Latest news with #JenGunter
The Verge
7 days ago
- Health
- The Verge
The Trump administration's war on antidepressants is still brewing.
Posted Jul 22, 2025 at 3:22 PM UTC The Trump administration's war on antidepressants is still brewing. An FDA panel on antidepressant medications and pregnancy on Monday 'largely amounted to misinformation or facts taken out of context,' NBC reports — and comes on the heels of RFK Jr. ordering an investigation into SSRIs earlier this year. OB/GYN Jen Gunter has a slightly more animated blow-by-blow livetweet thread, too. Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates. Adi Robertson Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All by Adi Robertson Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Science
Daily Mail
15-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
World leading expert warns that most people are taking popular supplement WRONG: 'You're putting yourselves at risk'
A world leading doctor has raised the alarm over turmeric supplements, and says that they could cause life-threatening liver damage. Turmeric has long been lauded for its anti-inflammatory benefits, and hailed as a natural remedy which can be used to treat everything from arthritis to heart disease. Some researchers even believe that the spice might be effective in supporting cancer treatments, reducing the chance of the disease spreading. As a result, turmeric supplements have taken the wellness world by storm, with around half of all adults in the UK currently taking supplements on a regular basis. Yet, Dr Jen Gunter, a leading gynecologist, has now warned: 'There is no good science to support turmeric supplements for any health outcome, so why take the risk?' Turmeric is made by breaking down the dried rootstalk of turmeric plants, so that it can be used in everything from curries to coffees. In this state very little of the active ingredient—curcumin, which gives the spice its bright yellow colour—can be absorbed by the body. 'Food and supplements are not the same thing,' Dr Gunter warned her 372,000 followers in an Instagram video. 'You can't compare something that you're taking with a bowl of protein of fibre, with something you're taking as a pill,' she added. But now supplement manufactures are pairing curcumin with piperine—a compound found in black pepper—to boost its absorption by up to 2,000 per cent. 'Turmeric, the spice by itself, is not actually absorbed very well,' Dr Gunter explained. 'But these turmeric products that have really flooded the market are all designed to enhance absorption.' This carries significant health risks as in high doses, curcumin can interact with the efficacy of other drugs including antibiotics and blood pressure medications. In the most extreme cases, turmeric supplements have been linked with severe liver damage. Dr Gunter said: 'Experts in this space are really concerned that the rise in liver toxicity that we're seeing is paralleling these products that are designed to enhance absorption.' In a study published in The American Journal of Medicine researchers looked at the number of turmeric-associated liver injury cases recorded in the US between 2004 and 2022. They discovered 10 cases of liver damage caused by the spice. Five people were hospitalised and one person died of acute liver failure. The 62-year-old woman had no history of liver disease and was taking turmeric root extract for her arthritis. She was also taking tramadol—a strong painkiller—a nasal decongestant for her allergies, and other multivitamins including ginger and vitamin D. She developed fatigue and nausea followed by jaundice, after taking turmeric once daily for 14 months. A liver that is working poorly cannot get rid of bilirubin—a substance that triggers yellowing of the eyes and skin, medically known as jaundice. She stopped taking the supplement, but her symptoms did not improve and she was listed for a liver transplant. She died within five weeks of the onset of symptoms. Doctors concluded that the liver failure was likely caused by the turmeric supplements, which could have interacted with the other medications she was taking. High doses of curcumin have also been shown to have a blood-thinning effect, putting people who take anticoagulants at increased risk of dangerous bleeding. Dr Gunter also warned that the supplements could interfere with the absorption of iron, an essential mineral important in making red blood cells that carry life-giving oxygen around the body. A lack of iron can lead to iron deficiency anemia, which can be particularly dangerous for women who lose a lot of blood during their period. It comes as the latest official figures show the number of Brits being hospitalised for malnutrition and nutritional deficiencies has almost tripled in a decade. In 2022, there were more than 800,000 admissions in England and Wales with conditions linked to poor nutrition, including 'Victorian' illnesses scurvy and rickets. Iron deficiency was the biggest problem, NHS data revealed, with admissions for the bone-weakening condition shooting up by 149 per cent since 2013.
Tatler Asia
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Tatler Asia
6 books about menopause that tell it like it is
2. 'The Menopause Manifesto' by Dr Jen Gunter Above 'The Menopause Manifesto' (Photo: Piatkus) Canada-born OB-GYN Jen Gunter has made a career of cutting through wellness hype and medical misinformation. Her Menopause Manifesto is a brisk, evidence-packed response to the gaslighting many women endure from the medical establishment and popular culture alike. Gunter's tone is direct, peppered with dry humour and righteous frustration. She arms readers with facts and practical advice, rejecting the idea that menopause is something to be silently endured or glossed over with vague self-care platitudes. 3. 'What Fresh Hell Is This?' by Heather Corinna Above 'What Fresh Hell Is This?' (Photo: Piatkus Books) Heather Corinna's book stands out for its radical inclusivity and refusal to universalise menopause. She writes unapologetically for people often overlooked in mainstream books about menopause—across lines of race, gender identity and sexual orientation. With a mix of sharp wit and anger, Corinna dismantles the cultural myths that frame menopause as simply a loss, highlighting instead its complexity and variability. This guide is a vital resource for readers who want their experience represented without gloss or judgement. 4. 'Flash Count Diary' by Darcey Steinke Above 'Flash Count Diary' (Photo: Canongate Books) Darcey Steinke's memoir takes a literary, existential approach to menopause. More meditation than manual, it explores how the body's changes intertwine with questions of feminism, ageing and mortality. Her prose is lyrical and candid, inviting readers to confront the often unspoken feelings of loss and uncertainty that menopause can bring. This is not a checklist of symptoms or remedies, but a textured narrative that honours the emotional depth of this stage of life. 5. 'Older and Wider: A Survivor's Guide to the Menopause' by Jenny Eclair Above 'Older and Wider: A Survivor's Guide to the Menopause' (Photo: Quercus) British comedian Jenny Eclair delivers menopause with unapologetic humour and a dose of sarcasm. In a culture that often demands women hide their discomfort or wear ageing lightly, Eclair's candid rants and relatable anecdotes are a breath of fresh air. Older and Wider offers the same tone of wry acceptance and self-deprecation as Nora Ephron's I Feel Bad About My Neck —perfect for anyone who prefers their books about menopause with a side of laughter. 6. 'Cracking the Menopause' by Mariella Frostrup and Alice Smellie Above 'Cracking the Menopause' (Photo: Bluebird) Journalist Mariella Frostrup combines personal experience with rigorous reporting in this accessible book about menopause. Cracking the Menopause takes aim at misinformation and silence by weaving interviews with experts and women from diverse backgrounds. The result is a well-rounded exploration that balances facts, feelings and social commentary. It's part memoir, part advocacy manifesto and all about destigmatising menopause and improving the conversation around it. These six books about menopause reflect that shift, speaking with clarity and complexity about what it means to live through this stage. If you're tired of the tired clichés or the relentless cheerleading, this reading list will provide something more real. NOW READ 5 reasons why women more women over 40 are choosing Pilates over any other workout 5 beauty brands with big-time partnerships in women's sports Hooded dresses—symbolic of the soft power of women
