Could RFK Jr.’s vaccine panel upend the hepatitis B vaccine?
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s vaccine advisory panel will debate and possibly delay a key immunization that protects babies from hepatitis B.
Your morning orange juice just got even better.
A new study found a small glass of 100% orange juice per day contributes to cardiovascular and overall health. Researchers found that when people drank about 17 ounces of natural orange juice daily for 60 days, the drink actually fine-tuned their gene expression. This means biological processes related to inflammation, blood pressure and metabolism were activated in ways that lead to healthier hearts and functioning just through drinking fruit juice.
And when those healthy mechanisms are switched into gear, they bode well for our long-term health.
The surprising side of your morning sip
Orange juice has long been associated with a health. It contains vitamin C, which is essential this time of year to stave off cold and flu. Other studies have linked orange juices fortified with plant sterols to decreased harmful cholesterol, known as LDL, which can lead to heart attack and stroke.
One of the reasons this beverage packs such a punch is because it contains flavonoids, compounds that promote cognition, reduce inflammation and improve metabolism, studies show.
But the underlying mechanism behind these good effects has long been unknown, especially how they vary person to person. That’s why this new study is unique: Researchers investigated how OJ consumption impacted abut 1,700 different genes via participants’ blood samples. It’s one of the first analysis to show consistent orange juice drinking boosts our bodies through our genetic code.
There’s one thing to note about the findings, though: The study found that weight influences how much these genes are turned on by OJ drinking. People at a healthy weight saw more anti-inflammatory effects while those at a higher weight experienced more fat metabolism, the study found. The researchers concluded there’s still much individualization in how orange juice could help you.
And, importantly, the study was conducted using juice that wasn’t full of extra sugar. While tasty, sugary drinks every day can lead to more health harm than help. When it doubt, shop for pure orange juice or better yet — try some homemade.
link