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News for Now Update: Week ending July 1, 2023
Today’s News for Now alert contains vital information to empower your health and wellness!
Topics this week include: a shift among small farmers toward avoiding the heat by growing more winter crops and fewer summer ones, the identification of a signature gut microbiome pattern associated with autism (which may pave the way for therapeutic interventions), heated debates and protests over the world’s first proposed commercial octopus farm, and more—stories to keep you informed of health news in your community and worldwide.
In our #TBT Pioneer Archives post, Granville F. Knight, MD, in 1978, advocates for raw or desiccated liver consumption as a supplemental food, highlighting the ability of its rich nutrient contents to counteract common nutritional deficiencies and citing its favor among the notably healthy Indigenous Peoples studied by Dr. Weston A. Price.
THIS WEEK’S NEWS
Fatty Fish Show More Heart Health Benefits
A study from the University of Eastern Finland found that consuming fatty fish can reduce a marker known as the lipophilic index (a measure of cell membrane fluidity) in people with certain cardiovascular health issues, while increasing sizes and numbers of HDL cholesterol particles, all of which are associated with lower cardiovascular risk. These improvements weren’t seen with increased consumption of lean fish or a plant-based, omega-3-rich oil. Read more at SciTechDaily.
Microbial Signature for Autism Identified
Research originating at the Simons Foundation’s Autism Research Initiative used computational techniques to analyze dozens of existing microbiome datasets, finding a distinct pattern associated with autism. They then validated the findings using results from a long-term fecal microbiota transplant study. This opens the door to therapeutic interventions, and their method could be used to identify microbial signatures for other complex conditions. Read more at Neuroscience News.
Octopus-Farming Plans Spark Debate, Protests
Plans to establish the world’s first commercial octopus farm have been met with significant opposition from activists and academics who question the ethics of farming the intelligent creatures. Critics argue that octopuses’ complex needs, such as mental stimulation and space, make high-welfare farming impossible; proponents claim their solutions to these welfare concerns are the only thing that has made the practice economically viable. Read more at the Guardian.
Small Farmers Shifting From Summer to Winter Crops
Rising temperatures, health concerns, and financial reasons are leading some small-scale farmers to shift away from growing summer crops (like tomatoes, eggplant, and zucchini) and toward winter ones (like celeriac, onions, and squash). In many cases, winter farming provides not only lower risks from extreme weather, but also better work-life balance and reduced competition, while consumer demand and CSA participation remains steady. Read more at Civil Eats.
THROWBACK THURSDAY
Raw Liver: A Superior Source of Vital Nutrients, by Granville F. Knight, MD
In this 1978 #TBT article, Granville F. Knight, MD, advocates consuming raw or desiccated liver as a supplemental food, full of vital nutrients that can counteract many common nutritional deficiencies. He emphasizes liver’s rich content of amino acids, iron, trace elements, and vitamins, citing its favor among predatory animals and among robustly healthy Indigenous Peoples, including those studied by Dr. Weston A. Price. Read more in our Pioneer Archives Post.
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News for Now Update: Week ending June 24, 2023
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