Sanika Chakkamadathil 

​A plate of oysters or mussels might look like a healthy seafood choice but hidden inside could be dangerous levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Known as “forever chemicals,” these toxic substances are commonly used in nonstick cookware and fast-food wrapping papers, and are even present in waterways, food items, and the air. While the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) only classifies a select few PFAS, such as PFOS and PFOA, as official hazardous substances, the entire chemical class poses a serious threat to public health and the environment.
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Wei Perng, PhD, MPH

For years, type 2 diabetes (T2D) has been treated as a single disease. If someone has high blood sugar but does not meet criteria for type 1 diabetes or another form of diabetes, they are diagnosed with T2D. But researchers are starting to rethink what we call “type 2 diabetes” as multiple distinct conditions that all lead to elevated blood sugar.

Food insecurity or inconsistent or inadequate access to enough food for a healthy life is a well-documented social determinant of health. But it is not experienced equally across the population. Our new preliminary research using the Massachusetts Statewide Food Access Survey reveals a striking picture: in 2024, more than half of LGBTQ+ adults in the Commonwealth were food insecure, and many are not using the systems designed to help.

Hilary Dolstad, MD

​Eating well is important at any stage of life, but during pregnancy, nutrition becomes key to supporting a developing baby. Plant-based (also known as vegan) diets have increased in popularity in recent years due to their associated health benefits, as well as environmental and ethical concerns. In fact, from 2019 to 2020, U.S. retail sales of plant-based foods rose by 27%, reflecting the growing popularity of plant-based diets. This raises a question for some expectant parents: what do we know about the impact of a plant-based diet during pregnancy?

Kat Lynch, MPH

​Grocery shoppers can often get swept up in the bright colors and healthy promise of fresh produce, only to watch it wilt as the week gets busy. It’s an unpleasant experience opening the refrigerator to find spoiled fruits and vegetables you meant to eat, especially when improper storage can speed up the process. What many people don’t realize is that frozen produce is often just as nutritious, if not more, than fresh options that have spent days sitting on the shelf.
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