Edition 29 – Healthy Fats, Dangerous Drying, and Toxic Traffic

Namaste! Welcome back to my newsletter. This week, I have a collection of stories focusing on eating and living healthy. There are tiny adjustments we all can make to improve the quality of our lives – in the kitchen, around the home, and in our cities – and some may surprise you!

The big stories

This simple dietary swap could help you live longer

A study of over 220,000 people that looked at the consumption of butter versus plant oils has reached a conclusion that shows just how much better for you one is than the other. Making the switch might be one of the easiest ways to extend your life.

New AtlasDepositphotos

Groundbreaking research has conclusively demonstrated the significant health benefits of replacing butter with plant-based oils, with multiple studies providing robust evidence for this dietary change. Scientists developed a new scoring system called the multilipid score (MLS) to assess blood fat profiles, discovering that high-quality plant oils consistently produced healthier scores. In the EPIC-Potsdam study, participants with high plant-oil consumption showed a 32% lower risk of cardiovascular disease and a 26% lower risk of type 2 diabetes. Similarly, the PREDIMED study revealed a 42% reduction in diabetes risk for participants who switched to healthier fat consumption. Spanning over 56,000 trial participants, these findings underscore the benefits of adopting Mediterranean-style dietary patterns favoring plant-based fats.

In another comprehensive study examining 221,054 healthcare professionals over 30 years, researchers found that those consuming the most butter faced a 15% higher mortality risk, while heavy plant oil users enjoyed a 16% lower risk. The study further showed that each 10-gram daily increase in plant oils reduced cancer death risk by 11% and cardiovascular disease mortality by 6%. Remarkably, simply replacing ¾ tablespoon of butter daily with plant oils such as olive, canola, or soybean oil could lower both cancer deaths and overall mortality rates by 17%. This extensive body of research offers substantial evidence of the significant health advantages of switching from saturated fat-rich butter to unsaturated fatty acid-rich plant oils in daily cooking and food preparation.

Study Reveals How This Artificial Sweetener May Cause Heart Damage

The common artificial sweetener aspartame could be putting consumers at greater risk of heart disease through a newly discovered chemical trigger on the lining of arteries.

ScienceAlertDavid Nield

Artificial sweetener aspartame, commonly found in diet sodas, may increase heart disease risk through newly discovered effects on artery linings. In a 12-week study, mice given aspartame equivalent to three cans of diet soda showed higher insulin levels, increased blood vessel inflammation, and more arterial plaques, with researchers identifying a key signal molecule called CX3CL1 that becomes more active as insulin rises. While aspartame is 200 times sweeter than sugar and could potentially overwhelm insulin production, experts caution that these findings are preliminary and haven't been confirmed in humans yet. Further research is needed to fully understand the relationship between artificial sweeteners and cardiovascular health, particularly since their effects may still be less harmful than high-sugar diets and sedentary lifestyles.

Scented products cause indoor air pollution on par with car exhaust

Using scented products indoors changes the chemistry of the air, producing as much air pollution as car exhaust does outside, according to a new study. Researchers say that breathing in these nanosized particles could have serious health implications.

New AtlasDALL-E

Indoor scented products like flameless candles and wax melts are creating significant indoor air pollution, producing nanoparticles at levels comparable to car exhaust and diesel engines. Using specialized sensors in a test house, researchers discovered these scented items release terpenes that react with indoor ozone, generating over one million nanoparticles per cubic centimeter - resulting in about 483 million particles deposited in our respiratory system every second. While marketed as safer alternatives to traditional candles, these tiny particles can penetrate deep into lungs, enter the bloodstream, and potentially reach organs like the brain, raising serious health concerns that challenge our perception of "safe" home fragrances.

Hanging Wet Washing Up Inside Your Home Could Be a Health Risk

Hanging the washing out to dry in the garden has been a rare sight these last few months, with winter storms bringing freezing temperatures and 100 mph gusts of wind.

ScienceAlertThe Conversation

Indoor clothes drying can create dangerous mold growth in homes, particularly during winter months when ventilation is limited and humidity levels rise. The most common household molds, penicillium and aspergillus, can cause severe health issues - especially for those with compromised immune systems, asthma, or other respiratory conditions, and in extreme cases can lead to fatal infections resistant to antifungal treatments. The tragic death of toddler Awaab Ishak in 2020 from mold exposure led to new UK legislation requiring landlords to address dampness promptly, highlighting the importance of proper ventilation and moisture control through measures like dehumidifiers or heated drying racks.

Brake pad dust can be more toxic than exhaust emissions, study says

Research shows move to electric vehicles may not be enough to enable pollution from cars to be eradicated

The GuardianRachel Keenan

Brake pad dust particles can be more toxic than diesel exhaust emissions, with non-asbestos organic pads showing the highest toxicity levels in human lung cells. The switch to electric vehicles won't completely solve vehicle pollution issues, as these "non-exhaust" emissions from brake pads, tires, and road wear now constitute the majority of vehicle particulate matter in the UK and parts of Europe. While copper content in brake pads was linked to increased harmful effects on lung cells, researchers tested four different types of brake pads, finding non-asbestos organic and ceramic pads to be the most toxic. This groundbreaking research highlights the need to address unregulated vehicle pollution sources beyond just exhaust emissions, though experts suggest more comprehensive studies are needed to fully understand the comparative risks between brake dust and diesel exhaust particles.

Air pollution reduces people’s ability to focus on everyday tasks, study finds

Even brief exposure to particulate matter found to impede selective attention and emotional recognition

The GuardianOlivia Lee

Short-term exposure to air pollution significantly impacts people's ability to focus and recognize emotions, according to new research from the University of Birmingham. In controlled tests with 26 participants, exposure to particulate matter for just one hour reduced their selective attention and made them more susceptible to distractions, like impulse purchases while shopping. While working memory remained unaffected, participants struggled with emotional recognition tasks, potentially linking air pollution to broader societal issues like increased violent crime in cities. With air pollution causing an estimated 4.2 million premature deaths annually worldwide, these findings highlight an urgent need to understand different pollution sources and develop targeted policies to protect public health and cognitive well-being.

Quote of the week

“Let thy food be thy medicine and thy medicine be thy food.”
~ Hippocrates