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News for Now Update: Week ending June 10, 2023
Today’s News for Now alert contains vital information to empower your health and wellness!
Topics this week include: challenging perspectives on ancient hunter-gatherer gender roles, an explanation of how cholesterol provides a link between obesity and early-onset puberty, a seafood restaurant centered around ocean conservation and planet-friendly practices, and more—stories to keep you informed of health news in your community and worldwide.
In our #TBT Pioneer Archives post, Martha R. Jones, PhD, in 1962, explains that grasses, like sugar cane, are vital to animal diets (their nutrition depending on soil fertility), and that sugar cane juice, retaining vitamins, minerals, and enzymes, offers humans a nutrient-rich alternative to refined sugar.
THIS WEEK’S NEWS
Study Questions Hunter-Gatherer Gender Roles
An archaeological study challenges stereotypes of gender roles in early human societies, suggesting that women may have been more involved in hunting than previously assumed. The study supposes that, if early humans consumed “digesta” (the partially digested plant material found in the stomachs of large herbivores), this could have reduced reliance on plant-gathering and, consequently, the need for gender divisions when obtaining food. Read more at The Conversation US.
New Seafood Restaurant Puts Conservation First
Photographer Andrea Tese has turned restaurateur to promote ocean conservation. Her New Suffolk restaurant, Minnow, sources only local, responsibly caught seafood. It showcases a model that avoids practices leading to bykill, supports local fishing methods, and values responsible processing. Tese intends to host events for conservation nonprofits and hopes the restaurant’s success will prove that consumers care about responsible food choices. Read more at Modern Farmer.
Cholesterol Links Obesity to Early-Onset Puberty
Cholesterol, an essential yet often maligned compound in the body, has many important functions. Researchers from the University of Copenhagen identified yet another one: helping to signal when an organism has reached sufficient size to begin puberty. With rising childhood obesity, young bodies abundant in cholesterol may overestimate their development, leading to early-onset puberty and potential problems (including stunting long-term growth). Read more at Medical Xpress.
Protecting Moths Vital for Plant Diversity
A University of Sheffield study reveals that nocturnal pollinators like moths could be as crucial as bees, accounting for as much as a third of all pollination across many plant types. At the same time, they may be less resilient due to their complex life cycles and specific plant requirements. To support healthier ecosystems, urban planning would benefit from assessing and incorporating moth-friendly plant species. Read more at Phys.org.
THROWBACK THURSDAY
Role of Sugar Cane (Grass) in Human Nutrition, by Martha R. Jones, PhD
In this 1962 #TBT article, Martha R. Jones, PhD, explains that grasses, including sugar cane, play a critical role in many animal diets, with their nutritional value heavily influenced by soil fertility. For humans, sugar cane juice can actually be a nutritious beverage: unlike sugar, it still contains elements like enzymes, vitamins, minerals, and trace elements which are eliminated in the refinement process and would otherwise contribute to optimal health. Read more in our Pioneer Archives Post.
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News for Now Update: Week ending June 3, 2023
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