He’s always had a “look” for the screen—and at age 76, he’s the same Ted Danson we knew in his Cheers days. As enduring as his career’s been, Danson is opening up for the first time about a decades-long health struggle that had started not long before he went behind the bar as Sam Malone.

Danson is a spokesperson in the current Bristol Meyers Squibb campaign ‘SO, Have You Found It?’ to raise awareness about treatment options for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, a condition he says he’s been managing for 50 years. Plaque psoriasis is an immune system condition that commonly causes flaking, scaling and itchiness around areas like the scalp, knees and elbows for around 3% of Americans.

Dermatologist Jennifer Soung, MD joined Danson in a conversation with The Healthy by Reader’s Digest about how far psoriasis treatments have come in recent decades, along with Danson’s holistic lifestyle in partnership with Mary Steenburgen, his wife of almost 30 years.

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The Healthy by Reader’s Digest:  Ted, we’ve generally known you to be the cool, collected character. It’s great to see you sharing about a condition that can cause self-consciousness. Do you remember your first flare-up, and which triggers have you identified?

Ted Danson: I was 25 when I went to the doctor and asked what was going on: “What is this patch of skin that didn’t look good?” It was kind of flaky, and he described what was going on, and it was very scary, because there wasn’t an easy fix. The potential for it getting worse and spreading all over my body was a huge, demoralizing effect on my emotional life. I was always feeling a bit like a phony and all of that.

And that lasted and got worse. I tried different treatments that were more topical. Then about 15 years ago, I met a dermatologist, and the advancements in medicine and how they can treat psoriasis were huge. It was a game-changer. They started treating it systemically. I’ll let Dr. Soung fill in—I’m talking as a layman on what I barely know. But it changed my life.

And then, I don’t think you ever get rid of plaque psoriasis, but I don’t see it anymore. [The treatment] has muted it so much that I live plaque-free. … You don’t have to be victimized.

The Healthy: Dr. Soung, “life-changing” is a powerful descriptor. Can you talk about some of the treatment options that are available? 

Dr. Soung: I always tell patients first to find the right doctor so they can talk about and figure out the right treatment options for you. There are so many treatment options, making it so much fun as a dermatologist treating patients with psoriasis now.

Ted referred to the fact that in the last 20 years, we’ve really had a revolution in the number of treatments for psoriasis and have a better understanding of the inflammatory pathways for psoriasis. So there are creams and ointments. There are also pills that patients can take as well as injections. And here today, we’re specifically encouraging patients to talk openly about psoriasis with their healthcare providers and explore treatment options including systemic oral options like SOTYKTU to see if it’s the right fit for that patient. 

The Healthy: Ted, you touched on this, but when it comes to something like psoriasis there’s also a mental health aspect to consider if someone is experiencing self-consciousness around their flare-up. Have you experienced any of that? 

Ted Danson: I certainly did. You do end up feeling less-than. You feel embarrassed. You feel like you have something you need to hide. You feel like you’re not 100% worthy. You get diminished. And that relief you can get now, because there are treatment plans, it’s life-changing. It really is. Even though most of the time, it’s not this deadly disease. It can lead to real problems, but it’s, “Oh, you have patchy, bad-looking skin, lighten up.” But the truth is, it has such an emotional impact on you that I’m really grateful to be able to share the good news.

Ted Danson on the set of Cheers

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The Healthy: We’ve read that you’ve dabbled with a plant-based diet in the past. 

Ted Danson: Let’s emphasize and underline the word “dabble.” I’m an actor in Hollywood; I change my mind every five minutes. But I do know that my body responds—well, let me be real here: There are times when I’ve been vegetarian. There are times that I’ve been vegan. I sometimes think my body does need some animal protein. I don’t really eat—this is just me, I’m not saying this is how you get rid of your psoriasis or anything like that—but trying to eat a less inflammatory diet is important for your overall health, and it probably is a great thing to to do along with the treatment plan. I limit the amount of alcohol to almost none. I try to keep sugar out of my body. I try to eat gluten-free or no carbs at all, but that’s hard, so I just do gluten-free. Those things I know I can feel the impact on my body.

I also try to take care of my gut health. I think we’re discovering more and more that a lot of medicines that we take into our body or foods have a huge impact on our gut lining and I try to take care of that. I’d say trying to find a very low-inflammatory diet is a great way to go, and plant-based is probably the best way to do that. Do I do that all the time? No. 

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Dr. Soung: I’m going to chime in a little bit from a doctor’s perspective. What you’re hearing from Ted, like many patients, is that diet is very much a personal choice. I love the fact that he’s making lifestyle choices to improve or lessen the severity of his psoriasis and improve his overall health. And that’s what I remind patients, is that I want you to be healthy as a whole. 

The Healthy: Ted, beyond diet, can you talk a bit about how you stay active and at the top of your game at 76? 

Ted Danson. Prayer. Definitely prayer. Cardio, go on long walks if you don’t run so well anymore, weight lifting, weight bearing, all these things are proven to really be healthy for you, for your mental capacity as well. I mean, who would have thought that lifting some degree of weights is good for your brain? But it is treating yourself holistically. I’ve been trained to meditate and all of that. I do try to find quiet. I do try to be joyful. 

And you know what, fear: Fear is a horrible place to live. And sometimes having a condition like psoriasis makes you fearful. Now we’re getting way off-base here, but you’re either in a loving place or a fearful place. And so I think if you’re in a fearful place, you make decisions that aren’t necessarily good for you or your health. The idea is to empower yourself, take charge. It’s very powerful, and we are talking about psoriasis, but that’s an entry into your overall well-being. It’s so worthwhile a conversation. 

Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen attend the 96th Annual Academy Awards on March 10, 2024

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The Healthy: We agree with all that! Is there a self-care routine you refuse to skip?

Ted Danson: Yes, I have to do a Wordle with my wife in bed before I get out. [laughs] Sorry. I’m laughing, but my relationship with my wife is a blessing, and we make sure we’re both in a place of joy as much as possible. We definitely deal with real life stuff. But I think having love zooming around is a great way to take care of your health. We both enjoy each other and want to be around for a long time, so we’re encouraging each other to go take long walks, fast walks, to eat correctly, to take care of yourself. Life’s a miracle, so do everything you can to enjoy it. 

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This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Wegovy, which is one of the recently mainstreamed type-2 diabetes medications that’s made headlines for its weight loss side effect, will now be covered by insurance plans in some cases.

Today the Wall Street Journal reported that CVS Health, Elevance Health, and Kaiser Permanente have announced their plans to cover Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide drug Wegovy under Medicare Part D prescription plans. The medication will be covered only for patients with heart conditions who are also overweight or obese—not solely for weight loss.

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Wegovy, which has the same active ingredient as the diabetes medication Ozempic, was previously approved to be prescribed for weight loss by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA); however, Medicare was not permitted to approve coverage of a drug for weight loss under prior regulations. The drugs in this category tend to be prohibitively costly for most consumers, with price tags of more than $1,000 or more out-of-pocket for a month’s supply. Ozempic is approved for insurance coverage only for treating diabetes, though some doctors prescribe these drugs off-label for weight loss. (Several experts have urged caution against use of counterfeit semaglutide products promoted to yield this weight-loss effect, as some of these have reportedly caused hospitalization among some consumers.)

On March 8, 2024, the FDA had approved Wegovy for use by people with cardiovascular disease to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke, opening the door to the Medicare approval process. A study cited by the FDA notice showed that treatment with Wegovy “significantly reduced the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events.”

Of the ruling, John Sharretts, MD, the director of the Division of Diabetes, Lipid Disorders, and Obesity in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said: “Wegovy is now the first weight loss medication also to be approved to help prevent life-threatening cardiovascular events in adults with cardiovascular disease and either obesity or overweight.” Dr. Sharretts added: “Providing a treatment option proven to lower this cardiovascular risk is a major advance for public health.”

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On March 22, the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that because of the FDA approval, it would move to cover the drug as part of the Medicare Part D plan. “CMS has issued guidance to Medicare Part D plans stating that anti-obesity medications that receive FDA approval for an additional medically accepted indication can be considered a Part D drug for that specific use,” said the message. This led to CVS Health, Elevance Health, and Kaiser Permanente announcing their plans for medication coverage.

Meanwhile, eyes are on other major insurance providers to examine their current stances. At press time, Humana stated that it is reviewing the coverage of Wegovy, while UnitedHealth has not yet commented on any pending coverage changes.

Actuarial specialists say that along with these approvals could come increased premiums for some Medicare add-ons, like Medicare Part D.

Also, pre-requisites for coverage of expensive medication could include trying different weight loss methods before coverage for the medication would be approved. 

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pregnancy test o na blue background

Intrauterine devices (IUDs) have steadily climbed the ranks to become a favored choice of birth control among American women, with their popularity ranking them just after the decades-trusted tubal ligation and oral contraceptives methods.

With a typical one-year failure rate of less than 1%, as reported by Yale Medicine, IUDs are considered one of the most effective forms of reversible contraception. These small, flexible, T-shaped devices, inserted into the uterus through the vagina, provide long-acting, reversible contraception (LARC) for three to 10 years, depending on which IUD model choice the patient pursues.

Individuals choose IUDs for reasons beyond just reliable birth control. Some may be healing after a recent pregnancy, while others need some time to decide if they want to start a family. Regardless of personal motivation, the decision to use an IUD is typically rooted in the belief of its effectiveness. However, despite the impressive statistics showcasing IUD’s high success rate, the possibility of pregnancy, albeit slim, remains real. As Robyn Horsager-Boehrer, MD, reminds us in the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center’s MedBlog: “[…N]o form of birth control is 100 percent effective.”

For those with an IUD who suspect pregnancy, Dr. Horsager-Boehrer recommends starting with a home pregnancy test. If the result is negative but questions or symptoms linger, seeking professional medical advice is crucial.

In the case of a positive pregnancy test, an immediate consultation with an OBGYN is essential for further evaluation through an ultrasound and examination. Pelvic pain and vaginal bleeding, in particular, warrant urgent attention as they may indicate an ectopic pregnancy—a potentially life-threatening condition where a fertilized egg implants and grows outside of the uterus, requiring prompt emergency care.

Following the confirmation of a pregnancy, medical professionals will check for the presence of the IUD strings as a preliminary step toward possibly removing the device. Dr. Horsager-Boehrer points out that research indicates leaving an IUD in place during pregnancy may elevate the risks of miscarriage, preterm birth, and infections of the amniotic sac, unlike scenarios where the IUD is removed. Although removing the IUD can improve outcomes, pregnancies with a history of IUD use may still face a heightened risk of complications in comparison to those without.

Megan S., a 44-year-old mother of three, faced these decisions when she received a positive pregnancy test while using an IUD. Ahead, she shares the importance of the compassionate support she received from her OBGYN when she found out she was pregnant despite having an IUD.

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Here’s how I knew I was pregnant with an IUD

By Megan S., as told to Dr. Patricia Varacallo, DO

Six years ago, I found myself staring at a positive pregnancy test, my mind reeling with disbelief. As a 38-year-old mother of two, I had chosen to get an IUD after my second child, believing it to be a reliable form of birth control. I needed a break, a chance to catch my breath before considering adding to our family, especially after suffering a miscarriage between my first and second children. Little did I know that life had other plans.

When I first suspected I might be pregnant, I tried to brush it off. After all, with an IUD, the odds of conception were supposed to be incredibly low. However, as the days went by and the nagging feeling persisted, I decided to take a home pregnancy test just to put my mind at ease. Imagine my shock when the test came back positive! I took three more tests, all with the same result.

Panic set in. To the best of my knowledge, my IUD was still in place. How could this have happened? Will the IUD harm the pregnancy? Will any of this harm me?

I immediately called my OBGYN, my voice shaking as I explained the situation to her staff. They scheduled me for an appointment the very next day.

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My IUD removal

At the clinic, an ultrasound confirmed that I was indeed pregnant at five weeks gestation. Thankfully, it was an intrauterine pregnancy, meaning the fertilized egg had implanted in my uterus.

This was a relief, as I had been worried about the possibility of an ectopic pregnancy. My OBGYN found that the IUD had shifted down my cervix, which could have been the reason for my pregnancy. She guided me through the process and let me know that the IUD would need to be removed immediately. I was worried that it would harm the baby, but she let me know that the chances of that were very slim given the IUD’s position relative to where the fertilized egg had implanted. This brought some relief, though I couldn’t help but muse over the irony of rare possibilities becoming my reality. Fortunately, she was able to locate and gently remove the device.

I remember holding my breath, silently praying that everything would be alright.

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Continuing the pregnancy after I had my IUD removed

The following months were a rollercoaster of emotions. I was grateful for the pregnancy but couldn’t shake the fear of potential complications. Each prenatal visit was met with a mix of anticipation and anxiety. Would the baby be healthy? Was I doing everything I could to ensure a safe pregnancy? Even with reassurance from my OBGYN, the worries kept looping in the back of my mind.

As the pregnancy continued, I slowly began to embrace the unexpected journey. My husband and children were equally surprised but thrilled at the prospect of a new family member. We started preparing for the baby’s arrival, marveling at the unexpected twist in our lives.

When I finally held our daughter in my arms, all the fears and uncertainties melted away. She was perfect, a testament to the resilience of life. Looking back, I realize that while the experience was far from what I had planned, it taught me valuable lessons about adaptability and trust.

Some words of encouragement…

To other women who may find themselves in a similar situation, I offer this advice: Take a deep breath—you will get through this. Seek medical guidance immediately, and trust in the expertise of your healthcare providers. Remember that every pregnancy is unique, and while complications can occur, we can have healthy pregnancies and babies, even with an IUD.

Today, my daughter is a thriving six-year-old, a delightful addition to our family. Her birth story may be unconventional, but it’s a reminder that life often has its own plans. I know that many women do not have the outcome I have, and I, too, have frantically searched the internet for some encouragement. My sincere wish is that my story will help provide comfort during a confusing and unexpected time when you’re just trying to do what’s best for you both.

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On Monday, the New York Times reported that Flaco, the almost 14-year-old owl that recently collided with a skyscraper after escaping its home at the Central Park Zoo, was discovered to have “high levels” of rat poison in its system following its death. Experts seem to surmise that the owl most likely preyed on a rat that had consumed the poison.

If we are what we eat, but this is one reminder of how the classic “food chain” truly has a chain effect. That’s food for thought now that Chick-fil-A last week announced an update to its “No Antibiotics Ever” policy—though the reason for this amendment seems clear.

After removing all antibiotics from its chicken in 2019, Chick-fil-A says it has begun allowing its suppliers to use some antibiotics to raise them. The statement read: “To maintain the supply of high-quality chicken you expect from us, Chick-fil-A will shift from No Antibiotics Ever (NAE) to No Antibiotics Important To Human Medicine (NAIHM) starting in the Spring of 2024.” The new designation means that certain antibiotics will still be off-limits for Chick-fil-A poultry, specifically antibiotics that are often used by people and could lead to antibiotic resistance if also administered to the animals we eat.

It’s probable that this update comes with a rise in reported cases of avian influenza, otherwise known as “bird flu.” On March 26, 2024, US News and World Report reported: “Since 2022, [bird flu] outbreaks have led to the loss of about 80 million birds in U.S. commercial flocks.”

That was following March 25, when the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported that milk and oral swab samples that had been collected “from sick cattle” on dairy farms in Kansas and Texas had tested positive for “highly pathogenic avian influenza”—in other words, highly contagious bird flu. Meanwhile, in February 2024, the World Health Organization confirmed that two humans in Cambodia had tested positive for bird flu, which may hint at the potential for wider transmission between animals and humans.

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So, it’s possible that Chick-fil-A’s updated antibiotic policy has in fact been put in place for the safety of its patrons, and maybe antibiotics are better than a virus…but that still may not sound appetizing to many chicken sandwich fans. If you look for where government authorities stand, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) appears to consider Chick-fil-A’s policy an example of “antibiotic stewardship,” which includes the judicious use of antibiotics when animals are sick, using vaccines and other means to prevent illness in animals, and having the people who raise animals work with veterinarians to manage diseases to protect the health of the animals raised for food. The use of these antibiotics to expedite and increase the growth of animals raised for food has been banned by the FDA since 2017.

Chick-fil-A’s announcement aims to remind consumers the chain has been an historical early adopter of healthier practices. They removed all trans fats from the menu in 2008, reduced high-fructose corn syrup in 2010, and reduced sodium across its food in 2013. In the March 2024 announcement, Chick-fil-A emphasizes that it will maintain other brand standards, including all white meat chicken without fillers, artificial preservatives, hormones or steroids. 

This removes Chick-fil-A from the short list of national chains that are still reportedly committed to using no antibiotics ever in their chicken products, including Subway, Chipotle, Panera, and Dunkin’. 

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Avocado nutrition facts

Maybe you’ve seen that silly comic where one avocado is running off in tears, and another is following behind it, yelling, “But I said you’re the good fat!”

Cute, right? Avocados are, in fact,  famously high in “good fats”—in this case, they’re monounsaturated fatty acids (also referred to as MUFAs). Monounsaturated fatty acids have been shown to play roles in reducing bad cholesterol and belly fat, which are two factors that play into the risks for heart disease and other conditions.

But if you’re one of those avocado-loving souls who regularly tops a salad, toast, or a taco with that creamy green goodness, maybe you’ve quietly asked yourself: When does “good fat” become too much fat?

The amount of fat you should have in a day breaks down as the following if we use a 2,000-calorie diet as the example:

  • 44 to 78 grams total fat
  • 400 to 700 calories as “healthy fats” (which works out to 25% to 35% of those 2,000 daily calories)
  • 7% to maximum 10% (140 to 200 calories) coming from saturated fat

Here’s how it would fit in if you eat an avocado every day for a week—a whole Hass avocado is said to contain:

  • 240 calories
  •  24 grams of fat
  • 12 grams of carbohydrates
  • 9 grams of fiber

This accounts for approximately one-half to one-third of the recommended daily fat intake, depending on an individual’s needs.

Factor in those nine grams of fiber against 12 carbohydrates, and you’re left with just about three grams of carbohydrates that aren’t fiber. That’s why so many of the low-carb crowd love avocados.

Now clear on this nutrition breakdown of avocados, I had to consider the health benefits and any potential drawbacks of embarking on my experiment to eat avocados every day for a week.

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avocado slices

The health benefits of avocados

Along with high levels of monounsaturated fatty acids, avocados are packed with several vitamins and minerals, including vitamins C, E, K1, B6, folate, potassium, and copper. Katie Bressack, INHC, AADP, an award-winning health coach certified by the American Association for Drugless Practitioners, supports the inclusion of at least a serving of avocado every day. (The Mayo Clinic calls one serving of avocados “three thin slices or two tablespoons smashed.” Note my week-long experiment eating avocado every day probably contained about four servings per day.)

Bressack notes avocados are “full of fiber”—with fiber in particular lacking in many Americans’ diets. Plus, avocados contain essential minerals, like magnesium and potassium. To boot, despite an avocado’s fat content, Bressack says all that “good” fat actually “helps lower bad cholesterol (LDL),” she says.

Several studies also supported my mission to eat avocados every day, and none seemed to caution a drawback. One 2013 study involved more than 17,000 participants and found that people who ate avocados also consumed more fruits and vegetables overall, more vitamins and minerals, good fats, and less sugar than non-avocado eaters.

A study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association in 2022, which spanned 30 years and included over 110,000 participants, showed that avocado eaters experienced a 16% lower risk of cardiovascular disease and a 21% lower risk of coronary heart disease with just two servings of the green fruit per week. “These are particularly notable findings since the consumption of avocados has risen steeply in the U.S. in the last 20 years,” said Lorena S. Pacheco, PhD, MPH, RDN, lead author of the study and a postdoctoral research fellow in the nutrition department at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston.

Finally, one study put “one avocado a day” to the test to see whether it would lower the amount of belly fat in overweight people. Published in the Journal of the American Heart Association in July 2022, the Habitual Diet and Avocado Trial asked more than 1,000 participants to eat one avocado a day for six months or maintain their regular diet. While the study did not end up showing a general reduction in belly fat, it also did not show an increase, and it showed no increase in the risk to the heart in terms of other health metrics.

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Health risks of eating an avocado a day

In general, eating avocado is a safe way of increasing healthy fats and several vitamins and minerals. However, Bressack advises, “I’d check in with your doctor if you are on any medications.” One reason: “Avocados are rich in potassium, so if you are on any medications for hypertension, check with your doctor about the weekly amount to include in your diet as it might interfere.” Half a medium avocado has more potassium than a medium banana, so anyone who needs to avoid excess potassium shouldn’t eat a whole avocado in one sitting.

Also, if you have a sensitive belly, beware: The extra fiber could cause gas and bloating if you aren’t used to it. Start slowly, adding one-quarter to one-third of an avocado to a salad or dish. If it agrees with you, “I eat about a half of an avocado a day, as they are great for supporting hormones,” Bressack says.

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Here’s what happened when I ate an avocado every day

I was very, very full

When eating an avocado a day, it’s best to split it up into two or three portions because they are energy-dense. I typically ate half with breakfast with scrambled eggs or spread onto toast. For lunch, I ate it in a salad or on the side of a sandwich.

Even splitting up the avocado, I noticed I was very full, and it was a stretch to eat the rest of my portion during lunch, since I still felt full from breakfast! I may have even uttered the words, “This doesn’t even need cheese.” If you know me, I believe that cheese could and should go with every meal. The richness of the avocado made the cheese optional. This jives with the study that found people ate less of other fats when consuming avocado—a good thing, given much of cheese’s fat content is generally saturated.

Bressack wasn’t surprised that eating that much avocado kept me to the brink of stuffed. “They are full of healthy fats that help keep us satiated,” she said. “The combination of proteins with healthy fats and fiber is great for helping to maintain blood sugar levels and helps you feel full longer.” I found I’d naturally push my lunch to later in the day, well after 2 p.m. in some cases.

A 2019 study in the journal Nutrients corroborated this observation, showing that people who ate a meal with a whole avocado or even half were fuller longer than those who ate a low-fat meal. The avocado-based meals led to an increase in a hormone called PYY which, when lowered, makes people hungry.

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My skin was noticeably smoother

Looking in the mirror after the third day of my avocado experiment, I saw visibly shinier skin and a noticeable smoothness. Curious, I found research from the UCLA Center for Human Nutrition and David Geffen School of Medicine which showed eating avocado resulted in improved skin elasticity and firmness.

For that study, 39 women were instructed to either eat an avocado a day for eight weeks, or to maintain their normal diet. The women who ate the avocados had a “significant increase in elasticity and firmness” as indicated by a suction instrument that measured skin tone and moisture retention. “This study showed more accurately that if you want your skin to be young and vibrant, then the best approach is not just topicals, but improving your whole diet,” said Zhaoping Li, MD, chief of the Division of Clinical Nutrition at UCLA. “When you take care of your entire body with proper nutrition, then your skin is going to reflect that.” Reflect that, literally: My skin seemed to glow.

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Eating an avocado every day didn’t make me more regular

Despite the extra fiber, I didn’t notice any notable effects with using the bathroom. In fact, I felt like I noticed that things went slower. Avocados contain a mix of soluble and insoluble fiber, which act differently in the body. The soluble forms a gel-like substance that slows digestion while the insoluble helps move things along. The extra fat could have slowed my digestion too.

The Mayo Clinic recommends increasing fiber slowly to avoid cramping or excess gas. Also, increasing fiber requires that you also increase water to help it move through your digestive system.

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When I ate an avocado every day, I never got bored

Avocado has that luxurious taste and smooth texture that makes it a truly unique fruit (botanically, the avocado is classified as a large berry!). I honestly didn’t get bored of the flavor throughout the seven days, since there are so many inspired avocado recipes. However, I would probably lower to eating half an avocado a day due to the incredible fullness I experienced. Plus, avocados can be on the expensive side so eating just half an avocado a day can be a budget-friendly way to enjoy their health benefits.

You don’t have to eat an avocado a day to get the benefits of the high fiber and healthy fat. Several times a week or up to half a day will get you there, while still avoiding any drawbacks and that heavy full feeling.

Likewise, Bressack says, unless your healthcare provider recommends otherwise, don’t avoid an avocado because of its fat content. Fold it in with egg salad, top a bright poke bowl or scoop some into your smoothie (one of Bressack’s favorite methods). My experiment eating avocado every day was satisfying proof this food truly serves up the best of all worlds.

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Getting good sleep, seven to nine hours per night, is essential for maintaining good health. By now, most people know that the blue light emitted by our phones and devices can disrupt that sleep…but that’s not the only light that can hinder your necessary shut-eye. New research suggests if your bedroom isn’t dark enough due to outside light pollution, you could be putting your sleep—and your healthat risk.

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A study published in the peer-reviewed journal Stroke on March 25, 2024 suggests that people who live within areas that are brightly lit, like cities, could be increasing their risk of stroke. The study followed 28,302 adults with an average age of 62 in a city in China from 2015 to 2021. The participants did not have any diagnosed cardiovascular disease at the onset of the study. They were followed for up to six years and evaluated for cerebrovascular disease, ischemic stroke, and hemorrhagic stroke. The level of light was mapped by satellite and correlated to where the people lived. It was then cross-referenced with hospital records and death certificates.

According to the study, people who lived with the highest level of nighttime light had a 43% increased risk of developing cerebrovascular disease. The lights evaluated were fluorescent, incandescent, and LED sources. “Our study suggests that higher levels of exposure to outdoor artificial light at night may be a risk factor for cerebrovascular disease,” said one of the study’s authors, Jian-Bing Wang, MD, PhD, a researcher associated with the Zhejiang University School of Medicine. “Therefore, we advise people, especially those living in urban areas, to consider reducing that exposure to protect themselves from its potential harmful impact.” 

The study’s authors highlight that this is a real problem for much of the world, citing that about 80% of the population lives in these “light-polluted environments.” Exposure to nighttime light has already been linked to higher rates of cardiovascular disease. This study now specifically links excess nighttime light to stroke risk. “Despite significant advances in reducing traditional cardiovascular risk factors such as smoking, obesity, and type 2 diabetes, it is important to consider environmental factors in our efforts to decrease the global burden of cardiovascular disease,” said Wang.

The fact that light can impact sleep quality isn’t new. The body’s circadian rhythm regulates the release of melatonin, and when any artificial light disrupts it, sleep can be erratic. “In the morning, we get sunlight that will suppress the release of melatonin. And at nighttime, as the sun goes down, melatonin is released,” Raj Dasgupta, MD, a fellow of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and assistant professor of clinical medicine at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California previously explained to The Healthy by Reader’s Digest.

“Ideally, it’s better to sleep with no lights,” Dr. Dasgupta concluded. This is especially great advice if you live in an environment where artificial light disrupts your sleep. Investing in blackout shades and keeping your bedroom as dark as possible at night could improve your health—and maybe even lead to a longer life.

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Isn’t anything you do to unwind after a long day or week considered healthy? A new national announcement suggests an evening stroll or yoga class is a far better choice than having a drink.

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Ahead of April’s Alcohol Awareness Month observance, a message posted on the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) page on X (formerly Twitter) read: “DYK [Did you know] drinking alcohol is a leading cause of cancer that can be avoided? Each year, 20,000 people die in the U.S. from alcohol-related cancer.”

This was followed by an infographic illustrating that alcohol can increase the risk of several different cancers, including those of the throat, liver, colon, and breast in women. The CDC notes that it can also increase the odds of mouth, larynx, and esophageal cancer. Other cancers, like prostate, stomach, and pancreatic, have also been tied to routine alcohol consumption.

The main issue is that any amount of alcohol is toxic, says the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). When it enters the bloodstream, it must be broken down into something called acetaldehyde, which is then further broken down into acetate. The acetate can then be processed into water and carbon dioxide and leave the body. The NIAAA says the acetaldehyde is a proven carcinogen, and it damages DNA the longer it remains in the bloodstream.

When You Need to Unwind: 10 Healthy Alternatives to Booze

Choosing not to drink is one of the ways you can protect yourself against an increased risk for several cancers. But, if you do drink occasionally, the NIAAA recommends you limit consumption to one serving per day for women and two for men.

Note this does not mean saving up your servings for a weekend binge. Also, this applies to all types of alcohol, from beer and red wine to high-proof whiskey and vodka. One 12-ounce beer, a five-ounce glass of wine (any color), and 1.5 ounces of 80-proof liquor all have the same amount of ethanol that the body must process. And, even at this level, experts caution that the risk for some cancers increases. Breast cancer in females, in particular, has been linked to a very low level of alcohol consumption.

Despite the popular one-to-two-drink rule, the World Health Organization (WHO) ultimately declared in January 2023 that there is no safe level of alcohol. “It doesn’t matter how much you drink—the risk to the drinker’s health starts from the first drop of any alcoholic beverage. The only thing that we can say for sure is that the more you drink, the more harmful it is—or, in other words, the less you drink, the safer it is,” stated Carina Ferreira-Borges, PhD, Regional Advisor for Alcohol and Illicit Drugs in the WHO Regional Office for Europe. And while red wine has often been considered a healthier beverage, some experts have even considered whether it should be removed from the heart-healthy Mediterranean Diet due to the potential for abuse.

If you drink, follow the one-to-two-drink rule, and be sure to discuss your consumption with your healthcare provider to make sure it’s safe for you. Anyone who doesn’t drink shouldn’t start.

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A professional poet’s work is contemplative and still, right? Long hours writing quietly, and, in Amanda Gorman‘s case, reading that work before global audiences at historic events.

That may be true, but Gorman’s work is famously proof that she’s out living in the world with us. Just before winning the NAACP Chairman’s Award on March 16, the 26-year-old writer and activist talked with The Healthy @Reader’s Digest about why she’s encouraging participation in the first-ever Every Woman’s Marathon on November 16, 2024 in Savannah, GA. A representative for Every Woman’s Marathon tells us the race is “the only marathon in the U.S. for women, by women, designed to unite runners of all levels, abilities, and backgrounds in an inspiring, community-driven wellness weekend.”

Why is a marathon for women so noteworthy? A very brief history: American women gained the right to vote in 1920, and only in 1972 could register to participate in endurance races. (This year happens to mark the fiftieth anniversary since an American woman could first obtain a credit card without a man’s co-signature in 1974.)

In January 2024, Milk—as in the national Milk Processor Education Program that ran the legendary “Got milk?” campaign—launched registration for Every Woman’s Marathon to respond to the reported trend that “most female runners still feel that most endurance races cater to men more.” They add, “Nearly nine out of 10 female runners expressed the desire for races that embrace diverse athletic abilities, body types, disabilities, and ages … Milk is breaking the mold to create an inclusive, beginner-friendly race tailored to the unique needs of women at every stage of their running journey.”

Representatives say Every Woman’s Marathon is not a traditional race: “It’s a full wellness weekend in Savannah with a lineup of curated activities from cooking and yoga classes, live performances, and insightful panels to child care, fully stocked porta potties, and more during the race and throughout the weekend.” Milk says they’re donating $1,000,000 to charitable organizations supporting women and girls in part by matching runners’ registration fees to organizations like 261 Fearless, Black Girls RUN!, Girls on the Run, and more.

A lauded voice for women and marginalized groups, Amanda Gorman penned the marathon’s mantra and told The Healthy @Reader’s Digest why this kind of movement matters. Stay up on what’s happening in wellness when you get The Healthy @Reader’s Digest newsletter in your inbox each day. 

Amanda Gorman and H.E.R.
Amanda Gorman and H.E.R. at Cannes in June 2023

The Healthy @Reader’s Digest: We were delighted to see you partnering with an event that brings attention to physical activity for women.

Amanda Gorman: It was actually really interesting because the Milk team reached out to me about this idea of having a woman’s marathon really oriented toward women’s needs and capabilities. I was nervous because I was like, “I’m not an Olympian, I’m not a competitive athlete—so how do you envision me working on this?”

I was really compelled when they mentioned they wanted this to be accessible and welcoming for women of all body types and also of all experience with running athleticism. As someone who is artistic and creative, and also just as someone growing up in modern society, I always felt a lot of insecurities around my body—particularly as a Black woman, where there’s such a stereotype of us being perpetual, unbreakable pillars of strength. So when Milk communicated the ethos of this, which was around How do we greet and celebrate everyone for showing up to the starting line?, that was something that I really felt like I could speak to poetically.

The Healthy: That’s so cool, and it’s exciting to see what a celebration of womanhood this is instead of the classic marathon, which, as inspiring as they are, are really just focused on those 26.2 miles.

Amanda Gorman: I absolutely agree. I think they’ve thought about all of the details that make a holistic experience when you show up for your body. You mentioned the yoga, the food, there’s also going to be music, which I love. All these things that tap into the entire journey of your senses when you are showing up for something demanding like that. I thought that was super inspiring because it adds this festivity that I personally always struggle with when it comes to really challenging your body for a long endurance test. So being like, Oh, there’s also going to be community and connection and joy—I think that’s where this marathon is going to draw most of its power from.

The Healthy: Do you consider yourself physically active?

Amanda Gorman: Yeah, I mean, I would not consider myself someone who would run a marathon and win or break records. Something that I’ve been navigating, particularly as I continue to go through my twenties, is: You have a job, which means you’re at your typewriter or at your desk for long amounts of time, even though that’s something that you value. How are there ways in which I can introduce movement throughout the day? It helps how I write, and also helps how I live. So I do do yoga. I do love walking, I do love dance, and I think I just have to have my own storyline where I learned to celebrate that as it is. I’m not trying to be someone who has gold medals at X, Y, Z. And there’s nothing wrong with that. I just don’t think that is my journey at this point in time. I don’t think I have the training for it, but I do think I have the dedication to really try to feed my body’s needs: Not just food and water, but creativity and expression through movement.

The Healthy: You wrote the mantra for the marathon, and in it, you say, When we run, that’s for ourselves, for our bodies, our healing, ourselves. That resonated for our team. Can you talk about what those lines mean to you?

Amanda Gorman: For sure. Those lines for me actually go far beyond running. That’s an example that I bring up in that particular verse because when I talk to a lot of women, and this includes me and my friends, when we take out time from our days to do things for nourishing our bodies or our minds—and that can be sleep, that can be eating, that can be taking a nice long walk or run—a sensation that we all feel a lot is guilt. How dare you get eight hours of sleep? How dare you take 30 minutes to take a nice walk or run when you could be cooking dinner or helping a family member or answering that email? So I think there’s something empowering and also radical about looking at the time with moving our bodies as unapologetically for ourselves—that we don’t have to have guilt or shame or stigma about preserving these moments as sacred, that we deserve to be in a community where our bodies are worthy and valued and there’s nothing inhumane or selfish about that. If anything, it helps us show up bigger and better for the fact that we’re part of.

The Healthy: With March being Women’s History Month, what is your hope for women and girls?

Amanda Gorman: This is kind of random, but my birthday is March 7th, and then International Women’s Day is March 8th. And March 7th is also the anniversary of Bloody Sunday, which most people might recognize as March on Selma, the racial riots [that took place on March 7, 1965 during the Selma to Montgomery marches for the Black right to vote].

The Healthy: And that’s your birthday!

Amanda Gorman: That’s my birthday. I think I was seven and I had all these kind of civil rights books. I’m looking through them and seeing the date and being gagged and gooped, as they might say, mostly because I really took that day to heart. I was like, “Oh, this is about me and I get to celebrate my birth. Yay!” And then looking at so much history that has taken place in March across the country, as well as a few years ago around March 7th, give or take, is when we started seeing a lot of schools close down from the pandemic and the first types of limitations arise around going out, et cetera.

All that is to say, when I think about International Women’s Day and also the politics of where we are in America and the world, I’m continually graciously reminded by my own birthday that we all have deep-rooted connections and intersections to those pasts and that we are all unequivocally born into a moment which can move us further than backward.

And so as I look to the future and the role that we have in implementing a society where women can be free and heard and do more than survive where we can thrive, I think it’s all of us claiming our birthright to be the change maker for tomorrow.

So I’d say I really support anyone who runs this marathon—and even if you aren’t doing the marathon, I think one of the best ways that women show up with our bodies is not just running the tracks but running to the polls. So I just encourage anyone to make sure that you are registered to vote. It’s not my job to tell you how to vote, but just that it is your right to participate in democracy if you would like. So if you resonate with that, we would love to see you at the polls.

Amanda Gorman speech

The Healthy: We’re running to the polls right there with you. Amanda, what’s one self-care routine that you refuse to skip?

Amanda Gorman: Oh, that’s an interesting one. I struggle with this because I’m only now learning to be like, Wow, there are certain things you need that if you don’t preserve them, this is the way that it impacts you. But I think especially sleep: I am not the same person—and this is supported by science as well, not just personal experience, and also women’s stories—I am not the same person, thinker, friend, daughter, sister, poet as I am on a full night’s sleep. I love taking a nap in the afternoons and kind of just refilling the well. Instead of setting my alarm—you wake up at seven, or you wake up at eight, and that’s how it goes—I actually just set a timer for eight hours: You’re going to wake up when this eight-hour sleep opportunity is over, and that might be seven, that might be 8:30, but I’m going to base the alarm mostly on how much sleep I’m getting and not so much as This is the set time where people say you need to be productive and get up and yada, yada, yada.

It’s, What does your body need? Trying to keep that consistent so that my rhythms get a real chance to flourish and blossom.

The Healthy: You’ve made us so tempted to try that.

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Intermittent fasting and time-restricted eating have been studied extensively in recent years. Alternate-day fasts and eating during certain windows have been linked to a variety of health benefits, including weight loss, lowered blood pressure, and even improved mood. But could these benefits extend to the cardiovascular system and help protect against heart attacks and stroke?

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A new study, published by researchers from the California Institute of Behavioral Neurosciences & Psychology in January 2024, conducted a meta-analysis of studies on fasting to examine its effects on cardiovascular risks. The aim was to determine if different forms of fasting could help reduce the rates of heart attack, stroke, and other heart-related diseases without medication. The researchers included all methods of reducing calorie intake, encompassing various forms of intermittent fasting, protein restriction, calorie restriction, and other forms of energy restriction. The forms of intermittent fasting included time-restricted eating, fasting on alternate days, or a combination, while being sure to maintain adequate levels of nutrition. All studies examined were recent, with published dates between 2019 and 2023.

Overall, the studies demonstrated that any form of calorie restriction, including fasting, while maintaining adequate nutrition levels, appeared to improve cardiovascular metrics, including blood pressure, insulin sensitivity, cholesterol levels, and body weight or BMI. “The findings suggest that fasting is beneficial in lowering the cardiovascular risk of a population,” said the researchers. “The result is pronounced when fasting regimens are combined with a regular exercise routine,” they added.

This Is the Best Diet for Your Heart, Says New Report

The results were consistent across all types of fasting and calorie restriction, but the researchers acknowledged that a particular type of fasting might be easier for some people to maintain. The 12-hour fast from approximately 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on alternate days, for a total of three days per week, appeared to maintain heart-healthy benefits while also being attainable. “Compared to other types of IF (intermittent fasting), this method seems safe, successful, and feasible to incorporate into regular life without causing additional financial or physical strain,” the authors concluded.

This alternate-day style of fasting lowered body weight and BMI more than the 16/8 fast, or a fasting period where participants refrain from eating for sixteen hours and eat during an 8-hour window every day. The alternate-day fast also lowered triglyceride levels as much as continuous calorie restriction and was superior to lowering insulin resistance in patients diagnosed with hypertriglyceridemia. The only metric that improved more with the calorie-restricted diet was the HDL cholesterol reading, but that did not concern the researchers. “Since there was no drop in the ratio of HDL compared to the total cholesterol (TC/HDL-C), it is doubtful that this decrease is harmful,” they said.

Overall, intermittent fasting and calorie restriction plans improved many variables that affect cardiovascular health, “suggesting improvement in long-term cardiovascular risk.” The researchers concluded that lifestyle changes such as fasting should be preferred over medication for managing cardiovascular risk. “No pharmaceutical medication has such a dramatic influence on such a wide spectrum of cardiometabolic risk variables,” they concluded. They call for larger clinical studies, especially concerning any other potential health risks of fasting, to further assess when it can be recommended as a tool against cardiovascular disease.

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Several people who received a specific type of Starbucks mug report that they might be defective and could cause unexpected burns or other severe injuries requiring medical attention.

The U.S.Consumer Protection Safety Commission (CPSC) posted a notice on March 21, 2024, that Nestlé USA, which acts as a distribution partner for licensed Starbucks products sold at retail, is urgently recalling “about 440,500” ceramic Starbucks-branded mugs with metallic coating due to reports that they are overheating or breaking.

The iridescent, metallic-coated mugs of different sizes are said to have been included in the 2023 Holiday Starbucks-branded Gift Set. It’s reported they were sold nationwide in-store and online at Target, Walmart, and through Nexcom military retail outlets and were available from November 2023 through January 2024, costing $10, $13, or $20 depending on the set.

According to the CPSC alert, the recalled mugs were sold in 11-ounce and 16-ounce sizes as part of the following gift sets: 

  • Starbucks Holiday Gift Set with 2 Mugs
  • Starbucks Classic Hot Cocoa and Mug
  • Starbucks Peppermint and Classic Hot Cocoas and Mug
  • Starbucks Holiday Blend Coffee and Mug

The urgent recall comes after 12 customers reported that the mugs overheated or broke after microwaving or filling with a hot beverage. The CPSC alert warns: “If microwaved or filled with extremely hot liquid, the mugs can overheat or break, posing burn and laceration hazards.” At press time it’s said 12 injuries have been reported, ranging from burns resulting in blisters to cut fingers with one of these incidents having “required medical attention.” Nestle USA states that the recall doesn’t involve any other Starbucks or Nestle USA products.

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Customers are urged to stop using the mug immediately and to return them to the place of purchase for a refund or contact Nestlé USA. They can also go to Nestle USA’s Contact Us page online and scroll down to the “Leave us a message” section, choose “Complaint,” and select “Recall” from the dropdown menu and attach a photo of the mug or the gift set identifier code, which is located underneath the cup. Proof of purchase or receipt is not required to process the refund.

Anyone with questions is directed to call Nestlé USA at 1-800-681-1676 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern, Monday through Friday. More information can also be found online at https://www.nestleusa.com/media/pressreleases/metallicmugrecall or https://www.athome.starbucks.com.

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Lung cancer, encompassing both small cell and non-small cell types and affecting men and women almost equally, stands as the second most common cancer in the United States. According to the American Cancer Society, the year 2024 is expected to see approximately 234,580 new cases and about 125,070 deaths due to lung cancer.

Predominantly diagnosed in those aged 65 and older, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the country, responsible for nearly 20% of all cancer fatalities. Each year, lung cancer claims more lives than colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined.

However, there’s a silver lining. The incidence of lung cancer is on a decline, partly due to the decrease in smoking rates and advancements in early detection and treatment. Says Aaron Mansfield, MD, a Mayo Clinic lung cancer oncologist: “Although tobacco use is clearly the largest risk factor to develop lung cancer, there are many other risk factors, and risk factors we don’t know. All you need to be at risk of developing lung cancer is a lung.” Awareness of risk factors, such as exposure to secondhand smoke, radon gas, asbestos, and having a family history of lung cancer, is also crucial.

Despite the importance of early detection, lung cancer symptoms often appear only after the cancer has advanced. Dr. Mansfield explains one of the challenges that may be to blame for this: “Many of my patients have been diagnosed as having pneumonia. They’ve received many rounds of antibiotics that were not beneficial. They make their way to us when a mass that was thought to be pneumonia on a chest X-ray never improved.”

Key symptoms of lung cancer to watch for include:

  • chest pain
  • shortness of breath
  • persistent cough
  • coughing up blood (hemoptysis)
  • unexplained weight loss
  • loss of appetite
  • fatigue
  • bone pain
  • jaundice
  • headaches (or other nervous system changes)

Screening also plays a pivotal role in combating lung cancer. Annual low-dose CT scans have been proven to save lives and are recommended for high-risk patients. (Data from the CDC in 2023 stated that cigarette smoking is the number-one risk factor for lung cancer, linked with 80% to 90% of all lung cancer deaths.)

Following recent updates, the US Preventive Services Task Force now suggests screening should start at age 50 for those with a 20-pack-year smoking history, broadening the net to catch more cases earlier. A “pack year” is a term used to describe the amount of tobacco a person has smoked over time, calculated by multiplying the number of packs of cigarettes smoked per day by the number of years the person has smoked. For smokers, quitting now can significantly reduce the risk of lung cancer.

Ahead, you’ll read the personal story of Ron Barnett, a 65-year-old Philadelphia native, who shares his journey from a late-stage lung cancer diagnosis to finding stability and hope through a clinical trial. Ron shared that he smoked “occasionally” in his late teens to early twenties, but quit when he got married. It so happens that Barnett’s home state of Pennsylvania is demonstrated to be one region with the highest radon rates, which some experts say is the second-highest lung cancer risk factor. To learn more about which areas around the country may be most vulnerable to radon exposure, read up on a recent radon study.

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Here’s how I knew I had lung cancer

By Ron Barnett, as told to Dr. Patricia Varacallo, DO

It’s a strange thing, getting older. For awhile you might shrug off every ache and pain, but hit your early sixties, and suddenly you’re keeping a ledger on every little twinge asking yourself if it’s the big one. But lung cancer? That thought hadn’t even crossed my mind.

Walking into the emergency room that brisk autumn morning in 2019, I was convinced the sharp pains in my chest were heralding a heart attack. You see, I’ve been a fighter all my life—raised in a tough neighborhood, served a stint in the military, and even beat a nasty case of pneumonia in my fifties—but nothing could’ve prepared me for the battle that lay ahead. The ER visit was supposed to be a quick in-and-out precaution to ensure my ticker was still ticking right. However, the doctors, after a flurry of tests and scans, found something unsettling—a spot on my liver. “It’s concerning,” they said, recommending a closer look.

That revealed a truth I wasn’t ready to face: Stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer. Stage 4 is the most advanced type of cancer and usually means the cancer has spread, or “metastasized,” to another organ. In my case, it had spread to my liver. A quick online search suggested my chance of surviving three months was maybe only around 25%. Fortunately, advances in science and medicine were in my favor.

But when I first heard those words, the room spun. The thought of “cancer” was a shock. My wife stood by my side, and together, we navigated some swift and fierce emotions.

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Treatment after I knew I had lung cancer

After the diagnosis sank in, I felt a kind of determined grit take over. The doctor briefed me on my battle plan: A three-drug chemotherapy regimen. It would be brutal, the doctor warned.

Let me tell you, chemo is no walk in the park. It’s a beast unlike anything I’d faced before, but deep down, I understood it was my ticket through this storm.

But just as I was getting the hang of this new, unwelcome routine, the treatments began to falter. My doctor advised me that it seemed my body was no longer responding. The cancer was outpacing the chemo, and my options were dwindling fast.

11 Things About Lung Cancer Doctors Wish You Knew

That’s when my doctor, seeing the desperation in my eyes, suggested a new course of action—a clinical trial. The uncertainty of it was terrifying—But what do I have to lose?, I remember thinking. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t scared, but I hung onto hope in this unknown.

The clinical trial included some new medications, regular monitoring, and ongoing doctors appointments…but slowly, almost imperceptibly, the tide began to turn. My cancer, this relentless force that had upended my life, started to show signs of stability. Three years have passed since then, and my cancer remains stable. It’s a precarious peace, but I’ll take it over the alternative any day.

I know I am one of the lucky ones, and I don’t take that for granted. This journey has been anything but easy, but it’s taught me more about life, resilience, and the importance of hope than I could’ve ever learned otherwise.

The Best Foods for Healthier Lungs, from Pulmonology Doctors and a Dietitian

To anyone going through a similar diagnosis, let me say this: Knowledge is power. Research your condition, understand your options, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. A skilled medical team can make all the difference in the world, but so can your own understanding of what you’re facing—and clinical trials? I know not every patient can say this, but in my case I found it was the lifeline I was looking for. Maybe that’s a benefit of having a type of cancer that affects so many other people: With resources being allocated toward research, doctors are doing so much to make progress with new treatments these days.

I share my story not for sympathy but in the hope that it might light a path for someone else. Stage 4 lung cancer is not an easy diagnosis to live with, but it’s not the end of the road. With the proper treatment, a great medical team, and the courage to explore new options, you can find a way to keep fighting.

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Heart disease is a major health concern in the United States that claims one life every 33 seconds, according to national data from 2023. Among the various forms of heart disease, heart failure affects approximately 6.2 million Americans.

The Mayo Clinic explains that heart failure occurs when the heart cannot pump blood efficiently. This can lead to complications such as fluid buildup in the lungs and shortness of breath that doctors may try to address with recommendations to lose weight, reduce sodium intake, and more.

Another approach, according to a recent study led by researchers at the University of Buffalo, is a sweet stroll—in particular for women over 60 who wish to reduce their risk of heart failure. In collaboration with scholars at other top institutions such as Stanford and Brown universities and the University of California San Diego, the research team found that the daily steps needed to lower heart failure risk may be far fewer than the widely recommended 10,000 steps.

Published in the peer-reviewed journal JAMA Cardiology in February 2024, the study suggests a more achievable daily step count could be the key to improving heart health among mature women.

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A closer look at the study

The research focused on nearly 6,000 women across the United States, ranging in age from 63 to 99. To gauge their daily activity levels, each participant was equipped for up to a week with a hip-mounted accelerometer (which measures speed through motion).

On average, these women logged about 3,600 steps each day.

Then, over the course of an average follow-up period of 7.5 years, the research team observed more than 400 instances of heart failure among the participants.

Their activity levels ranged from light—such as household duties and caregiving—to more vigorous, like walking briskly, taking the stairs, or gardening.

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Unique findings

The analysis brought to light some compelling connections between daily activity and heart health. Remarkably, simply walking 3,600 steps a day at a regular pace was tied to a 26% decreased chance of heart failure.

Even more, dedicating just 70 minutes a day to light-intensity activities or 30 minutes to actions of moderate-to-vigorous intensity was associated with a reduction in heart failure risk by 12% and 16%, respectively.

On the flip side, every 90 minutes of staying inactive correlated with a 17% increased risk of heart failure.

What sets this research apart is its detailed exploration of heart failure subtypes, especially heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). In HFpEF, the heart pumps normally, but the ventricles fail to relax properly. This diminishes blood flow. This condition predominantly affects older women and individuals from racial and ethnic minority backgrounds, as pointed out in a press release by the study’s lead investigator, Michael J. LaMonte, PhD, MPH.

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Stepping off heart failure risk

For US women within this age range, the current average step count stands at 2,340 steps daily.

Speak with your doctor about what’s right for you, but Dr. LaMonte recommends setting a daily step target of approximately 3,000 as a realistic and beneficial goal, based on the study’s findings. Some sources calculate this step count at 1.5 miles. If farther feels just as good, see whether your doctor recommends even a little more—and to avoid lower back and other pain from walking, don’t forget to try out the best walking stretches.

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If you’ve ever had to sell a home in an area with radon levels on the higher side, maybe your realtor suggested you open all the windows before the home inspection was done.

That’s good advice even when you’re not trying to sell your home. You may be aware of radon’s reputation as a factor leading to lung cancer—in fact, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) calls radon the second-leading cause of lung cancer, behind smoking.

Explains Eric A. Whitsel, MD, MPH, a professor of epidemiology and medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: “Radon is an indoor air pollutant that can only be detected through testing that measures concentrations of the gas in homes.” The Environmental Protection Agency calls radon a radioactive product of uranium and says radon can reach high levels in some homes, depending on the home’s construction and geology of the region where it’s located. Radon can seep into structures like homes, schools, and buildings through tiny openings in the floors and walls.

Radon is odorless, colorless, tasteless, and lurking in the ground beneath some homes, often in regions where coal mining was once an industry. The Environmental Protection Agency suggests “nearly one in 15 homes has a radon level that should be reduced.”

Now, Dr. Whitsel and his team have led a longitudinal study published in the peer-reviewed journal Neurology in February 2024, which found that radon may significantly elevate stroke risk for stroke—perhaps especially for middle-aged to older women. It’s been reported that strokes occur among 795,000 Americans each year, and the researchers noted that not a great deal is known about women’s stroke risk.

Notably, the study found that women living in areas with moderate to high radon levels faced higher stroke risk than those in regions with minimal radon exposure.

radon monitor
A radon detector
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Radon and stroke risk

Over 13 years, the research team followed the health outcomes of 158,910 women with an average age of 63. Initially, none of these participants had suffered a stroke; however, by the study’s end, 6,979 strokes had occurred within this group.

The researchers used the participants’ residential addresses to estimate their radon exposure per data from the U.S. Geological Survey and the EPA, who recommend keeping indoor radon levels below four picocuries per liter (pCi/L). The researchers note that four pCi/L is referred to as “the United States Environmental Protection Agency Radon Action Level for mitigation.” In other words, levels should fall under this point to be generally safe.

The study then divided participants into three groups based on radon exposure: High (above four pCi/L), intermediate (between two to four pCi/L), and low (below two pCi/L). The findings were telling: The group with the highest radon exposure experienced 349 strokes per 100,000 person-years, compared to 343 in the intermediate group and 333 in the lowest. (Note: Person-years is a calculation combining the count of participants and their total time spent in the study.)

After adjusting for other stroke risk factors, like smoking, diabetes, and high blood pressure, the highest-exposure group had a 14% increased risk of stroke. In comparison, the intermediate group had a 6% increase.

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How to respond to radon in the home

When radon concentrations reach or exceed four pCi/L, the EPA advises pursuing a radon mitigation system to reduce indoor levels by locating a certified contractor who specializes in this practice.

However, it’s important to note that the revelations from this study extend concerns to even lower radon concentrations. “We’ve identified a heightened risk of stroke in individuals exposed to radon levels up to two pCi/L below what’s currently considered the threshold for lung cancer prevention measures,” Dr. Whitsel reports.

He also recommends further research to validate these findings: “Confirmation would present an opportunity to improve public health by addressing an emerging risk factor for stroke.”

Environmental Protection Agency information last updated in October 2023 suggests that the areas where radon concentrations tend to be highest are in some Northeastern and Southeastern states (Appalachia is said to be one area most affected), as well as parts of the Midwest, Mountain states, Pacific Northwest, and Alaska. Wisevoter.com has listed the following as the 10 highest-radon states in the US, in this order:

  • Alaska – 10.7 pCi/L
  • South Dakota – 9.6 pCi/L
  • Pennsylvania – 8.6 pCi/L
  • Ohio – 7.8 pCi/L
  • Washington – 7.5 pCi/L
  • Kentucky – 7.4 pCi/L
  • Montana – 7.4 pCi/L
  • Idaho – 7.3 pCi/L
  • Colorado – 6.8 pCi/L
  • Iowa – 6.1 pCi/L

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Lymphoma is a type of cancer that arises within the immune system and generally fits into two main categories: Hodgkin lymphoma, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. This distinction, however, only scratches the surface, as more than 70 subtypes of lymphoma exist, the Cleveland Clinic says. Originating from white blood cells (also called “lymphocytes”), lymphoma is considered a blood cancer.

Data from the American Cancer Society indicate that non-Hodgkin lymphoma accounts for about 4% of all cancer cases, with approximately 80,620 new diagnoses and 20,140 deaths projected for 2024. Experts suggest Hodgkin lymphoma, though rarer, is expected to see about 8,570 new cases and result in 910 deaths in 2024.

Types of lymphoma vary significantly, ranging from aggressive, fast-growing subtypes to those that progress slower. Many lymphoma cases respond well to treatment, leading to remission or even cure.

Certain lymphoma risk factors can increase susceptibility to the disease. These include:

  • a family history of lymphoma
  • history of specific viral infections (such as HIV, Epstein-Barr, and others)
  • a compromised immune system
  • autoimmune diseases

It’s also important to familiarize yourself with the key symptoms of lymphoma, which may include:

  • Painless swelling in one or more lymph nodes that persists beyond a few weeks, often but not always found in the neck, armpits, or groin
  • Fever without a known cause
  • Persistent fatigue that isn’t alleviated by rest
  • Shortness of breath, which can occur even with minimal exertion
  • Unexplained weight loss, not linked to diet or exercise changes
  • Night sweats, which can be severe enough to drench sleepwear and bedding

It’s important to note, however, that lymphoma can present as symptoms even beyond these.

Continue reading as Tara M. from Pennsylvania, who was diagnosed with lymphoma at age 28, shares her story of challenges and resilience that may provide enlightenment to navigate a lymphoma diagnosis, reminding us of the strength found in personal stories and the potential for brighter days ahead.

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Here’s how I knew I had lymphoma

By Tara M., as told to Dr. Patricia Varacallo, DO

It all started with a lump on my neck that I couldn’t ignore. At first, I brushed it off as a swollen lymph node from a recent cold—a cold that was proving tough to shake off—but as weeks turned into a couple months, the lump remained, and I knew something wasn’t right.

I was also dealing with some unusual itchiness all over my body. I tried different moisturizers and lotions, but nothing seemed to relieve it. I had always struggled with dry skin, but this was different. It would eventually come to light that the cause behind this incessant itch was what was indeed lurking beneath the surface.

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Being diagnosed with lymphoma

I was 28 years old, had just fallen in love, and was genuinely excited about life. The thought of cancer had never crossed my mind. I was a healthy, active young woman with a promising career that was starting to take off, as I was recently promoted at my job. Still, in the back of my mind, as the lump persisted, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. With a gentle nudge from my partner, I decided to see my doctor in July 2021, who referred me to another doctor for more in-depth tests.

On the day of my biopsy, I was a bundle of nerves, trying to convince myself it was all going to be a big nothing. Lying there, I attempted to still my anxious thoughts. I couldn’t. The moment my doctor called with the results, my world stopped.

“You have Hodgkin lymphoma.”

As those words echoed, everything seemed surreal. I struggled to grasp the flood of information that followed, barely registering anything beyond the diagnosis. A whirlwind of emotions overwhelmed me: How could this happen, I wondered, especially when I’ve always made such an effort to take care of my health?

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Treatment after I knew I had lymphoma

The following weeks were a blur of medical appointments, scans, and tests. I felt like I was taking a crash course on lymphoma, a condition about which I had known next to nothing just a short while ago. The lump was in fact a swollen lymph node. Research suggests the itchiness may have been caused by cytokines, which are proteins that the immune system fires off when it’s fighting an illness.

On the bright side, my medical team shared that the type of cancer I had was classified as “early favorable.” It helped ease my mind when I heard those words. I was diagnosed at stage 2 without any risk factors that increase the chance of the cancer coming back.

That was a huge relief to hear, but it didn’t make the treatment any easier. What really hit me were the fatigue and nausea that came with chemotherapy. And the moment I started to lose some strands of hair, I was overwhelmed with emotions—tears flowed freely at first. With time, I found a way to embrace this new reality.

Throughout all of this, the support I received was nothing short of amazing. My partner, who had entered my life not long before this storm, stood by me through all the highs and lows.

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There is an issue I want to address that weighed heavily on my mind during my diagnosis. As I was a young adult, most of my friends were focused on their careers, relationships, and starting families. I must confess, I felt like I was in a different world, fighting cancer while everyone else moved on with theirs. That made my fight feel most isolating of all. I tried to transform that feeling into a strength to fight the illness. I had to focus on what mattered most: healing and soaking in all the love and support from the ones closest to me.

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Becoming cancer-free after I knew I had lymphoma

As I neared the end of my treatment, I started to see the light at the end of the tunnel. My progressive scans showed that the cancer was responding to the treatment, and my doctors were optimistic about my prognosis.

After treatment, I received the news I had been waiting for—there was no evidence of disease! The joy and relief I felt in that moment were indescribable.

However, my story doesn’t stop here. As a cancer survivor, I know that I will always carry the scars of my battle, both physical and emotional. I now navigate a new normal, one that includes regular check-ups, lingering side effects, and a fear of recurrence. Not long after, I found comfort in connecting with other survivors, and a dear friend of mine is currently facing a different battle, as her cancer has returned. She has had to endure additional rounds of chemotherapy, radiation, and a stem cell transplant…but I am happy to report the treatment is working!

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Gratitude has become a key part of my life to help me through any fear I’m experiencing. I shift my focus to what’s good and positive, and it’s also opened my eyes to the beauty of everyday moments, teaching me to treasure time with those I love and not to take my health for granted. Following my treatment, new chapters unfolded, beginning with my engagement to my boyfriend. Today we are happily married and now navigating starting our family.

To anyone facing a cancer diagnosis, I want to say this: You are not alone. There is hope, even in the darkest of times. Surround yourself with a strong support system, lean on the expertise of your medical team, and never lose sight of the light at the end of the tunnel.

Cancer may change your life, but it does not define you.

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The general recommended age to undergo your first colonoscopy has been reduced to 45 in recent years, due in large part to rising colon cancer diagnosis rates among Americans under 50.

If you happen to be around age 45, you might recall the episode of TODAY in 2000 when longtime co-host Katie Couric took viewers through her first colonoscopy experience. For many Americans, Couric’s lighthearted journey helped to solidify an understanding for how important—and how universal—colonoscopies need to be.

So if the thought of getting a colonoscopy calls her to mind, Couric says she’ll accept that as part of her journalistic legacy. “You know,” she reflects, “my name is associated with a certain part of people’s anatomy. And honestly, I’m OK with that.”

The same weekend she appeared alongside Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle and Brooke Shields on an International Women’s Day panel at South by Southwest, last week Couric joined hundreds of colon cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers at the Cologuard Classic, a PGA Tour Champions tournament in Tucson.

The Duchess of Sussex and Katie Couric on a panel discussing the voices of women in media March 8, 2024 at SXSW.

As data suggest approximately 60 million average-risk adults remain unscreened in the United States, Couric spoke with The Healthy @Reader’s Digest about how keeping this topic on America’s radar is one way she honors the memory of her late first husband, Jay Monahan, whose 1998 passing made colon cancer a personal matter for this media icon and her family.

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The Healthy @Reader’s Digest: For decades audiences have appreciated your good-natured approach to telling us what we need to know. What you’ve done around colorectal cancer prevention and awareness arguably stands out as one of your greatest contributions.

Katie Couric: You know, there’s a children’s book called Everybody Poops. I think we have to stop being so precious about that part of our body, because like every other part, it’s important to keep it healthy and make sure that nothing bad is happening there. The fact that I’ve been able to hopefully give people the information they need to save their lives is something I’m just exorbitantly proud of.

The Healthy: Rightfully so. Have you seen your public education efforts over the past 25 years make a difference?

Katie Couric:  I have, I think. Colorectal cancer, which is not the easiest thing to say, has become much more a part of the public. I think people understand it better. They’re much more informed about the importance of screening and early detection.

But it’s not one-and-done. You’ve got to keep talking about it, because I think it’s so easy for people to put it on the back burner or to say, “Oh, I’m not really at risk for that because I don’t have a family history.” By the way, the vast majority of cases involve people with no family history. So it [may seem] inconvenient, or just not at the top of people’s to-do list, or they say, “I’ll put it off”—or excuse after excuse after excuse.

That’s why I think we really need a sustained public health effort by a lot of groups that are really focused on this. One of the nice things about the Cologuard Classic, it brings advocacy groups from all over the country who are addressing this number-two cancer killer of men and women combined in a whole myriad of ways: Whether they’re concentrating on getting men screened, or trying to understand why more and more people under the age of 50 are getting diagnosed, or it’s survivors trying to spread the word about early detection. So it’s a really exciting opportunity for us to put our heads together and and figure out how we can continue to educate people about awareness, and how we can continue to help support research for this disease.

The Healthy: What would you say to Americans who are interested in an at-home screening kit like the ones Cologuard makes?

Katie Couric: My major message is the best test is the one that gets done. There are some people who, for whatever reason—maybe insurance, maybe it’s childcare, maybe it’s squeamishness or cost, or they can’t take a day off work—Cologuard is a really great test that winnows down the population of people who need additional screening because it’s very sensitive. It’s just a sort of an early warning device for people who have some barrier to entry, and it’s covered by insurance. I think a lot of underserved people can have access Cologuard. It’s potentially life-saving.

The Healthy: For those of us who follow you, you just keep living your best life. It would almost be easy to forget that starting in late 2022, you were journeying through breast cancer. So many women and families know how stunning it can be to hear a cancer diagnosis. Was there any one thing that got you through that experience?

Katie Couric: All I kept thinking about, honestly, was how lucky I was. It was diagnosed early: stage 1A breast cancer.

I kept thinking how lucky I was to have access to some of the best doctors and medical care, and I kept thinking about people who didn’t. What do they do if they don’t have access, or don’t have the information about the importance of screening and early detection, or for whatever reason, are not trusting of the medical establishment? Some people of color are not, because there’s not enough diversity and [in the U.S. healthcare system] we don’t have it exactly an illustrious history for that.

It’s a strange thing to be diagnosed with cancer and really just feel grateful. But I was, and that’s what I kept thinking, and contrasting it to when Jay was diagnosed—gosh, 24, 25 years earlier. He was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. There are a lot of symptoms for colorectal cancer, but unfortunately, when you experience them, it’s often too late.

We’re living in such exciting times when it comes to cancer research. And I’m really hopeful that there’ll be better screening for things like pancreatic cancer and ovarian cancer, and all kinds of cancers. I mean, [my breast cancer diagnosis] was such a stark reminder that if you find cancer early, you’re one of the lucky ones. And the only way to find cancer early is to get screened.

The Healthy: We who follow you on social know that soon you’ll celebrate the birth of your first grandchild. Congratulations.

Katie Couric: Thank you. My husband was like, “Oh Lord, we’re going to see a lot of baby pictures on Instagram.”

The Healthy: We talked to you before the National Senior Games last year, and you’re part of the changing face of vibrant aging—so we want to see your pictures of grandmotherhood! Many surviving spouses and families might relate to this: With Jay having been gone over these years, is there a bittersweetness to these moments in your family’s lives?

Katie Couric: Yes, for sure. You know, I think about Jay a lot and all he’s missed, but when we approach these really important life moments and milestones, I’m acutely aware of the fact that he is missing them. My daughter [Carrie] graduated not too long ago from Stanford and won this big writing award—she’s going to kill me. So don’t include that. I was so proud. And all I could think of is, Jay would have been so proud. [My elder daughter] Ellie got married a couple of years ago, there was no one to walk her down the aisle. John, my husband, could have done it; I could have done it, but Ellie decided she wanted to walk alone, which I think is such a fierce showing of strength and independence.

And now, of course, he would be having his first grandchild, and it is just so, so sad to see how much he was ripped off of these experiences. That’s why I feel so strongly that if I can do anything that will help other people, that’s what kind of keeps me going, honestly.

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We’re all striving to keep our bodies healthy by exercising, getting enough sleep, nurturing our relationships, and, of course, choosing the right foods—but a new study from the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine and funded by the National Institutes of Health suggests it’s time to revisit our definition of “healthy eating.” The culprit? A troubling infiltration of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, better known as PFAS, into our diet.

Lately, PFAS have made headlines, and for good reason. These stubborn chemicals, lingering in everything from our sofas to our raincoats, have been tied to alarming health risks—including revelations that they contaminate almost half of our tap water and are associated with an increased risk of three types of hormonal cancers.

The spotlight has intensified as recent findings published in the peer-reviewed journal Environment International in February 2024 link them to everyday consumables like teas, processed meats, and the very packaging that holds our food. In a recent press release from the university, Jesse A. Goodrich, PhD, an assistant professor of population and public health sciences at the Keck School of Medicine and the study’s senior author, explains, “To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine how dietary factors are associated with changes in PFAS over time. Looking at multiple time points gives us an idea of how changing people’s diets might actually impact PFAS levels.”

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The details of the study

The researchers followed two groups of young adults: A primarily Hispanic group from the Southern California Children’s Health Study (CHS) and a nationally representative sample from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Study (NHANES). Participants shared their dietary habits, including how often they consumed home-cooked meals versus fast food or restaurant fare, which helped researchers gauge their exposure to PFAS-laden food packaging.

Participants provided blood samples for testing to measure different PFAS levels. Those in the CHS group were tested twice, first at about age 20 and again at around age 24, while participants from the NHANES group underwent testing once when they were about 19 years old.

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The results

CHS participants who reported higher tea consumption during the initial visit had significantly elevated levels of various PFAS compounds at the follow-up appointment. Just one extra serving of tea was associated with a 24.8% higher level of perfluoro- hexanesulphonic acid (PFHxS), 16.17% higher perfluoroheptanesulfonic acid (PFHpS), and 12.6% higher perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA).

Tea wasn’t the only culprit, though.

Hot dogs on the grill in the summer time

Those who admitted to indulging in more pork products during the first visit also showed higher PFAS levels at the follow-up, with a single additional serving of pork linked to a 13.4% increase in perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA).

The researchers got the same results with the NHANES group: Participants who consumed more tea, hot dogs, and processed meats exhibited higher PFAS levels across the board. Dr. Goodrich notes that this observation demonstrates the nationwide scope of the issue rather than being limited to a specific geographic location.

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The power of home-cooking

On a more positive note, the study revealed that opting for home-cooked meals could be a game-changer in reducing PFAS exposure. Participants who reported eating more food prepared at home had lower perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) levels—a 0.9% reduction at baseline and a 1.6% decrease at follow-up for every 200-gram increase in home-cooked food consumption.

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What you can do to protect your health

So, what’s the key takeaway from this research? Prioritizing home-cooked meals made with fresh, unprocessed ingredients is a smart strategy for minimizing your PFAS exposure—and when you do treat yourself to those beloved seasonal indulgences, remember that moderation is key.

However, protecting our health doesn’t fall solely on our shoulders. The study’s findings emphasize the urgent need for stricter monitoring of food and beverage products for PFAS contamination, as even seemingly wholesome items like tea can harbor these harmful chemicals.

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