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NHS online hospital service to be launched by 2027, the Prime Minister is set to announce
An NHS online hospital service will be launched in England within two years to help cut waiting times, the prime minister is expected to announce.
NHS Online will have its own dedicated doctors who will take charge of patients who choose to use the service and for whom it is safe to do so.
The idea is that assessments, check-ups with consultants, and follow-up appointments will all be done online where possible.
New study finds higher fruit intake may help protect lungs from air pollution damage
Using UK Biobank data from around 200,000 participants, PHD student, Pimpika Kaewsri, compared people's dietary patterns with lung function and exposure to air pollution in the form of fine particulate matter. The team also accounted for other factors such as age, height, and socioeconomic status.
For every increase in exposure to PM2.5 of five micrograms per cubic meter of air, the team saw a 78.1ml reduction in FEV1 in their low fruit intake group, compared to only a 57.5ml reduction in the high fruit intake group in women.
Wine sulphites found to change the gut microbiome, while polyphenols may protect it
Sulphites help wine last longer, but can cause headaches or digestive issues. Researchers studied how sulphites added to wine and an ethanol-containing liquid affect gut bacteria.
They passed samples through a three-stage process meant to mimic human digestion. After, samples with sulphites contained lower amounts of some beneficial bacteria and greater amounts of bacteria related to negative health effects. Yet, the changes were less in the real wine samples, with the researchers suggesting compounds, like polyphenols, may offer slight protection.
California to lead the way in banning ultra-processed school meals
California has been leading the way on school meals. In 2022, it became the first state in the country to make school meals free for all students, regardless of income. Many districts have implemented farm-to-school programs. Last year, it became the first state in the US to ban six synthetic food dyes from school meals.
This week, it passed legislation that will put it in the lead on school meals yet again – banning ultra-processed foods. On Friday, California lawmakers passed a bill that will define and ban ultra-processed foods from school meals. It is believed to include the first statutory definition of ultra-processed foods in the world. The legislation must now be signed by the governor, Gavin Newsom.
Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro make food taste sweeter and saltier, which may quiet cravings
New research being presented at the Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes shows that some individuals taking Ozempic, Wegovy or Mounjaro find that foods taste sweeter or saltier than they did before starting the drug.
About one in five of those participating in the real-world study, which was published in the journal Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, perceived sweetness more intensely. At the same time, a similar number of participants were more sensitive to salt. Both of these changes were linked to a reduction in appetite. However, perceptions of bitterness and sourness did not change.
A green-Mediterranean diet can help slow brain ageing, say Harvard researchers
A study by Harvard researchers has found that a green-Mediterranean diet containing green tea and the aquatic plant Mankai, may help slow brain aging.
To evaluate the impact of diet on brain age, researchers analysed data from around 300 participants in the DIRECT PLUS trial. Scientists found reduced levels of proteins tied to faster brain decline among those consuming green tea and Mankai. The results point to anti-inflammatory compounds as key protectors of brain health.
The researchers suggest that this diet may be a powerful tool for preserving cognitive function.