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The Salt
Mushroom Ice Cream, Anyone? Chefs Turning To Veggies For Dessert
December 7, 2012 Unafraid of the supposed barrier between sweet and savory, many chefs are incorporating vegetables like tomatoes, eggplants, and even mushrooms into new dessert recipes. But are they any healthier? Actually, yes, says a nutritionist.
Shots - Health News
How Miscommunication And A Simple Mistake Led To A Toxic Accident
December 7, 2012 Somebody poured a solution of industrial strength bleach into a 55-gallon drum, triggering a release of toxic chlorine gas a Tyson Foods plant. Language barriers contributed to the accident, government investigators concluded.
Shots - Health News
Post-Election, 'Morning After' Pill Advocates Want Age Rules Revisited
December 7, 2012 A year ago, some of President Obama's biggest supporters were dismayed when the administration did not lift the age requirements for obtaining the pill without a prescription. But advocates now see a new opportunity to push the issue.
Shots - Health News
Nigeria Pressured To Clean Up Lead-Contaminated Villages
December 6, 2012 Last spring, the Nigerian government pledged millions of dollars to decontaminate a region where hundreds of kids have died from severe lead poisoning. So far, none of the money has been released. The delay in the cleanup puts thousands of kids at risk of getting sick, public health advocates say.
Shots - Health News
Perfection Is Skin Deep: Everyone Has Flawed Genes
December 6, 2012 Researchers found a surprising number of mutations, including several associated with disease, in the genes of normal healthy people. Their study raises questions about whether widespread genetic sequencing could end up scaring people for no good reason.
Around the Nation
To Trim Down, Spelman Trades Sports For Fitness
December 6, 2012 Officials at Spelman College, a historically black women's college in Atlanta, have decided to scrap the school's NCAA program. With few students participating in organized sports, the college has decided to devote those funds to a fitness program designed to reach the entire student body.
The Salt
Fruit Fly Nose Says Steer Clear Of Deadly Food; Human Nose Not So Reliable
December 6, 2012 Although we can usually smell when food goes bad, humans just don't have the fruit fly's direct path from nose to brain that alerts it to food poison. But the detection of this pathway could someday lead to more research that could help us develop better bug repellants.
The Salt
Hours After A Meal, It's The Memory That Matters
December 6, 2012 What a person remembers of a meal hours later, not the actual calories consumed, matters more when it comes to hunger. Eating while watching TV sets us up to eat more food than we should, but a new experiment shows how manipulating our memories of a meal can change how hungry we feel.
Shots - Health News
Why It's Easier To Scam The Elderly
December 6, 2012 New research suggests older adults may have less activity in the area of the brain that processes risk and subtle danger. Another possible reason older adults don't pick up on warning signs is an increasing bias against negativity.
Shots - Health News
Turning Vaccine Refusals Into Teachable Moments
December 5, 2012 To raise vaccination rates, some states have made it much harder for parents to get exemptions for their children from immunizations based on personal beliefs. One doctor says restrictions could backfire.