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News for Now Update: Week ending April 1, 2023
Today’s News for Now alert contains vital information to empower your health and wellness!
Topics this week include: the increasing popularity of prescribing produce to encourage those with chronic health conditions to eat more fruits and vegetables, the concerning drop in US life expectancy for the second year in a row while other countries are seeing an increase, Italy’s decision to take a stand against lab-grown meat in order to protect its agri-food heritage, and more—stories to keep you informed of health news in your community and worldwide.
In our #TBT Pioneer Archives post, Royal Lee, DDS, in 1953, discusses the differences in nutritional content of various cereal grains (including wheat, rye, oats, corn, and others) in relation to the mineral content of the soils in which they grow. He specifies that rye and oats contain better nutrition for muscle building and notably recommends preparing corn “Mexican style” (likely referencing the process of nixtamalization).
THIS WEEK’S NEWS
Produce Prescriptions Gaining Popularity
Mackenzie Sachs, a Montana dietitian working with the Blackfeet Nation, helps treat chronic illnesses by prescribing fresh produce. Through the FAST Blackfeet program (short for Food Access and Sustainability Team), her patients get vouchers to purchase fruits and vegetables, ensuring they can afford the healthier choices she recommends. Similar programs are helping make “food as medicine” more mainstream nationwide. Read more at Kaiser Health News.
US Life Expectancy Drops for Second Year
While other countries saw life expectancy rise in the last two years, it has fallen in the US across every demographic, including worsening pediatric, adolescent, and maternal mortality. Despite extraordinary healthcare spending and scientific innovations, various preventable factors contribute to the decline, including poor diets, sedentary lifestyles, lack of access to healthcare, child poverty, racial segregation, and social isolation. Read more at NPR.
CA Pesticide Reductions Encourage “Slow Wine”
California has released a sustainable pest management roadmap that aims to eliminate high-risk pesticides by 2050. In response, winemakers are adopting regenerative agriculture practices, such as integrating sheep into vineyards to control weeds and promote soil fertility. The shift towards environmentally conscious farming is also driving winemakers to embrace the Slow Wine movement, taking time to care for the land and make high-quality wine. Read more at Decanter.
Italy Bans Lab-Grown Animal Food Products
To protect the country’s agri-food heritage, Italy’s government has approved a bill banning lab-produced food products. If it passes their parliament, it would prohibit Italian industries from producing food or animal feed “from cell cultures or tissues derived from vertebrate animals” – or face fines up to €60,000. Proponents of cell-based agriculture and animal rights groups unsurprisingly condemn the move. Read more at Reuters.
THROWBACK THURSDAY
The Cereal Grains — Some of Their Special Characteristics, by Royal Lee, DDS
In this 1953 #TBT article, Royal Lee, DDS, discusses the differences in nutritional content of various cereal grains, notably in relation to the mineral content of the soils in which they grow. Some key points include wheat’s phosphorus content, the general favorability of rice, the superiority of rye and oats over wheat for muscle-building, and the need to prepare corn “Mexican style” (likely referencing the process of nixtamalization). Read more in our Pioneer Archives Post.
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News for Now Update: Week ending March 25, 2023
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