A new study finds that fructose, a commonly used sweetener, causes intestinal inflammation to worsen. Inflammation in the intestine can lead to Intestinal Bowel Disease (IBD) like Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. The study comes from Stony Brook University and tested three different mouse models of IBD.

Our findings provide evidence of a direct link between dietary fructose and IBD and support the concept that high consumption of fructose could worsen disease in people with IBD. This is important because it has the potential to provide guidance on diet choices for IBD patients, something that is currently lacking.”

David Montrose, PhD, of the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University

Related: How to Eliminate IBS, IBD, Leaky Gut

The most famous form of fructose in the modern Western diet is high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS). The corn-based sweetener was introduced to the public in the 1970s, and since then it has become a rather controversial ingredient. HFCS provides no nutritional value and has been linked to multiple inflammatory conditions like diabetes, fatty liver disease, heart disease, and others.

This study is part of the growing research into the importance of the gut microbiota and the negative impact of the modern Western diet on that. Many scientists are analyzing the guts of hunter-gathers in comparison to ours and finding our gut microbes have been permanently weakened and altered. Many types of bacteria present in the hunter-gatherer’s gut were completely gone from ours.

The United States is nowhere near herd immunity from COVID-19, according to a new study that analyzed antibody data from more than 28,000 dialysis patients across the United States.

During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, fewer than 10% of the US adult population formed antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, and fewer than 10% of those with antibodies were diagnosed. Public health efforts to limit SARS-CoV-2 spread need to especially target racial and ethnic minority and densely populated communities.”

Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in a large nationwide sample of patients on dialysis in the USA

Related: COVID Second Wave Is Happening All Over Europe, Except in Sweden

Herd immunity has been put forth as a potential coronavirus management option for the U.S. If that strategy worked, it would be a boon for business, but this study indicates that that level of exposure isn’t happening. Even if it was, scientists are still not sure long antibodies last.

In October, the Mexican government will require warning labels on the front of sugary, processed junk food describing the health risks of choosing these products. The regulation as passed in October of 2019, and now the United States, Canada, the European Union, and Switzerland are asking the country to delay implementing those labels. The U.S. and the E.U. are asking for 2 years, Canada is asking for a year, and Switzerland has not specified a date for the postponement to end. COVID-19 is cited as a reason for the delay. Additionally, the United States delegation questioned Mexico’s new initiative at a World Trade Organization meeting in May, including statements that the new regulations…

…may be more trade restrictive than necessary…” and “may not be based on robust scientific evidence…” and “does not appear to consider relevant international standards…” and “may contribute to consumer confusion….”

U.S. delegation to the WTO, May 2020

Related: Sugar Leads to Depression – World’s First Trial Proves Gut and Brain are Linked (Protocol Included)

Mexico has been dealing with a severe obesity epidemic for over twenty years, a problem that was exacerbated when NAFTA allowed an increased amount of processed junk food to flood the country. Mexico is the most overweight nation in Latin America, where 64% of people have a body mass index of more than 25%, and as of 2016, 10% of the population has diabetes. In 2017, diabetes claimed the lives of twice of 80,000 Mexicans, twice the number of those killed in homicides. Front of package nutritional labels have been endorsed by the World Health Organization, and Mexico plans to also ban cartoon characters targeted at children from junk food.

This is not the first time the United States has aligned itself with the junk food industry in opposition to public health initiatives. The much-criticized NAFTA, which bears responsibility for the increased access to junk food in Mexico, was renegotiated in 2018. In those negotiations, the Office of the United States Trade Representative pushed to keep Mexico and Canada from being able to add labels denoting there was a hazard in consuming a product.

Mexican regulations requiring mandatory labels that describe the health risks of processed foods on the front of processed products are due to be implemented in October, and major governments like the U.S., Canada, and the European Union are now asking Mexico to delay the implementation of the rule.

Reuters obtained information from a Mexican government official who wished to remain anonymous. According to them, the Mexican government intends to continue with its plans.

“We told them there would be no additional time.”

Reuters

The government official also indicated that major food companies like Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and Nestle were also asking for the regulations to be delayed.

The city of Berkeley, California continues its quest to make its residents healthier, becoming the first city in the United States to ban sugary candy, sodas, and other junk foods from the checkout aisle. The banned food items are those with 5 grams of added sugars and 200 milligrams of sodium, chewing gum and mints with added sugars, and beverages with added sugars or artificial sweeteners.

Placement of unhealthy snacks near a register increases the likelihood that customers will purchase these foods and drinks when willpower is weak at the end of a long shopping trip…It’s not a ban, it’s a nudge. Stores can still sell candy and soda, just not at your child’s eye level in the checkout.”

Kate Harrison, Berkeley city council member and ordinance sponsor

The unanimously passed ordinance will go into effect in March of 2021. Grocery stores affected will include Safeway, Monterey Market, Whole Foods, and Berkeley Bowl.

Related: Sugar Leads to Depression – World’s First Trial Proves Gut and Brain are Linked (Protocol Included)

This is not the first time that Berkeley has taken a stand against sugary products. Last time it was sodas and sugary beverages, as Berkeley became the first city in the U.S. to implement a soda tax in 2014. That tax proved to be successful, as residents in affected areas reported drinking 52% fewer servings of sugary drinks. The city of Berkeley clearly wants to continue to offer its residents healthier options.

The New Jersey state legislature has voted to ban single-use plastic bags in all stores and restaurants. This bill also bans the use of single-use polystyrene at restaurants and paper bags at grocery stores and is the most thorough single-use plastic ban in the United States.

This bill is probably the strongest, most comprehensive bill in the nation dealing with plastics and packaging. It will go a long way in our battle with plastic pollution.”

Jeff Tittel, the director of the New Jersey Sierra Club

The bill has been approved in the legislature, and NJ governor Scott Murphy is expected to sign the bill into law.

“The governor is proud to support the strongest bag ban in the nation. This bill will significantly reduce the harm that these products cause to our environment.”

Mahen Gunaratna, Governor Murphy’s communications director

Related: How to Detox From Plastics and Other Endocrine Disruptors

Plastics companies took advantage of the coronavirus earlier in the year to put holds on several plastic bag bans. Many municipalities, even in California, chose to instead ban reusable bags. Some states (Florida, cough, cough) even have laws prohibiting the ban of single-use plastics bags.

Many opponents of the bill claim that this ban will put businesses at a disadvantage, but at this point, there is no excuse for continuing to use single-use plastic bags. Eco-friendly bag options are widely available. The average American family takes home an average of 1,500 plastic bags each year, and only 1% of those bags end up recycled. These bags stay in landfills for centuries, breaking down into microplastics and releasing endocrine disruptors.

Recommended: How To Heal Your Gut 

At this point, we are knowingly poisoning our environment and ourselves for grocery store convenience and fossil fuel profits. We shouldn’t have to live this way.

The secretary of California Health and Human Services, Dr. Mark Ghaly, announced on Friday that the state of California will be forming an independent review board to evaluate COVID-19 vaccine data.

We think it is an appropriate approach to take, especially because things are moving so quickly. We want to make sure — despite the urge and interest in having a useful vaccine — that we do it with the utmost safety of Californians in mind.”

Dr. Mark Ghaly, secretary of CA Health and Human Services

Related: Natural Coronavirus Prevention

California is not the only state or jurisdiction saying they will independently analyze coronavirus vaccines. Others include Colorado, the District of Columbia, Michigan, New York, Oregon, and West Virginia. Montana and Wyoming have said they would only administer vaccines if they had completed clinical trials and had been reviewed by an outside committee.

Confidence in the coronavirus vaccine has been steadily waning as government timelines continue to waver. President Trump has consistently promised that the vaccine will be ready before the election and all Americans will be vaccinated by April, while the director of the CDC, Dr. Robert Redfield, maintains that widespread vaccination will not be achieved until the third quarter of 2021. According to a new survey from the Pew Research Center, only 51% of Americans would probably get the vaccine as opposed to the 72% that would give the same answer in May.

The drama surrounding COVID-19 vaccines continues as President Trump suggested that the executive branch would not support stricter guidelines for evaluating a COVID-19 vaccine. If approved, the new guidelines from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would include additional specifications for clinical trial data and a committee of independent experts to review that data before any vaccine is approved. President Trump continues to promise a vaccine before the end of the year, despite experts saying that is unlikely. Trump asserted that the plan to introduce more guidelines was political in nature.

Related: Natural Coronavirus Prevention

That has to be approved by the White House. We may or may not approve it. That sounds like a political move. I think that was a political move more than anything else…”

President Trump

This announcement will add fuel to the growing anti-Trump-vaxxer movement taking place in the Democratic party. Vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris cast doubt on the efficacy and safety of a COVID-19 vaccine implemented during a Trump presidency earlier in September.

I will say that I would not trust Donald Trump, and it would have to be a credible source of information that talks about the efficacy and the reliability of whatever he’s talking about….I will not take his word for it.”

Senator Kamala Harris

Related: How To Detoxify and Heal From Vaccinations – For Adults and Children