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Fruit and sugary drinks stood out in a three-year study of teenage mental health
A three-year study of 6,537 Australian adolescents found that higher fruit consumption was associated with a lower risk of elevated depression and anxiety symptoms, while greater sugar-sweetened beverage intake was associated with increased risk. Vegetable consumption showed no significant association with either outcome, and the observational findings cannot establish cause and effect.
Cardiologists Share 10 Foods to Avoid With High Blood Pressure
From processed meats to sugary drinks, here are the foods and drinks to cut back on If you have hypertension.
Starbucks lawsuit puts sugary drinks in spotlight as doctor warns of health risks
Dr. Michael Aziz, an attending physician at Lenox Hill Hospital, discusses the sugar content of specialty coffee beverages amid litigation involving Starbucks, with estimates reflecting specific sizes and customizations.
Gastroenterologist Reveals the Sugary Drink to Avoid for Better Gut Health
It can affect your gut within hours.
Hershey targets the health-conscious with savoury Halloween snacks
Halloween trick-or-treating could be less sugary than usual this year as consumers look for healthier snacks and candy companies such as Hershey , the United States' biggest chocolate-maker, adapt their product offerings.
Popular daily drinking habit could nearly triple risk of deadly cancer, major study finds
Mass General Brigham research links one daily sugary drink to nearly three times higher stomach cancer risk, with fructose identified as a key factor.
A common sugar may help cancer cells break free and spread
Chemotherapy-surviving ovarian cancer cells may release fructose to help neighboring tumor cells loosen, escape, and spread. The discovery suggests that sugary diets and cholesterol-lowering drugs could influence cancer progression, though the effects have not yet been confirmed in patients.
Does public health *need* MAHA?
Last week, our friend Dr. Craig Spencer sparked an ongoing volatile discussion with his Atlantic article “Public Health Needs MAHA.” Some have come out in strong dissent, others are cheering, and others are simply lamenting that we find ourselves in such a divided world to begin with. We will dare to dip our toes in these controversial waters, too. Does public health need MAHA? We think in some ways yes, and in other ways, no. MAHA leaders versus the everyday MAHA supporter The vitriol in this debate mostly comes from one collapsed distinction: the leadership of MAHA is not necessarily the same as the people who support it. Say “MAHA” and most people picture RFK Jr. Fair enough, as he coined the term and holds most of the power. And, yes, some MAHA followers treat Kennedy as something close to a saint. But talk to the grassroots, and it’s not a monolith. They’re Republicans, Democrats, and Independents. People who distrust vaccines and vaccine supporters. It’s a wide, eclectic coalition. The data backs this too: 4 in 10 Americans support the movement—that’s a lot of people! But according to polls, vaccines and medical choice (the issues most tied to Kennedy personally) are cited by only 4% as their reason for supporting the movement. For many, the motivations are much broader. Many MAHA supporters are signing up for the idea that “something needs to change” with health in this country. They’re asking good-faith questions about corporate influence on our health systems, health care costs, nutrition, chemicals, and clean air and water. These are all questions that plenty of public health professionals recognize as legitimate and also care about very deeply. Blurring the lines between the leadership and grassroots does real damage in two important ways: It hands the 4 in 10 exactly the narrative already fed—that the health ecosystem doesn’t listen, doesn’t care, and paints every critic with the same brush. It gives the actual bad actor more power. RFK Jr. has done irreparable damage and can’t be trusted. What the MAHA movement gets right A healthy population is something the public health field was literally built on, and many of these topics are things we have dedicated our lives to. Yet the MAHA movement has captivated nearly half the country in a way the public health establishment has failed to achieve. So that means MAHA is doing something right. Some of it may be timing (after a Covid-19 pandemic and deep frustration and mistrust with institutions). The movement also does three other things really well: 1. It gives a new, louder voice to system failures. While MAHA is not a monolith, one theme stays consistent across their stories: the system failed them. For some, it was the system that flooded their communities with opioids and then walked away. For others, it was the system that let their business collapse during Covid with no safety net in sight. For others still, it was the system that failed to help them manage a complex chronic illness, bouncing them from physician to physician without any real answers. And in many ways, our health ecosystems are failing Americans. Why are medical bills so incomprehensible? Why do some kids get a healthy school lunch and others don’t? Why do an epidemiologist and a MD/PhD student have to start newsletters in the middle of the biggest public health emergency in a century, just so people can get straight information? Because the systems failed. This deep-seated frustration driving many Americans to search for solutions elsewhere needs to be recognized. 2. MAHA has brilliant comms central to their efforts. MAHA figured out something most health institutions still have not: the information landscape changed. It’s participatory now, not top-down; influence runs through many nodes in a community, not one institution; and storytelling and telling audiences “what you really think” moves people more than data dumps do. MAHA goes where audiences are listening, using podcasts, social media, and memes in ways most health institutions would scoff at—but it works. 3. They are very good at organizing. A MAHA meeting feels like a rally: energy, speakers, music, and most importantly, an action for everyone. Someone’s writing the next policy brief, someone’s seeding a narrative, someone knows the next legislative deadline, someone’s sending the text messages for a campaign. None of this is new (ask the civil rights movement), but MAHA knows it works and has capitalized on it. What MAHA gets wrong This list could be much longer, and this newsletter has spent a lot of time covering it, but here are a few things: Poor use of scientific evidence. This is the fundamental problem with many MAHA policies: the hype outpaces the science, and experts are often villainized for pointing this out. MAHA leadership has traded real solutions for cheap wins. For example, instead of taking on the powerful food industry and passing real reforms, it has celebrated french fries made of beef tallow and taken out artificial dyes from still very sugary children’s cereal. These changes won’t move the needle on America’s diet. MAHA leadership has tried to dismantle vaccine access in the U.S. While many MAHA supporters emphasize other issues, the effort to change vaccine policy has become MAHA’s signature effort. This is not surprising given RFK Jr.’s extensive track record campaigning against vaccines. It has rallied behind the wrong leader. RFK Jr. has a decades-long track record of villifying doctors, scientists, and public health workers, well before he became HHS secretary. He is known for his decades-long work sowing distrust in vaccines as well as life-saving treatments like antiretroviral therapy for HIV. This is not a serious person who can move the needle on health in the U.S, and he has already done serious damage. Public health needs more than defense Defending the evidence is absolutely necessary so health in the U.S. doesn’t move further backward. The public health establishment is very good at defense. The problem is this defense often sounds like defending the status quo, which has failed many people. Public health needs to offer an alternative to RFK Jr.’s MAHA—one that is rooted in evidence, truly listens to and addresses people’s frustrations, and has innovative solutions and the courage to change the systems. How do we get there? Find common ground. Do you know what most people care most about? The abysmal cost of healthcare. Start there. Fight for the human loudly. Too often, communications and engagement center on science with a capital S, funding mechanisms, or the CDC/FDA/NIH. Not the person. So the public doesn’t see themselves in it. Instead, they see people fighting for the very powerful systems that they feel negatively impact their health and well-being. Let the public feel and hear that you see their frustrations, you get it, and you’re fighting for them within the system. Recognize when pro-science messages are alienating people. Facts absolutely matter, but angrily venting only alienates people further. Our friend Elisabeth Marnik recently wrote a New York Times article about her experience growing up unvaccinated and how listening and empathetic conversation are the only ways to reach people that really work (a position backed by communication science). Her comments section was full of hateful comments from pro-vaccine individuals attacking her for daring to suggest we approach vaccine-hesitant individuals with empathy. It is possible to both stand firm behind scientific evidence and empathize with people who don’t trust it. Lean into politics smartly. Often, public health has shied away from politics: Don’t touch it, lest you get burned. But this fails to recognize that the third rail is what fuels the train: who is elected determines our budgets, our priorities, and our authority. Being political means being very savvy in strategy on both sides of the aisle, knowing your audience, and recognizing that political capital is as scarce as financial resources and needs to be allocated accordingly. Bottom line So does public health need MAHA? That’s not really the right question. Public health has a responsibility not to dismiss 40% of the country who feel heard by this movement and are frustrated that the system has failed them. And it has a responsibility to stick to the evidence and recognize MAHA leadership for what it is: a danger to our nation’s health. Both can, and should, be done. Love, YLE and KP A big thanks to Craig Spencer, who had the courage to put his neck out there to start a much-needed discussion at such a critical moment—one that is determining the identity of an entire field. Kristen Panthagani, MD, PhD is completing an emergency medicine residency and research fellowship focusing on health literacy and communication. In her free time, she writes the newsletters You Can Know Things debunking health myths and rumors and The Public Health Roundup. Views expressed belong to KP, not her employer. Your Local Epidemiologist (YLE) comprises a team of experts, ranging from physicians to immunologists to epidemiologists to nutritionists, working together with one goal: to “translate” ever-evolving public health science so that people are well-equipped to make evidence-based decisions. The YLE suite of newsletters reaches over 475,000 people across more than 132 countries. This newsletter is free to everyone, thanks to the generous support of fellow YLE community members. To support the effort, subscribe or upgrade below: Subscribe
Scientists reveal what sparkling water really does to your teeth
Unsweetened sparkling water may offer a tooth-friendlier alternative to sugary soda, according to a small preliminary study tracking how different drinks change mouth acidity. Soda caused the strongest and longest drop in salivary pH, while sparkling water produced only a temporary decline before saliva restored normal conditions. Importantly, acidity remained above the level associated with enamel damage.
Federal judge blocks state bans on buying soda and candy with food stamps
A federal judge on Monday blocked the Trump administration from allowing five states to ban the purchase of sugary drinks and candy with food stamps.
UVA Health program looks to reverse children drinking too many sugary drinks
The trial has six education components to bring mindfulness and reduction to sugary drink consumption
Scientists found a surprising problem with sugar-free diets
A surprising new study suggests that completely eliminating sugar may backfire. Mice on a sucrose-free low-fat diet showed worse blood sugar control, increased inflammation, disrupted gut bacteria, and signs of fatty liver compared with mice that consumed some sucrose. Researchers say the results highlight the importance of a balanced diet and a healthy gut microbiome rather than focusing solely on cutting out sugar.
PAHO: Health tax levels in the Americas remain too low to curb harmful consumption of alcohol and sugary drinks
Washington, D.C., 9 June 2026 (PAHO) – Levels of health taxes on alcohol and sugar‑sweetened beverages in the Americas remain too low to significantly reduce consumption and prevent noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), even as the Region records some of the highest consumption levels in the world, according to two reports released by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).
Nutrition professor fights against unhealthy habits
Barry Popkin’s groundbreaking research on the dangers of sugary drinks, processed foods and inactivity has improved lives worldwide.
Healthy eating improves memory but sugary diets may cause lasting damage, animal study finds
As concern grows about the long-term health effects of modern diets, new research led by the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) has examined how changes in what we eat affect memory and brain function.
The sugar intake – oral diseases nexus: Leveraging food environments for better population nutrition and health
Across the World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific Region, our diets are changing rapidly. Globalization has made processed foods, which often do not align with healthy diets, easier to find, more affordable, and more heavily marketed than ever before. Unfortunately, many of these products are often high in saturated fat, trans-fatty acids, salts and free sugars, contributing to the burden of all forms of malnutrition, including diet-related noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). The impact of these dietary changes is staggering. Sugars, in particular, are empty calories and are often hidden in processed foods and beverages. Over the last 20 years, the health burden linked to sugary drinks has nearly tripled, reaching 52.3 disability-adjusted life years per 100 000 in 2023. Excessive sugar is a leading cause of obesity, diabetes, and—most notably—oral diseases. Today, oral diseases affect over 960 million individuals in the Western Pacific Region. Tooth decay is the most common issue, especially for childre
Artificially sweetened beverages may benefit healthy weight, but water works better | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Increasing intake of water or artificially sweetened drinks was associated with less weight gain over time, compared to increased sugary drink intake.
Danone bets on bottled-water as health trends reshape drink choices
Danone said on Thursday rising health awareness among consumers in Britain and France is driving a shift from sugary drinks to bottled water, boosting sales of the French consumer goods giant's brands like Evian.
Why Health Taxes Alone Won't Fix Malnutrition in Poor Countries
Health taxes on sugar seem to have captured the zeitgeist: Mexico's soda tax, the UK's sugar levy, South Africa's Health Promotion Levy, a sugar tax in the Philippines, and so on. The evidence on these policies suggests real benefits: (1) reduced consumption of sugary drinks, (2) measurable revenue for governments, and, (3) in theory, a nudge toward healthier choices. But the conversation is increasingly moving past sugar with increasing calls for health taxes on so-called ultra-processed foods.
I tried custom soda chain Swig for first time; left disappointed
Swig's dirty sodas are everywhere online. I visited the fast-growing US chain and reviewed it to see if the sugary, customizable drinks are worth it.
In debate over sugary drinks, Colorado weighs health benefits and personal choice
Colorado received a waiver from the USDA to restrict the use of SNAP benefits to buy those sweetened beverages. But it needs the approval of the state human services board.
Health secretary’s challenge to sugary coffee drinks sparks pushback
RFK Jr. Just Called Out Sugary Coffee Drinks—How Much Do They Really Affect Your Health?
RFK Jr. is calling the sugar content of drinks at Dunkin' Donuts and Starbucks into question.
Which is worse, a soda or a beer?
Experts seek to clarify the health effects of alcohol and sugary drinks.
Cutting Back on Sugary Drinks May Have Mental Health Benefits For Teens
A healthy way to ease anxiety.
Love Sweet Iced Coffee? Thailand Wants You To Drink It With Less Sugar
By I. Edwards HealthDay ReporterMONDAY, Feb. 16, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Thailand is taking aim at sugary drinks as health officials warn that too much sugar is fueling rising rates of obesity and diabetes. Earlier this week, nine major coffee chains across the Southeast Asian country agreed to cut the default sugar content in ...
Cheaper drinks will see a rise in noncommunicable diseases and injuries
In two new global reports released today, WHO is calling on governments to significantly strengthen taxes on sugary drinks and alcoholic beverages.
Politics Now: January 10th, 2026
This week on Politics Now with host John Langeler: Nevada considers a ban on some sugary foods with SNAP food benefits President Donald Trump proposes limiting how many homes corporate investors ca…
New Era of Fermentation: SINOFN Health’s Global Health Vision
TIANJIN, TIANJIN, CHINA, January 5, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — In the wellness-driven era of 2025, the global beverage industry is witnessing a seismic shift from sugary sodas to functional, “alive” alternatives. As gut health becomes the cornerstone of modern vitality, one name has emerged at the intersection of biotechnology and consumer wellness: SINOFN Health Co., Ltd. […]