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Hello. It’s Sunday, June 2. You’re about to discover a delicious 4-ingredient plant-based ricotta recipe, 5 surprising reasons to eat more jicama, the health benefits of “short runs,” 8 ways to avoid binge eating, a Compelling Health Fact about goosebumps, and more…

Is This Banned Pesticide Already Inside Your Body?

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) recently found chlormequat, a harmful chemical used in farming, in four out of five people they tested. This discovery raises worries about its effects on health, especially since people might be exposed to it through imported foods made with oats.

Chlormequat, a chemical used on crops to help them grow upright and make harvesting easier, has been linked in animal studies to potential reproductive and developmental issues. Although chlormequat isn't allowed to be used on food crops in the U.S., its use has been permitted since 2018 on crops grown elsewhere and imported into the US. Now, the EPA is even thinking about letting farmers use it on oats grown here.

The EWG’s discovery about the alarming presence of chlormequat in the US actually happened by accident. In an investigation led by Alexis Temkin, Ph.D., the EWG was actually looking into chemicals like glyphosate in foods like cereals and bars typically consumed by children and stumbled upon chlormequat when they noticed its use on oats from Canada.

When they tested the oat-based imported foods, they found chlormequat in 92% of the oat-based samples they tested. The EWG then checked urine samples from before and after the EPA's rule changes and found evidence of chlormequat in four out of five of those tested.

Cardiovascular Fitness May Be a Powerful Lifespan Predictor

Getting regular cardiovascular exercise is important for good health and longevity. Now, a recent study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine highlighted the importance of cardio fitness in protecting against premature death.

In a study, researchers from the University of South Australia analyzed a large dataset of nearly 21 million observations from nearly 200 studies. What they found is that for every 1-MET (metabolic equivalent) increase in cardiorespiratory fitness, individuals decreased their risk of premature death by 11-17%. Plus, higher levels of cardiovascular fitness were associated with an 18% lower risk of developing heart disease.

Importantly, these benefits extend to those living with health issues. Even among those dealing with heart problems, maintaining cardiovascular fitness was found to substantially lower the risk of heart-related complications.

This research underscores the importance of regularly assessing cardiovascular fitness as part of routine health screenings. By monitoring and addressing cardiovascular health early on, individuals and healthcare professionals can take proactive steps to lower health risks.