Frequently featured in flavorful recipes like pies, curries, cookies, and trail mix, pumpkin and pumpkin seeds are staple ingredients in many households, especially during the holidays.

Although most people prefer eating them cooked or roasted, you can also eat pumpkin and pumpkin seeds raw.

Still, key differences set apart raw and cooked varieties, especially in terms of taste, texture, and nutritional value.

This article explains how raw and cooked pumpkin and pumpkin seeds compare with one another.

Raw pumpkin and pumpkin seeds may differ slightly in nutrients compared with their cooked counterparts.

In fact, cooking often decreases the content of water-soluble vitamins, including B vitamins like riboflavin, thiamine, and niacin, as well as vitamin C (1).

Cooked pumpkin may also contain slightly lower amounts of vitamin A, copper, and potassium (2, 3).

This table compares 3.5 ounces (100 grams) of raw and boiled pumpkin (2, 3):

Although cooking may lead to a loss of micronutrients, one study found that roasting pumpkin seeds increased their antioxidant, phenol, and flavonoid contents (4).

Soaking and cooking these seeds may also reduce their amount of antinutrients, which are compounds that impair the absorption of certain minerals in your body (5).

Nonetheless, roasting them may increase the formation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are harmful compounds that are considered carcinogenic (6, 7, 8).

Raw pumpkin is slightly higher in water-soluble vitamins and other nutrients than cooked pumpkin. Still, raw pumpkin seeds may have fewer antioxidants and more antinutrients than roasted seeds.

Pumpkin and pumpkin seeds also taste a little different when raw rather than cooked.

Raw pumpkin has a fresh, somewhat bitter flavor and a fibrous, stringy texture. Because it can be difficult to eat on its own, its usually pured or grated.

Cooked pumpkin, on the other hand, is sweeter. Its taste is often compared to sweet potatoes or squash.

Meanwhile, raw pumpkin seeds have a very mild flavor and chewy texture. As such, many people prefer roasting them, which gives the seeds a savory, nutty taste and crunchier texture.

Raw pumpkin is more fibrous and less sweet than cooked varieties, while raw pumpkin seeds are chewier and blander than roasted seeds.

Eating raw foods may increase your risk of food poisoning. This is especially true with raw pumpkin seeds, which may harbor harmful bacteria like Salmonella and E. coli.

If consumed, these bacteria may cause foodborne illness, leading to symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and stomach cramps (9).

Whats more, sprouting and drying seeds does not completely eliminate these pathogens (10, 11).

However, outbreaks of foodborne illness from pumpkin seeds are rare. Regulatory bodies like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) work closely with food manufacturers to prevent contamination (12).

If youre particularly concerned about food poisoning, you should cook pumpkin and pumpkin seeds thoroughly. Its also important to practice proper food safety, store pumpkin seeds in an airtight container, and eat them within 23 months (13, 14).

Raw pumpkin and its seeds may contain harmful bacteria that cause foodborne illness. Practicing proper food safety minimizes your risk of infection.

There are plenty of ways to enjoy pumpkin and pumpkin seeds whether raw or cooked.

Raw pumpkin can be pured and mixed into cottage cheese or grated and used as a nutrient-dense topping for salads and baked goods.

Meanwhile, cooked pumpkin works well in soups, stir-fries, curries, and desserts.

Pumpkin seeds can be seasoned and enjoyed raw or roasted for a simple snack option. They can also add crunch to soups, salads, sandwiches, and homemade trail mix.

Pumpkin and pumpkin seeds make great ingredients in soups and salads, as well as numerous other dishes, whether raw or cooked.

Raw foods may contain harmful bacteria, but outbreaks of foodborne illness from eating raw pumpkin and pumpkin seeds are rare.

While raw pumpkin and its seeds may have slightly more vitamins and minerals, their taste and texture are often considered less appetizing. They may also contain more antinutrients and fewer antioxidants than their cooked counterparts.

Regardless of whether you eat these foods raw or cooked, be sure to practice proper food safety and enjoy them as part of a healthy, well-rounded diet.

Read more here:
Is Raw Pumpkin Safe to Eat? Benefits, Side Effects, and More - Healthline

The keto diet has rapidly grown in popularity over the last several years as a method for weight loss which calls for prioritizing healthy fat and protein while keeping carb consumption to a minimum. Carbohydrates are traditionally more calorically dense foods, so the idea is that the keto diet will send your body into ketosis without these carbs, expediting fat burn and improving your metabolism for faster weight loss.

This diet has quickly picked up speed as a fad diet which can carry some health benefits if you struggle with certain food intolerances, but many people dont know the details of the ketogenic diet before implementing it into their own lives. Before you turn to this eating plan for weight loss, we asked the experts all the questions you didnt know you needed to be asking about this diet. Is it really safe for long term weight loss? Lets find out.

Beauty Experts Swear By This Collagen Powder For Younger Looking Skin

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As mentioned above, the keto diet is a low carb, medium protein, and high fat diet which is intended to send your body into ketosis. This is a state of fat burning which makes it easier for your body to lose weight quickly and is set into action when your body does not have carbs to use as fuel. The ketogenic diet can be a safe method for weight loss for a short period of time, says registered dietitian Trista Best. Followers of the keto diet note that alongside weight loss, the diet also provides them with stronger mental clarity, lower blood sugar, and lower insulin levels. However, carbs are a valuable energy source for the body, and cutting them out of your diet can have implications on your health when followed for a longer period of time.

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While in the short term you can see some significant changes in your body from following the keto diet, research has shown that sticking to this diet for an extended period of time can prove to be detrimental to your overall health. Dieting is a difficult concept because it requires you to deprive your body, and the keto mindset is no different. Carbs are a positive energy source for your body, and when you deprive yourself it can be incredibly difficult to stick to over long periods of time, making for short lived results.

As for effectiveness, studies show that it promotes weight loss in the first 6 months and some positive changes, including a reduction in serum hemoglobin A1c, in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2. Therefore it may be helpful for diabetics and others with abnormal glucose tolerance because it means that there is little insulin release making weight loss somewhat easier in these groups, notes Julie Miller Jones, PhD, LN, CNS.

That being said, if you arent diabetic or do not struggle with a glucose intolerance, keto may not actually be a great fit for you. A recent study showed that those getting 50% of their calories from carbohydrates lived an average of 4 years longer than those eating a higher or lower percentage. Some doctors are even trying it for various cognitive disorders such as Alzheimers, but there is no clear-cut evidence of its effectiveness, notes Jones.

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Ketosis is achieved by eliminating the majority of carbs from your diet, making it necessary to commit entirely to this eating plan rather than easing in to see actual results. However, since it is such a restrictive diet, it can be difficult to stick to completely, and you may be depriving yourself most of the time while still not seeing positive results if you arent going all in. It can be difficult to stick to the ketogenic diet when eating outside of the home. This is primarily due to not knowing the exact carbohydrate content in certain recipes. Some may seem to be low carb and high fat, but with added ingredients it can be hard to know for sure. This could potentially lead to the person being knocked out of ketosis, explains Best.

In addition, carbs are genuinely important to your overall health and energy levels, and removing them from your diet is not a sustainable change to make for the rest of your life. Therefore, if you remove them in the short term, you will likely gain the weight you lost back when you re-add carbs to your diet. Lack of carbs isnt the only possible issue with the keto diet, and this eating plan can come with a slew of other health issues. Some of the negative aspects of the ketogenic diet include skin rash, dangerous ketoacidosis, brain fog, severe diet restriction, and potential for increased cholesterol, warns nutritionist Lisa Richards. The weight loss claims are true, but without addressing the reality of rapid weight gain post-diet. Keto may be helpful for a short period of time, but it is best to follow a balanced diet for weight loss and health.

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We Investigate: Is The Keto Diet Actually Safe For Weight Loss? - SheFinds

The Pre-Summit of the UN Food Systems is an opportunity to set the agenda for how we will boldly and collectively strengthen food systems, promote healthy diets, and improve nutrition, especially for children and young people.

Even before the pandemic, children were bearing the brunt of broken food systems and poor diets, leading to an alarming nutrition and health crisis worldwide, and a triple burden of malnutrition: undernutrition, in the form of stunting and wasting, widespread micronutrient deficiencies, and a growing prevalence of overweight and obesity.

Globally, 1 in 3 children is not growing well due to malnutrition a leading cause of child mortality worldwide while 2 in 3 dont have access to the minimum diverse diets they need to grow, develop and learn. We continue to see stubbornly high rates of wasting, and a worrying increase in overweight and obesity among young children.

In recent decades, changes in our global food systems including the practices used to grow, distribute, market, consume, and dispose of our food mean that the most nutritious and safe foods are too costly or inaccessible to millions of families. Many increasingly turn to processed foods that are affordable, widely available, and aggressively marketed, but often high in unhealthy sugar, fats and salt.

A toxic combination of rising poverty, inequality, conflict, climate change, and COVID-19 is further threatening food systems and childrens nutritional well-being, especially those from the poorest and most vulnerable communities and households.

A transformation of the food system that listens to the voices of children and young people, and unlocks nutritious, safe, affordable and sustainable diets for every child, everywhere, must be at the heart of strategies, policies and investments. UNICEF and WHO call on governments and decision-makers to scale up effective approaches that include:

Only then will we improve the quality, safety and affordability of the foods that children and young people have access to; the environments in which they grow, learn, play and eat, and the sustainability of the planet they live in.

By joining forces with governments, civil society, families, development and humanitarian partners, private sector stakeholders, and children and young people themselves, we can uphold our promise to deliver good nutrition and a healthier planet for every child and every adult, everywhere.

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About UNICEF

UNICEF works in some of the worlds toughest places, to reach the worlds most disadvantaged children. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone.

For more information about UNICEF and its work for children visit http://www.unicef.org

Follow UNICEF onTwitter,Facebook,InstagramandYouTube

About WHO

The World Health Organization provides global leadership in public health within the United Nations system. Founded in 1948, WHO works with194 Member States, across six regions and from149offices,to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable. Our goal for 2019-2023 is to ensure that a billion more people have universal health coverage, to protect a billion more people from health emergencies, and provide a further billion people with better health and wellbeing.

For updates on COVID-19 and public health advice to protect yourself from coronavirus,visitwww.who.intand follow WHO onTwitter,Facebook,Instagram,LinkedIn,TikTok,Pinterest,Snapchat,YouTube,Twitch

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Joint statement by UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore and WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus for the Pre-Summit of the UN Food...

It might surprise you to learn that certain food additives found in bread, baked goods, and candy on grocery store shelves in the United States arent allowed in Europe. Likewise, European Union regulations prohibit the use of different drugs and hormones given to farm animals to promote growth or increase milk production that are permitted in the United States.

How can a food additive be considered a cancer risk on one continent yet safe on another? Keep reading to find out how the United States' approach to food safety influences the ingredients in your food, and what you need to know about additives that are prohibited in Europe but still deemed safe by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Europe takes a more precautionary approach to evaluating chemicals and additives compared to the United States, says Justin J. Kastner, PhD, associate professor in the department of diagnostic medicine and pathobiology at Kansas State University in Manhattan.

One key difference is that historically the United States has been more insistent in focusing on the probability or likelihood of hazards or bad things occurring, and the European Union approach has been more precautionary; they give attention to not just probabilities of something going wrong, but also the mere possibility, says Dr. Kastner. That has resulted in the EU banning more additives than the United States, he adds.

RELATED: Potentially Toxic Chemicals PFAS Are Common in Makeup Products, Study Finds

The European Union is more conservative in the way they regulate food additives, agrees Sheela Sathyanarayana, MD, associate professor of pediatrics and adjunct associate professor within the department of environmental and occupational health sciences at the University of Washington in Seattle. Dr. Sathyanarayana currently serves on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys Scientific Advisory Board for the Toxics Substances Control Act.

Another difference between the United States and Europe is that the food industry has a very strong lobbying presence in the United States. A lot of times those voices are really heard, and they help drive the creation of regulation and policy that exists around these kinds of additives, says Sathyanarayana.

Although the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revised the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) so that chemicals may be evaluated before they are put on the market, it didnt really account for the legacy of decades of things that are already out there, says Sathyanarayana.

By contrast, the European food chemical review system recently implemented a system where they reevaluated all approved food chemicals, says Maegan McBride, MPH, science policy associate at the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) in Washington, D.C.

CSPI is an independent consumer advocacy organization founded in 1971 that provides practical and science-based advice around food safety.

Because the United States doesnt have a system in place for reevaluation, it means that certain chemicals havent been reevaluated since they were first approved, which could have been any number of years ago, says McBride. Its important to reevaluate because the field of toxicology is always progressing, she adds.

RELATED: California Bans 24 Toxic Chemicals in Personal-Care Products

Manufacturers are really paying attention to some of these issues because now there are consumers who are saying, "We dont want these things in our food," says Sathyanarayana. Almost every manufacturer has a natural or alternative product line, or they have acquired one for their portfolio. I do think that theres a trend toward paying attention to these kinds of things and hopefully trying to eliminate them when they can, she says.

There are definitely challenges in determining cancer risk of additives in humans, says McBride.

When there is a chemical of concern or its suspected that its associated with an adverse outcome such as cancer, its unethical to conduct the gold standard of research studies, which would be a randomized placebo-controlled trial in humans, she says.

It would be unethical to administer something to someone that you thought might have potential to hurt them; that makes it difficult to get very strong evidence in humans and why its so common to see animal testing in these cases, or more observational studies in humans, adds McBride.

Although lab studies cant always predict if a substance will cause cancer, most carcinogens that are found to cause cancer in lab animals are later found to cause cancer in people, according to the American Cancer Society. That said, most of the time animals are exposed to much higher amounts of the substance than a person who typically encounter and so its difficult to determine risk. According to the American Cancer Society, if a substance is found to cause cancer in animals it is reasonable for public health purposes to assume that lowering human exposure will reduce risk.

Because most chemicals and additives known to cause cancer in animals have not been proven to cause cancer in people, they are sometimes called possible human carcinogens, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

RELATED: Food Rx: A Cancer Expert Shares What He Eats in a Day

Heres a rundown of food additives that arent allowed in Europe but are still used in the United States:

This additive is used for coloring and is found in Skittles, Starburst, baked goods, soups, broths, sauces, and sandwich spreads. Titanium dioxide is something that can build up over time it doesnt get excreted very well, says Sathyanarayana.

The additive has been shown to be genotoxic in studies, which is why it is banned in Europe, she explains. Genotoxicity refers to the ability of a chemical substance to damage DNA, which is the genetic material in all cells, and it may lead to carcinogenic, or cancerous, effects.

On May 6, 2021, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) issued a statement that it no longer considered titanium dioxide safe when used as a food additive. The EU regulators didnt find conclusive evidence on the toxic effects of titanium dioxide, but they couldnt rule out a concern for genotoxicity. Consequently, they couldnt establish a safe level of daily intake of the additive.

Although the EFSAs recommendation likely means the additive will be banned eventually, it hasnt happened yet that will be decided by the European Commission and Member States. Right now, neither the CSPI nor the EFSA have issued recommendations on whether people should eliminate titanium dioxide from their diets.

This additive is used in white flour, bread, and rolls to increase the volume of the bread and give it a fine crumb (not crusty) structure. Most bromate rapidly breaks down to form bromide, which is harmless. However, bromate has been shown to cause cancer in animals, and trace amounts of the chemical may remain in bread which could potentially be a small health risk to consumers, says McBride.

Bromate has been banned in most countries around the world except for Japan and the United States. In 1999, CSPI petitioned the FDA to ban bromate, and it recommends consumers avoid this additive. Many millers and bakers have stopped using bromate, and its rarely used in California because a cancer warning may have to be included on the label, according to the organization.

In 1986, California created a law called Proposition 65 that requires businesses to provide warnings on product labels if it contains a chemical that may cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm. Some food and product safety experts consider the state a bellwether for such regulation.

This additive is typically found in bread and packaged baked good products, says McBride.

According to CSPI, the two potentially risky chemicals form when azodicarbonamide is baked. One of those, semicarbazide, doesnt appear to pose a risk to humans, but the second breakdown product, urethane, is a recognized carcinogen.

Although the risk is small, CSPI claims azodicarbonamide isnt necessary for the food supply and should be banned in the United States, and they recommend avoiding it.

These additives work as preservatives for foods that contain oils or fats. It preserves foods and keeps them from getting rancid, says McBride.

There is concern for cancer risk with BHA, she says. Aprevious study found that BHA caused cancer in the forestomach of rats and concluded that the additive should be classified in the category of sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) criteria. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services stated that BHA is reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen in a 2011 report. CSPI recommends people avoid consuming BHA.

BHT is the chemical cousin to BHA and the two compounds are often used together, according to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a nonprofit that works to protect public health. Its not listed as a carcinogen, but there have been studies where rats fed BHT have developed cancer, and it has been shown to cause developmental effects and thyroid changes in animals, according to a safety report on BHA.

EWG recommends avoiding BHT, especially when its used along with BHA.

There was big movement that was featured prominently in the news a little more than a decade ago for the dairy industry to be hormone-free, says Sathyanarayana. There are some brands of hormone-free dairy products available, but there are many that still contain them, she says.

The major concern is that there are hormone-dependent cancers there is concern that if youre exposed those hormones, are you increasing your cancer risk down the line? she explains.

Not everyone agrees that this poses a risk, says Sathyanarayana. Some people will say that these hormones arent biologically active hormones that are getting transferred to the human body, but others would say that we dont know because all of that data comes from animal studies its not coming from human studies, she says.

Hormones affect almost every system in our body, so if there is hormonal transfer that could influence health, she explains. Many of those hormones used are steroid hormones such as testosterone and androgen, which are found naturally in our bodies, but if you have higher concentrations of them, they could certainly be associated with health risks, she says.

There isnt a scientific consensus on whether products that come from rBGH-treated cows pose a risk to health, says Sathyanarayana. If you want to avoid milk with added hormones, buy products that state rBGH-free milk or rBST-free milk or from cows not supplemented with rBST, according to the Milk Processor Education Program (MilkPEP).

Synthetic dyes give color to food products, but they arent necessary, and they are often used create the impression that the food contains real fruits or vegetables even when they dont, says McBride.

We have some information that those dyes have been associated with hyperactivity and behavioral changes in kids. Theres not a huge amount of literature, but the small amount that we do have makes us concerned, says Sathyanarayana.

A report released in April 2021 by the California Environmental Protection Agencys Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment found that current federal guidelines for safe levels of intake of synthetic food dyes may not be enough to protect childrens behavioral health. The agency concluded that children are exposed to multiple dyes in a day and their effects on the individual can vary.

Guidelines for the FDAs Acceptable Daily Intake levels (ADIs) are based on 35-to 70-year old studies; if newer research were used to revise those levels, they would be much lower, write the authors of the report.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, existing research raises concerns about these dyes and their role in child behavior and exacerbating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and eliminating them may be beneficial. CSPI recommends avoiding all three of these synthetic dyes.

This additive was once found in popular drinks like Mountain Dew and Gatorade, but pressure from the public, including an online petition from a Mississippi teenager, led Coca-Cola and PepsiCo to stop using BVO in their products. There are some beverages, such as the Keurig Dr. Peppers soda, Sundrop, and generic lemon-lime drinks, that still contain BVO.

BVO is associated with potential health risks, including harm to the nervous system. One early study found that rats that consumed large quantities of BVO showed significant reproductive harm.

The FDAs position on BVO is that it can be used safely on an interim basis provided that drinks contained less than 15 parts per million in the finished beverage; the average drink that contains BVO contains about half that amount.

CSPI recommends avoiding products that contain BVO.

RELATED: How Safe Is the Food We Eat and Serve Our Families?

The current regulatory system in the United States leaves much of the work of figuring out whats safe or unsafe to the consumer, says Sathyanarayana. If you want to eliminate or reduce food additives in your diet, she offers these tips:

Consume fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables whenever possible. Try to focus on consuming fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables and move away from eating processed foods, she says.

You have to be practical about it. We live in an industrialized world, people are working a lot, and we dont have time to make everything from scratch. You can make a lot of good food from frozen ingredients where you dont have to do all the washing and chopping that some fresh vegetables require, she says.

Read product labels. Were putting a huge burden on consumers by asking them to do that its really time consuming and hard. But if you are a label reader, selecting foods with fewer ingredients is typically the best way to go, says Sathyanarayana.

Foods that are labeled organic can help take some of the guesswork out. In packaged foods, those given an organic designation are prohibited from using ingredients that have an adverse effect on human health, according to the EWG. Synthetic ingredients added to organic packaged foods must also be reviewed every five years.

Seek out resources to help you. Consumer advocacy groups such as CSPI and EWG provide lists of additives you should reduce or avoid.

There also phone apps available to help you make sure the foods youre buying are safe just search food ingredients scanner in the App Store. Two such apps are Sift Food Labels and Ingredio, which use pictures of food ingredients on the label or a bar code and alert you of any potentially risky additives.

Search for products with fewer and more natural ingredients. Snack bars are a good example of a way people can reduce the additives in their diet, says Sathyanarayana. Some of these can have a very complicated list of ingredients. I would recommend seeking out the bars that have just a handful of recognizable ingredients nuts, nut butters, or fruits, she says.

Dont fall into the "all or nothing" trap. Overall, when I talk with families and patients, we discuss what they can do to limit their exposure to processed foods and maximize nutrition and healthy eating, says Sathyanarayana. You dont have to be all or nothing, but try to reduce things that are highly proceeded and full of additives like ultra-spicy bright orange corn snacks, she adds.

Excerpt from:
Why Are Some Food Additives That Are Banned In Europe Still Used in the US? - Everyday Health

Can my kids go back to playing sports or doing other group activities outdoors? Should they take any particular precautions?

Dr. Omer: It depends on the activity. I think for most activities they can remove the mask right now. This might change if theres a change in infection rates.

Dr. Smith: This will also depend on local levels of spread. This should be fairly safe in general, but any extended time in close contact with others, even outdoors, can increase risk.

Dr. Moody: Any child with cold or flu symptoms should not be participating, period. With that assumption, I would say that outdoor sports and activities dont pose a huge risk, but that masking should be maintained if exertion levels permit. As with everything else, nothing is zero risk.

Is it safe for my kids to participate in indoor sports or activities, like basketball or indoor swimming? What can they do to stay safe?

Dr. Smith: I would look at local levels of spread and the size and ventilation of indoor locations. A very large location with good airflow, like a gymnasium with fans and open doors and a small number of people, would be less risky than a small workout room with minimal ventilation and lots of people. Masks are still recommended if indoors.

Dr. Moody: For indoor sports and activities, I would recommend masking as much as possible, recognizing that some activities like swimming are impractical. Where masking isnt feasible, distancing is helpful. For sports like basketball which cannot be done without close contact, the team culture will probably dictate the risk, but things like masking while on the bench can help.

Like school, summer camps are filled with mostly unvaccinated kids, but many activities are outdoors. Is there any way my kids can safely go to summer camp?

Dr. Omer: Yes, as long as they wear a mask indoors. Its always a good idea to encourage outside activities anyway in these situations.

Dr. Smith: An outdoor day camp would be less risky than an extended overnight camp, with large groups of kids from different areas crowded into bunks together. Ask the camps what mitigation measures they have in place, if meals would be outdoors or inside in a crowded cafeteria, and what happens during rainy days.

Dr. Moody: In general, I think summer camps appear to be pretty safe based both on data from last summer and what we are seeing this summer. This is a situation where the child development benefits are huge, and so Im really in favor of kids going to camps so long as some degree of masking and distancing can be maintained. Having the activities in well-ventilated and outdoor spaces certainly helps.

Can kids safely go into crowded indoor areas like movie theaters or childrens gyms, as long as they wear a mask?

Dr. Omer: If youre unvaccinated its not a great idea to do these super-crowded activities. For the vaccinated, its perfectly fine, but I would still recommend wearing a mask if you dont know everyones vaccination status.

Dr. Smith: The CDC puts crowded indoor activities as their highest-risk category (least safe), which includes movie theaters. Risk can be reduced if everyone is masked, but space and ventilation are also key. I know some movie theaters are renting out spaces for private movies; perhaps something like this could be done instead.

Dr. Moody: Its all about balancing risks. For indoor venues, its all about density. Low-density indoor activities where people are masked are higher risk than not going, but lower risk than if the venue is packed.

Continued here:
3 Experts on What Unvaccinated Kids CanAnd CantDo Safely These Days - Self

A protein called PARIS is known as a key factor in driving Parkinson's disease because it slows the production of another protein that normally shields dopamine-producing neurons. Now researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have fresh evidence that a compound found in fruit deactivates PARIS.Their findingscould inform the development of novel Parkinson's disease drug candidates, the researchers said.

The compound, farnesol, a natural component of herbs and fruits that isused in perfumes and flavorings, blocked PARIS and prevented the loss of dopamine-producing neurons in mouse models of Parkinson's, the researchers reported in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

Ted Dawson, M.D., Ph.D., director of the university's Institute for Cell Engineering, explained in an interview that the researchers started by looking for compounds that stimulate another protein, PGC-1alpha, which protects dopamine-producing neurons. "We knew that that's how PARIS exerted its toxicitythrough inhibiting PGC-1alpha," said Dawson, who is a scientific co-founder and advisor to Neuraly, a startup withParkinson's and Alzheimer's drug candidates in the clinic. The team identified multiple compounds and decided to zero in on farnesol.

They then fed some mice a diet that contained farnesol and compared them to mice who were fed a regular diet for one week. The researchers then administered alpha-synuclein, a protein associated with Parkinson's effects in the brain, to the mice. Dawson was part of a Johns Hopkins team that previously discoveredalpha-synuclein can travel from the gut to the brain.

RELATED:New evidence of a link between Parkinson's disease and the gut could inspire treatments

The mice that had consumed farnesol were better at strength and coordination tests aimed at assessing Parkinson's symptoms, and they had twice as many healthy dopamine neurons as did the animals that consumed a regular diet. The farnesol-fed mice expressed about 55% more PGC-1alpha, the researchers reported.

The team discovered that farnesol attaches to PARIS and changes its shape in a way that prevents it from interfering withPGC-1alpha.

Dawson said the positive effects of farnesol areno surprise. But the amount of farnesol that humans get through their diets is unclear, and safe doses have not yet been determined. He and his team hope their insights from the study will inspire efforts to develop drugs that inhibit PARIS.

In fact, said Dawson, he has reached out toNeuraly and its parent company D&D Pharmatech. "Weve been having preliminary discussions with them about whether they would be interested in doing a campaign for PARIS inhibitors," Dawson said.

Read more:
Fruit compound reverses brain damage in mouse models of Parkinson's - FierceBiotech

LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / July 29, 2021 / Rapid Nutrition PLC(BOURSE:ALRPD)(OTCQB:RPNRF), a natural healthcare company focused on sports nutrition, diet management and life sciences products with increasing worldwide distribution, is continuing to benefit from its focus on organic health and wellness across the globe as its cadre of Swiss investors exercises additional conversion notices. This action provides strong indication that the company's management team is making further progress in its key strategies and outreach.

"It is heartening to see some of our largest investors further back our management team, which remains focused on enhancing shareholder value and continuing to strengthen our global presence and initiatives," said Rapid Nutrition CEO Simon St. Ledger. "This capital increase reinforces our growth strategy while bolstering our balance sheet as we move into the second half of the year with a mind towards implementation and growth. As always, we appreciate the notable vote of confidence."

Earlier this year, Rapid Nutrition announced that it had collectively placed convertible instruments notably with Swiss Asset Manager Alternative Gestion S.A and Nice & Green an independent Swiss investment company. This conversion will increase Rapid Nutrition's share capital to a total number of voting rights of 43,279,811, pursuant to the entry in the commercial register. The proceeds dedicated to funding the company's growth plans in 2021 and beyond.

The new shares will be allotted subject only to admission to listing of the new shares. Such listing is expected to take place in due course.

About Rapid Nutrition

Dedicated to the development and distribution of premium, science-based health and wellness brands across the globe, Rapid Nutrition shares a wealth of award-winning products with consumers who are passionate about innovations that are "made by nature, refined by science." Rapid Nutrition's first-class scientific team matches the experience of its management team to keep both the company and consumers on top of the latest industry trends and developments, while aligning with industry leaders worldwide to deliver effective supplements and solutions. Rapid Nutrition aims to be the supplier of choice globally by offering premium brands with the highest-quality ingredients to deliver maximum results.

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For more information, please visit http://rnplc.com

Investor Relations Contact:

ir@rnplc.com

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What are you doing, silly? (Picture: Getty Images/EyeEm)

Picture the scene: you and your dog are chilling outside, having a lovely old time.

Then, for no discernable reason at all, your little friend starts snaffling up some grass.

While at first this could be slightly alarming, especially to new dog owners who are still learning what is and isnt safe for their pets to eat, you neednt necessarily be worried.

Heres what you should know about whether your dogs grass habit is normal and what it could mean

Dr. Nick Thompson, a vet working with ProDog Raw, tells Metro.co.uk that dogs eating a little bit of grass is nothing to worry about.

However, if your little buddy is eating loads of grass, it could be a sign that theyre currently not getting a balanced diet.

He says: If a dog isnt getting enough fibre, they will try and boost this with grass. Similarly, if a dog isnt getting enough greens in their diet, they will eat grass for the chlorophyll goodness.

Sometimes eating grass can be just a habit, or if they live with another dog that also eats a lot of grass they can pick it up from them.

Dogs can eat grass as a way of self-medication. If a dog suddenly starts eating grass it could be because they are feeling nauseous, and will eat the grass to try and induce vomiting.

If the dog is continually eating grass, and has repeated urges to eat grass as soon as they get outside, this may be cause for concern.

Some dogs dont discriminate between grass and other plants, but you should always make sure theyre not eating something they shouldnt.

The plants they should stay away from are:

Daisies

While eating dasies isnt likely to kill your dog, they should still probably steer clear of them.

If a dog eats daisies, they can get diarrhoea depending on their sensitivity and how much they eat, says Dr. Nick.

If a dog is eating a lot of daisies, it is a good idea to look at their diet. A good balanced raw food diet is going to be really good for the gut, and should mean that a dog shouldnt be looking to eat daisies.

Hedge Bindweed

Dogs shouldnt want to eat these, says Dr. Nick, but they may accidentally eat them while eating grass.

This can cause vomiting and lead to organ failure if a dog is seen to be eating hedge bindweed it is recommended to take them to the vet with a sample of the plant.

Lambs Quarter

Lambs Quarter is generally considered toxic in dogs, but if your dog gets their chops on a small amount, Dr. Nick says it shouldnt be anything to worry about.

Euphorbia

Euphorbiais very toxic for dogs, but it looks a lot like Chickweed, which is non-toxic.

Dr. Nick says: Chickweed can be distinguished from Euphorbia because it only has a single line of hairs on its stem.

Chickweed is okay for a dog to eat, and is traditionally used in powder form to help with skin conditions. However, Euphorbia is also known as cancer weed or radium weed, and should be avoided.

If in doubt, dont let dogs go near these weeds and if a dog does eat some, take them and a sample to a vet so they can identify the plant.

Broad-leaved dock

These might not be toxic, but if your dog eats too many of these they could cause kidney stones because theyre high in oxalates.

If your four-legged friend goes hard for the Broad-leaved docks, it could be a sign that their diet needs to change or that theyve got some underlying health problem.

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Why do dogs eat grass and is it safe? - Metro.co.uk