Microplastics

 Tammy L Barney

As the world grapples with mountains of discarded plastic, scientists are turning their attention from the visible waste to something far more insidious: microplastics—tiny plastic fragments less than 5 mm in size. Emerging research suggests that infants and young children may be particularly vulnerable to these particles, and the health implications are only beginning to surface. They come from lots of sources: breakdown of larger plastic items, synthetic clothing fibers, packaging and containers, bottled water, even household dust and indoor air. Evidence shows these particles are entering the human body: in food, water, air, and then potentially in the gut, lungs, even the bloodstream and organs.

Microplastics originate in two main ways: either manufactured at small size (microbeads used in cosmetics, for example), or broken down from larger plastic items through weathering, UV exposure, and mechanical abrasion.

Young children may be exposed to microplastics via several pathways:

• Ingestion of contaminated food or water, including infant formula or drinks stored in plastic bottles.
• Inhalation of airborne microplastics (for example, household dust or tiny plastic fibres) — children especially breathe more air per body weight and spend much time near floors and surfaces where dust accumulates. 
• Placental transfer: microplastics have been found in human placentas, signalling possible in-utero exposure. 
• Use of plastic toys, pacifiers, bottles, and other baby gear that may shed tiny plastic particles. 

In short: our youngest and smallest are in the front line of exposure.

There are a number of reasons to believe little ones are more vulnerable:

• Development matters. In early life, organs and systems (immune, nervous, endocrine) are developing rapidly, making them more sensitive to disruptions. 
• Relative exposure: Some analyses suggest that infants may ingest or inhale much higher volumes of microplastics per body weight compared to adults. For example, one report claimed babies have “over 10 times higher rates” of microplastics in their feces than adults.
• Longer lifetime: Early exposure means a longer life ahead for any effects — so even small insults early could drive effects years down the road. 

A review of infants’ exposure concluded that microplastics show up in baby formula, breast milk, infant feces, and suggest that feeding bottles and toys may be sources. Studies link in-utero microplastic exposure (via marine/airborne pathways) to higher probability of low birth weight. One large global‐birth-dataset found that a doubling of exposure increased the low birth-weight hazard by 0.37 per 1,000 births. Laboratory and toxicology work shows microplastics may cause oxidative stress, immune disruption, changes in gene expression and cell damage—mechanisms that raise red flags for human health.

Best ways to reduce exposure + support yours body and babies bodies

Minimize new exposure by Using filtered tap water rather than single-use plastic bottled water when possible. Many bottled waters show higher microplastic counts. 

Avoid heating food in plastic containers (microwaving plastic can release microplastics and associated chemicals). Choose clothing and textiles made of natural fibers (cotton, linen, hemp) instead of synthetic materials which shed microfibers. In your home, reduce dust and indoor plastic particulate exposure — e.g., use air filters, HEPA vacuums, wash synthetic fabrics less aggressively. 

Rid Yourselves of these plastics!

High-fiber diet: Fiber helps promote good bowel motility and can bind substances in the gut, potentially reducing absorption of unwanted particles.according to- Ohio State

Also

• Stay well-hydrated, use good water quality — helps kidneys, gut transit, and supports excretion.
• Healthy liver support and overall good nutrition: The liver metabolizes many foreign substances; having good nutrition, healthy fats, vegetables/cruciferous veggies helps.
• Regular exercise and sweating: While not a proven “microplastic flush”, supporting circulation, lymph, skin health may help overall body clearance mechanisms. Sauna’s, 20 minutes a day over 125F helps shed plastics. Some studies show a 65% reduction of plastics in organs within just 3 months!  Ohio State Health
• Antioxidants, anti-inflammatory diet: Since microplastics may cause oxidative stress/inflammation, a diet rich in colorful fruits/veggies, omega-3s, etc. can help mitigate harm. REMEMBER Healthy food is medicine to the body!

What your action plan could look like

Putting it together, here’s a simple “microplastics awareness” plan you can try:

1. Swap out your plastic water bottle for a stainless-steel or glass one.
2. Check your food storage: avoid microwaving in plastic, use glass/steel.
3. In your wardrobe: pick at least 1-2 items a month in natural fibers, and wash synthetic garments less often.
4. Increase daily fiber (vegetables, legumes, whole grains) and drink plenty of good-quality water.
5. Move your body — regular walks, workouts, sweating somewhat.
6. Once a week do a “plastic audit” at home: what plastics did I use today? Could I swap it?
7. And finally: stay informed. The Plain Truth’s Your Health Today is a great place to find articles on your health and God’s diet to wellness!

By taking steps to reduce exposure, you not only reduce your microplastic burden potentially, but you also are improving other health dimensions (better diet, less plastic chemical exposure, cleaner environment) — win-win.

How a DNA test solved a medical mystery – and revealed a doctor’s decades of deception

 

Summer McKesson struggled to breathe for years. Doctors told her it was because her blood would not stop clotting – and they couldn’t figure out why.

A single clot alone can be lethal; but the recurring and unexplained clots that formed in McKesson’s heart and lungs were a medical mystery.

After multiple surgeries to remove clots and scar tissue, McKesson traveled to the Mayo Clinic, where she sat in a conference room while renowned physicians and specialists worked through her case on a whiteboard.

But even they were baffled.

“To hear that even they had never seen it before,” she told CNN through tears, “I came back (home) just crushed at that point.”

Desperate for answers, McKesson said she turned to 23andMe, hoping the DNA analysis service, which claims to offer insights into its clients’ genetic health history, might unlock some clues to her condition.

But her quest for answers would unearth a family secret – and a doctor’s decades-old deception that has ensnared multiple families across the country.

Ask your parents about Dr. Peete

McKesson never questioned her genetics – or considered 23andMe – until a team of surgeons performed an urgent, open-heart procedure in 2022 to remove clots from her heart and lungs.

As she recovered, McKesson said her surgeon dropped another bomb.

While operating, he’d noticed the connective tissue that supports her organs was stretchy and unusually fragile. He told her the complication – coupled with McKesson’s willowy build and Amazonian height – could be a sign of an inherited disorder called Marfan syndrome.

His suspicions were correct. A geneticist confirmed McKesson’s diagnosis, and said her clotting disorder was also genetic, which ushered in a host of lifelong health challenges.

Her heart would now need to be constantly monitored, and she will eventually need at least one more major heart surgery.

But the diagnosis was puzzling for another reason: both of her conditions are genetic and, as far as she knew, no one else in her family had them.

Summer McKesson recovering from surgery - Courtesy Summer McKesson

Summer McKesson post surgery scar - Courtesy Summer McKesson

McKesson, 43, said she didn’t have a full picture of her family’s health history because her father died when she was a teenager. So, she signed up for 23andMe, submitted a DNA sample, and waited.

The results arrived in her inbox in October 2023.

“I was just sitting on my couch after work, and kind of quickly pulled up the results on my phone,” McKesson recalled. At first, she said, she was curious to learn more about her family’s ethnic background.

“Growing up, I always was like … ‘I don’t look like any of y’all. No one has my nose. I’m a foot taller than everyone,’” she said, adding her family used to joke that she was adopted.

While there weren’t many surprises in her family’s ancestry, McKesson said when she navigated to the “family members” section of the site, she drew up short:

The test showed she had seven half-siblings.

“I just remember being shocked and my mind just swirling,” she said. “I’m like, how is this possible? … Did my dad have another family or something?”

Was she actually adopted? None of what she was learning made sense.

She sent screenshots of the results to a trusted group of friends, and they discussed different theories. Then, later that night, she sent a message to her newly discovered half-siblings through the 23andMe website.

“Humor has really gotten me through a lot of this,” McKesson said, so she opted for a lighter tone in her first note.

She sent the same message to each name listed on the site. And then, she waited. It would take more than a month for anyone to respond.

“I don’t want to cause any conflict,” one of them finally wrote, “but if you want to dig into this, I’d ask your parents if they went to see Dr. Peete.”

A doctor’s decades of deception

Chelsea Bailey, CNN

In 1980, Laurie Kruppa and her husband, Doug, found themselves waiting for a fertility specialist named Dr. Charles Peete in a sterile exam room at Duke University Hospital.

The couple wanted children, Laurie told CNN, but Doug had a vasectomy during a previous marriage, so her OB-GYN referred them to the physicians at Duke for fertility treatment.

The 1980s and ‘90s would prove to be a time of innovation in the fields of genetics and assisted reproductive technology. In 1978, a woman gave birth to a baby named Louise in the United Kingdom through in vitro fertilization, or IVF, making her the first child to be born through the novel procedure.

But the Kruppas opted to use intrauterine insemination, or IUI, a procedure that had been around in some form for centuries but had only recently become common thanks to advances in freezing and banking sperm.

CONTINUE READING>>>>

Florida Sounds Alarm Over Plot to Spread Deadly Meat Allergy Among Public to ‘Fight Climate Change’

 Frank Bergman - slaynews.com

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is raising the alarm after uncovering a chilling globalist plot to spread a fatal meat allergy among the general public to supposedly “fight climate change.”

DeSantis has denounced what he calls a “deranged” global agenda to genetically engineer people to develop a red meat allergy.

The Republican governor linked the plan to the World Economic Forum (WEF) and United Nations (UN), both of which are pushing to eliminate traditional diets and control the food supply in the name of “saving the planet.”

DeSantis’s comments came after resurfaced footage showed a New York University bioethicist proposing that humans could be intentionally engineered to become allergic to meat to reduce consumption and fight climate change.

“Genetically engineering humans to become allergic to meat because some elites think people eat ‘too much’ of it is insane,” DeSantis posted on X.

“Human Engineering” to End Meat Consumption

In the 2016 video, Dr. Matthew Liao, director of the NYU Center for Bioethics, told a live audience that ticks could be used to induce an allergy to red meat.

This same idea is echoed by other global bioethicists.

“People eat too much meat,” Liao said.

“And if they were to cut down on their consumption of meat, then it would actually really help the planet.”

READ MORE>>>>

Trump’s IVF Initiative Should Focus on Root Causes of Infertility, Experts Say

 On October 16, the president announced a series of steps his administration will take to lower the price of fertility drugs such as Gonal-f, which is commonly used by women for IVF procedures in order to produce eggs for retrieval.

Dan Hart - WashingtonStand.com

Following President Donald Trump’s announcement last week detailing actions his administration is taking to “lower costs and expand access” to controversial in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures as well as other fertility treatments, numerous experts say that while the expansion of access to restorative reproductive medicine is commendable, the effort to expand IVF will contribute to the continued destruction of human life.

On October 16, the president announced a series of steps his administration will take to lower the price of fertility drugs such as Gonal-f, which is commonly used by women for IVF procedures in order to produce eggs for retrieval. In addition, federal agencies will also now assist employers with the option of covering standalone IVF health insurance plans. The measures come eight months after Trump signed an executive order promising that his administration would “expand access” to IVF.

The president noted in last week’s announcement that his administration “wants more babies” and is “pro family. … I’ve been in favor of IVF, right from the beginning.” In remarks from the Oval Office, he stated, “I think this is very pro-life. You can’t get more pro-life than this.”

But experts point out that the process of IVF involves the destruction of human life on a vast scale. In order for the IVF process to give mothers a chance at a successful birth, most couples have up to eight embryos created in a single IVF cycle in a laboratory, but only a select few are implanted in the mother’s womb. The excess embryos are typically frozen indefinitely or discarded. In 2021 alone, approximately 4.1 million embryonic children were created via IVF, but only 97,128 of those embryos were born as live babies. Estimates suggest that over 97% of all embryonic children that are created are “discarded, miscarried, frozen indefinitely, or donated for use by others for experimentation.”

At the same time, the Trump administration’s initiative also called for employers to provide benefit packages for non-IVF fertility treatments that “address the continuum of fertility-related services” including “those that address the root causes of infertility.” Experts like March for Life President Jennie Bradley Lichter say that restorative reproductive medicine (RRM) “aims to resolve rather than ignore underlying medical issues, to increase health & wellness while also restoring fertility, and to respond to the beautiful desire for children while avoiding any collateral loss of human life.” RRM methods include NaPro Technology, FEMM, and the Billings Ovulation Method. There are numerous health centers across the country that practice RRM.

Reproductive endocrinology and infertility physician Dr. Lauren Rubel says that RRM methods are statistically more likely to result in births than IVF. “[There’s] a 37% chance of live birth per IVF cycle for everyone in the U.S., according to recent data,” she observed during a panel at the Pray Vote Stand Summit over the weekend. “With restorative reproductive medicine, there are studies showing a 30% to 66% chance of live birth over a period of two years using techniques that help restore your own health, your wellness, and decrease risk to moms and babies, too.”

Christian leaders like Arlington, Va. Bishop Michael Burbidge commended the administration for promoting optional fertility insurance benefits that provide “ethical fertility care” but also warned of the ethical and moral problems with IVF. “Thankfully, the White House has not introduced any federal mandate that medical insurance cover IVF, and these recent announcements do not directly violate religious liberty or conscience rights,” he stated. “Yet, the fact remains that IVF is contrary to the common good and therefore it is wrong for the federal government to promote IVF as if it were a morally neutral form of fertility care.”

Mary Szoch, who serves as director of the Center for Human Dignity at Family Research Council, told The Washington Stand that while the administration’s efforts to increase fertility should be praised, there is still time for the White House to change course on IVF.

“Countless American couples are hoping to conceive a child, and President Trump should be commended for his efforts to bring this good and godly hope to fruition,” she remarked. “The parts of Trump’s announcement that will expand access to restorative reproductive medicine should be commended. Restorative reproductive medicine addresses the root cause of infertility and improves the health of Americans while helping women carry a child to term. It promises couples the highest levels of health care, and it is the type of medicine Americans deserve.”

“At the same time,” Szoch continued, “I am incredibly saddened by the announcement that through the administration’s efforts, the IVF industry will expand. The IVF industry has preyed upon the hopes and dreams of so many American couples, promising them the gift of a child, but simultaneously failing to address the cause of infertility and destroying countless embryonic children or leaving them to an uncertain fate in a freezer. This industry is completely unregulated and offers no protections for the unborn children created in IVF laboratories or for parents who emotionally, physically, and financially invest significantly.”

“The details of this plan to increase fertility will certainly be hashed out in the upcoming months,” she concluded. “During that time, my hope is that the Trump administration does as it always has and prioritizes protecting the weak and vulnerable, while working to ensure Americans receive excellent health care.”

SOURCE>>>>

Candida

 What exactly is Candida will be expressed here as well as an at Home Test to See if You are Struggling With it...

From Dr. Mercola

Candidiasis: Don’t Let This Yeast Infection Wreck Your Health!

There’s a hidden battle that many people today don’t know they’re fighting – and it’s occurring right inside their body.

Fatigue and low energy. Depression and anxiety. Digestive issues, skin irritation, migraines, and headaches. Difficulty losing weight.

Does any of this sound familiar to you?

If they do, then watch out – you might be dealing with Candidiasis.

Unfortunately, there’s lot of misinformation is circulating on the Internet about Candida, which is why many people end up confused about their condition or fail to treat it altogether. 

What Is Candida?

The truth is everyone has Candida in their body.

This yeast-like fungus lives in your mucous membranes and, benignly, in your gut and intestinal tract. It thrives in warm, moist areas of your skin, such as your armpits, groin, and in women’s vagina (the folds of the vulva).

Candida is a normal part of your natural microflora. In fact, oral swabs in 40 to 75 percent of healthy adults will test positive for C. albicans, and up to 25 percent of women will be positive for C. albicans in their healthy vaginas without any sign of infection or overgrowth.

However, once there’s an overgrowth of candida in your body, then your risk of getting candidiasis increases – and this is when your health is put in jeopardy. (SOURCE)

Here is what Dr. Eric Berg has to say about it as well:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/OjdweOuY_xw

Here is the "Spit Test" you can do at home for free

Candida Saliva Test

When you awake in the morning, before you put anything into your mouth, work up some saliva and spit it into a clear glass of water. Within 1-3 minutes, look in the glass. If there are strings coming down from your saliva, or if the water turned cloudy, or if your saliva has sunken to the bottom, YOU MAY HAVE A CANDIDA CONCERN! Healthy saliva will simply float on the top! (You may want to put out a glass of water in the bathroom or on the nightstand the night before you wish to do the home Candida Saliva test, just to remind yourself not to brush your teeth prior to spitting into the glass.)

Dr. Mercola continues to say: There are many common health conditions that are actually connected to – and exacerbated by – Candida overgrowth in your gut, such as:

• Chronic fatigue
• Depression and/or anxiety
• Fibromyalgia and arthritis
• Atopic dermatitis
• Myocarditis
• PMS
• Parkinson’s disease
• Cancer, and more

Here’s another alarming fact: if you have been exercising and following my healthy eating guidelines, yet still struggling with your weight, then chances are Candidiasis may be to blame. It’s actually quite possible that with some people, an inability to lose weight is their ONLY symptom of Candidiasis.

Dr. Berg expounds on the different types of Candida and how to handle them. One of the biggest offenses that leaves us in a compromised state are ANTIBIOTICS, watch the video for more.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/a9wWC7M0QxI

https://www.youtube.com/embed/3OOG5EMVads

FASTING CAN HELP ELIMINATE AND CONTROL CANDIDA

https://www.youtube.com/embed/InM6gQkYCRQ

In summary, hopefully this helps you see the importance of getting a handle on any Candida issues as they are detrimental to our health. Focusing on fasting again...there are so many benefits to doing it and this is yet one more piece on our health page that recommends doing so. We will cover fasting more in depth on another day here on The Plain Truth, but God does have one mandated fast day in the Bible...God's people are commanded on the Day of Atonement in Leviticus 23:27-32, and you can read more about this from our main site, here. 

God instructs us to obey His commands. 

Why? 

The Plain Truth is that God loves us. (John 14:21) He wants the best for us. He wants to bless us and make our food amazing (Isaiah 1:19) and heal our land (2Chron 7:14) and take our sickness away (Exodus 23:25) and set us high above all the nations of the earth! (Deut 28:1)

Why would we not want to respond out of obedience to God? 

God wants the best for His Family, for us, for we are His children! Why would we not want to choose obedience as this is the loving response and one that will continue to move us all in the right direction. God has said, “If my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land".  2Chron 7:14

The Moon and Mankind | How the Moon Influences Us Physically and Emotionally

 "He made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows its time for setting."

— Psalm 104:19 (ESV)

By Jennifer Rae Vliet

From the very beginning, God designed creation with order, rhythm, and purpose including the moon, a faithful light in the night sky. While often admired for its beauty, the moon also plays a quiet but significant role in our daily lives. It not only governs the tides but also affects the rhythms of our bodies and emotions in ways we are still discovering. It is fascinating to explore how the moon, as part of God’s intricate design, influences us physically and emotionally. The moon is an important reminder that even the heavens declare His handiwork. I mean, come on, did you see the super moon the other night?

As believers, it's essential to approach topics like the moon’s influence with wisdom and discernment. While scientific evidence suggests the moon may affect aspects of our physical and emotional rhythms, we must be careful not to assign it any spiritual power or control over our lives. God's Word is clear: “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:3). Placing trust in lunar phases, astrology, or cosmic forces distracts from the truth that our well-being, body, mind, and spirit, is sustained by God alone. “Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; His understanding is beyond measure” (Psalm 147:5).

Creation may reflect God’s glory, but it is not to be worshiped or feared. Our peace comes not from the heavens above us, but from the One who reigns over them. The moon, in its faithful orbit, invites us to stand in awe of His wisdom and care!

With that said, I think this science paper shared by Ben Davidson from Suspicious Observers recently is worth the read and so very interesting! Enjoy!

The Influence of Natural Cycles on Human Cognitive Activity and Psychophysiological State

April 18, 2025  //  DOI: 10.36074/grail-of-science.18.04.2025.113

Yaroslav Bondarenko, Karina Prosol, Oksana Kauk

Abstract

This scientific paper investigates the potential impact of natural cycles, with a particular emphasis on lunar phases, on human cognitive activity, productivity levels, and psychophysiological state. The study explores theoretical mechanisms behind these effects, drawing on insights from neurophysiology, endocrinology, and psychophysiology. The research highlights how gravitational and electromagnetic fluctuations during different lunar phases may influence hormonal balance, neurotransmitter activity, and overall brain function. The practical part of the study involved a comprehensive questionnaire survey conducted among 68 participants aged 18 to 50 years, who were free from significant somatic, neurological, or psychiatric conditions. Participants were observed over a complete lunar cycle (28–30 days) and reported changes in cognitive performance, emotional well-being, and sleep quality. Analysis of the collected data revealed notable patterns: the full moon phase was often linked to heightened nervous excitability, emotional instability, and disrupted sleep, while the new moon phase frequently correlated with reduced energy levels, fatigue, and cognitive slowdown. However, the findings also emphasized individual variability, with some respondents reporting no significant effects. The results underscore the complexity of biological responses to lunar cycles and highlight the need for further interdisciplinary research to identify precise physiological mechanisms. The study's findings could have practical applications in developing strategies for optimizing productivity, managing stress, and improving sleep quality by aligning daily routines with natural biorhythms.

Continue Reading>>>>

Natural Health Remedies for Children

 by Jennifer Rae Vliet

Who wants all the side effects that Big Pharma causes? Natural is always worth a try and some even warn that natural remedies are just as potent at times, if not more potent, then pharmaceuticals. That means use them instead when you can and be careful, do your research!

Sore Throat

No pills. No herbs. No drugs.

This is quite amazing. If you can get your kiddle to let you do acupressure on them...the results are pretty significant, and the comments section is full of success stories on this YouTube video of Dr. Bergs. He developed this all by himself. He believes pain and inflammation are both "stuck energy" in our bodies so if you focus on releasing them, you can be pain free. You do not need a tool, just for fingertips.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFXMbBNCq90

Fever

If your child can handle ginger ale with apple cider vinegar (get the kind with the mother in it) mixed in, this could be a game changer. Iced, room temp, or even a teensy bit heated, it could bring down the fever within 30 minutes.

OR

Mommypotamus.com says it best:

What happens if/when we feel it’s time to try to bring the fever down? Apple cider vinegar is an old remedy used by grandmothers and great-grandmothers that is thought to “draw out” the fever – people still swear by it! Soak a couple washcloths in diluted apple cider vinegar (1 part vinegar and 2 parts water), then place them on the forehead and tummy, or add a cup to a warm bath. Some people also soak a cloth in and wrap it around the soles of the patient’s feet.

Cough

Recipe's vary. A basic pineapple juice, honey, lemon juice, and cayenne works great instantly. Here is a variation:

Homemade Cough Syrup

1. Place the vinegar, honey, water, cayenne, and ginger in a small jar and shake to combine.
2. Leave at room temperature for a few days or place in the refrigerator for longer storage.
3. Shake well each time, before using. The spices will not dissolve into the liquid. It will not be a thick syrup, it should remain watery.
4. Take as needed and have a happy and healthy new year!

5. Eye Stye

   When I used to listen to the late great Dr. Robert Marshall from Quantum Nutrition Labs in Santa Monica on the daily, I gathered a lot of offbeat yet true remedies. Dr. Marshall claimed that a majority of stye's have to do with food poisoning. Mostly due to PORK. (We know here at The Plain Truth what God says about our clean diet and it does not include pork)

   Dr. Marshall believed that if the stye is in the left eye, the small intestine is where the infection is coming from and if in the right, the large. You will know if it is food poisoning related if you take a probiotic and you start feeling a relief in your eye symptoms right away. I am not promoting this product just proving I am not alone out there who knows this...but totalvisioncareok.com talks about probiotics for eye issues.

   Dr. Josh Axe says this:

   Proper Eyelid Care + Coriander Seeds

   It’s important to keep the eyelids clean to both treat and prevent a stye since bacteria causes a stye. It’s recommended to gently wash your eyelid with a mild soap and warm (not hot) water. You also want to avoid rubbing your eyes, especially if your hands aren’t clean, if you have a stye or want to make an effort not to get one. (12) Some sources also recommend using coriander seeds to make a tea-like liquid and then use this coriander liquid (once it has cooled 

 

'TrumpRx': President's latest deal predicted to cut prescription drug costs for Americans

 New website to offer ways to 'bypass costly middlemen' and give U.S. consumers access to prices in line 'with those paid by other nations'

By Bob Unruh

President Donald Trump is signing a new executive order that specifically is expected to bring down the costs of prescription drugs for Americans.

White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt explained that the order "will help bypass costly middlemen and bring the prices Americans pay for prescription drugs in line with those paid by other nations."

The order is the result of a "historic" deal with Pfizer "to slash drug prices," reports Tuesday confirmed.

The announcement said now Pfizer "is committing to offer" all of the company's prescription medications to Medicaid at the prices also paid by its "most favored nations."

In addition to Medicaid, all consumers also are expected to benefit through access to those medications.

A report at the Washington Examiner explained the result will be a direct-to-consumer website for Americans to purchase their medications.

READ MORE>>>>

Prostate Cancer Breakthrough

 This means thousands of men could avoid devastating chemotherapy

 SHAUN WOOLLER HEALTH EDITOR FOR THE DAILY MAIL

Thousands of men a year with advanced prostate cancer could avoid gruelling chemotherapy by combining radiotherapy and hormone therapy, a study reveals.

Targeting the radiotherapy to the sites where the cancer has spread can delay further progression of the disease and the need for subsequent treatments, such as chemotherapy, which can have significant impact on a person's quality of life, researchers say.

The trial demonstrated that the patients' cancer did not progress for an average of six months (6.4) and two fifths (40.1 per cent) of patients remained progression-free at 12 months.

Oligoprogressive cancer occurs when cells from the original tumour travel within the body to fewer than three sites, forming new tumours or lesions.

Currently, disease progression after hormone therapy treatment is taken as a sign that the cancer has become resistant to the treatment.

However, findings from the trial revealed that it may just be some tumours that are resistant, and if the tumours are treated with radiotherapy the rest of the cancer will still respond to hormone therapy.

In the national study, which took place in cancer centres across the UK, researchers investigated whether giving SBRT along with a type of hormone therapy, called androgen receptor targeted agents, to patients with oligoprogressive prostate cancer would delay the time it takes for their cancer to progress.

The patients in the study had advanced prostate cancer that was no longer responding to regular treatment. 

However, findings from the trial revealed that it may just be some tumours that are resistant, and if the tumours are treated with radiotherapy the rest of the cancer will still respond to hormone therapy.

In the national study, which took place in cancer centres across the UK, researchers investigated whether giving SBRT along with a type of hormone therapy, called androgen receptor targeted agents, to patients with oligoprogressive prostate cancer would delay the time it takes for their cancer to progress.

The patients in the study had advanced prostate cancer that was no longer responding to regular treatment.

 More than 52,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year on average in the UK, making it the most common cancer in men. Around 12,000 men die every year from the disease — the equivalent of one every 45 minutes

They had no more than two new areas of cancer that had appeared while they were on two types of hormone therapy, after initially responding well to the treatment.

All the patients were treated with five or six treatments SBRT, which is painless and takes about 20-30 minutes for each treatment.

81 men received SBRT and most of them (67 per cent) had one oligoprogressive lesion. The areas treated were bone (59 per cent), lung (1 per cent), lymph node (32 per cent) and prostate (8 per cent).

At an average of 19.2 months, 53 (65 per cent) patients experienced progression of their disease; 32 (40 per cent) progressed within six months following SBRT treatment.

Median progression-free survival following SBRT was 6.4 months and 40 per cent of men had no evidence of cancer growth 12 months after treatment.

Researchers estimate around 2,000 to 3,000 men per year would meet the qualifying criteria above.

WHAT IS PROSTATE CANCER?

How many people does it kill? 

More than 11,800 men a year - or one every 45 minutes - are killed by the disease in Britain, compared with about 11,400 women dying of breast cancer.

It means prostate cancer is behind only lung and bowel in terms of how many people it kills in Britain. 

In the US, the disease kills 26,000 men each year.

Despite this, it receives less than half the research funding of breast cancer and treatments for the disease are trailing at least a decade behind.

How many men are diagnosed annually?

Every year, upwards of 52,300 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in the UK - more than 140 every day.   

How quickly does it develop? 

Prostate cancer usually develops slowly, so there may be no signs someone has it for many years, according to the NHS. 

If the cancer is at an early stage and not causing symptoms, a policy of 'watchful waiting' or 'active surveillance' may be adopted. 

Some patients can be cured if the disease is treated in the early stages.

But if it is diagnosed at a later stage, when it has spread, then it becomes terminal and treatment revolves around relieving symptoms.

Thousands of men are put off seeking a diagnosis because of the known side effects from treatment, including erectile dysfunction.

Tests and treatment

Tests for prostate cancer are haphazard, with accurate tools only just beginning to emerge. 

There is no national prostate screening programme as for years the tests have been too inaccurate.

Doctors struggle to distinguish between aggressive and less serious tumours, making it hard to decide on treatment.

Men over 50 are eligible for a ‘PSA’ blood test which gives doctors a rough idea of whether a patient is at risk.

But it is unreliable. Patients who get a positive result are usually given a biopsy which is also not fool-proof. 

Scientists are unsure as to what causes prostate cancer, but age, obesity and a lack of exercise are known risks. 

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In-N-Out Announces Removal of Artificial Dyes and Sweeteners to Multiple Items, Echoing RFK Jr. Concerns

 The West Coast-based burger chain noted that it is removing artificial dyes from its strawberry milkshakes and its pink lemonade.

OAN Staff Blake Wolf

“As part of our ongoing commitment to providing our customers with the highest-quality ingredients, we have removed artificial coloring from our Strawberry Shakes and Signature Pink Lemonade,” an In-N-Out spokesperson told KTLA on Wednesday. “We’re also in the process of transitioning to an upgraded ketchup, which is made with real sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup.”

Another reason to love In-N-Out 🍔🍟

"As part of our ongoing commitment to providing our customers with the highest-quality ingredients, we have removed artificial coloring from our Strawberry Shakes and Signature Pink Lemonade. We’re also in the process of transitioning to an… pic.twitter.com/v10eWF9qI3

— Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (@RepLuna) May 14, 2025

Kennedy Jr. has been a vocal critic of high-fructose corn syrup, characterizing the ingredient as a “formula for making you [both] obese and diabetic.”

Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced last month that it is phasing out eight commonly used petroleum-based artificial food dyes from the U.S. food supply by 2026 — starting with Citrus Red No. 2 and Orange B.

“For too long, some food producers have been feeding Americans petroleum-based chemicals without their knowledge or consent,” Kennedy Jr. stated. “These poisonous compounds offer no nutritional benefit and pose real, measurable dangers to our children’s health and development. That era is coming to an end. We’re restoring gold-standard science, applying common sense, and beginning to earn back the public’s trust. And we’re doing it by working with industry to get these toxic dyes out of the foods our families eat every day.”

Steak n’ Shake, another chain known for its classic American menu, also recently announced a shift to using beef tallow for its fries, as opposed to seed oils, after Kennedy Jr. called for the food industry to move away from seed oils. Due to their high unsaturation, seed oils are more prone to oxidation and rancidity. Oxidized fats can produce free radicals, which are harmful to cells and can contribute to various health problems. 

“Seed oil is one of the components of processed foods, and all the science indicates that ultra processed foods are the principal culprit in this extraordinary explosion, the epidemic we have of chronic disease,” he recently stated.

Earlier this week the FDA approved three natural food colorants — Galdieria blue, a new acid stable natural blue color from phycocyanin rich algae, butterfly pea extract, a natural colorant and flavoring agent derived from the flowers of the Clitoria ternatea plant, and calcium phosphate, a family of chemical compounds containing calcium and phosphate ions — replacing synthetic petroleum-based dyes.

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Trump earthquake hits drug pricing worldwide: Americans now to get fair deal

 Will give pharmaceutical prices to U.S. residents like those for other nations' consumers

By Bob Unruh

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy joins President Donald Trump at a news conference in the White House on Monday, May 12, 2025

The economic earthquake that is known as President Donald Trump on Monday hit the pharmaceutical industry worldwide, and the end result will be that Americans soon will be paying the same for drugs as the best deal being offered to any customers worldwide.

No longer will Americans be paying four, five or even 10 times the price for the same drug that others around the world pay, he said.

It's coming through an executive order and Trump plans for Congress to put it into the law.

It essentially will look at the best price paid for a drug by any customers around the world, and will make that same drug available at that same price to Americans.

For decades, Americans actually have been paying for literally all of the development, research and other costs of drugs.

Trump cited a friend who had pointed out that his treatment was costing him $88 while he was in London. But in New York, the same prescription cost him $1,300.

"We've been subsidizing countries around the world," Trump said. He said the drug pricing now will have "fairness" for Americans.

President Donald Trump holds a news conference in the White House on Monday, May 12, 2025

He said some drug prices would be dropping almost immediately. At the close of an hour-long news conference, Trump signed the order.

The fairness comes after the Joe Biden administration left Americans paying some 70% higher prescription costs than they were paying in 2000.

Pharmaceutical companies have been getting two-thirds of their profits from Americans, which make up 4% of the world's population.

Those companies should have no great loss, as the prices that are reduced for Americans will be made up by slightly higher prices for others around the globe.

"Basically what we're doing is equalizing … we're all going to pay the same," Trump said. "Whoever is paying the lowest price, that's the price we're going to get."

He continued, "Democrats could have done this a long time ago. They have fought like hell for the drug companies."

Trump noted he'd begun addressing drug prices during his first term.

"Joe Biden without any knowledge of what he was doing terminated the policy. Then he negotiated a new system… five of the drugs he negotiated now are much more expensive than when he got involved."

HHS chief Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pointed out this was a goal he's held for years.

"This is an extraordinary day," he said. "This was an issue people talked about … but wouldn't do anything."

He said the topic was "radioactive," as there are many more pharmaceutical industry lobbyists in Washington than members of Congress.

He called Trump a "man of his word,"

"There has never been a president more willing to stand up to the oligarchs than Donald Trump."

Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, said, "This is the most powerful executive order on pharmaceutical prices in our nation. It only happened because we have a president still to stand up…"

At that time, he said, on social media, "For many years the World has wondered why Prescription Drugs and Pharmaceuticals in the United States States of America were SO MUCH HIGHER IN PRICE THAN THEY WERE IN ANY OTHER NATION, SOMETIMES BEING FIVE TO TEN TIMES MORE EXPENSIVE THAN THE SAME DRUG, MANUFACTURED IN THE EXACT SAME LABORATORY OR PLANT, BY THE SAME COMPANY???" Trump began, having made people wait nearly four hours for his post.

"It was always difficult to explain and very embarrassing because, in fact, there was no correct or rightful answer. The Pharmaceutical/Drug Companies would say, for years, that it was Research and Development Costs, and that all of these costs were, and would be, for no reason whatsoever, borne by the 'suckers' of America, ALONE.

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