Latest news with #UPF


Daily Record
18 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Record
Lung cancer warning as one food type linked to higher chance of deadly disease - even in non-smokers
Lung cancer is the most common cancer in Scotland It is a well known fact that what we put into our bodies affects our long-term health. Binging on fast food and slurping high-sugar drinks beyond moderation can lead to issues such as high cholesterol, obesity, and more. Not being diet-conscious can contribute to our chances of being diagnosed with cancer, too. And academics have now found a link between consuming high levels of ultra processed foods (UPFs) and lung cancer in particular. It comes after an international team of researchers tracked the health and food habits of more than 100,000 US adults, with an average age of 63. After an average of 12 years, the team identified 1,706 cases of lung cancer. Lung cancer is the most common cancer in Scotland, with 5,476 cases diagnosed in 2021, accounting for 15.5 per cent of all cancers in the country, according to Public Health Scotland. Food survey questionnaires revealed these people ate UPFs, including ice cream, hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza, bread, cakes, pastries, breakfast cereals, instant noodles and soups, margarine, confectionery, and soft drinks. The research team, led by academics in China, found that average UPF consumption was nearly three servings a day, but ranged from 0.5 to six. The three types of food that featured the most were lunch meat and soft drinks. "These findings suggest the healthy benefits of limiting UPF," the authors said. "Limiting trends of UPF intake globally could contribute to reducing the burden of lung cancer." The academics shared some shocking statics. People who consumed the highest amounts of UPFs were 41 per cent more likely to develop lung cancer compared with those who consumed the least amount, they wrote. The authors adjusted their findings based on whether or not people smoked, but they did not make adjustments for smoking intensity, which may have an impact. In any case, they stressed the data should be read with caution. "A quarter of lung cancer cases occur in non-smokers so we do need research exploring whether other factors are associated with lung cancer," Professor Sam Hare, consultant chest radiologist at Royal Free London NHS Trust, said. "We also know immunity is linked to cancer biology so it is a good idea to do research into factors like diet." Professor Hare highlighted that people's diets can also change a lot over the course of such long-term studies. For this reason, it is "difficult to directly conclude" that lung cancer is related to the level of UPF consumption alone, given it was only declared at the start of the study. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. "That said, given the relative dearth of information on non-smoking related risk factors in lung cancer, it is important that the scientific community conducts more studies like this," the expert concluded. "We need genuine evidence-based advancement in the early diagnosis of lung cancer in non-smokers, but this study isn't quite able to give us the answers yet."


Buzz Feed
19 hours ago
- Lifestyle
- Buzz Feed
28 Products To Help Keep The Heat At Bay
A hands-free, bladeless personal fan because it lets you walk, hike, explore, or simply kick back and relax with a refreshing, uninterrupted breeze keeping you cool and comfortable. No more being beholden to having only one hand free or desperately searching for shade in the thick of the heat. SweatBlock antiperspirant wipes to help stop hyperhidrosis, nervous sweating, and hormonal sweating from ruining a good day. Give your pits a swipe of this before bed, wash in the morning, and enjoy going about your activities free of sweat (and sweat stains!). And PSA, sweaty sleepers: This'll help you *finally* enjoy a sweat-free slumber! An inflatable pool that still gives you the option for a cooling dip in the water, even if you've only got a tiny backyard. Besides, this will make much less of an impact on your budget than getting a pool installed, *and* you can easily set it up solo. Cheers to that! *Clinks lemonade glasses together.* A high ponytail running cap because if you want to rock a high pony while having your face shielded from the sun at the same time, then you should be able to — especially if it means your luscious locks will stay out of your face and *off* your sweaty neck. This even has UPF 50+ protection and comes with two different openings so that you can wear it with either a mid *or* high ponytail. A clamp-on personal umbrella so you can experience the treatment ancient monarchs got when the sun was beating down too hard for their comfort. This is designed to clip right onto the back of your beach chair and act as your own shady oasis while the rest of the peasants *cough* sorry — friends — melt away under the sun. You can even attach it to a stroller, camping chair, patio lounger, or even a railing at a soccer game. A pair of high-waisted quick-dry running shorts because they give you top-notch comfort, mobility, and keep you cool and comfy while you're pounding the pavement or hitting the trails. These come with an elastic waistband, a relaxed fit, and drumroll, please... side pockets! A programmable AC booster fan if you're tired of experiencing uneven cooling throughout your home. This is designed to quietly maximize airflow coming from your central HVAC system and can be easily mounted onto floor or wall registers. It will keep indoor temps more comfortable and balanced, lowering your energy bill as well. (Always a win!) Or an oscillating tower fan that gives off such cold air, some reviewers have found that they use it more than their A/C! Take👏 my👏 money.👏 It has six speeds (up to 24 feet per second velocity), three modes, and it's whisper quiet. All you gotta do is plug it in, and you'll be transported to a winter wonderland. A set of three lightweight racerback tanks designed with large arm cutouts and super breathable fabric that'll make running errands on those hot, sticky days a little less dreadful. An airtight cold-brew maker — you can prep your favorite coffee blend the night before and store it in the fridge for a perfectly chilled cup ready to help you beat the heat. It's just what you need for those extraaa hot mornings where you're like "Mr. Sun, you JUST clocked in. Can you chill, please? 🫠" Plus, it's dishwasher safe, so you can spend less time washing dishes and more time enjoying your delicious brew. A set of popular wickaway sweatbands designed to keep sweat from creeping down into your eyes and causing the most annoying stinging sensation. It can also help preserve your edges if you like to style them. A set of stackable stick-shaped ice molds that fit perfectly inside those reusable water bottles with a *tiny* opening at the top so you can finally enjoy refreshing, ice-cold water no matter what container it's in. If you Google the word "genius" right now, you might just get a picture of these. An ice roller — a *lifesaver* for those scorching summer days when you're dealing with sunburns or migraines from the intense heat. Just pull it out of the fridge or freezer in the morning, and it'll give your skin a glorious wake-up call. A pair of Beckham Hotel Collection bed pillows for that noggin of yours because it deserves a ~cool~ resting place made for royalty. No more treating your pillow like a punching bag to fluff it up or flipping it over constantly in the middle of a warm night — many reviewers say these are breathable, supportive, and keep their shape! A set of satin pillowcases, which will *also* give your bed a hint of ~luxury~. Not only does it look pretty, but reviewers say its soft fabric is soothing and cool-to-the-touch, *and* helps clear acne-prone skin while creating less friction on their hair to avoid breakage! And a set of breathable bamboo-rayon bed sheets because they'll welcome you with a wonderfully cooling hug for your midday nap. This soft, moisture-wicking material will prevent sweaty nights so you can still have a good night's sleep without waking up in a puddle of sweat in the morning. Thermal-insulated blackout curtains that block light, noise, and heat from pouring into the room because some of us would prefer to be vampires during the sunniest time of year. This'll help you wake up *not* in a puddle of sweat and in the comfort of your comfy, dark oasis. A lightweight, breezy drawstring romper for the days when it's just so dang hot, the only reason you're even putting on any clothes at all is because it's illegal not to. This one-and-done ensemble has a drawstring design that lets you adjust the fit to your liking so you can go from relaxed and comfy to chic and cinched in a snap. A set of *sweatproof* wireless Bluetooth earbuds (with a whopping 169,000+ 5-star ratings) that might even give your AirPods a run for their money. They come with several silicone ear pads so that they mold perfectly to your ear, and they're fully waterproof! So, if you are dealing with the daily heat, sweating it out on a run, or want to have a live concert in the shower without disturbing your roomies, by all means. 😌 An outdoor misting system — it'll gently envelope you in a cool mist that'll feel lovelyyy with that warm summer breeze. Attach it under your awning, patio table umbrella, or pergola! Just screw one end onto your garden hose and clip the rest around your preferred outdoor lounging area. Easy peasy. Or an adjustable mister made to cool you (and your surroundings) off by up to 20 degrees. Whether you're catching some rays on a lounge chair or just chilling on your patio, this mister can stand on its own or wrap around a structure with ease. A roll of faux ivy for some much-needed shade, but make it ✨pretty✨. Attach it to wire fencing, railings, or over your pergola to add a touch of botanical lushness to your yard. As the sunlight teases you through the leaves, your space will be bathed in a soft, dappled light, creating a serene atmosphere. A set of backseat car fans that'll have parents looking up to the heavens whispering "thank you," cause having to focus on the road and listen to your little ones in the backseat complain about the heat while you're waiting for the car's AC to kick in is NOT it. These clips easily attach to the back of the front seats and provide a refreshing breeze that instantly makes the backseat a more bearable place to be. A stainless-steel Owala water bottle — it does its job so well, I dare say it's the first one *not* to be popular just because it's trendy! 👀 It actually keeps your drink cold for 24 hours, keeping you delightfully cool! It even features a carry loop for easy transport. But what's so unique about it? Well, it comes with a double-spout built-in straw (a smaller opening for sipping and a large one for swigging), AND it allows you to cover the straw when you're not drinking thanks to the leak-proof push-button opening! Get ready to stay hydrated and cool as a cucumber alllll summer long. And a pack of 16 Liquid I.V. electrolyte drink mixes, which will serve as your little lifesavers when it comes time to go on that all-inclusive trip with the besties this summer (who are gonna be ready for shots 24/7). This stuff will help make up for everything you're sweating out and help you rehydrate fast, making hangovers a thing of the past! Drink one of these and be headache-free and fresh as a daisy for your early morning excursions. A cool-to-the-touch sleep set — its bamboo viscose fabric is super lightweight and breathable. It'll have all the peeps who run hot *dreaming* of bedtime. A set of cooling towels if the relentless heat is making you dread that outdoor run, picnic, or trip to the amusement park. Simply soak this in cold water and wring it out to bring some effortless ~chill~ to a busy summer day. A reviewer-beloved 100% cotton cooling mattress pad so that when you finally have some time off your feet, you'll feel like you're taking your break on Cloud Nine. Whether you're picking up your book where you left off or trying to get some shut-eye, this fluffy, yet breathable topper *literally* has your back.


New York Times
2 days ago
- Health
- New York Times
You Don't Have to Wear Sunscreen...As Long As You Don't Mind Dressing Like Me
Before you come for me in the comments: Yes, I do know what I look like. But I also know that the sun is a killer. My Wirecutter colleagues have spent hundreds of hours testing sunscreens to protect your skin from the myriad risks it poses. Despite all of their work, and despite my trying all of those endless tubes and creams and aerosols, I've come to an unfortunate conclusion: I just don't like sunscreen. I don't like the greasy look of it. I don't like the sticky feeling of it. And I don't even like how it smells. I also have sensitive, burn-prone skin and absolutely no desire to incur sun damage. So what's a girl to do? Luckily, I've found a combination of clothing and other items that keep my skin safe, and they don't require me to smear globs of product I hate. When I'm wearing this getup, my sister won't walk next to me, my friends laugh at me regularly, and sometimes children even point and stare. Perhaps I look strange. But I am free. These opera-length UPF gloves provide coverage from your fingers to your upper arms. They're made from mesh, so they're extra breathable. And they have textured index-finger and thumb pads, so you can text on the move. To avoid using sunscreen, my solution is to wear UPF clothing. I specifically love having a hat and gloves that I can add to any outfit. UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) clothing is any type of clothing that offers protection from the sun. As Sarah Gannett wrote in our guide to UPF clothing, 'A garment isn't considered sun protective if it has a UPF rating lower than 15.' So any clothing you purchase for the sake of sun protection should have a UPF of at least 15 (my picks here both have a UPF rating of 50+). Many garments do this without having a UPF rating. But the rating lets you know exactly how much sun can penetrate the fabric, similar to the way SPF indicates how much sun can penetrate sunscreen. Unlike sunscreen, UPF clothing does not require 'reapplication'; you just pull on the item, and whatever it covers is protected until you pull it off. And there's a ton of UPF clothing to choose from (some items are recommended elsewhere on our site, including hats, shirts, and sun sleeves for gardening). My first line of defense is the Stevie Ultra Sun Hat. It may make me look like a beekeeper, but it's genius: On the underside of the hat, two snaps connect with the veil, so you can remove it or adjust its tightness, and it can be worn over the nose or under the chin. A flexible wire in the veil shapes around your nose (like a face mask) to create a snugger fit. Dorie Chevlen/NYT Wirecutter It also has a removable chin strap, which can be tightened on windy days to keep the hat secure. And the hat's 22-inch circumference can be tightened, so it's suitable for more head shapes (though not all — a few buyers on Coolibar's site said the 22-inch circumference was too snug for their heads). The brim extends 4 inches on the front half of the hat (the back half has a gator), keeping my face fully shaded and my neck fully covered even on the sunniest days. I have worn my Coolibar sun hat for two years, and it's holding up beautifully. From there, I add a pair of opera-length gloves. They allow me to skimp on sunscreen for the entire span of my arms, unless I'm wearing a sleeveless shirt, in which case I either rub sunscreen on my upper arms or tack a UPF umbrella onto my getup. Crucially, another thing that sets these gloves apart from winter pairs is their impressive breathability. Everyone asks me, 'Don't you get sweaty in there?' But I don't. The mesh is so breathable that I don't even feel it on my skin. Also, the touch-screen-compatible pads on the index fingers and thumbs allow me to wear the gloves daily without going batty. Since I am usually lost and swiping around Google Maps on any walk that I take, this is a must-have feature. Another nice detail is the silicon texturing on the palms; this material makes the gloves just a bit grippier, so if you're holding, say, a water bottle, it won't slip through your fingers. These gloves come in several colors and sizes, too (measured by the circumference of the biceps and the length of the fingers). In hindsight, I wish I'd bothered to measure; I lazily selected the medium-size gloves, but they're just a bit roomy; next time, I'd go with a small pair. There are many advantages to my sun-protective accessories, including that they're machine-washable. Every couple of weeks (or whenever I remember), I throw the hat and gloves into the washer on the delicate cycle, and then I air-dry them. (I put the gloves in a mesh bag so they don't tangle.) This getup is also a lot quicker to throw on than your classic rub-in sunscreen. On the few days that I use sunscreen instead of my UPF ensemble, I fume over how long it takes. Pulling on gloves and throwing on a hat takes maybe 15 seconds. But carefully rubbing in sunscreen, making sure it's evenly distributed across your neck and face and on your ears, and then repeating that process every two hours? I've never measured, but I know it's a lot longer than a quarter of a minute. But even with this getup at my disposal, there will always be some occasions where sunscreen proves necessary — when I'm swimming, for example, or on really windy days (the veil can flap up in strong gusts, making its protection less dependable). And though my various UPF accessories are by no means cheap, the cost-per-wear is ultimately worth it. If anything, the biggest downside to this getup is the attention it brings. Even my friends laugh at me or call me a 'whack-ass beekeeper,' and while I have a very high threshold for embarrassment, it can still feel uncomfortable to walk around in public looking different from most people. And though wearing a face covering and gloves against the sun is common practice in many parts of the world, in the US and Canada, where I have worn my getup, people stare. That's usually fine by me, but sometimes I do choose the physical discomfort of sunscreen over the social discomfort of judgmental looks. More often than not, however, I throw caution to the wind and don my hat and gloves without a second thought. On a recent walk through Vancouver's Stanley Park with my boyfriend, he marveled at the response to my attire. 'People are giving you such nasty looks!' They were. They will again. But I'm holding my ground. No matter what others think, I have the smug satisfaction of taking care of my skin — my body — in my own way. I didn't invent this practice, and I won't be the last to employ it. So to all of my fellow sunscreen-averse, UPF-hat-wearing friends (past, present, and future), I will say it's an honor to be in your club. This article was edited by Hannah Rimm and Maxine Builder.


Perth Now
2 days ago
- Health
- Perth Now
Fizzy drinks and ice cream raise lung cancer risk
Fizzy drinks and ice cream increase the risk of lung cancer by 41 per cent. A major new study has revealed that those who consume the most ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are a lot more likely to get the disease. An international team of experts have revealed that junk food is particularly bad for non-small cell lung cancer and the aggressive small cell type. The research tracked the diets and health of over 100,000 adults in the US over a period over 12 years and found that 1,706 people went on to develop lung cancer. Those who gorged on UPFs were 41 per cent more likely to get lung cancer but the experts warned that the findings do not prove that UPFs cause the disease. Professor Sam Hare, a consultant chest radiologist at the Royal Free London NHS Trust, says that additional work is needed "to establish direct causation between UPFs and lung cancer". He said: "Crucially, whilst this study does make some adjustments for smoking status, the amount of smoking is not factored in, which is known to be directly related to lung cancer development. "Dietary habits also change considerably over the course of such long-term studies. "It's difficult to directly conclude that lung cancer is related to the level of UPF consumption alone given it was only declared at the start of the study."


7NEWS
2 days ago
- Health
- 7NEWS
Study links ultra processed foods and lung cancer
Academics have found a link between consuming high levels of ultra processed foods (UPFs) and lung cancer. An international team of researchers tracked the health and food habits of more than 100,000 US adults, with an average age of 63. After an average of 12 years the team identified 1706 cases of lung cancer. The food survey questionnaires revealed consumption of UPFs, including ice cream, fried foods, bread, cakes, pastries, salty snacks, breakfast cereals, instant noodles, soups, margarine, confectionery, soft drinks, sweetened fruit drinks, hamburgers, hot dogs, and pizza. The research team, led by academics in China, found that average UPF consumption was nearly three servings a day, but ranged from 0.5 to six. The three types of food that featured the most were lunch meat and soft drinks. People who consumed the highest amounts of UPFs were 41 per cent more likely to develop lung cancer compared with those who consumed the least amount, academics wrote in the journal Thorax. They found an increased risk found for both non small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer. The authors said they did make adjustments to their findings based on whether or not people smoked but they did not make adjustments for smoking intensity, which may have an impact. They stressed that 'causality cannot be determined' from their findings and the data should be interpreted with caution. 'Although additional research in other populations and settings is warranted, these findings suggest the healthy benefits of limiting UPF,' the authors said. 'Limiting trends of UPF intake globally could contribute to reducing the burden of lung cancer.' Commenting on the study, Sam Hare, a chest radiologist at the Royal Free London NHS Trust, said: 'A quarter of lung cancer cases occur in non-smokers so we do need research exploring whether other factors are associated with lung cancer. 'We also know immunity is linked to cancer biology so it is a good idea to do research into factors like diet,' Professor Hare said. 'However, further work is needed to establish direct causation between UPFs and lung cancer, crucially, whilst the study does make some adjustments for smoking status, the amount of smoking is not factored in, which is known to be directly related to lung cancer development. 'Dietary habits also change considerably over the course of such long-term studies, as such, it is difficult to directly conclude that lung cancer is related to the level of UPF consumption alone given it was only declared at the start of the study. Prof Hare added that evidence-based advancement in the early diagnosis of lung cancer in non-smokers was needed but 'this study isn't quite able to give us the answers yet'.