Salt

• “I never saw that coming,” Francis Collins, a former director of the National Institutes of Health, commented in 2022.
• Even today, three years after the start of the pandemic, about 1 in 5 Americans have not received a single dose of any COVID-19 vaccine.
• Someone’s feelings about vaccines in general might differ from their feelings about one specific type of vaccine, for instance.
• However, Christians represented the bulk of the sample, given their larger share of the American population, and so our research focuses heavily on on their views.

Bible beliefs

• One part of religious life that social scientists are often interested in is people’s views of the Bible.
• We found that respondents who see the Bible as either the “inspired” or “the actual word of God” were less likely to see vaccines in general – not the COVID-19 vaccine in particular – as safe and effective, compared with those who see the Bible as just a book of history and morality created by humans.
• All else being equal, those who said that the Bible is the literal word of God, for instance, scored 18% higher on our measure of general vaccine skepticism than those who see the Bible as having no divine source or inspiration.

God and country

• One factor could be Christian nationalism, which has been increasingly visible in the public sphere since Donald Trump’s rise to the presidency.
• A 1-point increase in agreement meant someone was 17% less likely to have received or plan to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
• Another of our studies focused on how people view God.
• Our data showed that simply believing there is a God, or a higher power that supervises the world, does not make an individual less likely to have received the COVID-19 vaccine.
• On the other hand, believing that God can and will actively intervene in the world does make a difference.

• The microorganisms break down the sugars and other substances in the food, which changes the taste and texture, and sometimes even preserves the food.
• The alkalinity of these fermented foods helps preserve them, because microorganisms (which cause food to spoil) don’t grow so easily in alkaline substances.
• As a microbiologist, I’ve studied west African alkaline fermented foods and highlighted some safety issues they present.

Food safety risks

• But one safety concern is the contamination risk from mycotoxins and bacteria related to poor hygiene.
• Unregulated traditional practices, which may involve unhygienic utensils and handling, can pose a threat to food safety by introducing bacteria that can survive alkaline conditions.
• So, to minimise the safety risks of fermented foods, it is important to reduce the amount of salt and to store foods properly.
• Food safety requires action and cooperation in five areas: agriculture, food technology, nutrition, microbiology, and regulations.

Five approaches to safer fermented foods

• Agriculture The quality and safety of fermented foods lies in the quality of the “substrate” it’s made from, such as legumes.
• Nutrition Generally, very little research has been done on the nutritional composition of fermented products.
• Molecular and genomics tools could be used to identify the enzyme producing species and strains in these fermented foods.
• Alkaline fermented foods, with their distinctive tastes, textures and aromas, also offer potential health benefits.

• GREENWICH, Conn., July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Salt Financial, a leading provider of index investment solutions, is pleased to announce the hiring of Alex Gropper as a pivotal addition to its team.
• Gropper, formerly Head of Capital Markets Solutions at Market Synergy Group, brings a wealth of experience in derivatives, structuring, and quantitative index design, further strengthening Salt Financial's expertise and capabilities.
• "We are delighted to welcome Alex Gropper to our team to expand our product offerings and support our rapid growth," said Tony Barchetto, CEO of Salt Financial.
• Salt Financial is well positioned to capitalize on market opportunities and maintain its trajectory of success.

• Some people taking the diabetes drug Ozempic for weight loss have reported a sudden silencing of food noise and cravings.
• But there are other ways to maintain a healthy balance when it comes to our internal food monologue.

One track thinking

• Thinking about food constantly is a common feature of an eating disorder.
• Indeed one of the main criteria for diagnosis of eating disorders is a preoccupation with the weight, shape and size of one’s body.
• If we are dieting, undereating, restricting our intake of food or overeating, we can be consumed by thoughts about food.

An easy fix?

• They have often tried medications and drugs to try and stop ruminating over food, usually to no avail.
• Or they are prescribed medications to reduce appetite, in the case of binge eating and obesity.
• Weight loss drugs should only be used under medical supervision and some diet pills can affect the heart, breathing, blood pressure and brain.

Working out what’s driving it

• With clients, I start by working on what’s driving the food obsession.
• It can make us anxious or “hangry” and it can be hard to concentrate or focus on anything else but food.
• Read more:
  When I work with people with eating disorders, I see many rules around 'good' and 'bad' foods – but eating is never that simple

A healthy food mindset

• A person who has a healthy relationship with food listens to their body’s needs.
• They don’t have food rules around what they can and can’t eat and they feel comfortable in their body.
• This is called having a positive body image and is an important part of treatment for people with body image and eating issues.