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Study: Cut Risk of Type 2 Diabetes by 34% with This Kind of Diet

Eating a diet based on fruits, veggies, and whole grains might lower the risk for type 2 diabetes, according to a new study.
Lead author Ambika Satija, a postdoctoral fellow at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, said:

“This study highlights that even moderate dietary changes in the direction of a healthful plant-based diet can play a significant role in the prevention of type 2 diabetes.”

Cheap, Tasty, and Harmful to Your Health: Ramen Noodles

Ramen noodles are cheap, easy to make, and they taste good, which is why so many college kids live on them in school. I know I did. You can buy a whole box of them for just a few bucks. Between instant noodles, Lucky Charms, and cappuccino, I ate like I had a death wish in college. And though indulging in the occasional cup of noodles won’t kill you, but living on them could shorten your life.

Muscle Confusion Remains Popular, But is Argued to be a Myth

Workouts like P90x and ClassPass are increasingly popular for promising to help sculpt a desirable body. They both promote and utilize the theory of muscle confusion, which states that in order to get results, your muscles need to become “confused” by switching up the exercises. This prevents your muscles from adapting and plateauing. Though, despite the workout regimens’ enduring popularity, some experts purport that muscle confusion doesn’t actually work. [1]

Smoking can Permanently Damage DNA – But Quitting can Heal Some Wounds

A new study published in the American Heart Association (AMA) journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Genetics finds that smoking cigarettes affects the human genome in the form of DNA methylation. [1]
If you quit smoking, the majority of the damage goes away, but not all of it. Translation: smoking causes some permanent damage.

Chickens and Bugs Replace Pesticides, Herbicides for Some Farmers

Rather than turning to toxic chemicals to rid farm fields of destructive insects and noxious weeds, some farmers in Missouri are recruiting chickens and bugs to do the job for them.
The 40 acres of land purchased by Gary Wenig and his wife to grow organic crops were initially overrun by weeds and insects. In order to grow truly organic plants, the couple had to eschew products like Roundup and atrazine. Synthetic pesticides are permitted for organic growing, but they’re expensive and can still be toxic.

Another Pitfall of the Plastic Chemical BPA: Asthma

If it’s legal, it must be safe, right? Actually, not always. One of the many chemicals deemed legal to use in manufacturing, bisphenol-a (BPA), is contributing to changes in these social attitudes. BPA is an increasingly unpopular chemical, with many companies using the phrase “BPA-free” as selling points for their products. The most well-known effect of BPA exposure may be hormone disruption, but did you know that BPA may also increase the risk of asthma?

Shock: Sugary Cereal Considered “Healthy,” While Avocados are “Unhealthy”

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is asking for the public’s help in defining what “healthy” means when it comes to food. [1]
The agency officially launched the public process on redefining how the “healthy” label can be used September 27, and opened the matter up for public comment on the following day.
The FDA said:

FDA Testing Finds Glyphosate Herbicide in Oatmeal, Baby Food

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has confirmed the presence of trace amounts of glyphosate in a variety of oat products, including plain and flavored oat cereals for babies. [1]
An FDA chemist compiled data and presented it to other chemists at a meeting in Florida. The evidence revealed that residues of the chemical found in Monsanto’s blockbuster Roundup pesticide was present in several types of infant oat cereal, including banana strawberry- and banana-flavored varieties.

Johnson & Johnson Faces Another Lawsuit over Talcum Powder-Linked Cancer

More than 2000 women have sued Johnson & Johnson over allegations that the company’s talcum powder has caused them to develop ovarian cancer. Another lawsuit has arisen in St. Louis, Missouri, accusing the pharmaceutical giant of negligent conduct in regards to the way it marketed its powder. Now yet another lawsuit is surfacing. [1]