10/25/24: ☠️ Lead poisoning, seaweed solution, chickpea power

Happy Friday my friend,

ECL TRIVIA: What is the rarest blood type in humans? (Answer below)

🌎 Planet Health

🚧 LEAD PIPE REMOVAL: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established this new regulation to remove lead service lines within 10 years, reducing the "lead action level," and improving lead sampling methods. $15B has been allocated for lead service line removal, as approximately “10M lead service lines remain in the country” according to the EPA and EarthJustice.

🌊 SEAWEED RECOVERY: Absorbing carbon dioxide and protecting the coast from erosion are just two important properties of seaweed, and now, scientists are working to repopulate vital species of seaweed off the coast of Chile, once abundant in the area. “It’s lovely to see how this managed zone, which we’re really looking after, is recovering,” said Elvio Lagos, a local fisherman. According to Mongabay, the global seaweed market is “projected to grow from $7B in 2023 to $16B in 2033.”

🌱 CHICKPEA RESILIENCE: New research led by a molecular biologist has identified the magical legume known as chickpeas as particularly drought resistant. They improve soil health by fixing nitrogen (reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers) and can be a rich source of protein and fiber as growing condition challenges intensify. Read about how chickpeas could become the new “food of the future”.

🧑‍⚕️ Human Health

🍇 ELDERBERRY JUICE: Is elderberry juice a promising dietary addition for managing obesity? High in the flavonoid anthocyanin, elderberry juice was found to improve “blood glucose tolerance, fat oxidation, and gut microbiota profile.” Learn how surprisingly quick it takes effect by reading here.

👩‍🔬 GENETICALLY-MODIFIED SOYBEANS: A small 90-day study shows how genetically modified soybean oil resulted in changes to livers, kidneys, certain blood markers that indicate stressed organs, and higher levels of blood urea and fats— compared to non-genetically modified soybean oil. To learn all the details (and limitations) of the study, read it here.

🧠 GLYMPHATIC SYSTEM: Click to read about this new study which used MRI scans to track the movement of cerebrospinal fluid in the brains of five volunteers undergoing surgery. The results showed officially for the first time fluid flowing through channels along blood vessels, in what’s known as the glymphatic system. The glymphatic system is mostly disengaged during waking hours, so proper sleep and REM cycles are critical to assist the body in processing excess neurotoxins.

Creature Feature

🐴 RESCUED DWARF HORSE: Meet George — the fluffy mini “flying marshmallow”— in this adorable video. (I have a feeling you’ll fall in love with him in 5 seconds, just like Riana and I did! 😍)

Nutrition 101

🍒 ANTHOCYANINS: As mentioned above in the elderberry juice study, anthocyanins are potent plant-based powerful nutrients we can be grateful for! Abundant in foods like berries, black plums, tart cherry juice, grape juice, and blood oranges, learn about the 4 main benefits of anthocyanins here.

💬 Poll

⬅️ Last poll’s results

Did you see the Northern Lights this month?

🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Yes 🌌 (30.5%)

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 No 🙁 (69.5%)

Trivia Answer:

AB-negative is the rarest blood type, accounting for less than 1% of the population.

To a healing future,

— Rob