By Mingyu Zhang, PhD, MHS
Imagine living in a city with strict environmental regulations. Then one day, the authorities announce that the city must switch to an alternative water source. Why? Because the current water supply has been contaminated – it’s no longer safe for drinking, cooking, or bathing. Suddenly, you and your family are living in fear of an invisible enemy that you cannot see, taste, or smell.

This is not a hypothetical scenario. It happened in Cambridge, MA in August 2022 when elevated levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were found in the drinking water. PFAS are chemicals used in a wide range of products, including food packaging, non-stick cookware, carpets, and waterproof clothing. Known as “forever chemicals”, PFAS are extremely stable and resist degradation. While this stability is beneficial for creating products that resist water, grease, and stains, it also means that PFAS can accumulate in the environment and our bodies, leading to widespread exposure.

​Patients often wonder if there are any holistic remedies or natural supplements they can take to support their health. One of the most often asked about supplements are probiotics, or “good” bacteria (lactobacilli strains specifically), which are found naturally in fermented foods, such as yogurts, or in beverages like Kombucha. Probiotics are hypothesized to be beneficial for gut microbiota, GI symptoms, removing toxins, improving mood/cognitive function, and even reducing cholesterol levels and improving hypertension. One of the most important questions is, however, is there any benefit to probiotic supplementation in otherwise healthy individuals?

Yi Ying Ong, PhD ​

​Have you ever wondered, is faster growth in early life linked to faster brain development and smarter children? Undoubtedly, the brain undergoes remarkable growth during both fetal development and the early years of life, playing a role in the establishment of diverse cognitive processes. Poor fetal growth, stunting (too short), or wasting (too thin) have been consistently linked to poorer cognition. Healthy growth in early life is therefore important for brain growth and development. But is faster growth better in general? Conflicting findings from limited studies in high-income countries raise questions about whether we have reached the limits of biological intelligence that better growth can confer, and whether there are any negative impacts of excessive growth at specific early life periods on cognition. Our study aimed to address these questions.

​One of the most popular child feeding “hacks” is sneaking vegetables into a more kid-friendly food so that the child will unwittingly them. Vegetables are one of the most universal sources of parental feeding angst. However, the typical rejection of vegetables can be easier to manage when parents recognize that this is just a normal kid thing. Here is a quick summary of what is going on:

​“You are not alone” is a phase I have used many times as a volunteer crisis counselor with the Crisis Text Line. This phrase rings especially true when I must use it with texters who struggle with body image or an eating disorder. While I have been in recovery for several years now, each time I get a texter who describes what they are going through, I feel as though I am reading my own diary. And it really is true; we are far from the only ones. The lifetime likelihood of developing an eating disorder for women is between 1.0% to 22.7% and though symptoms may vary in duration, severity, and type, they can impact all parts of a woman’s life. The American Psychiatric Association defines eating disorders as: “behavioral conditions characterized by severe and persistent disturbance in eating behaviors and associated distressing thoughts and emotions”. Anorexia, Bulimia, and Binge Eating disorder are the three most common, each having their own physical and nonphysical symptoms. Some symptoms of Anorexia are severely limiting food intake or a fear of gaining weight, Binge Eating Disorder symptoms includes consuming large amounts of food in a short period of time even after feeling and Bulimia symptoms includes inappropriate compensatory behaviors after an episode of binge eating. Eating disorders are linked to a decreased quality of life, with lower scores of overall, emotional, and psychological wellbeing compared to the general population. Comorbidity with other psychological conditions, such as depression and anxiety is common with eating disorders and can make the conditions worse.