Today in our program, we’ll discuss how your favorite drink may be changing for the better. Next, is it possible to be fat but fit? And finally, we’re going to have a guest provide their insights on climate anxiety. Welcome to Health Channel News. According to Global News, health Canada has banned the food additive brominated vegetable oil or BVO from beverages. For now, it is still used in some citrus flavored drinks to keep the ingredients evenly mixed. But as the article notes, it comes with potential health risks. While Health Canada doesn’t believe there’s an immediate health risk, they’re giving companies one year to remove BVO from their products, here’s what the article spells out. BVO has already been banned in many other countries, including the uk, Europe, as well as Australia and New Zealand. And now Canada is following suit starting next year, it will no longer be allowed in Canadian drinks. Studies show that BVO when consumed in high amounts, could harm organs like the liver, heart, and thyroid. The Center for Science in the Public Interest said excessive BVO accumulation in the body could also result in bromine toxicity, which causes damage to the central nervous system, headaches, nausea, memory loss, and loss of coordination. Some popular brands like Coca-Cola and Pepsi have already phased it out, but others like Sundrop and Walmart’s orange soda still contain it. So what can you do? The article recommends until that time, consumers can avoid BVO containing beverages by checking the labels. If you decide to skip those drinks, you can always choose healthier alternatives such as water infused with fresh fruits and herbs, or even herbal teas. Next up, we’ve always heard that staying slim is key to staying healthy, but new research is shaking up that idea. A recent study from the University of Michigan suggests that being overweight but active might be healthier than being slim and inactive. The study published in Nature Metabolism looked at how exercise affects belly fat. It found that people who exercised regularly, even if they were overweight, had healthier fat around their organs compared to slim but inactive people. One professor who led the study said, exercising regularly seems to modify your fat tissue in ways that allow you to store fat more healthfully according to the professor. This happens even if people gain weight as they get Older. Experts are now saying that physical activity is crucial. George Morris, a psychologist at St. Mary’s University adds increasing physical activity has a greater effect on long-term health than dieting alone. This means that even if you’re overweight, moving more can make a big difference to your health. Mores adds low physical activity levels and a lack of cardio. Respiratory fitness also put you at a greater risk. So if you are slim but sedentary, you are not out of the danger zone. The message is clear. Regular physical activity is a critical part of protecting your health. And finally, we come back to a story we reported on a few episodes ago on climate anxiety. As mentioned in a recent Los Angeles Times article. This is a growing mental health concern affecting many climate anxiety is a term used to describe the deep fear and distress associated with the impacts of climate change. Visiting us today to share further thoughts on climate anxiety is Rachel Parent, an environmental activist and founder of Kids’? Right to Know. Rachel, it’s good to have you on the show. It’s great to be here, Renee. Thanks for having me. So Rachel, why do you think climate anxiety is on the rise? I think climate anxiety is on the rise because our generation has grown up so awake and aware of the problems that are in front of us. We were raised in the age of the internet and social media where we have access to information at the tips of our fingers, and we really see the impact of environmental degradation on our future, the impact on future generations beyond us. And that’s incredibly overwhelming. We also see this massive power imbalance between big corporations and industries and our government where there’s so much hold over our government and even the laws that are passed. And that can be really overwhelming and um, even feeling hopeless going up against that kind of deep pocket and money that these big corporations have. So that definitely takes a toll on mental health when you feel you’re hopeless or don’t have a voice in the situation. Interesting. So on a practical level then, what advice do you have for people to help them deal with these anxieties? As I mentioned, I think that the root cause of climate anxiety really comes down to feeling like we’re hopeless or voiceless in the space of the environment, and that our future really isn’t guaranteed. And I think the best way to combat that is to become an active participant in what our future will look like. Sometimes we get caught up in this notion that we need to be on an international stage to make a difference, uh, whether that’s going to a UN convention or working on government policy, it’s all these really big ideas, but that can be really overwhelming. Uh, and I think we’ve forgotten the importance of local action. There’s so much each and every one of us can do on a local level to combat environmental issues and climate change. For instance, my group kids Right to Know start at a community garden and we’re creating awareness in this space to, uh, let people know about the impacts of regenerative agriculture and how that can actually draw down carbon and store it in our soil. And this is just one of many solutions that everyone can work on. You can get involved in these local initiatives, and if everyone did that in their communities, that would be creating a massive impact on a municipal level, provincial level, a federal level. So the best way in my eyes, to really make a difference and to feel like we’re not hopeless in this situation is to become a participant. And we can all do that in our own ways, big or small, in our own capacities. Okay. And for people who would like to do more about it, what are one or two easy things that they can do to get involved with environmental action? Well, Let’s start with finding causes that you care about. Find local organizations that you want to support. You can volunteer time, and I think everyone has this idea that we just have to petition or we just have to lead a protest. But the reality is activism or taking action looks a lot of different ways. And it could be that you’re a filmmaker or a graphic designer. It could be that you love writing whatever your skill or strength is, use it to the advantage of the environment. So many groups are looking for help in so many different capacities, and you could be that help that they need. The other thing that I always say is look at the solutions, not just the problems. There are so many incredible solutions out there that will give you hope, that will re-energize you. For instance, regenerative agriculture, incredible ability to absorb carbon and store it in the soil where it belongs, where it’s benefiting ecosystems grows healthier, stronger plants and food for all of us. So it benefits community. It is an overwhelming time perhaps, and we may feel this anxiety, but we also have this incredible ability now to be able to help shape the future that we wanna see. And that’s also an exciting thing that we get to be a part of protecting our earth and ensuring that future generations have what we have or, or even better. Rachel, thank you very much for your time and your insights. Those are our top stories for today. Thank you so much for joining us on Health Channel News.
