Health

Opinion | The Unvaccinated May Not Be Who You Think – The New York Times

by dldamore

Opinion | The Unvaccinated May Not Be Who You Think – The New York Times:

It’s easy to say that all these people should have been more informed or sought advice from a medical provider, except that many have no health care provider. As of 2015, one quarter of the population in the United States had no primary health care provider to turn to for trusted advice.

*”one quarter of the population in the United States had no primary health care provider” This is a real problem. People need to engage their friends and family. Ask them if they have a PCP (Primary Care Physician), offer a few reasons it’s a smart thing to have one. We as a society can help our friends and family become healthier and more informed. My thinking it that having a PCP would move the needle on preventable illnesses and those where early treatment would make a meaningful difference. 

Should You Get a Microbiome Test? – The New York Times

by dldamore

Should You Get a Microbiome Test? – The New York Times:

There’s no doubt the microbiome plays an important role in our overall health, converting the food we eat into a range of compounds that have benefits throughout our body. The microbes in our gut produce a variety of vitamins; synthesize hormones like serotonin, which influences metabolic health and mood; and ferment the fiber that we eat, turning it into short chain fatty acids that can lower inflammation. The composition of our microbiomes is shaped by our genetics, our environment and the foods, drugs and beverages we consume.

*The Microbiome is an area to watch and learn about. So unknown, with potentially huge implications to health. 

Bigger, Saltier, Heavier: Fast Food Since 1986 in 3 Simple Charts – The New York Times

by dldamore

Bigger, Saltier, Heavier: Fast Food Since 1986 in 3 Simple Charts – The New York Times:

“The fat and salt content and the sheer size of fast food meals have long been a public health concern. They are often blamed for pushing up the obesity rate among adults in the United States, which rose to 40 percent in 2016 from 13 percent in the early 1960s.”

*40%!? WOW!