UF Health Podcasts

A dye used for decades to give foods and candies a bright cherry-red tint now has a short shelf life.

Beginning in mid-January 2027, using red dye No. 3, also known as erythrosine [ear-ih-throw-zeen], in food is banned. Authorized by the Food and Drug Administration, this decision affects thousands of products, including candies, cupcakes, cookies, frostings, drinks, and medicine that offer a cherry-red pop of color. It’s even in some maraschino cherries.

Made from petroleum, the synthetic red dye No. 3 was approved for food use in 1907. For decades, the FDA was asked to ban it. The regulatory agency banned the dye in cosmetics in the U.S. in 1990. Research studies have linked artificial food dyes to hyperactivity and other neurobehavioral effects in adolescents. High doses of red dye No. 3 have caused cancerous thyroid tumors in lab rats.

In 2023, California passed a statewide ban on the manufacture, sale, and distribution of red dye No. 3. It is also banned or severely restricted outside of the United States in places such as Australia and Japan.

Many candies sold close around the holidays contain this dye. Some companies have already announced plans to begin phasing out the dye before 2027.

The best way to avoid red dye No. 3 is to scan food labels. Experts recommend looking for products with natural alternatives, usually food colored with beets, red cabbage, and fruit extracts.

Ultra-processed foods are most likely to contain red dye No. 3. U.S. Department of Agriculture-certified organic options, including packaged food, must meet standards that protect consumers from exposure.

Join us for a riveting episode of Animal Airwaves – Live! featuring Dr. Cory Woliver, an emergency and critical care expert at the UF Small Animal Hospital. Dr. Woliver delves into the lives of coral snakes, discussing what happens from an envenomation and what makes these snakes unique among venomous serpents. Dr. Woliver will also discuss his groundbreaking clinical trial, which is being used to treat dogs envenomated by coral snakes. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain potentially life-saving knowledge about this elusive fossorial species and the latest advancement in treatment.

For many of us, maintaining a healthy weight can be a struggle, not to mention finding a sustainable solution that stands the test of time and cravings.

Now, a new weight management program from researchers at the University of Illinois is helping folks take a more balanced approach by focusing on protein, rather than just counting calories.

Their EMPOWER program uses a web application called MealPlot and tailored support from registered dietitians to help users plan meals that promote healthy weight loss.

The app’s development stems from an earlier version of the program, which offered participants education and feedback from dietitians in-person. Now fully online, it has three components: educational materials on nutrition, an app to design meals and track progress, and direct access to dietitians for online consultations.

The app is designed to move beyond calorie counting to a more effective strategy — setting goals around protein and fiber intake.

Why? Well, scientists found that when it comes to sustainable weight loss, cutting calories isn’t always enough. In fact, cutting protein can lead to loss of muscle instead of fat. An interactive chart in the app helps users find foods rich in protein and fiber — think lean meats, fruits, and vegetables — while avoiding the “empty” calories found in sugary and fatty foods. Notably, the app encourages a “no food off-limits” approach, as long as users meet their daily protein and fiber goals.

Think of it as a different perspective on healthy eating — that we do it for wellness, not just to hit a calorie goal.

Maternal stress during pregnancy is more than just a short-term concern — it can leave a lasting imprint on offspring, too.

A recent study from scientists in Germany looked at macaques [maa-kaaks], a type of monkey, and discovered that stress hormones during the first half of pregnancy can have a profound impact on how the offspring develop, going so far as to alter their stress response for years to come.

The study focused on how the pregnant mother’s exposure to environmental stress, like food shortages or social conflict, affected the growth of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal, or HPA axis, a key player in deciding how organisms cope with stress.

The researchers observed these macaques over nine years, collecting fecal samples to measure glucocorticoid [gluco-kor-tuh-koyd] metabolites, a marker that indicates stress hormone levels. The findings were striking: Early prenatal stress was linked to heightened HPA-axis activity in the offspring, with effects that lasted well into adulthood.

Notably, stress experienced later in the monkeys’ pregnancy or even after birth did not appear to have the same long-term effects. That highlights a crucial window for fetal growth when environmental conditions can set the stage for health outcomes across the offspring’s entire lifespan.

Previous research has shown that early maternal stress can contribute to altered growth, immune system changes, and even gut microbiome troubles.

Of course, these are monkeys, not people. But the findings showcase the importance of timing in prenatal stress and its far-reaching impacts on health, suggesting that even small stressors can have a big impact.

Norwegian researchers entered the laboratory, labored over their instruments, and eventually emerged with the latest scientific breakthrough.

A muffin.

Not just any muffin. This might be the healthiest muffin on the planet. And investigators even named it, as if it were a puppy hanging out near the centrifuge.

We introduce you to Roselle [Rose-ELL].

Roselle also happens to be the name of a flowering plant traditionally used for its medicinal qualities. It produces a tart and pleasantly acidic taste.

In science-speak, the study, published in the journal Foods, notes the muffin was developed using formulations in varying proportions resulting from Response Surface Methodology. That’s a highfallutin’ way of saying scientists created a recipe.

Using a Roselle extract called calyx [KAY-licks], their muffin is high in vitamins and antioxidants. A calyx is the outermost whorl in a flower. They left out the unhealthy preservatives often found in store-bought baked goods.

This Roselle extract contains polyphenols, flavonoids, betaine (BEET-a-een) and hibiscus acid, ingredients that reduce the risk of chronic disease. The muffin boasts a six-day shelf life at room temperature. Scientists bragged that these treats won’t last that long in the average household because they are so delicious.

The final product had little sugar, salt, or saturated fat. Taste tests with a small group of people were positive.

Perhaps it makes sense that food scientists would concoct a great recipe in the lab. Cooking, to some extent, is basic chemistry.

Of course, you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to make a muffin.

Just ask your favorite baker.

Now hear this: Scientists have found a link between hearing loss and the onset of dementia.

It’s a curious pairing of medical issues, but scientists in Denmark recently made the connection after studying data from more than a half-million people in that country. In this case, the findings involved people over age 50 whose health was tracked for 15 years.

The researchers found a clear correlation between hearing loss and the development of dementia. That includes hearing loss causing an overall 7% increase in the risk of getting dementia. Among those with severe hearing loss, the dementia risk was found to be much greater than it was for those with typical hearing.

The research did not delve into the reasons for the association between hearing loss and dementia. But the good news is that there’s a simple strategy: Wearing hearing aids can substantially reduce dementia risk.

Among people who didn’t wear hearing aids, the risk of getting dementia was 20% higher than people with typical hearing. Those who used hearing aids had a 6% increased risk of dementia.

The association between hearing loss and dementia risk is also an imperative due to sheer numbers: The National Institutes of Health notes that nearly one-quarter of people in the U.S. between the ages of 65 and 74 have some amount of hearing loss. Among those over age 75, the rate of hearing loss is 50%.

Meanwhile, use of hearing aids remains low: Fewer than one in three people over age 70 who could benefit from hearing aids have ever used them.

So, don’t take chances with your brain. Get your hearing tested as you age, and keep in mind that hearing aids could help ward off dementia.

On the surface, the era of COVID-19 changed a lot of things: our commute time, hand-washing know-how, and preference for outdoor dining.

Now, a study from researchers in Finland suggests the pandemic also highlighted a strong link between mental well-being and physical activity.

According to the study, which involved more than 430 participants ages 60 to 88, those who experienced positive emotions were more likely to stay active or even increase their level of physical activity during the pandemic. In contrast, however, those experiencing depressive feelings found themselves less likely to engage in exercise, emphasizing how mental health can influence the physical.

The research also revealed that the impact of positive emotions on physical activity was especially strong in people around the age of 60, but less consistent in those over 70.

Older adults in Finland, where stricter pandemic restrictions were imposed, showed a weaker connection between mental well-being and activity levels — possibly due to the limitations they faced.

Granted, earlier studies have shown that physical activity boosts mental health, but this research flips that idea, suggesting that maintaining a good outlook could help keep people physically active under even the most trying circumstances.

Ultimately, the study underlines the importance of supporting mental health in a way that matters: Going beyond just avoiding negative feelings and instead focusing on strengthening positive emotions.

If nothing else, this research reminds us that the benefits of mental fortitude extend well beyond a smile.

Uncover the hidden threat of rat lungworm in dogs with UF experts Dr. Heather Walden, an associate professor of parasitology, and Dr. Amy Stone, a clinical associate professor of primary care and dentistry. Dr. Walden will explore the parasite’s biology, while Dr. Stone will provide crucial insights into canine infection, clinical symptoms, and treatment strategies specific to our four-legged companions. Learn how to protect your dogs from this emerging parasitic danger in Florida.

It’s a habitual claim often made by social media influencers, or in wellness blogs and self-help books.

Namely, that it takes 21 days to imprint a new habit on your mind so that it becomes almost automatic.

New research indicates that a one-word technical term might be used to describe the accuracy of this claim:

Hogwash.

Try 59 to 66 days. That’s according to recent research from Australia. Scientists there found two to five months is required to form habits that stick with you and don’t evaporate like morning fog. And for some people, it can take as long as a year.

Researchers analyzed data from 20 studies involving 2,600 participants who sought to form healthy habits. Those included things like flossing their teeth, drinking more water, and getting more exercise.

As most people can attest, a New Year’s resolution to get fit or eat fewer treats doesn’t just happen like the flipping of a light switch. It takes commitment and repetition until it becomes second nature.

One key finding of the study is that it isn’t just a matter of repeating the same behavior for a couple of months. Other factors can dictate whether we’ll be successful.

For example, morning routines are easier to maintain. One thought is that we are fresher before the day begins, as our stores of energy not yet depleted. Later in the day, we also face more distractions.

Investigators also report that simple habits are more likely to be maintained than complex ones. In addition, habits we select ourselves tend to be more achievable than those thrust upon us by others.

Remember: There are no shortcuts to good health.

Your family physician might throw the yellow penalty flag over the food advertised during televised professional football games.

Millions of Americans watch NFL games every fall and winter. Football is the nation’s most popular sport, and advertisers want to tap the millions of people focused on every pass and tackle.

A recent study in JAMA Network Open urges us to pay as much attention to the nutritional labels of the food advertised during games as we do the score.

That’s because the food is often as unhealthy as a blindside hit on the quarterback.

Researchers studied 102 food-related commercials during 10 NFL games played from September to November 2023. The ads included store-bought food and restaurant fare.

The ad menu, it turns out, is packed with calories, salt, and fat.

Of the store-bought products like chocolate bars and chips, the median number of calories was 490. Median sodium levels stood at a staggering 910 milligrams.

Meals from fast food chains measured 1,400 calories and were also astronomically high in salt.

The results, of course, aren’t surprising. After all, the ads included foods like chocolate bars, chips, and a range of offerings from the nation’s best-known fast-food joints. American broccoli farmers aren’t spending much time pitching their produce.

Scientists said the frequency of the ads took them aback.

It’s a challenge for physicians to influence our dietary choices in the face of slick advertisements.

Researchers say it’s worth family doctors asking patients if they watch much football and warning them about the unhealthy foods that will tempt them.

Don’t play games with your health.