Health
→ NewsMenopause came as a surprise despite my mother's warnings.
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.
U.S. dietary guidelines say 'Eat real food' and urge more protein, less added sugar.
The 2025–2030 U.S. Dietary Guidelines recommend more whole foods and higher protein intake, and advise limiting highly processed foods and added sugars.
Stem cell engineering breakthrough yields lab-grown helper T cells for living drugs.
UBC researchers report a reliable laboratory method to produce human helper T cells from stem cells by tuning the Notch developmental signal, and the lab-grown cells showed mature markers and diverse immune receptors.
Mpox study in Africa to continue with support from Emergent and PANTHER.
Emergent BioSolutions and PANTHER have agreed to provide additional funding to continue the Africa CDC-led Mpox Study in Africa (MOSA), and an independent monitoring board reported no safety concerns after reviewing the first 50 randomized patients.
Affordable housing versus keeping a pet is a growing dilemma in Saskatoon
A Saskatoon retiree may have to choose between social housing that bans pets and keeping her cat, while local rescues report many owners surrender animals because of rental rules and fees.
At-home HPV tests are still not widely available in Canada.
U.S. health officials recently recommended broader access to at-home HPV self-testing, while Canada currently has limited availability with British Columbia running a provincial self-screening program and other provinces conducting pilots.
RFK Jr. unveils MAHA food pyramid placing protein and vegetables above grains
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. unveiled a MAHA food pyramid that emphasizes proteins and vegetables over grains, and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said the administration intends to use nutrition program spending and SNAP changes to support the new guidance.
Quebec residences receive training to be more inclusive and safer for LGBTQ+ seniors
The Émergence Foundation plans to train 10,000 people to make seniors residences in Quebec more inclusive and safer for LGBTQ+ older adults and has already trained more than 3,000 staff. A 2025 Léger survey found one-quarter of LGBTQ+ respondents in Quebec seniors residences said they hid their sexual or gender identities from staff or other residents.
Measles exposure flagged at Montreal Children's Hospital ER
Montreal Children's Hospital says people in its pediatric emergency department on Jan. 1 between 12:18 p.m. and 11:01 p.m. may have been exposed to measles; the incubation period is reported as Jan. 6–22.
Fredericton researcher launches phone program to address seniors' loneliness.
A Fredericton researcher has launched a six-week, phone-based pilot called Connections to reduce loneliness among seniors; Statistics Canada reports mood disorders among people 65 and older rose about 40% between 2015 and 2023.
Water on some planes may be unsafe, study finds
A study of more than 35,000 aircraft water samples found 2.7% tested positive for coliform bacteria; researchers reported some airlines carried potentially unsafe water and advised avoiding onboard tap water for drinking or handwashing.
Sunlight from windows may help regulate type 2 diabetes
A small European study reports that older adults with type 2 diabetes who spent time in naturally lit rooms had more hours per day with blood glucose in the normal range and showed improved metabolic profiles; participants spent 4.5 days in specially designed living spaces at Maastricht University.
Ozempic claims in Manitoba have more than quadrupled in four years
Manitoba pharmacare claims for Ozempic rose from 17,644 in 2021–22 to 88,367 in 2024–25, and Canada’s regulatory exclusivity for semaglutide ended Jan. 4, opening the door to generic versions.
U.S. flu tests show one in three positive over holidays
The CDC reported about 32.9% of U.S. influenza tests were positive for the week ending Dec. 27 and hospitalizations increased; Canada is set to release federal flu data on Friday.
CDC recommendation changes may increase vaccine hesitancy in Canada
Doctors warn the U.S. CDC's updated childhood vaccine schedule could increase confusion and vaccine hesitancy in Canada; Canadian officials say their immunization schedule remains based on current scientific evidence.
Nestlé recall of some baby formulas does not apply to Canadian products.
Nestlé is voluntarily recalling certain batches of SMA, BEBA and NAN infant formulas in several countries over possible cereulide contamination; the company and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency say the recall does not affect products sold in Canada.
Warm hugs strengthen self‑perception and a sense of security, researchers say
Researchers at Queen Mary University London linked thermoception (the perception of temperature) to self‑awareness after reviewing decades of research. They report that warmth combined with touch can increase body ownership and reinforce a feeling of security.
Weather warnings for southern B.C. as rain and snow arrive
A wet, wintry front is bringing heavy rain to Metro Vancouver and snowfall warnings across parts of southern British Columbia, with precipitation warnings reported to continue into Wednesday.
Crunchy Nutritious Bars: Nutri‑Grain launches a new whole‑grain cereal bar
Nutri‑Grain has introduced Nutri‑Grain Crunchy, a new cereal bar that contains at least 23 grams of whole grains per bar and is offered in Chocolate Chip Chia and Honey Oat Flax flavors.
Saskatchewan lowers age for breast cancer screening to 43.
Saskatchewan lowered the age of eligibility for breast cancer screening to 43 on Jan. 2 and plans to lower it further to 40 by June; advocates welcome the change but say it should have happened sooner.
Creatine-infused seasonings arrive at German fried chicken chain
ESN and Loco Chicken launched a lemon pepper seasoning infused with three grams of creatine monohydrate at hundreds of Loco Chicken locations in Germany, accompanied by limited-time promotional items such as a special edition shaker bottle and protein samples.
CFIA suspends licence for Goodfood's Montreal facility
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has suspended the licence for Goodfood Market Corp's Saint-Laurent, Quebec facility under Part Four (preventative controls) of the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations, and the CFIA said there are no recalls tied to the suspension.
Pistachio recall expands to include Peace By Chocolate and NuttyHero products.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency added several Peace By Chocolate and NuttyHero pistachio-containing products to a Canada-wide recall tied to a salmonella outbreak; the expanded list covers 333 products.
Measles update: new exposure sites reported in Morden
Manitoba Health announced new measles exposure sites in Morden and asked people who were there to monitor for symptoms and check their immunization records.
Mountain lion linked to suspected Colorado attack after earlier nearby encounter
Officials said a woman found on a Crosier Mountain trail had wounds consistent with a mountain lion attack; wildlife officers killed two mountain lions and necropsies and an autopsy are scheduled.
H3N2 flu rising in U.S. and raising concern in Canada
U.S. health officials report about 7.5 million H3N2 infections this season and roughly 81,000 hospitalizations; Health Canada will publish its next flu update next week.
Waterloo region sees earlier rise in flu cases and hospitalizations
Waterloo region reports an earlier-than-usual surge in influenza linked to a new H3N2 variation, with rising cases, hospitalizations and high test positivity.
