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Join geneticist Kevin Folta and GLP contributor Cameron English on episode 162 of Science Facts and Fallacies as they break down these latest news stories:
The evidence has consistently shown that artificial sweeteners, typically used in diet sodas and other low-calorie foods, are safe for human consumption. Every so often, though, a study challenging this consensus hits the headlines. A new paper, published in PLoS Medicine, suggested that artificial sweetener consumption boosted an individual’s cancer risk 13 percent, the equivalent of three additional cancer cases per 10,000 people over eight years.
But even assuming those numbers are valid may be a mistake. Experts were quick to point out serious flaws in the paper, including the fact that higher sweetener consumption was associated with fewer cases of all cancers. Why was there such a major mismatch between the study’s results and the news stories they generated?
While most US jurisdictions have dropped their COVID vaccine mandates, Canada continues to require proof of immunization to enter the country. The policy creates a potentially serious roadblock for Major League Baseball teams, because a sizeable minority of players, including some of the league’s biggest stars, remain unvaccinated. With opening day just around the corner, it seems likely that some teams won’t be at full strength when they travel to Toronto to face the Blue Jays.
The situation raises some tough questions about Canada’s mandate. Since the majority of Americans and Canadians have been vaccinated, are the entry restrictions really necessary? It’s clear that “we now have a high degree of background population immunity to SARS-CoV-2, as well as medical countermeasures … to prevent progression of disease,” as Dr. Anthony Fauci and colleagues noted in a recent article for the Journal of Infectious Diseases. Is it time for Canada to update its rules?
It was accepted medical wisdom for decades: high cholesterol is a risk factor for heart disease. But evidence gathered in recent years paints a very different picture. It appears that total cholesterol may actually tell us very little about our overall health. Indeed, some research even shows that saturated fat, once thought to raise cholesterol to dangerous levels, actually poses very little risk to many people. Why has it taken us so long to rethink the relationship between cholesterol and heart health?
Kevin M. Folta is a professor, keynote speaker and podcast host. Follow Professor Folta on Twitter @kevinfolta
Cameron J. English is the director of bio-sciences at the American Council on Science and Health. Visit his website and follow ACSH on Twitter @ACSHorg
