Health

The Portfolio Diet is a plant-focused eating pattern endorsed by major heart organizations and supported by clinical trials showing substantial LDL cholesterol reductions; even partial adherence has been linked to measurable declines in LDL levels.

The Alberta Medical Association has asked the province to declare a public health state of emergency amid overcrowding in Edmonton hospitals; the provincial government says it is using available resources and does not view a public health emergency as useful.

A USOPC clinical psychologist, Emily Clark, is leading mental health and performance support for Team USA ahead of the Winter Games in Italy on Feb. 6; she emphasizes focusing on process and sleep as key elements of performance.

Researchers report an AI called SleepFM that was trained on about 585,000 hours of polysomnography and can use one night of sleep data to predict risk for many future conditions, including some cancers, dementia and heart disease.

Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy pill is the first FDA‑approved oral GLP‑1 medicine for adults with obesity and is now widely available in the United States. The starting self-pay dose (1.5 mg) is listed at $149 per month.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control announced a reduction in routine childhood vaccine recommendations from 17 to 11. Canadian health officials say Canada will continue its own evidence-based vaccine recommendations.

Ontario Provincial Police lifted a shelter-in-place in Simcoe and confirmed two people were taken into custody.

Innisfree launched Green Tea Ceramide Milk, a milky toner combining Super Green Tea™ extract and ceramides to boost hydration and support the skin's moisture barrier.

Provincial data show influenza activity in Ontario declined after a peak around Dec. 14–20, but test positivity remains high and ICU admissions for flu increased following the holiday period.

The province's online health data hub lists two influenza deaths from late 2025; health officials say flu activity rose earlier than usual and a variant of H3N2 has been noted.

Physicians across Alberta have asked the province to declare a state of emergency, saying emergency departments are overwhelmed and some patients have died while waiting; the government says it is using all available resources and that a public health state of emergency would add nothing.

Four avian flu outbreaks near Listowel led the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to humanely depopulate about 124,000 turkeys; officials report there are about 50 farm-based avian flu outbreaks in Canada, most in B.C.

Health Canada reported influenza test positivity peaked near 33% over the holidays and declined to about 27% by the week ending Jan. 3, with overall activity described as high but stable or decreasing.

An American woman died after a reported shark bite while snorkeling at Dorsch Beach in St. Croix on Jan. 8; authorities say the investigation is ongoing.

A BMJ review of clinical trials and observational studies found that people who stopped GLP‑1 and other prescription weight‑loss drugs regained about 4.8 kg (10 lb) in the first year and modelling suggested diabetes and heart‑disease risk markers could return to pre‑treatment levels within two years.

Princess Kate was visibly emotional during a recent hospital visit and acknowledged patients' long treatment stays; she announced in March 2024 that she has an undisclosed cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy.

London Drugs will close its Woodward's store at 150-351 Abbott Street effective Feb. 1, 2026, citing persistent safety incidents and sustained operating losses; the company says it will offer staff transfers and assist with prescription transfers.

New estimates for 2019, 2020 and 2023 show HALE at birth fell to 66.9 years in 2023, about two years lower than in 2019 and 2020, while HALE at age 65 remained near 15.3 years. The decline at birth reverses gains seen after 2000 and varies by sex, income and province.

Red Deer Public Library reports more people experiencing homelessness using its branches and has shifted hiring priorities and staff training to better serve the public. Provincial and city officials have announced shelter funding and short-term warming supports, and the city has issued a request for proposals for a permanent shelter operator.

Toronto hospitals report a rise in older patients admitted with influenza; people 65+ accounted for nearly 32% of detections for the week of Dec. 20 and made up 72% of influenza admissions at Sunnybrook.

The province plans to deregulate prescribing, compounding and dispensing of traditional Chinese herbal medicine when the Health Professions and Occupations Act takes effect in April, and patients and licensed practitioners have expressed concern. Licensed practitioners held a news conference and staged a rally in Vancouver to oppose the change.

A B.C. judge found Denise Angela Norris fit to stand trial on a charge of reckless discharge of a firearm despite Crown arguments about psychosis with religious delusions; her next court appearance is a bail hearing set for Jan. 12, 2026.

Folic acid (vitamin B9) is essential for early cell and fetal development and deficiency is linked to neural tube defects; fortification and supplementation programs have reduced those risks.

Researchers reported microplastics were found accumulating in human brains, with samples from 2024 showing higher concentrations than samples from 2016 and analyses back to 1997 indicating newer samples had more microplastics.

The U.S. reported 2,144 confirmed measles cases in 2025, the highest total since 1992, and three deaths were recorded.

Health Canada requires black-and-white front-of-package labels with a magnifying-glass icon to identify foods high in sugar, saturated fat or sodium, a rule that came into force on July 20, 2022 after a long transition period.

A BMJ review found people who stopped GLP-1 weight-loss medications regained weight faster than those who stopped diet or exercise programs, averaging about 0.4 kg per month and roughly 10 kg in the first year.

A McGill University study reporting data from 2014–2024 found that crime reports within 400 metres of nine overdose prevention and supervised consumption sites in Toronto stayed the same or declined; break-and-enters rose briefly after openings but then fell over time.

Israel announced it will bar entry to foreign medical and humanitarian staff from certain NGOs unless those organizations register employee details and meet new rules. Some groups are weighing whether to submit names after several reported their international staff were refused entry this week.

A CBC personal essay recounts how the author's mother warned her about menopause, and how the author later experienced perimenopausal anxiety and other symptoms.