Lacto Bacto – Health, Microbes, and More

Drinking Orange Juice Daily Has Health Benefits

SimaOctober 11, 2026Leave a comment

Many of us drink a daily glass of orange juice thinking it is healthy for us and because it contains vitamin C. But is that true?

While some in the medical field view orange juice as basically orange-flavored sugar in a glass, others find orange juice to be a healthy beverage - one that is linked to a lower incidence of cardiovascular diseases.

A recent study found that there are numerous health benefits from drinking orange juice daily. Regular consumption can influence the activity of thousands of genes in our immune cells - genes that help control blood pressure, improve inflammation, metabolism, and blood sugar control. Studies have also found improvements in cholesterol and blood vessel health - thus influencing long-term heart health.

How much orange juice to drink for health benefits? One cup of pure pasteurized orange juice daily should be sufficient. Note that in the study, adults drank 500 ml (2 cups) of pure pasteurized orange juice for 2 months. After 60 days, many genes associated with inflammation and higher blood pressure became less active.

From Science Daily: Drinking orange juice every day may change thousands of genes

Most of us think of orange juice as a simple breakfast habit, something you pour without much thought. Yet scientists are discovering that this everyday drink may be doing far more in the body than quenching thirst. ...continue reading "Drinking Orange Juice Daily Has Health Benefits"

Scented Cleaning Products, Nanoparticles, and Your Lungs

SimaOctober 11, 2026October 11, 2026Leave a comment

It has long been known that fragrances or scents in products used indoors (e.g., in cleaning products, air fresheners, personal care products) are a source of indoor air pollution due to the chemicals in the fragrances. But it turns out that there is another reason to avoid scented cleaning products - they produce nanoparticles that are inhaled deep into the lungs.

A small study found that fragrances in scented cleaning products (both conventional and essential oil or botanical cleaning products) emit small ultrafine particles called nanoparticles that travel deep into a person's lungs within minutes. This is because chemicals in the scented cleaning products quickly react with ozone indoors. The inhaled particle dose can sometimes be equivalent to or greater than standing near heavy traffic! This is invisible air pollution - we can not see the nanoparticles, but they get deep into the lungs.

Bottom line: Choose unscented cleaning products. Also, use exhaust fans when cleaning, and open windows for a short while to improve ventilation.

From Science Daily: That fresh cleaning smell could be filling your home with nanoparticles

A room that smells like citrus, pine, or flowers is often associated with cleanliness. Those familiar scents, however, can signal chemical reactions taking place in the air. ...continue reading "Scented Cleaning Products, Nanoparticles, and Your Lungs"

Seven Solvents Used In Workplaces and Parkinson’s Disease

SimaOctober 10, 2026October 11, 2026Leave a comment

Scientists have been stating for years that most Parkinson's disease cases are from exposure to environmental toxins, such as certain pesticides (e.g., paraquat) and certain chemicals used in manufacturing (e.g., trichloroethylene).

A recent study presented at the 2026 International Congress of Parkinson's Disease found that occupational exposure to seven solvents used in workplaces increased the odds of developing Parkinson's disease, with the risk increasing with exposure to more of the different solvent types.

The solvents associated with the greatest risk of Parkinson's disease were: kerosene, TCE (trichloroethylene), and carbon tetrachloride. After that was exposure to mineral spirits, methyl ethyl ketone, jet fuel, and toluene.

Excerpts from Medscape: Seven Workplace Solvents Linked to Parkinson’s Disease

Occupational exposure to specific solvents is linked to increased odds of Parkinson’s disease (PD), with the risk increasing as the number of solvent types rise. ...continue reading "Seven Solvents Used In Workplaces and Parkinson’s Disease"

Pesticides and Men’s Reproductive Health

SimaOctober 8, 2026October 10, 2026Leave a comment

A recent study reviewed health effects from pesticide exposure in men. The review of studies on this issue found many adverse health effects from pesticides, including harmful effects on sperm, semen quality, infertility, and other reproductive problems. In other words: male reproductive dysfunction.

Of course, the more exposure, the more problems. And certain types of pesticides have greater effects, including organophosphates (e.g., chlorpyrifos) and carbamates. Unfortunately, the US EPA disregards these reproductive health effects.

Even though study after study finds harmful effects from pesticide exposure, it doesn't seem to be having an impact on use. Billions of pounds of pesticides are applied globally. And residential use (lawn and garden pesticides) continues to be very high.

In fact, recently I've been seeing both homeowner and professional pesticide applications on lawns with one hand holding the pesticide sprayer and the other hand looking at and holding a phone! And no gloves. Yikes! Do they not understand that they are absorbing the chemicals and that there are health effects?

From Beyond Pesticides: Literature Review Captures Science On Adverse Health Effects in Men With Pesticide Exposure

A review published in Annual Research & Review in Biology, titled “Pesticide and Herbicide Exposure and Male Reproductive Health: A Critical Narrative Review of Semen Quality, Sperm Genomic Integrity and Mechanistic Evidence,” highlights the current scientific literature linking pesticides to adverse reproductive effects in men. ...continue reading "Pesticides and Men’s Reproductive Health"

Study Finds About 12% of Cancers Are From Infections

SimaOctober 1, 2026Leave a comment

Many of us don't think of cancer being caused by viruses. A recent study reported that an estimated 2.3 million new cancer cases throughout the world were from infections. Which is about 12% of all cancer cases.

An oncovirus is a virus that can cause cancer. Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) and human papillomavirus (HPV) caused the largest share of these cancers - each causing 4% of new cancers. Vaccines already exist for HPV and HBV (hepatitis B virus) and have been shown to reduce the incidence of cancer.

From CIDRAP: More than 2 million new cancer cases caused by infections in 2024, study finds

Many people fear cancer and want to know what they can do to prevent it. In some cases, genetics, random mutations, or environmental factors are to blame, making it difficult to avoid a diagnosis. A paper published yesterday in The Lancet Oncology, though, calls attention to a preventable cause of cancer—infections. ...continue reading "Study Finds About 12% of Cancers Are From Infections"

Gut Microbiome Tests Sold To Consumers Are Unreliable and Flawed

SimaSeptember 26, 2026September 26, 2026Leave a comment

All sorts of microbiome tests are now available to consumers, but are they any good? The microbiome is the community of microbes (bacteria, viruses, fungi) that live in and on our bodies. Each body part (e.g., sinuses, gut, vagina, skin) has a different microbiome, but the one that has been studied the most (with stool tests) is the gut microbiome.

A recent study by researchers at the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) evaluated the performance of seven commercial (sold directly to consumers) microbiome kits or tests that promise to give you an analysis of your gut microbiome (and health advice) by analyzing a stool (fecal) sample that you mail them. The researchers found that the test results do not give you dependable or reliable information about the actual composition of your gut flora.

They also found that for the same stool samples there were major discrepancies among the results from different companies, and even from the results of the same identical samples sent to each company (3 of the same stool sample was sent to each company).They found that the same sample could be labeled healthy vs unhealthy by different providers.

They point out that you can't make conclusions or recommendations on how to improve (gut) health from the results because the results are so flawed. [An earlier study of tests from 31 companies found the same kind of flawed results.]

Why is this happening? This is because there is no government regulation or oversight of the tests - thus the test manufacturers don't have to prove that they are reliable and actually measure what they say they measure. There are no quality assurance requirements. No standardization of tests. [An earlier 2024 study of microbiome tests sold to consumers and manufacturer claims found the exact same thing.]

Bottom line: The tests may sound great, but don't do it! The companies typically just want to sell you their supplements - which you probably don't need!

Instead, try to improve your diet - a diet rich in whole foods and fiber, which will also feed your beneficial gut microbes. This includes fruits and vegetables, nuts, whole grains, seeds, legumes, whole grains. Also, some fish, some dairy, eggs, some olive oil. For example, Mediterranean style diet.

From Medscape: Commercial Microbiome Tests: Unreliable Results

Commercial home tests that analyze stool samples promise insights into a person’s gut microbiome. But how reliable are those results? A study published in Communications Biology delivers a sobering verdict: the tested microbiome analyses do not provide dependable information about the actual composition of the gut flora. ...continue reading "Gut Microbiome Tests Sold To Consumers Are Unreliable and Flawed"

Eat More Whole Grain Foods For Heart Health

SimaSeptember 25, 2026September 26, 2026Leave a comment

Over the years, study after study has found a link between high whole-grain intake and a reduced risk of a number of chronic diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease. A recent review of studies also found that ....(drum roll)... eating a diet rich in whole grain foods is good for heart health and lowering chronic inflammation.

The review of 87 studies found that eating 4 to 6 servings of whole grain foods per day benefits heart health in a number of ways. The studies found that daily consumption of this amount of whole grain foods resulted in improvements in body weight, waist size, blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, triglycerides, fasting glucose, insulin resistance, and some markers of inflammation.

There was a dose response effect - the more whole grains eaten, the better the health effects. Best health effects were from 4 to 6 servings daily (60 to 100 grams per day).

Bottom line: Whole grains have a number of health effects and can easily be added into the diet. Examples of whole grain foods: Oatmeal, barley, quinoa, wild rice, bulgur (cracked wheat), farro, millet, buckwheat, rye, spelt, brown rice, popcorn, whole wheat flour, whole grain breakfast cereals, and whole wheat bread and crackers.

By the way, 4 to 6 servings of whole grain foods per day is more than current US guidelines of 2 to 4 servings per day. But both agree that for health benefits need to eat "real whole foods" (not ultra-processed foods).

From Science Daily: Scientists find the whole grain “sweet spot” for better heart health

Eating four to six servings of whole grains each day may improve several major risk factors for cardiovascular disease, according to new research published September 15 in the European Heart Journal. ...continue reading "Eat More Whole Grain Foods For Heart Health"

Study Finds Fewer Boys Born After Pregnancy Heat Stress

SimaSeptember 24, 2026September 26, 2026Leave a comment

It is known that temperature during pregnancy can have an effect on the number of male vs female babies born (the sex-ratio) among animals. An interesting study suggests that this is also true for humans.

The study found that exposure to days with a temperature 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit) or higher during the nine months of pregnancy leads to fewer male births. While at first glance that doesn't seem so warm, these areas also had days 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) and higher.

The study was done by linking data on 5 million live births in 33 sub-Saharan countries and India with temperature data. The researchers observed fewer male births after high first-trimester temperature exposure. This was consistent with increased spontaneous abortions due to mother's heat stress. This is especially true for mothers in rural areas, with little education. (No air conditioning!)

From Euronews: As temperatures rise, the number of male births is decreasing, study finds

When temperatures rise above 20°C, fewer baby boys are born compared to girls, a new study has found.

Researchers at the University of Oxford found that heat exposure can increase prenatal mortality in early pregnancy, particularly among males.

...continue reading "Study Finds Fewer Boys Born After Pregnancy Heat Stress"

SimaSeptember 24, 2026September 26, 2026Leave a comment

This beautiful grasshopper landed on my window and hung out for a while. Even though it was missing a leg, it seemed to move around just fine.

Eventually it left.

Raw Tuna May Contain Parasites

SimaSeptember 19, 2026September 26, 2026Leave a comment

Skipjack tuna Credit: Wikipedia

Do you wonder if there are any parasites in the fresh fish you're about to eat? How about in your sushi or sashimi? A recent study found that almost all tuna (53 skipjack tuna) caught recently off the cost of southern Brazil contained parasites.

While it is unknown what is in the tuna that you may be about to eat, the researchers say that cooking the fish kills all parasites. Parasites are also killed during canning. By the way, it is unknown what the fish from other parts of the world may contain.

From Science Alert: Scientists Find Parasites in Almost Every Fish From a Recent Tuna Haul – 96% Were Infected

A fatty tuna that is often used for sashimi or canning may be swimming with parasites more often than not.

When scientists at the Federal University of Santa Catarina in southern Brazil analyzed 53 locally caught fish, they found nearly all were contaminated by worms.

...continue reading "Raw Tuna May Contain Parasites"