WATER IS WET
CHALLENGE THE ASSUMPTIONS
High Heat Is Killing the Young, Not The Old
Many recent studies assume that elderly people are at particular risk of dying from extreme heat as the planet warms. A new study of mortality in Mexico turns this assumption on its head: it shows that 75% of heat-related deaths are occurring among people under 35 -- a large percentage of them ages 18 to 35, or the very group that one might expect to be most resistant to heat. [link]
Feeding Babies Food with Peanuts Prevent Allergies
A groundbreaking study published in The New England Journal of Medicine suggests that introducing peanut-based foods to infants at an early age can significantly reduce the risk of developing peanut allergies later in life. The research, which followed 640 infants, found that those who consumed peanut products regularly from 4 to 11 months old were far less likely to develop allergies compared to those who avoided peanuts.
The study’s findings challenge previous medical advice that encouraged parents to keep peanut products away from babies to prevent allergies. In fact, introducing peanuts early may help the immune system build tolerance. This new approach, based on the concept of "early exposure," is a promising shift in allergy prevention. However, experts stress that more research is needed to confirm the long-term benefits of this strategy.
The study offers hope for the millions of children affected by peanut allergies, which have tripled in recent years. If widely adopted, this change in guidelines could lead to a major decrease in allergy rates worldwide. [link]
Ulcers Are Caused by Bacteria, Not Stress
Australian physician, Barry Marshall, discovered that stomach ulcer is caused by bacteria, specifically Helicobacter pylori, rather than by stress or spicy foods, as was previously believed. In the 1980s, Marshall and his colleague Robin Warren identified the presence of H. pylori in patients with ulcers, challenging the long-held theory that ulcers were primarily linked to stress and lifestyle factors.
To prove his theory, Marshall ingested the bacteria himself, eventually developing gastritis symptoms, which were alleviated with antibiotics. This experiment led to the understanding that antibiotics could effectively treat ulcers, a discovery that has since transformed the treatment and management of the condition. For his work, Marshall was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2005. [link]