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The holiday season brings more than just joy — it often comes with an extra helping of guilt as we indulge in festive feasts. But before you raid the supplement aisle in hopes of counteracting those extra calories, consider the science: your body is already equipped with nutrient reserves that make most supplements unnecessary.

Mark Hahn (KSCJ radio, Sioux City, Iowa) and I discuss the recent, controversial federal health appointments.

Indoor air quality often gets overshadowed by the outdoor pollution debate, but here’s a reality check: we spend 85% of our time indoors, breathing in a cocktail of cooking fumes, cleaning chemicals, pet dander, and whatever else lurks in our homes and schools. The EPA has stepped in with $34 million in grants to help schools tackle this issue, but how should the funds actually be spent? It’s not just about upgrading HVAC systems—it’s about rethinking how we define and manage the air we breathe indoors.

The Golden State's Proposition promises to save residents from toxic doom, but mostly leaves them dodging alarming labels in the grocery aisle. Does it protect public health, or does it just shuffle the deck chairs on the chemical Titanic? What do two decades of biomonitoring data from the CDC’s NHANES program tell us about reduced toxic exposures?

Depending on the results of a case pending before the California Supreme Court, you can kiss new drug development goodbye. The case derives from an FDA-approved, lifesaving, ground-breaking HIV drug that has saved millions of lives. But good, safe, and lifesaving, are apparently not enough. The plaintiffs want “safer” than “safe.” And their lawyers want their contingency fees for the mass settlement they hope to generate.

The USDA pesticide residue report demonstrates the safety of conventionally grown produce, contrary to claims of anti-science activists like the Environmental Working Group.

The FDA’s REMS policy, designed to ensure drug safety, is instead harming individuals with treatment-resistant schizophrenia by imposing burdensome requirements on clozapine, the only FDA-approved drug for this condition. These regulations make it nearly impossible for many patients to maintain treatment, leading to catastrophic relapses and homelessness. With 10-20% of the homeless population suffering from schizophrenia, restricting access to clozapine exacerbates an already dire crisis. Simplifying REMS requirements could save lives and ensure essential treatment reaches those who need it most.

Who knew weight loss and wine could be frenemies? My journey with Ozempic started as a bid to shed pounds, but it unexpectedly curbed my relationship with alcohol, too. New research reveals that anti-obesity drugs like Ozempic are dialing down alcohol intake for many users. From shifting tastes to fewer cravings, anti-obesity medications are reshaping habits.

ADHD is a condition where dietary fads and social media algorithms collide to create a perfect storm of misinformation. From miracle diets to so-called ADHD "hacks,” the internet is a breeding ground for half-truths that can derail evidence-based care. But what do scientific studies actually say about ADHD and diet?

Despite significant decreases in cholesterol numbers, cardiovascular disease rates in the U.S. have hit a standstill. Can we restart the decline, or have we reached the limits of our ability to combat this persistent condition?

For this Thanksgiving, let’s serve up some food for thought. This week, we’re tackling everything from the FDA’s head-scratching approach to regulating generative AI (hint: it’s a work in progress) to Fantasia’s cautionary tale about unintended consequences. Add a sprinkling of philosophical musings about order in chaos and a side of lab-grown foie gras because nothing says “holiday decadence” like bypassing geese entirely.

The answer might seem obvious if you’re picturing NFL linemen with biceps bigger than your torso. But science has taken the debate beyond muscle-bound athletes to the average person. A new meta-analysis dives into the interplay of fitness, fatness, and mortality. (Spoiler alert: sitting on the couch debating this question is not the answer.)

There is overwhelming evidence that high-quality masks reduce the spread of aerosol-spread infectious diseases, including COVID-19.

Welcome to the digital age, where we’re all curators of content we never read, proudly trading informed discussion for virtual fist bumps over articles we've never opened, while sharing the “unread” like trophies of virtual virtue. "Sharing without Clicking" is the new gold standard, fueling echo chambers, misinformation, and our collective overconfidence.

In 1984, the U.S. Supreme Court created the doctrine of “Chevron deference,” requiring courts to defer to a government agency’s legal interpretation of the statutes the agency implements. Earlier this year, in the Loper Bright case, the Supreme Court eliminated that doctrine. Since then, commentators have bemoaned the loss of the Chevron deference, saying that courts will be making technical decisions that are best left to scientists. But the sky is not falling.

America isn't one unified whole but rather a mosaic of lived experiences. Researchers identify Ten Americas, each defined by a complex web of race, geography, and income, where life expectancy, a broad measure of health, is not a melting pot at all. The inequities that shape our health defy simple categorization.

In the health and wellness space fear is often used as a marketing technique, with patent medicine salesmen, pharmaceutical companies, and everyone in between engaging in the practice. The wellness industry and influencers often portray themselves as being above the fray. They don't rely on fear because they have your best interest at heart! Upon further examination, though, this assumption doesn't quite hold up.

Demonic forces which lured unsuspecting innocents to their deaths were once the subject of myth. No longer.  And while we once could control these non-human diabolical temptresses and powers – by closing the book – now we are powerless. Not even the law can reign in these malefactors. Worse, maybe, is that their creators are enriched by our vulnerabilities.

This week’s reads explore the physics of crowd movement, the practicality of ID systems in India, the surprising history of virtual meetings, and Emily Oster’s take on how public health agencies could stop alienating everyone with their tone-deaf messaging.

Physicians, once the symbol of trust and wisdom, have – with the pandemic – identified some members dabbling in misinformation as if it’s an extracurricular activity. A new study in JAMA unpacks how state medical boards handle these rogue white coats. (And if you were hoping for a Salem-style reckoning, you’ll be sorely disappointed.)

A “dirty deed” was done by a Chatbot. The result? A teen killed himself. Regulations banning dangerous AI programs/products/apps are non-existent. And while this product/program might be offensive, ethical guidelines relating to its creation are also absent. So, what is a distraught mother (and society) to do?

Vladimir Putin's recent threats of nuclear weapon use are deeply concerning. A nuclear war would have catastrophic consequences, both short and long-term, including radiation-induced cancers. However, one type of cancer — thyroid cancer — can be prevented with potassium iodide. Here’s how.

When Hurricane Helene barreled through North Carolina, it left behind a flooded wasteland where water filled with mud and microbes was not drinkable. Nothing says "modern emergency preparedness," like boiling your water for seven weeks straight.

One of the most common complaints about the healthcare system revolves around conflicts of interest, both real and perceived. The wellness industry attempts to pretend as though it doesn’t struggle with them. That couldn't be farther from the truth, because COIs abound.

To mitigate climate change, could giant balloons be the answer?