News for Now Update: Week ending May 7, 2022

How Food Safety Impacts Consumer Health
Once a world leader in food regulation, the FDA now lags in response to food safety issues. Despite increased funding over the last decade, delayed recalls, unenforced standards, and lack of testing have failed to prevent foodborne illness and contamination such as heavy metals in baby food. More than ever, it is important to educate ourselves on where our food comes from and source locally when possible. Read more at POLITICO.

Study: Dentures Can Increase Malnutrition
As Dr. Weston A. Price found, nutrition and dental health are intricately linked. A Regenstrief Institute, study showing that use of dentures (which may alter eating habits) can increase malnutrition reminds us that, not only is it important to prevent tooth decay by eating nutrient-dense foods, those who do rely on solutions like dentures may need additional support to maintain healthy nutritional habits. Read more at ScienceDaily.

Mindfulness Improves IBS Symptoms
With over 25 million IBS sufferers in the U.S., researchers and scientists are looking to the gut-brain connection as an important factor in holistic treatment.Noting pandemic-fueled increases in stress and anxiety, UCLA Health studied the effects of mindfulness and meditative practices and saw improved symptoms in 71% of patients. This suggests a key strategy to complement dietary measures and digital support tools. Read more at NPR.

Climate Change Threatens Food System—Here’s What Could Help
Of the 6,000 plant species that humankind has cultivated over time, just 9 supply over 75% of calories worldwide today. From coffee to bananas, low genetic diversity makes our crops highly dependent on precise climate conditions and, as these conditions shift, the clock is ticking on global food security. Read more about the nature-mimicking solutions providing hope for agroecologists and regenerative farmers at The Guardian.

Dr. Price’s Field Study of Communities in Modernized St. Moritz and Herisau, Switzerland
Dr. Price visits modernized St. Moritz and Herisau, Switzerland, in this exciting travelogue, published in the Dental Digest in 1933. Inside, he describes what seems to be an almost complete immunity to cavities of isolated groups consuming locally produced natural foods (including rye bread and plenty of milk), and evidence that substitution of modern foods for natural foods destroys that immunity. He also considers other factors affecting immunity, such as soil quality and food content, as well as the association of dental cavities and tuberculosis. Read more in our Pioneer Archives Post.