Health

Restaurants including Subway and Starbucks are adding higher-protein items such as Subway's Protein Pockets and Starbucks' protein lattes; chains like Sweetgreen and Cava and food firms such as Rä Foods are also expanding protein-focused offerings as companies link the shift in part to appetite changes tied to GLP-1 weight-loss drugs.

Interim analyses from France and China report moderate vaccine effectiveness in early 2025–26—about 36% in the French dataset and about 41% in the Beijing dataset—with higher effectiveness in children and lower effectiveness in older adults.

Dietitians told TODAY.com that many protein powders are ultraprocessed and should not be relied on as a main protein source; the article lists 13 whole foods that supply comparable protein along with vitamins, minerals, fiber and healthy fats.

The American Cancer Society reports U.S. five-year cancer survival has risen to about 70% from roughly 50% in the mid-1970s, while it projects about 2.1 million new cancer cases in 2026.

Forbes Vetted names five GOTS-certified organic sheet sets, led by the Avocado Organic Cotton Sheet Set, and notes organic fibers' moisture-wicking properties and chemical-free processing.

Experts report that foods eaten while traveling can reshape the gut microbiome, and that foodborne illness acquired on trips can persist and increase the risk of post-infectious digestive conditions.

Telix says the first U.S. patient has been dosed in BiPASS, a Phase 3 trial testing Illuccix and Gozellix Ga‑68 PSMA‑PET imaging combined with MRI for initial prostate cancer diagnosis; the trial will enroll about 250 patients across the U.S. and Australia.

The World Food Programme says cuts to humanitarian aid have worsened hunger across West and Central Africa, and more than three million people are projected to face emergency levels of food insecurity this year.

An early clinical trial of a multi-antigen CAR T cell therapy for pancreatic cancer reports promising safety and signals of longer survival than standard care, and investigators say larger studies are needed.

A CIDRAP op-ed examines five more common vaccine myths and reviews extensive research that has refuted links between vaccines and conditions such as autism, SIDS, autoimmune disease, and cancer; it also notes that VAERS is a passive reporting system often misused.

The article mentions Novo Nordisk shares rose more than 5% after early U.S. prescription data showed roughly 3,100 to 4,290 Wegovy pill fills in its first week following the Jan. 5 launch.

Researchers report that oral bacteria begin converting dietary sugars into acids within seconds, raising mouth acidity enough within a minute or two to start dissolving tooth enamel; saliva and competing bacteria can neutralize acids, but frequent sugar exposure can overwhelm those defenses.

Doctors report the first human coronary artery bypass graft done without opening the chest, using a transcatheter technique called VECTOR, and the patient showed no artery obstruction six months later.

A Mayo Clinic Proceedings study analyzing more than 280,000 adults found that higher reported financial stress and food insecurity were associated with more advanced cardiovascular aging, and the link persisted after accounting for traditional medical risk factors.

Cannabis companies are marketing low-dose THC gummies and beverages as a Dry January option, and reports note a sales surge in January 2024 along with a 2023 survey finding that 21% of participants swapped alcohol for cannabis.

Medical experts say the safest alcohol level is probably zero but note many people drink; they identify higher risk for those with early drinking onset, a family history of alcoholism, or certain health risks for women.

A writer reports that Sofie Pavitt's Mandelic Clearing Serum reduced her breakouts and smoothed her skin within weeks when used nightly in the months before her wedding.

Kenya has launched the National Cervical Cancer Elimination Action Plan 2026–2030 with support from the World Health Organization; cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women in Kenya, with about 2,300 new cases and 1,600 deaths reported each year.

The U.S. Agriculture Department said it ran simulations showing about $3 a meal meeting its dietary guidelines; Wall Street Journal reporters found examples in Boston and New Orleans that came in around $2.39 to $2.96, though portions were modest.

A head-to-head check of 12 Trader Joe's private-label items found they were largely nutritionally similar to comparable products at Stop & Shop and Foodtown, while Trader Joe's often had lower prices.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said USDA simulations indicate some meals meeting the administration's revised dietary guidelines can cost about $3 each, and the department offered sample low-cost food lists; critics and experts questioned the practicality of those examples amid rising food prices.

Nurses at several major New York hospitals have gone on strike citing chronic understaffing and patient safety concerns; university research and surveys report widespread inadequate staffing and rising turnover.

A 19-year-old Shrewsbury school employee was arrested after police say child pornography images were found on his social media account; authorities say the district will cooperate with Lunenburg police and conduct its own investigation.

In the Jan. 15 episode, Jo remains hospitalized after an emergency C-section while her premature twins are in the NICU; she displays emotional and hormonal difficulties and breaks down after being denied access to a fellow patient's chart.

The author’s father was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2014 and died in May 2015; during his treatment he responded to the question 'Why him?' with, 'Why not me,' a phrase that shaped the author’s perspective.

Baltimore City Council is reviewing how police respond to mental health crises after two people died following encounters with officers last summer; officials are considering civilian response teams and expect cost estimates in about three weeks.

Twelve Johns Hopkins affiliates will be honored at the 44th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration; eleven received the 2025 Community Service Award and Alvin "Joe" D'Angelo will receive the 2026 Levi Watkins Jr. Ideals Award.

The FDA and Spring & Mulberry expanded a nationwide recall from one to eight date‑sweetened chocolate products after a routine test reportedly detected Salmonella, and the company says no confirmed illnesses have been reported.

A decade after carfentanil and other synthetic opioids arrived in 2016, Cincinnati-area officials report four consecutive years of falling overdose deaths; the CDC says national overdose deaths peaked in 2023 and were estimated near 73,000 for the 12 months ending August 2025.

Food companies and social media attention have helped push dietary fiber into the spotlight, while studies and health organizations report most U.S. adults still fall short of recommended daily fiber amounts.