Content Sections

In Brief (click on the links to read more)

Natural News

  • News feeds are awash with stories about the number of people in the UK being admitted to hospital with nutrient deficiencies. Looking for the data behind the stories shows this is far from a new issue. Despite previous concerns, the problem continues to grow, with the blame being placed on the increasing cost of 'healthy' food and people's reliance on highly-processed, energy-dense foods. Once again, tackling the issue at its root by helping people to learn how to cook healthy food on a smaller budget and diverting some NHS funds away from drug budgets, to provide decent quality supplements is far more likely to help those most in need to have a healthy nutrient intake from the food they eat
  • A virus that can cause chronic gut infections could be the cause of a subtype of Alzheimer’s disease, according to researchers from Arizona State University and Banner Alzheimer's Institute. In a study published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia they propose that human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) may travel from the gut to the brain via the vagus nerve, triggering immune responses that lead to Alzheimer's-related changes, such as amyloid plaques and tau tangles. Although new to mainstream researchers the link between disruption of the gut microbiome and neurodegenerative disease is well known amongst practitioners in the integrative health community
  • Recent research, published in Gut, suggests that ultra-processed foods (UPFs) high in inflammatory seed oils may increase the risk of colon cancer. Such foods can lead to chronic inflammation, a known factor in cancer development along with a range of other chronic diseases. While the researchers indicate that more studies are needed, we see the evidence daily of the health risks associated with diets high in UPFs and seed oils, reinforcing that it’s strongly advisable to limit their consumption.

>>> Find out which nutrition and lifestyle choices will help you keep an agile, flexible and fully functioning brain throughout your life

  • Exposure to glyphosate can cause significant brain inflammation and increase the risk of people developing neurodegenerative disease according to a new mouse study published in the Journal of Neuroinflammation, revealing an array of damage to the brain caused by glyphosate
  • A new report from Friends of the Earth and Profundo warns that US food retailers face a multi-billion dollar bill from financial, climate, and biodiversity risks by 2050 due to ongoing pesticide use. The report urges retailers to reduce pesticide use and promote organic farming to mitigate these risks
  • The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has released a draft assessment on fluoride intake from drinking water, food, fluoridated table salt, and ingested dental products, excluding topical applications. The assessment proposes a safe intake level of 3.3 mg/day for pregnant women and individuals aged 9 and above, based on potential effects on foetal central nervous system development. A public consultation is now open until the 9th February 2025, with the final risk assessment scheduled for completion in 2025
  • The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has issued favourable opinions on Impossible Foods' soy leghemoglobin product (LegH Prep), a genetically modified yeast-derived ingredient intended to give plant-based meat substitutes a "bleeding" appearance and meaty flavour. However, GM Watch's Claire Robinson and Professor Michael Antoniou have identified significant data gaps and errors in EFSA's assessment, including overlooked findings from animal feeding trials indicating potential health risks. They urge EFSA to withdraw and revise its opinions to ensure public health safety
  • A mouse study published in Heliyon found that mice fed a low-protein diet produced offspring over four generations with lower birth weights and smaller kidneys, increasing the risk of chronic kidney disease and hypertension. Improving the diet in subsequent generations did not reverse these effects, indicating that ancestral malnutrition can have lasting health consequences
  • A study led by Georgia Tech's School of Public Policy, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, suggests that solar geoengineering could prevent up to 400,000 temperature-related deaths annually by cooling the planet by 1°C. The research indicates that the benefits of reduced heat-related mortality outweigh potential health risks from air pollution and ozone depletion. However, the study also notes that cooler regions might experience an increase in cold-related deaths, highlighting the complex implications of such interventions and raising a red flag over the suggested interventions — and geoengineering itself!
  • As global populations age, the number of post-menopausal women is set to increase significantly by 2030, according to the World Health Organization. A new article in The Lancet Global Health reinforces the ongoing medicalisation of menopause, calling a natural life-stage a "global health and wellbeing issue that needs urgent attention" as it calls for increased research into how menopause affects women in the long-term .

>>> Should science and corporates be allowed to play God by preventing women journeying through their menopause life stage?

  • The New Zealand government is attempting to fast-track legislation that could usher in medical mandates for human medicines that use gene technology. It would also enable ministers to grant emergency authorisations to use gene technologies at will and remove the need to label foods containing gene edited organisms. New Zealand is following many other countries into the continued deregulation of such technologies, without pause to consider the very real danger to the environment and ultimately human health
  • Writing on the Courageous Discourse Substack, Nicolas Hulscher, highlights concerns raised by a recent study, published in the Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, over the lack of efficacy of Pfizer mRNA covid shots in children.

Free Speech Controls

  • In a major about turn, as the countdown begins to the inauguration of the new Trump administration, social media giant, Meta, is doing away with its third-party fact-checkers. In an announcement this week, Meta founder and CEO, Mark Zuckerberg said the decision has been made because they’re “too politically biased and have destroyed more trust than they’ve created”. The platform will instead introduce a Community Notes system, similar to that used by X, to facilitate more free and transparent communications. It remains to be seen just how free speech will become on Meta platforms, but it appears that it may be making an about-face from its stance during the pandemic. Time will tell
  • A new House Judiciary Committee report raises alarm over the increased use of AI-driven censorship, warning it may violate First Amendment rights. The report highlights concerns about the government's use of AI to moderate online content and calls for stronger safeguards to protect free speech. It's time to ensure technology doesn't compromise our fundamental rights
  • A recently released report from the National Academies examines the origins, impacts, and mitigation strategies of science ‘misinformation’. The report highlights the role of cognitive biases, social media algorithms, and the rapid spread of false information in propagating misinformation. It recommends strategies such as improving public science literacy, promoting critical thinking, and implementing systemic changes to reduce the spread and impact of misinformation. The question is who sets the agenda and decides what the science should say?

>>> How the Nobel Prize Summit sold out on real science