Explore Capsules

Sugar, fat, and public health have been shaped not only by science, but by industry funding, political pressure, and shifting policy priorities. This account examines how blame moved through nutrition debates, how research and regulation were influenced, and how to assess dietary advice with a clearer view of the interests behind it.

For women weighing hormone therapy, the stakes are relief from menopause symptoms against feared risks of breast cancer and heart disease. The views split over whether the original risk data was exaggerated, how much the timing of treatment matters, and whether low-dose vaginal estrogen is safer than its warnings suggest. Sort the evidence from the alarm and decide with your doctor what fits your health.

BMI mislabels healthy people, fuels body image problems, and steers health policy in the wrong direction. The case here is that waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio predict real risks like heart disease and diabetes far better, because belly fat matters more than total weight. Measuring your waist instead gives you and your doctor a more honest, less stigmatizing read on your health.