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A recent study conducted by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) has revealed traces of the banned agricultural chemical chlormequat in urine samples collected from individuals across the United States.1 This discovery has sparked concerns regarding the prevalence of this chemical in the food supply despite its restricted use within the country. Chlormequat: A Plant Growth Regulator with Limited Use Chlormequat is a plant growth regulator used in agriculture to enhance crop yield and facilitate harvesting. While its use is permitted in various countries, the U.S. only allows its application on ornamental plants, strictly prohibiting its use on food crops.(ref)  Chlormequat …

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How do women maintain strong bones during breastfeeding—a time when their bodies prioritize calcium for milk production? Researchers at UC San Francisco (UCSF) and UC Davis may have found the answer with the discovery of a new hormone.  This new hormone, known as Maternal Brain Hormone (MBH), not only protects bones during breastfeeding but also offers hope for new treatments for osteoporosis, a debilitating condition affecting millions worldwide.1 This research will change how we approach bone health and osteoporosis prevention. Hormone’s Potential Beyond Breastfeeding In their research, Holly Ingraham, PhD, senior author and a professor of cellular molecular pharmacology at …

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Could the secret to preventing or treating type 2 diabetes lie within our own bodies? A study suggests that it might.  Researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital, the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health have identified a connection between specific species and strains of bacteria, changes in the gut microbiome’s function, and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.1 Largest & Most Diverse Study of Its Kind This research, published in Nature Medicine, is the largest and most diverse study to date on the gut microbiome of individuals with type 2 diabetes …

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Have you ever wondered how animals as different as chickens, frogs, and fish could share a hidden link during their earliest development?  Scientists at the University of California San Diego, the University of Dundee in the UK, and Harvard University are discovering this secret code. By studying how chick embryos—which are surprisingly similar to human embryos at this stage—grow and change shape, researchers are discovering a shared mathematical pattern that guides early development in many animals.1  This research could help us understand how life develops, not just in these creatures, but in all of us. “Ideal Loop” of Research Digs …

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How many pints of ice cream do you think it takes to create a human? A new study by Australian researchers has revealed a surprising answer: 50,000 calories, the equivalent of about 50 pints of Ben & Jerry’s Cherry Garcia ice cream.1  This figure, representing the average energy expenditure of pregnancy, far exceeds what scientists previously believed, challenging our understanding of the immense metabolic demands of carrying a child. Why Previous Estimates Fell Short It seems that previous estimates were lower because of a misconception: the widely accepted belief that the energy demands of pregnancy were primarily concentrated in the …

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