From eNewsletter 11/6/2019
DID YOU KNOW that a study in this week's JAMA Internal Medicine states that the class of osteoporosis drugs called bisphosphonates do not reduce overall mortality or mortality rate?
Of course, this finding goes against what most public health experts will tell you.
There are myriad variables to consider before taking these medications. First, you must consider the deleterious side effects. Second, they must only be taken short-term.
At least now we can eliminate the misnomer that bisphosphonates reduce overall mortality.
REDUCE YOUR FOOD FOOTPRINT
Steve and Bonnie: In our September 2nd issue, we cited a study showing the best way to lower your carbon footprint was to eat less. A new study from the journal Resources, Conservation & Recycling shows that reducing food waste is just as important.
Americans throw out a lot more food than they think. People eat a lot less of their refrigerated food than they expect to, and they're likely throwing out perfectly good food because they misunderstand labels.
This is the first study to offer a data-driven glimpse into the refrigerators of American homes, and provides an important framework for efforts to decrease food waste.
Survey participants expected to eat 97 percent of the meat in their refrigerators but really finished only about half. They thought they'd eat 94 percent of their vegetables, but consumed just 44 percent. They projected they'd eat about 71 percent of the fruit and 84 percent of the dairy, but finished off just 40 percent and 42 percent.
An estimated 43 percent of food waste is due to in-home practices, as opposed to waste that happens in restaurants, grocery stores, and on the farm, making individuals the biggest contributors. We're also the most complicated group in which to drive change, given that practices vary significantly from home to home.
This study looked at refrigerated food because that's where most perishable foods are found in a household and where the bulk of efforts to encourage people to waste less food have been focused.
The results suggest that strategies to reduce food waste in the U.S. should include limiting and standardizing the number of phrases used on date labels, and education campaigns to help consumers better understand the physical signs of food safety and quality.
SCREEN TIME IN YOUNG CHILDREN
Steve: While the results of this study may not be surprising, it is incumbent upon me to reiterate the effect of exposing young children to too much screen time...This article is reserved for NCI Well Connect Members. You can get this article by signing up here. You can get our free eNewsletter by signing up at the top of our website.
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