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Published on Leave a comment on Gut Microbiome Tests Sold To Consumers Are Unreliable and Flawed
Oral microbes Credit: Wikipedia

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"

Published on Leave a comment on Eat More Whole Grain Foods For Heart Health
Whole grain breads Credit: Wikipedia

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"

Published on Leave a comment on Study Finds Fewer Boys Born After Pregnancy Heat Stress

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"

Published on Leave a comment on Raw Tuna May Contain Parasites
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.

According to a brief communication published in Ocean and Coastal Research, the research team counted more than 1,600 little worms in total. Using powerful microscopy tools as aids, they found that the kidney and heart were the only organs free of parasites in every fish. Otherwise, the worms and their signs were everywhere. Of the 53-fish haul, 96 percent were infected by parasites.

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

Published on Leave a comment on August Set A New Record As the Hottest Month Globally

Once again, the global record for hottest month was broken this summer. August was the hottest month globally on record, and this past summer was the hottest on record for the lower 48 states (United States). .

What we are seeing is that month after month new heat records are being set, with the baseline being set higher and higher. And yet these are soon broken. Scientists agree that a big contributing factor is human caused climate change (due to burning of fossil fuels - gas, oil, coal). Are governments taking note and doing something? Hmmm...

Excerpts from NPR: This summer was hot. August shattered global heat records

If you thought this summer felt hotter than normal, you were right. Temperatures around the world were unusually warm, surpassing several heat records, including in the U.S.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration this week announced that for the Lower 48 states, this summer– from June to August– was the warmest in 132 years of record-keeping. ...continue reading "August Set A New Record As the Hottest Month Globally"

Published on Leave a comment on Simple Treatments May Work Best For Knee Arthritis Pain

Knee pain due to knee arthritis is something that many (most?) people complain about as they age. A recent study looking at what non-drug therapies helped people with knee pain found that some of the simplest treatments (knee braces, water-based therapy, exercise) worked best.

A review of 139 studies involving 9644 people and 12 therapeutic options (low level laser therapy, high intensity laser therapy, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, interferential current, short wave diathermy, ultrasound, lateral wedged insole, knee brace, exercise, hydrotherapy (exercises done in warm water), kinesio taping and extracorporeal shock wave therapy) for knee arthritis was analyzed.

The researchers found that knee braces ranked highest overall for reducing pain, stiffness, and mobility problems. This was followed by water-based therapy was especially effective for pain, and regular exercise consistently improved both pain and physical movement. The high-tech approach of ultrasound was reported as the least effective, thus not recommended.

From Science Daily: Nearly 10,000 patients reveal what works best for knee arthritis pain relief

Knee braces, water therapy, and exercise may be among the most effective drug-free options for people with knee osteoarthritis, according to a large analysis published in the open-access journal PLOS One. The research was led by Yuan Luo of the First People's Hospital of Neijiang, China. ...continue reading "Simple Treatments May Work Best For Knee Arthritis Pain"

Published on Leave a comment on Apparently We Do Not Have A Right To Clean Drinking Water

Do you trust that your drinking water is safe to drink? If the answer is no - you are absolutely correct in being suspicious. A recent ruling by a (Trump appointed) judge in Mississippi ruled that we do not have a right to clean water. Specifically, the US constitution offers no right to clean water or to truthful health information. What??!!

From The Guardian: US federal court says no constitutional right to clean water in Mississippi case

A US appellate court has decided that the federal constitution does not guarantee a right to clean water. ...continue reading "Apparently We Do Not Have A Right To Clean Drinking Water"

Published on Leave a comment on Stop Cold Sores In Their Tracks With Ice Cubes

Stop cold sores by icing them? Yes!

Years ago I read that applying ice cubes to an emerging cold sore can stop it dead in its tracks. Nowadays that method of dealing with cold sores (caused by herpes simplex virus) is not mentioned on medical sites. Yet my experience has been that applying ice and holding it on the emerging cold sore absolutely works.

The sore stops developing at the point when the ice is applied. When applied early in development the cold sore never fully emerges, and so the fluid filled blister and weeping stages never occur.

Instead, it will go directly to the scab stage, or even regress to nothing if you get it early enough. The key is to get ice directly on the spot before the sore fully erupts, and to press or hold the ice directly on it for lengthy periods of time - perhaps a total of 30 to 40 minutes (if it's very early in development) up to one hour. For best results, can do a second time in one day. Repeat on day 2 if needed or desired.

Method: Apply an ice cube directly on the area where the cold sore is emerging (but wrap part of it in a paper towel so you can hold it comfortably). Hold it on the spot till the ice cube melts. Then apply a second ice cube to the area until the ice melts. Perhaps even a third (or 4th?) ice cube. Yes, the skin will be a little red afterwards, but that soon goes away.

Big question: Would this method work for everyone? Don't know of any studies looking at this. But some people on Reddit mention successfully stopping cold sores by using ice cubes ("ice the cold sore"). Here and here and here. Some other comments from Redditt:

"I know this sounds crazy but ice will stop a cold sore in its tracks without fail for me! You have to get the ice on there as soon as you feel the tingle though because once it starts to break skin it's much harder to stop. Let an ice cube melt entirely on it, and then another. And maybe a third lol."

"100% works. Anyone not doing this is suffering for no reason. Ice ice ice it!"

"Ice it. Right when you feel it. It stops it from replicating. Stops it right in it's tracks. Won't even get any blisters. It's amazing!"

"Honestly I put ice in a ziploc bag and hold it up to the spot anytime I feel a cold sore coming, usually gets rid of it but only when you do it right when you feel it coming.

Published on Leave a comment on Hundreds Of Government Datasets Have Been Deleted or Altered

Can you trust government data these days? And what if you can't find government data anymore - that is, data that used to be easy to find, such as air pollution, climate change, health data, whether you live near hazardous chemicals, and certain medical topics? Well... it turns out that the current U.S. government has deleted or altered nearly 400 data sets since January 2025.

So what information can we now trust? It is interesting that the independent news site The Guardian is writing about this, but silence in most of the media in the US.  Ooops. Knowing what information or data has been altered or deleted is very important to know because the US federal government does not have to notify us that that are deleting or altering data sets.

To follow in depth go to the online tracker , the site put together by dataindex.us (the group of researchers and experts that have put together this information in one place). The list is not complete, so they also want YOU to notify them if you know of more deletions and alterations.

Excerpts from The Guardian: Trump 2.0 has deleted or altered nearly 400 US datasets, endangering public health, education and more

A database of federal law enforcement officer misconduct records. A survey measuring physical, sexual and emotional violence against children and youth. Real-time pollution readings collected by air quality monitors from US embassies around the world.

These are among the hundreds of federal datasets that the Trump administration has taken down or altered as part of its aggressive campaign to wipe all mentions of data findings that do not align with the administration’s priorities. ...continue reading "Hundreds Of Government Datasets Have Been Deleted or Altered"