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Alternative Medicine, Drugs, Health Policy

How a Croatian Lab Spawned a Buzzy Peptide Now Popular With MAHA

BPC-157 is a kind of chemical called a peptide, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration treats it and some other peptides as unapproved drugs — going so far in 2023 as to explicitly prohibit compounding pharmacies from supplying BPC-157 to patients. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has more recently signaled a desire to loosen restrictions on experimental medical treatments, including unapproved peptides like BPC-157.

Steps 1081909
Prevention

Exercise snacks: the best bursts of activity to incorporate into your day

In a 2019 study, sedentary young adults were asked to vigorously climb a three-flight stairwell three times per day – with one to four hours of recovery between bouts. Each session also included a brief warm-up of jumping jacks, squats and lunges. After six weeks, the stair climbers showed significant improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness compared to a control group – a key marker linked to longevity and reduced cardiovascular disease risk.

U.S. Food Pyramid 2026
Diet, Health Policy, Nutrition, Politics

Prioritising protein? What the new US dietary guidelines get right – and wrong – according to 2 nutrition experts

Under the slogan “eat real food”, the new guidelines recommend people “prioritise protein at every meal”, eat full-fat dairy and plenty of whole grains, and limit ultra-processed foods. A new food pyramid has also been redesigned and flipped on its head. But are the guidelines based in good science? And how much has actually changed?

Photo of an infant with a measles rash.
Hepatitis, Measles, Politics, Vaccines

RFK Jr. guts the US childhood vaccine schedule despite its decades-long safety record

Major medical organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, have said that they will continue recommending the full complement of childhood vaccines. Several states, including California, New York, Illinois and Washington state, will follow established guidelines rather than the new federal recommendations, creating a patchwork where children’s protection depends on where they live.

Woman fitness exercise plank
Fitness, Mental Health

No gym or regular routine? Here’s how to stay fit over the holiday break

The festive season can throw our exercise routines out the window.

You might be staying somewhere different, with no access to a gym.

Maybe your yoga studio is closed or social sport is on a break.

Or you might just be too flat out with social events to find the time.

For some people, a break from pushing their bodies will be exactly what they need.

But others will want to keep up the fitness and strength they’ve been working on throughout the year – and some will crave the mental release.