I am Sick to my Stomach that this Administration Wants to Deny the Connection Between Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Human Health!!

The Trump administration is attempting to repeal the 2009 endangerment finding, a key scientific and legal determination by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that links greenhouse gas emissions to threats to human health. This finding gives the federal government authority under the Clean Air Act to regulate carbon dioxide, methane, and other emissions.

The administration claims that the science behind the finding is outdated. However, a new report released Wednesday by the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine strongly reaffirms the connection between rising emissions and negative health impacts, declaring the evidence is now “beyond scientific dispute.”

Critics warn that revoking the finding could dismantle multiple climate regulations at once, impacting emissions from vehicles, power plants, and other sources. The effort could face legal challenges, especially given the strong new scientific consensus and the requirement for the EPA to respond to public comments and evidence.

If the endangerment finding is overturned, U.S. emissions would still decline but at a much slower rate. For example, vehicle emissions could drop by only 10% by 2050 instead of 40%, and power sector reductions would also be halved.

Read more about this topic in this NYT Article.

Protein Bars or Just Glorified Candy Bars?

Is it just me or is everyone obsessed with protein lately? Protein is an important part of our diet, but it’s not the be all end all and it certainly doesn’t mean that something is healthy just because it is marketed as high-protein. In our country, most people get enough protein without having to supplement with special bars

Protein bars are heavily marketed as healthy, fitness-friendly snacks—but in many cases, that image is misleading. Experts point out that many protein bars are basically candy bars with extra protein. They often have high amounts of added sugar, salt, or other processed ingredients. Many bars are highly processed, meaning they include protein isolates, artificial flavors, preservatives, and the like. “Added sugars” are a common red flag. A bar might advertise “high protein” but hide a lot of sugar. 

You can’t judge a protein bar just by its protein content. You need to look at the whole nutrition profile: sugar, type of protein, other ingredients, calorie count. If you’re going to eat protein bars, look for ones with fewer added sugars, simpler ingredients, less processing. Use them more as occasional snacks / convenience items rather than staple foods. My recommendation is to include whole foods (nuts, legumes, etc.) as your protein sources whenever possible, over these highly processed foods.

Read more about this topic in this New York Times Article