">sourdoughs</a>, nutty loaves, and whole grain rolls are full of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/eat-fiber-drink-tea-reduce-bloating-lose-fat-nutritionist-advice-2023-10">fiber</a> and great for your gut, and they can easily serve as a backbone for the so-called "Nordic" diet, which is increasingly favored by some nutrition and longevity experts.Satiating overnight oats and yogurt pots were also on offer, which are also both great for your gut health. Yogurt is a nice source of calcium, protein, and B vitamins, while oats are great for your heart and your waistline.<h2 id="f6a7b9ab-09f6-4983-9b60-de40f9982478">Meaty salads were a big hit and showed up on the menu at least once a day</h2><div type="image" title="meat salad 1" height="2800" width="2100" msid="113099682" hostid="261" sizebytes="310480"></div>Meyers's "new Nordic" lunch and dinner offerings struck me as having a lot in common with the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ways-mediterranean-diet-can-help-lose-weight-without-trying-2024-1">Mediterranean diet</a> that's so widely applauded by dieticians worldwide.Lunch and dinner always seemed to be a bowl or two filled with some permutation of five key components. <ul><li>Greens were omnipresent. Sometimes they'd be tiny fresh garden leaves atop other items, sometimes they'd be served on the side. One of my favorite green items at the conference was this crunchy kale slaw. Longevity experts know <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-salad-greens-are-good-for-brain-health-aging-2024-7">eating leaves — especially the dark green kind —- is great for your body and your mind</a>, and it was nice to have a good variety to sample throughout the week.</li></ul><div type="image" title="crunchy kale salad" height="2800" width="2100" msid="113099683" hostid="261" sizebytes="251152"></div><ul><li>Alongside the greens, there would usually be a pickled veggie. Bright pink pickled onions, for example, provide a great flavor punch in the mix, but are also nice for your gut. </li><li>Underneath, there would be a bed of protein. For the omnivores, this was a combo of both meat and beans, like a bit of locally sourced poultry, or some pulled beef, but there were also vegan options at every meal. The beans weren't boring, either. One particularly memorable night, there was hummus, plus green fava beans, and some meat in the mix. It was a savory flavor explosion, bursting with protein and vitamins.</li></ul><div type="image" title="meat salad 2" height="2800" width="2100" msid="113099691" hostid="261" sizebytes="306036"></div><ul><li>On the bottom of the pile, I'd generally find some well-seasoned veggies tucked below everything, like roasted carrots or some eggplant with herbs. </li><li>And my personal favorite part of the puzzle was the flavorful sauce plopped on the side. The most memorable one tasted like some kind of garlicky sour cream. While sauces and dressings aren't exactly known as health-boosters, they do serve an important function when used in moderation — helping your body better absorb the vitamins in your food. Vitamins A, D, and E, for example, are all fat-soluble, requiring some fat to be properly absorbed.</li></ul><div type="image" title="meat for lunch with tomatoes and carrots and eggplant" height="2800" width="2100" msid="113099684" hostid="261" sizebytes="254076"></div><h2 id="017ea7fc-3b25-4a4b-bd7c-a2e9bf85830d">Nuts, fruit, and the occasional sweet treat for a snack</h2>Conference-goers did not go hungry (unless, of course, they opted to practice intermittent <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/intermittent-fasting-benefits-and-risks-for-longevity-weight-loss-cancer-2024-4">fasting for longevity</a>).<div type="image" title="hummus with carrot and cucumber" height="2800" width="2100" msid="113099677" hostid="261" sizebytes="152636"></div>Every few hours, more snacks would be marched out by a quiet team of servers. There wasn't a ton of plastic waste, either. Large glass containers of nuts, seeds, and dried fruit could be scooped into bamboo leaf boats, while hummus and veggies were served in reusable glass containers.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/michael-pollan-eats-high-protein-snack-to-curb-his-cravings-for-ultra-processed-foods-2024-4">Nuts and seeds</a> are the perennial favorite snacks of many longevity researchers, because they're protein-rich, full of fiber, and happen to also be <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/blue-zones-expert-shares-cheap-longevity-supplements-beans-walnuts-2024-5">linked to longer lifespans</a>.There were a few interludes for "naughtier," or at least less longevity-forward snacks like dessert bars, brownies, and an ice cream bar that rolled up on a bike.<div type="image" title="ice cream being scooped" height="1314" width="1972" msid="113099690" hostid="261" sizebytes="65202"></div>Instead of carting the treats out for dessert after meals, the caterers brought the bars in for mid-afternoon coffee breaks, and topped them with dried raspberries or nuts for a nutritious kick. They were all textbook examples of the "everything in moderation" maxim that longevity doctors and nutritionists love to espouse.On Thursday I tried two small golf ball-sized scoops of ice cream: one magenta flavor that was some sort of berry, and another of stracciatella. The tangy berry flavor was so tart and lovely in the warm sun I felt completely satisfied with the small serving.<div type="image" title="woman eating ice cream" height="657" width="986" msid="113099686" hostid="261" sizebytes="80002"></div><h2 id="d5a0e56a-1236-41ad-b072-aa5fefff8972">Lessons for the rest of the world on how to make convenience food healthy</h2>I was, quite frankly, amazed at the quality of the conference fare.This spread seemed to perfectly exemplify an eating strategy many <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/foods-that-boost-brain-health-neuro-nine-list-plants-2024-7">longevity doctors</a> swear by: aim to eat a diet rich in vegetables, whole grains, and low in sugar and refined carbohydrates like white bread or cake. Snack on nuts and fruit. And you don't have to be perfect! If you enjoy a little treat like ice cream or a glass of good wine with dinner now and then, that's not super likely to boost your longevity, but it's also fine. As long as water, tea, and coffee are your mainstays on most days.Eating like this isn't always practical for a busy American on-the-go. It's easier in Denmark, a country pioneering a decades-long movement to sideline ultra-processed foods, and to surround people with healthier options. Even 7-Eleven had a fresh couscous salad with hummus on offer that didn't look too different from what we ate.<div type="image" title="7-eleven couscous salad" height="2800" width="2100" msid="113099685" hostid="261" sizebytes="288826"></div>Ultimately, it shouldn't all be up to the individual to attempt to eat well. But, for now, I have some ideas on how to make my lunches and snacks a little better for my longevity.

Longevity experts gathered in Copenhagen. Here's what they ate — and why you should try these meals, too.

<keyword id="146977" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="glenmark-pharmaceuticals-ltd" source="Orion">Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd</keyword> on Tuesday said it has received final approval from the US health regulator for its generic Fluphenazine Hydrochloride tablets used to treat certain types of mental disorders. The approval granted by the US Food &amp; Drug Administration (US FDA) is for Fluphenazine Hydrochloride tablets of strengths 1 mg, 2.5 mg, 5 mg and 10 mg, Glenmark said in a statement. These are the generic versions of Prolixin tablets in same strengths of Apothecon Inc, it added. The company's Fluphenazine Hydrochloride tablets will be distributed in the US by Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc, USA, it said. For the 12 months ended September 2023, Prolixin tablets in the same strengths achieved annual sales of approximately USD 18.1 million, Glenmark said citing IQVIA data. (This copy will be updated)

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