Give Your Skin a Pick-Me-Up With the Best Sheet Masks
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Vogue
an hour ago
- Vogue
Fermented Food Rewired My Gut (And My Life)
When it came to my gut, I did everything right—or so I thought. Working out five days a week, eating clean (high protein, low carb), always checking my fitness tracker. And on paper, I looked healthy. But still—something was off. I kept getting sick, had mysterious body aches, bloating, low immunity, and a fatigue that even eight hours of sleep couldn't fix. It felt like I was stuck in a loop—doing everything I was supposed to do, but seeing none of the results. That's when I started to realize that maybe the problem wasn't what I was doing, it was what I was ignoring. The problem was coming from my gut. Your microbiome, which lives inside your digestive system is a living, breathing ecosystem home to trillions of microbes that digest food, manufacture nutrients, regulate hormones, and fend off harmful bacteria. Ayurveda has always said it: nurture your gut and it'll take care of the rest. Modern science now echoes that wisdom, calling it the gut-brain axis. A term for the complex communication between your gut and brain through the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems. According to nutritionist and author Kavita Devgan, 'The gut is the command center of our entire well-being. It impacts everything: our mood, brain function, physical health, and even our ability to prevent lifestyle diseases.' So, if you've been feeling off lately—low energy, poor digestion, foggy focus—it might be worth checking in with your gut health. Chances are, you've already ticked the basics: more fibre, fewer processed foods, more water. But what if that's not enough? That's because true gut healing isn't just about what you cut out. It's also about what you add in. Fermented food, the unsung hero of gut health Yogurt, kimchi, kefir, sauerkraut—these aren't just flavor bombs or nostalgic side dishes. They're teeming with beneficial bacteria that help repopulate your gut microbiome. These bacteria do more than support digestion; they help rebuild your internal ecosystem, impacting everything from immunity to mental clarity. Fermentation is essentially a microbial makeover. The yeasts and bacteria break down sugars and carbs in food, making them easier to digest and supercharging their nutrient content. Instead of letting food rot, fermentation transforms it into something more bioavailable and beneficial.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Eating fries over boiled potatoes increases type 2 diabetes risk
People who eat three portions of French fries a week have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, a new study suggests. Those who consume similar amounts of boiled, baked or mash potatoes do not have an increased risk, researchers found. An international team of researchers, including an expert from the University of Cambridge, wanted to investigate any links between potato consumption and the risk of type 2 diabetes. Academics analysed data on studies tracking the health of more than 205,000 health workers in the US. Repeated surveys about people's diets were performed over almost four decades. And during the study follow-up periods, some 22,000 cases of type 2 diabetes were documented. Overall the research team found that consumption of baked, boiled or mashed potatoes were not linked to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D). But people who had a higher consumption of French fries – at least three weekly servings – had a 20% increased risk. And those who eat fries five times a week appeared to have a 27% increased risk. 'The risks associated with potato intake varied by cooking method,' the authors wrote in The BMJ. 'The association between higher potato intake and increased T2D risk is primarily driven by intake of French fries. 'Higher intake of French fries, but not combined baked, boiled, or mashed potatoes, was associated with a higher risk of T2D.' The research team also found that replacing three servings of potatoes each week with whole grains was found to lower the risk of type 2 diabetes by 8%. 'Replacing any form of potatoes, particularly French fries, with whole grains is estimated to lower the risk of T2D, reinforcing the importance of promoting whole grains as an essential part of a healthy diet,' they wrote. But replacing potatoes with white rice was associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, they found. The research team also performed a review of all of the other studies on the topic which had similar findings. In a linked editorial, also published in The BMJ, experts from the US and Denmark wrote: 'This finding also corresponds to the observed associations between high intake of ultra-processed foods and high risk of type 2 diabetes – French fries are often ultra-processed, whereas baked, boiled, or mashed potatoes are often minimally processed.' They added: 'With their relatively low environmental impact and their health impact, potatoes can be part of a healthy and sustainable diet, though whole grains should remain a priority.' Commenting on the study, Dr Faye Riley, research communications lead at Diabetes UK, said: 'This research shows that the link between potatoes and type 2 diabetes isn't as clear-cut as it might seem. 'Type 2 diabetes is a complex condition, with many factors influencing its development, including genetics, age and ethnicity. 'Diet is just one part of the picture, but this study suggests that how food is prepared can make a difference and reinforces the advice to prioritise whole grains and cut back on fried or heavily processed foods as a way to support a balanced diet and reduce your risk.'
Forbes
7 hours ago
- Forbes
USAID And PEPFAR Cuts Could Lead To Massive Loss Of Life Overseas
A Lancet paper published in July evaluates data to illustrate the importance of roughly two decades of American humanitarian aid offered through the United States Agency for International Development and the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. The piece subsequently projects what the future could look like in light of the steep cuts imposed by President Trump to USAID and PEPFAR. Authors estimate that USAID-funded programs have helped prevent more than 91 million deaths globally in the past 20 years, including 30 million fatalities among children. Projections suggest that ongoing deep funding cuts—combined with the dismantling of the agency—could result in more than 14 million additional deaths by 2030. On inauguration day, President Trump ordered a sweeping 90-day spending freeze on virtually all U.S. foreign aid, including many forms of health and food assistance. An independent agency, USAID, was largely gutted. The USAID undertakes a wide range of activities, which include among other things food aid and distribution (often in conflict zones), clean water provision, maternal and infant health support, mass administration of rehydration salts for children suffering from diarrhea, malaria prevention and treatments and polio vaccinations in countries where the disease is still endemic. The agency was established under President John F. Kennedy in the early 1960s to administer humanitarian aid programs around the world. Congress appropriates funds for USAID's operations. The agency employed roughly 10,000 people, two-thirds of whom worked overseas. In fiscal year 2024, the agency received more than $44 billion in federal funding. Most of that money was spent in Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and Europe (primarily on humanitarian efforts in Ukraine). While a considerable sum, it merely accounts for 0.4% of the entire federal budget. The Trump administration has slashed 86% of USAID funding. Only a small fraction of aid programs remains in place. The employee head count is now under 500. As carried out by successive administrations since Bush, including the first Trump administration, PEPFAR represented the largest commitment in history by any nation to address a single disease, HIV/AIDS. But gradually the second Trump administration is unraveling this initiative, too. KFF reported that while PEPFAR received a limited waiver on Feb. 1, allowing it to continue certain 'life-saving HIV services,' the waiver doesn't include essential pre-exposure prophylaxis for anyone other than pregnant and breastfeeding women. The State Department has sought $2.9 billion in funding to continue HIV-AIDS programs in the next fiscal year—considerably lower than PEPFAR's current budget of $4.1 billion. Moreover, USAID was the main agency working on behalf of PEPFAR. Without USAID and its staff, PEPFAR's implementation capacity has been seriously affected. Going forward, the Trump administration intends to transform PEPFAR from an aid program to one that is aligned with its 'America First' priorities. The plan, as described by the New York Times, outlines the administration's intentions to 'transition' countries off of PEPFAR, in some cases within two years. The program would in essence no longer be involved in aid and saving lives overseas. Rather, it would focus on detecting outbreaks that could threaten the U.S. and at the same time create new markets for American drugs and technologies. On the ground, journalists are painting a grim picture of the implications of the drastic curtailment in U.S. aid. A story in America Magazine, for example, describes in detail the local impact in Eswatini, a country in Southern Africa, of the gutting of USAID and reductions in PEPFAR. Cuts have severely limited access to HIV treatments and testing in clinics. During the height of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, the population of Eswatini plummeted, and life expectancy dropped from 61 in 1988 to 44 by 2003. It reverted to 61 in 2023, thanks in large part to USAID and PEPFAR. But now the gains in health outcomes are in jeopardy. The ramifications of a greatly diminished U.S. presence in health aid, international development and disaster assistance could be profound, specifically around the global humanitarian programs which rely on USAID. In terms of international assistance, the U.S. was by far the world's largest donor. The U.S. spent $68 billion on international aid in 2023. And the Trump administration's actions are also affecting what is termed the President's Malaria Initiative, an organization also founded by former President Bush. Through the work of this entity, the U.S. had become the global leader in donating to anti-malaria programs and research. According to the New York Times, one of Trump's executive orders has led to two-thirds of the staff being let go from the Malaria Initiative. And by pulling out of the World Health Organization, Trump further diminishes the critical role the U.S. plays in combating neglected tropical diseases, such as leishmaniasis, river blindness, Dengue fever and trachoma. These preventable and mostly treatable infectious diseases affect millions of people in tropical regions of the world, causing severe health problems, including anemia, blindness, chronic pain, infertility and bodily disfigurement. Historically, despite the large burden imposed by neglected tropical diseases on many people, they've received a relatively small portion of resources for drug development and treatment distribution. U.S. aid agencies had been filling some of the void. Until now.
