Cosmetics, including shampoo and other products we all use, will cost U.S. consumers $92 billion this year. They contain various chemicals, often including harmful substances like parabens and phthalates. These products can also harm the environment and pose greater risks to salon workers. His article helps consumers read labels, reduce exposures to unsafe ingredients, and choose eco-friendly cosmetics for safety.
Read More »Preventing Disease & Staying Healthy
We all know that it’s good to exercise, eat fresh fruits and vegetables, and get a good night’s sleep. But it’s hard to change our habits, especially if we don’t have persuasive proof that it will improve our lives and health.
The National Center for Health Research is constantly reviewing new research to determine what we can do that will prevent diseases and keep us healthy.
Excellent research is being conducted to learn exactly what kinds of foods and exercise will help you prevent specific diseases, and what exposures to avoid in your daily life. The results are sometimes confusing because new products to prevent diseases are aggressively advertised, whether they work or not. Sometimes the best strategies are ones that don’t cost anything – but who is going to pay to advertise those?
We cut through the hype. We scrutinize new research, and call the researchers to learn even more. Then we translate it into plain language that you can understand.
To find the information you need, please use our search box to search for exactly what you are looking for or browse through our various topics on the right. →
If you’re looking for information about how to prevent cancer, go to our Cancer Prevention and Treatment web site at www.stopcancerfund.org . If you don’t see what you’re looking for on any health topic, contact us through our online health helpline at info@center4research.org. We’ll try to get the information you need within a few days.
Artificial Sweeteners: Do They Help You Lose Weight or Gain it? Are they Safe?
When people want to treat themselves to something sweet without having to treat themselves to a larger pants size too, they often reach for low-calorie, artificial sweeteners. But do artificial sweeteners actually help you lose weight? The answer is apparently not — and there are concerns about their safety if consumed in large quantities.
Read More »Eating Habits That Improve Health and Help with Weight Loss and BMI
More and more research studies are confirming the importance of keeping body mass index (BMI) and waistline measurements under control in order to reduce the risk of disease and premature death. Keeping track of calories and fat percentages can be confusing, and the nutrition labels on the foods we buy aren’t always that helpful. How are consumers supposed to figure out which diet advice is just hype – that ultimately don’t contribute to better health – and which advice offers good, medically sound information?
Read More »FDA Accelerated Approval Pathway: Controversies and Reform
Recent controversies of drugs granted accelerated approval have raised important questions about the evidence needed to determine whether the benefits outweigh the risks in the short-term or the long-term, and what can be done to improve the pathway.
Read More »NCHR urges FDA to require more diversity in trials to improve accuracy of pulse ox devices
December 2, 2022: NCHR testified at an FDA meeting that there is strong evidence that commonly-used pulse oximeters are less reliable for patients with pigmented skin. The FDA’s current guidelines do not require product labeling to address the impact of skin pigmentation on pulse oximetry. While labeling is important to alert users to possible inaccuracies, it does not diminish the importance of developing devices that are effective for everyone.
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