Thousands of health workers lost their jobs this week after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling cleared the way for the Trump administration to move forward with major staffing cuts. On Monday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) finalized 10,000 layoffs across federal health agencies, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), The New York Times reported. The layoffs followed a March announcement by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who called for a major department overhaul. The affected workers included staff responsible for travel logistics, communication, medical research contracts and other related tasks. “Thank you for your service to the American people,” said an email sent to workers as they were removed from the payroll. Some employees who received layoff notices April 1 first learned they were let go when their building access badges stopped working. But many people still remained officially on the payroll until 5 p.m. Monday, when the high court allowed the administration to move forward, even as legal challenges continue, The Times said. While the administration called many of the jobs “redundant,” critics liken the cuts to having doctors but no support staff in a hospital. “What I have seen is some of the very best people, people who have alternatives, who have…  read on >  read on >

Doctors are regularly overlooking a common hormone-driven cause of high blood pressure, a new paper warns. As many as 30% of high blood pressure patients seen by heart specialists and 14% of those seen in primary care have a condition called primary aldosteronism, researchers reported in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. Despite this, many are never given a blood test for the condition, in which the adrenal glands produce too much of the hormone aldosterone, researchers said. Others are tested years after their initial diagnosis with high blood pressure. By that time, the condition has caused severe health complications, researchers added. “People with primary aldosteronism face a higher risk of cardiovascular disease than those with primary hypertension,” said lead author Dr. Gail Adler, an endocrinologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. “With a low-cost blood test, we could identify more people who have primary aldosteronism and ensure they receive the proper treatment for the condition,” she added in a news release. Aldosterone helps balance blood levels of sodium and potassium, researchers said. Levels that are too high can cause people to lose potassium while retaining more sodium, resulting in increased blood pressure. Research has shown that people with primary aldosteronism are nearly 2.6 times more likely to have a stroke; twice as likely to have heart failure; 3.5 times more likely to…  read on >  read on >

Doctors are regularly overlooking a common hormone-driven cause of high blood pressure, a new paper warns. As many as 30% of high blood pressure patients seen by heart specialists and 14% of those seen in primary care have a condition called primary aldosteronism, researchers reported in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. Despite this, many are never given a blood test for the condition, in which the adrenal glands produce too much of the hormone aldosterone, researchers said. Others are tested years after their initial diagnosis with high blood pressure. By that time, the condition has caused severe health complications, researchers added. “People with primary aldosteronism face a higher risk of cardiovascular disease than those with primary hypertension,” said lead author Dr. Gail Adler, an endocrinologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. “With a low-cost blood test, we could identify more people who have primary aldosteronism and ensure they receive the proper treatment for the condition,” she added in a news release. Aldosterone helps balance blood levels of sodium and potassium, researchers said. Levels that are too high can cause people to lose potassium while retaining more sodium, resulting in increased blood pressure. Research has shown that people with primary aldosteronism are nearly 2.6 times more likely to have a stroke; twice as likely to have heart failure; 3.5 times more likely to…  read on >  read on >

7-hydroxymitragynine is not approved for use as dietary supplement, food additive, or drug ingredient  read on >

About 90% of the ice cream sold in the U.S. will no longer contain artificial dyes by 2028, federal health officials announced. Roughly 40 ice cream and frozen dessert companies have pledged to remove seven artificial food dyes from their products in less than three years, Michael Dykes, president of the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), said.  These include Red 3, Red 40, Green 3, Blue 1, Blue 2, Yellow 5 and Yellow 6, The Associated Press reported. “This is a Renaissance moment for health in America,” said Dr. Marty Makary, commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The announcement is part of a larger effort by the food industry to reduce or remove synthetic dyes.  Other major companies, including Nestlé, Kraft Heinz and General Mills, have also said they plan to get rid of artificial colors from many of their products. Health groups have pushed for the removal of artificial food dyes for years. Studies have shown that these dyes may cause attention and behavior problems in some children, AP reported. The FDA says approved dyes are still considered safe, and “most children have no adverse effects” from consuming them. Still, one color, Red 3, was banned in January after it was linked to cancer in lab animals. Companies have until 2027 to stop using it, but Makary sent a letter this…  read on >  read on >

About 90% of the ice cream sold in the U.S. will no longer contain artificial dyes by 2028, federal health officials announced. Roughly 40 ice cream and frozen dessert companies have pledged to remove seven artificial food dyes from their products in less than three years, Michael Dykes, president of the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), said. These include Red 3, Red 40, Green 3, Blue 1, Blue 2, Yellow 5 and Yellow 6, the Associated Press reported. “This is a Renaissance moment for health in America,” said Dr. Marty Makary, commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The announcement is part of a larger effort by the food industry to reduce or remove synthetic dyes. Other major companies, including Nestlé, Kraft Heinz and General Mills, have also said they plan to get rid of artificial colors from many of their products. Health groups have pushed for the removal of artificial food dyes for years. Studies have shown that these dyes may cause attention and behavior problems in some children, the AP reported. The FDA says approved dyes are still considered safe, and “most children have no adverse effects” from consuming them. Still, one color, Red 3, was banned in January after it was linked to cancer in lab animals. Companies have until 2027 to stop using it, but Makary sent a letter…  read on >  read on >

A natural blue food coloring made from gardenia fruit has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The additive — dubbed gardenia blue — can now be used in foods like sports drinks, flavored waters, fruit drinks, teas, and both hard and soft candies, the FDA announced July 14. It’s made by taking a compound called genipin from crushed gardenia fruit and combining it with soy protein. Gardenia fruit has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine. The color was proposed by the Gardenia Blue Interest Group, CBS News reported. Even though soy is used to make the dye, the group says no soy is expected to remain in the final product. Because of that, it asked the FDA to let companies skip listing soy as an allergen on food labels.  The FDA is still reviewing that request. This new color is part of a bigger push to phase out artificial dyes, which have raised concerns in recent years. “Every day, children are exposed to synthetic chemicals in food that serve no purpose and threaten their health,” U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in a news release. “The FDA’s approval of gardenia blue shows we’re finally putting kids first.” The FDA says this is the fourth naturally sourced color approved in the last two months. Others include: galdieria extract blue,…  read on >  read on >

A natural blue food coloring made from gardenia fruit has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The additive — dubbed gardenia blue — can now be used in foods like sports drinks, flavored waters, fruit drinks, teas, and both hard and soft candies, the FDA announced July 14. It’s made by taking a compound called genipin from crushed gardenia fruit and combining it with soy protein. Gardenia fruit has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine. The color was proposed by the Gardenia Blue Interest Group, CBS News reported. Even though soy is used to make the dye, the group says no soy is expected to remain in the final product. Because of that, it asked the FDA to let companies skip listing soy as an allergen on food labels. The FDA is still reviewing that request. This new color is part of a bigger push to phase out artificial dyes, which have raised concerns in recent years. “Every day, children are exposed to synthetic chemicals in food that serve no purpose and threaten their health,” U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in a news release. “The FDA’s approval of gardenia blue shows we’re finally putting kids first.” The FDA says this is the fourth naturally sourced color approved in the last two months. Others include: galdieria extract blue,…  read on >  read on >