Color’s March Newsletter, Spectrum
Color’s monthly newsletter, Spectrum, helps you stay up to date on living a healthy life with the latest in health and wellness, genetics, and cancer and heart health. If you found this information interesting, sign up for our monthly Health Notes here.
Health & Wellness
New York Times, by David Leonhardt
If you’re like most Americans, you eat more sugar than is good for you. But it’s entirely possible to eat less sugar without sacrificing much — if any — of the pleasures of eating. Surprising as it may sound, many people who have cut back on sugar say …
How to Avoid Getting Sick on a Plane, According to Science
Time, by Jamie Durcharme
Choosing the right seat may be the simplest way to stay healthy on your next flight, according to a new study. Picking the window seat — and staying put for the duration of your flight — minimizes your chances of coming into contact with a sick passenger …
Bad Nutrition Advice Dietitians Want You to Forget
NBC News, by Samantha Cassetty, RD
How many times have you read that you need to eat clean, start juicing or only eat foods that have a specific number of ingredients? The advice may be compelling, and even sound science-y, but in the age of Google and information overload, you have to be careful about who you’re turning to for advice …
Genetics
Scott Kelly: NASA Twins Study Confirms Astronaut’s DNA Actually Changed in Space
Newsweek, by Katherine Hignett
Astronaut Scott Kelly’s DNA was altered by a year in space, results from NASA’s Twins Study have confirmed. Seven percent of his genes did not return to normal after he landed, researchers found …
What’s Behind Many Mystery Ailments? Genetic Mutations, Study Finds
New York Times, by Carl Zimmer
Today, scientists have identified over 7,000 Mendelian diseases, and many are discovered with screenings of children and adults. But a new study suggests that many disorders go undetected. With a database of electronic health records and DNA samples, a team of scientists has found …
The 30-Year Quest To Tame The ‘Wily’ Cancer Gene
NPR, by Richard Harris
Robertson was only 35 at the time — unusually young for this diagnosis. His treatment involved chemotherapy, radiation, surgery and two experimental treatments. The mutated gene is called RAS, and it’s the very first human cancer gene ever discovered …
Cancer & Heart Health
New York Times, by Susan Gubar
Like many people, I attribute my cancer to bad luck. So the feature-length documentary “Company Town” shocked me. It contends that the economic consequences of racial discrimination increase cancer risk …
Family History of Heart Disease? Here’s What to Do About It
U.S News, by K. Aleisha Fetters
Say your grandfather recently had a stroke, your mother takes cholesterol-lowering medications and your cousin has high blood pressure. You might be wondering if you’re at risk of heart disease — and for good reason …
If You Think You Are At High Risk For Colon Cancer, A Simple, Painless Test Could Let You Know
CNBC, by Tim Mullaney
Colon cancer is one of the five most common cancers in men and women in the United States and is also one of the country’s leading causes of cancer death. According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 135,400 people were diagnosed with colon cancer …
