Health News Round-Up: Raw Milk, Queer Food, & Microplastics in Testicles

I find the news completely intoxicating. Whether or not it is good for my soul (it probably isn't), I live for breaking news, juicy exposés, detailed profile pieces, and good old-fashioned storytelling.

I realize many of you are not particularly fond of the news, and that's fine. However, I do think it is important to gauge the health of our communities and culture—to be at least semi-informed about who is driving our society and where they are steering it.

Regarding health-related news, I'm dubbing Running On Butter the Ministry of Truth. In dictator fashion, I will summarize the most important, interesting, and silly health-related news. Those who oppose the Ministry's features should realize that dissidents will be punished accordingly.

Raw Milk Is Right-Wing

The New York Times published a piece linking raw milk's resurgence to right-wing commentators "misleadingly suggesting that the product is safe or even healthier than traditional milk."

Raw milk does carry a risk of carrying pathogenic bacteria that are otherwise killed during pasteurization. The data cited in the Times' piece—which I think is meant to cause startle—notes that from 1998 to 2018, raw milk led to 2,645 illnesses, 228 hospitalizations, and three deaths.

I don't find these data to be too worrisome. Raw milk has been a staple to literally all societies for all time, and the risk of consuming pathogenic milk is largely contingent on the health of the cow and farm hygiene. If you're getting raw milk from a cow whose life is as good as our beloved Butterscotch, you should be alright. (Or, all Right?)

For its health benefits, raw milk contains more nutrients than pasteurized milk, is associated with significantly reducing the odds of developing allergies, and promotes a healthy gut microbiome. Raw milk is for all: the left, center, right, and the politically disillusioned.

Microplastics Found in Human Testicles

The omnipresence of microplastics continues to disturb. A new study found that microplastics—which wreak havoc on the health of humans and our environment—have made their way to males' reproductive organs.

Some researchers believe that microplastics have been the primary contributor to the plundering—over 50% decline—sperm count over the past 50 years.

The moral of the story here, gentlemen? Avoid plastics to save your health and the human species.

DEI Meets the Medical Field

The Washington Free Beacon reported that UCLA School of Medicine, one of the nation's most prestigious medical schools, continues to base student acceptance on race rather than merit. And it turns out that melanin count is not a good predictor of one's medical skills.

From the report: One professor said that a student in the operating room could not identify a major artery when asked, then berated the professor for putting her on the spot. Another said that students at the end of their clinical rotations don't know basic lab tests and, in some cases, are unable to present patients. "I don't know how some of these students are going to be junior doctors," the professor said. "Faculty are seeing a shocking decline in knowledge of medical students."

This story follows a recent JAMA study finding that doctors' board examination scores are correlated with patient mortality. The smarter your doctor is, the less likely you are to die under his or her care. Mmmm, interesting.

UCLA: We understand that meritocracy—assessing people based on their skills and knowledge? Regressive, we know—is not your vibe. But for the sake of our health and safety and peace of mind, would you please reconsider your (illegal) admissions process?

Sincerely,

The Running On Butter Community.

"Inevitable Next Pandemic"

The New York Times reported that member states of the World Health Organization failed to agree on a treaty preparing for the "inevitable next pandemic."

The treaty "aimed to correct the inequities in access to vaccines and treatments between wealthier nations and poorer ones that became glaringly apparent during the Covid pandemic," the Times reported.

What's fascinating about the WHO's move to equalize vaccine and treatment distribution between wealthy and poor states is that poorer countries actually fared much better than wealthier ones during the spread of Covid.

Ironically, the Times reported on this back in 2022: "The coronavirus was expected to devastate the continent [Africa], but higher-income and better-prepared countries appear to have fared far worse."

While the Times has some messaging inconsistencies, the WHO could not be clearer in what they're asking from us—complete compliance.

Please Eat The Yolk

Eggs are truly nature's multivitamin. And this week, my favorite doctor in the world, Dr. Matt Angove, made a video about the health wonders of eggs. Dr. Matt lists the ten following reasons why eggs should be prioritized in your diet:

and Accessible

1. High-Quality Protein

2. Rich in Essential Nutrients

3. Supports Brain Health

4. Supports Eye Health

5. Supports Heart Health

6. Supports Healthy Body Composition

7. Supports Skin and Hair Health

8. A Source of Healthy Fats

9. Versatile

10. Affordable and Accessible

It's 2024, and Food is Queer

My dear New York Times is at it again, this time exploring the world of queer food. What is "queer food," you ask? According to the inaugural queer food conference held in Boston, attendees taste food "through queer, Marxist, feminist and anti-colonialist perspectives."

I just made some delicious steak and pasta for dinner and tried savoring its flavors from a Marxist perspective. But then I realized I only enjoyed such wonderful food because of capitalism. I tried, okay? Being a culinary social justice warrior is harder than it looks.

The conference menu, which “challenges binaries and any kind of normativity,” featured haggis porridge, vegan cheesecake, and okra stew. If this dinner plate won't get you on the socialism train, I don't know what will.