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The Weekly Flail — January 4, 2025
OVERVIEW
Welcome to 2025. This special edition will focus on health, science, and positive change to keep the new year newer than the old year. Next week’s edition will return to full reality.
HEALTH
Outrage Fatigue Is Real. These Tips May Help [Scientific American]
Repeated exposure to outrage-inducing news or events can lead to emotional exhaustion. An expert who studies online outrage says there are ways to cope.
Stricter “Healthy” Standards [Scientific American]
Last month the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the first food labeling change in 30 years, altering which foods can be labeled “healthy.” The new requirements for a health stamp call for more fruits, vegetables and whole grains, while also including low-sugar and low-saturated fat foods. The new rule also includes restrictions on added sugar. The change could stop many companies from marketing their breakfast cereals or yogurts as “healthy” on the packaging.
Why this matters: The average U.S. adult gets nearly 60 percent of their daily calories from ultraprocessed foods. These foods–many currently labeled “healthy” — are designed by their manufacturers to contain extra sugar, salt, fat, artificial colors…