The French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety has published a 400-page report warning that “exposure to an intense and powerful [LED] light is ‘photo-toxic’ and can lead to irreversible loss of retinal cells and diminished sharpness of vision,” according to an article published by the Agence France-Presse. Even chronic exposure to lower intensity sources can “accelerate the [aging] of retinal tissue” and cause a loss of vision and contribute to “age-related macular degeneration,” the study concluded, with the AFP adding that LED lighting is set to “top 60 percent” of the general lighting market next year. Noting the proliferation of cellphones and other devices with backlit screens, the report said these “do not pose a risk of eye damage” because of the low luminosity of the light. But it cautioned that when used at night or in a dark setting, such gadgets can “disturb biological rhythms” and so disrupt sleep patterns. Prolonged exposure to the lowintensity light can also lead to headaches and fatigue. With regard to general lighting, the French government agency recommends use of “warm white” LED bulbs. As for backlit devices, the agency said to avoid viewing LED screens before … [Read more...]

By Will Hall, Message Editor A study has found that children and teens who drank diet beverages typically consumed an extra 200 calories a day, which adds up to an extra pound of fat every 17.5 days. Surprisingly, the daily calorie intakes of youth who consumed diet drinks were the same as their peers who drank the sugary or “regular” versions of the same sodas or other beverages. The findings published in the journal Pediatric Obesity did not reveal why artificial sweeteners appear to cause increased calorie consumption. However, the authors suggested “physiologic mechanisms” could be causing the “augmentation of insulin levels” and changing the “reward response” in the brain, among other altered functions. Regardless, the researchers said the results from studying the beverage consumption of more than 7,000 adolescents from 20112016 are important because of the high incidence of obesity combined with the related risks of type 2 diabetes, heart problems, and cancer among U.S. youth. A recent American Heart Association science advisory concluded that “at this time, it is prudent to advise against prolonged consumption of LCSB by children.” The authors further stated that “the use of other alternatives to … [Read more...]