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Today — 15 March 2025Main stream

A nutrition researcher shares 4 red flags he avoids on food labels, starting with 'low fat'

15 March 2025 at 07:15
Dr. Tim Spector in a kitchen with fruit and vegetables on the counter.
Dr. Tim Spector's interest in nutrition research started with figuring out how he could eat healthier.

ZOE

  • Ultra-processed foods are often marketed with misleading claims to seem healthier, a researcher says.
  • Labels like 'low fat' and 'low calorie' can be a red flag that foods are full of additives.
  • Being skeptical of health claims can help you get the most of out grocery shopping for a nutritious diet.

Grocery shopping can be a minefield of faux health foods that are biting into your budget and damaging your long-term health.

That's why, when Dr. Tim Spector is walking down the food aisle, he keeps his eyes peeled for red flags — things that sound healthy, but are quite the opposite.

Spector, a medical doctor and professor of epidemiology at King's College London, co-founded the science and nutrition company ZOE, which gives members nutrition advice, among other features.

He took a particular interest in nutrition research after he had a mini-stroke in 2011. He was just 53, and felt pretty healthy, but he began to take a closer look at his eating habits.

"I said, 'I need to change what I'm doing and do massive research to work out what I should be eating, what I should be doing, health-wise to keep me living longer,'" Spector, co-founder of the science and nutrition company ZOE, told Business Insider.

Now, he has made it his mission to help consumers spot "health halos" — misleading advertising on ultra-processed foods making them seem nutritious when they can be detrimental to your health.

Here are four red flags he looks for that can help you spot dubious claims at the grocery store, and how to stock your kitchen with healthier options instead.

1. 'Low-fat' foods have extra additives

Spector said he steers clear of anything labeled "low-fat," which includes margarine and butter substitutes, yogurts, and other dairy.

Low-fat products have a long history in the fad diet industry. The craze really took off in the 1980s because of concerns that saturated fat could worsen heart health and cholesterol levels. Companies selling low-fat substitutes for popular foods also cashed in on the myth that eating more dietary fat causes you to gain more body fat.

The problem is, trimming the fat from a food has a major catch. Since fat brings flavor and texture to food, swapping it out means adding sugars, starches, and binding agent so the final product is still appetizing.

yogurt
Yogurts labeled "low-fat" lack heart-healthy benefits.

wilatlak villette/Getty Images

That's good news for manufacturers, who saved money by using lower-cost additives, but bad news for consumers, who are now missing out on some heart-healthy fats that naturally occur in foods, and eating more preservatives instead.

The extra refined carbohydrates that are added in place of fats can wreck havoc on our health, raising the risk of heart disease and messing with metabolic health.

"Big food loved it because it was cheaper to have these sort of fat replacements than actually paying for the natural fat got in our diets," Spector said.

If you're trying to watch your cholesterol levels, Spector said skip the low-fat products. Instead, he avoids cooking oils and spreads, and uses extra virgin olive oil, which offers a dose of beneficial fatty acids and polyphenols.

He also buys full-fat butter, since emerging research suggests that the fat in dairy products can have a protective effect, potentially reducing risk of illness and promoting healthy aging.

2. 'Low-calorie' can be misleading

Labeling products as low in calories is a marketing ploy which often signals a food is ultra-processed and loaded with additives, Spector said.

"It means they've tampered with it. They have probably taken out some sugar and added artificial sweeteners to disguise how much sugar is in there," Spector said.

Many low- or no-calorie artificial sweeteners are no better for your health than sugar, according to a 2022 study.

Diet soda
Many diet sodas contain low-calorie sweeteners that are just as unhealthy as sugar.

bhofack2/Getty Images

For example, consuming aspartame, the no-calorie sweetener used in many diet sodas, carries some of the same health risks as excess sugar, like higher risk of heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. It may also cause you to eat more as the sweet taste prompts your body to expect a boost of energy that never arrives.

Spector has another gripe with the low-calorie label: calories alone aren't a good indication of whether a food is nutritious, he said. It's more important to focus on the nutrients in your food than one siloed metric. Plus, research suggests calorie labels can be off by as much as 20%.

"Calories are completely the wrong way to summarize a food. They're not accurate. They're not useful, as most people cannot follow a calorie-restricted diet or calorie count reliably," Spector said.

3. 'Added vitamins' tend to be low-quality nutrition

Cereal and milk
Many cereals and milks are labeled with "added vitamins," but that doesn't necessarily mean they are abundant in vitamins.

Virojt Changyencham/Getty Images

It's pretty common for food packages to declare "added vitamins" or "added minerals" — from cereals to juice to milk.

However, while getting an extra boost of vitamins and minerals in your food may seem like a bonus, it's another sneaky way to disguise processing, Spector said.

Ultra-processed foods are designed to have a long shelf life, with a hyper-palatable flavor and texture, tempting you to keep eating. That manufacturing process strips out naturally-occurring nutrients like vitamins and minerals. By law, manufacturers have to add them back in, Spector explained.

That's why Spector is not so impressed by foods advertised as "fortified" with vitamins and minerals.

Vitamins and minerals are most effective in the form of whole foods, since they're in larger quantities and in higher-quality form, easier for the body to absorb and use than the manufactured, isolated version.

4. Be wary of claims like 'immune-boosting' or 'gut healthy'

Food manufacturers will often hype up the appeal of their products by adding very small amounts of ingredients with promising nutritional benefits, even if the doses aren't large enough to do much good. In the supplement world, this is called "fairy dusting."

"You can claim immune health by adding a microscopic amount of zinc into it; gut health with a bit of manganese… all sorts of nonsense," Spector said

Misleading health claims also includes labels that advertise added fiber, since you may not be getting an effective dose.

"Big food doesn't make money out of fiber. There's no big fiber lobby. It's just quiet cheap, and it's healthy. And of course, it fills you up. So you eat less of it," Spector said.

The easiest way to navigate food labels is to check the actual quantities of ingredients and serving sizes, to make sure you're getting what you want, Spector said. Not all processed foods are created equal, since certain types of processing can retain the nutrients you want.

Spector's approach to getting enough nutrients is to aim to eat 30 different plants per week, including things like nuts, seeds, spices, coffee, and even high-quality chocolate.

Read the original article on Business Insider

Happy 50th b’day, Eva Longoria! Her career, aging hacks and BFFs

15 March 2025 at 07:00
She may have left the US, but Eva Longoria is still America’s sweetheart. Join Page Six as we celebrate the “Desperate Housewives” star on her milestone 50th birthday, highlighting her decades as a “Flamin’ Hot” Hollywood multi-hyphenate. Longoria now splits time between Spain and Mexico with her husband, José “Pepe” Bastón, and their son, Santiago,...

The ‘Happy face’ killer left 8 women dead and his daughter traumatized. A new TV show will bring their story to life

15 March 2025 at 06:53

The eight-episode series “Happy Face” for Paramount+ is inspired by the true story of Melissa G. Moore and the shocking discovery that her father was the infamous serial killer known as Happy Face. Andrea Cavallier reports

© Paramount+

ISIS second-in-command killed in U.S. airstrike with Iraqi aid

15 March 2025 at 07:15

U.S. forces with help from Iraqi intelligence and security killed the No. 2 global ISIS leader, "one of the most important" of the entire organization, per U.S. Central Command.

The big picture: Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rifai, also known as Abu Khadijah, oversaw global operations and logistics for the extremist group and directed "a significant portion" of its global financing, Central Command said Friday in an X post.


Zoom in: Khadijah was killed in a precision airstrike in Al Anbar Province, Iraq on Thursday along with another ISIS operative.

  • "After the strike, CENTCOM and Iraqi forces moved to the strike site and found both dead ISIS terrorists," Central Command said.
  • "Both terrorists were wearing unexploded 'suicide vests' and had multiple weapons."
  • Khadijah was identified through DNA obtained when he "narrowly escaped" an earlier raid, per CENTCOM.

What they're saying: "Abu Khadijah was one of the most important ISIS members in the entire global ISIS organization," Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, CENTCOM commander, said.

  • "We will continue to kill terrorists and dismantle their organizations that threaten our homeland and U.S., allied and partner personnel in the region and beyond," Kurilla added.
  • President Trump declared for "PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH" on Truth Social Friday, praising U.S. forces as "intrepid warfighters."

More from Axios:

These Democrats are already jockeying for the 2028 nomination

15 March 2025 at 07:00
Chart: Axios Visuals

Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is stirring speculation that he's floating a potential bid to be the 2028 Democratic presidential candidate, after bowing out of local races this week.

The big picture: Democrats eyeing runs for the White House in 2028 have largely remained coy about their intentions, though their actions indicate they're preparing for primaries.


Pete Buttigieg

Buttigieg made his national ambitions clear when he launched an ultimately unsuccessful presidential run in 2020 while mayor of South Bend, Indiana.

  • He served in the Biden cabinet as transportation secretary, where he was forced to contend with a pile-on of crises.
  • Buttigieg was considered a strong contender in Michigan's gubernatorial or Senate elections next year, but he ruled himself out of both races on Thursday.

Gavin Newsom

Newsom has long been considered a likely Democratic presidential candidate, and has been building a nationwide network of supporters and donors in recent years while garnering more national attention.

  • After President Trump won the 2024 election, Newsom called for a special legislative session in California to raise money to prepare to challenge the Republican leader in the courts.
  • He has pitched himself as a moderate in recent months and sought to broaden his appeal.
  • In a recent conversation with right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk on the governor's new podcast, Newsom broke with many Democrats when he said transgender athletes competing in girls' and women's sports was "deeply unfair."

Rahm Emanuel

Emanuel, who served as the ambassador to Japan under former President Biden, has fueled speculation of a bid for president.

  • The former Obama White House chief of staff has been making several public appearances sounding the alarm that Democrats must recalibrate their political strategies before the 2026 midterms.
  • Emanuel joined CNN as a commentator last month and obtained a Washington Post column.

Tim Walz

Walz announced last month he will not run for Minnesota's newly open U.S. Senate seat in 2026, potentially leaving room for a presidential run.

JB Pritzker

Pritzker, a billionaire businessman, has been claiming the Democratic resistance lane in Illinois.

Gretchen Whitmer

The Michigan governor has been a rising star in the Democratic Party and has positioned herself as a pragmatic, center-left leader since Trump's win. She said she met with him this week to discuss jobs, tariffs and defense investments.

  • In recent weeks, Whitmer has touted that she sent National Guard troops to the border to combat illegal immigration and said she's open to some new tariffs to protect industry. She declined to join a multi-state federal lawsuit challenging Trump's push to ban birthright citizenship.
  • As governor, Whitmer has championed gun safety measures, abortion access and civil rights protections for LGBTQ+ residents. She launched a national political group in 2023 to boost her public profile.

Jared Polis

The popular two-term Colorado governor was among a handful of top Democrats under consideration as a possible replacement for Biden on the 2024 ticket.

  • Polis, like Whitmer, has taken a centrist approach since Trump's inauguration.
  • He said in his State of the State address that he hopes Trump and Congress can work together "to secure the border, stop human trafficking and stop the illegal flow of guns and drugs ... We welcome more federal help to detain and deport dangerous criminals."
  • The governor backed Trump's controversial nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Health and Human Services secretary.

Zoom out: Other potential contenders include Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy.

Between the lines: Top Democrats are divided on how to confront Trump, as the party faces an identity crisis following the 204 election.

  • This time, there's no consensus on strategy — and prominent Democrats are already taking different paths, Axios' Alex Thompson reports.

Go deeper: Democrats eyeing 2028 split on how to tackle Trump

Skype is shutting down in May — these are the best alternatives

15 March 2025 at 07:00

After 23 years of connecting people around the world, Skype, the popular video-calling service, is shutting down. Microsoft, the parent company, confirmed that the official sunset date for the service is May 5, 2025. Skype users can either migrate all their contacts and chat data to Microsoft Teams, or they can choose to download their […]

© 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Creighton-UConn Big East semifinal game ends in scuffle over windmill dunk in final seconds

Emotions ran high on Friday night at Madison Square Garden as Creighton advanced to the Big East final over the two-time defending national champions in UConn.

The Bluejays were coasting to a victory and were able to dribble the ball out for the final seconds.

With the second-seeded Bluejays leading 69-62, they got a defensive rebound with under 10 seconds left, and Huskies coach Dan Hurley signaled for his team to let the clock run out without fouling.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

However, Jamiya Neal took off streaking down the left sideline for a slam with 1.5 seconds remaining and hung onto the rim for a pullup. After his skirmish with Diarra, Neal waved his arms to fire up Creighton fans in the sellout crowd.

Huskies guard Hassan Diarra shoved Neal in the chest and appeared to square up with his fists for a split second as the two were face-to-face. 

Creighton center Ryan Kalkbrenner separated them by pushing Neal away as whistles blew and players came streaming off the benches at Madison Square Garden.

Order restored rather quickly, but the emotions were still tense after the game.

"I mean, they were already up with seven seconds left," Diarra said. "He didn't want to dribble the ball out. Went in for a fancy dunk. I just felt it was disrespectful to the game of basketball."

Neal admitted he "got caught up in the emotions of the game" and apologized.

Hurley and Bluejays coach Greg McDermott were already approaching each other along the sideline to shake hands when Neal took off for his dunk. McDermott appeared to apologize to Hurley immediately afterward, and again when the game ended.

Creighton and UConn have had their beef this year already. Hurley taunted Creighton fans last month after the Huskies brought home a road win, waving goodbye to the crowd and yelling out, "Two rings!"

Last year, Hurley also threatened to "knock out" a Creighton fan.

It will be Creighton against St. John's for the Big East title at the Garden on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. in what is sure to be a heavy Red Storm crowd.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Transgender sailors, Marines offered benefits to voluntarily leave service or face being kicked out

15 March 2025 at 07:00

The Department of the Navy is offering transgender sailors and Marines the option to voluntarily separate from the service by March 28. Otherwise, they risk being booted from the service — cutting the benefits they’re eligible for in half, according to a Thursday memo released by the Department of the Navy. 

The policy aligns with an executive order that President Donald Trump signed in January to bar transgender individuals from serving in the military, and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s subsequent orders in February instructing each of the service branches to start separating transgender troops within 30 days. 

Acting Secretary of the Navy Terence Emmert said in the memo that the Department of the Navy recognizes male and female as the only two sexes, and that "an individual's sex is immutable, unchanging during a person's life."

As a result, Emmert said that those who have a history or "exhibit symptoms consistent with" gender dysphoria may no longer serve in the military and may voluntarily elect to depart the service by March 28. After that date, the Navy will remove sailors and Marines involuntarily from their respective services.

FEDERAL JUDGE RIPS DOJ LAWYERS, DEMANDS WRITTEN RETRACTION FROM HEGSETH OVER TRANSGENDER MILITARY POLICY POST 

"A history of cross-sex hormone therapy or sex reassignment or genital reconstruction surgery as treatment for gender dysphoria or in pursuit of a sex transition is disqualifying for applicants for military service, and incompatible with military service for military personnel," the memo said. 

Even so, the Navy said it will not go through medical records or health assessments to identify transgender service members, unless explicitly requested to do so. 

Transgender service members who don’t take the Navy up on its offer to voluntarily separate are not eligible for as many benefits post-separation. Those who voluntarily depart from the service will receive double the separation pay as those who are involuntarily removed, according to the Navy’s memo. 

For example, the Pentagon said on Feb. 28 that an E-5, a petty officer first class in the Navy, with 10 years of experience, would collect a total of $101,628 in voluntary separation pay, but only $50,814 if that service member were to opt for involuntary separation pay. 

Those with less than six years of service, or more than 20 years of service, are not eligible for voluntary separation pay. 

"The Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) and Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC) will maximize the use of all available command authorities to ensure impacted personnel are afforded dignity and respect," the Navy’s memo said. 

Some exceptions to the rule may apply. The memo said that the Secretary of the Navy may issue waivers for those seeking to remain or join the service on a "case-by-case basis," if there is proof that keeping or recruiting such individuals "directly supports warfighting capabilities." 

DOJ ISSUES COMPLAINT ABOUT FEDERAL JUDGE'S ‘MISCONDUCT’ WHILE PRESIDING OVER MILITARY TRANS BAN COURT CASE

The Navy referred Fox News Digital to its press release on the order when reached for comment, and did not provide an answer as to how many sailors this order would likely impact. 

The Navy released its guidance the same day that a federal judge heard arguments for a lawsuit that LGBTQ legal rights advocacy group GLAD Law and the National Center for Lesbian Rights filed in February against the Trump administration, seeking a preliminary injunction pausing the ban while litigation is pending. 

U.S. District Court Judge Ana Reyes is expected to issue a final decision on the preliminary injunction by March 25. GLAD Law did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital. 

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation and Lambda Legal also filed a separate lawsuit in February challenging the Trump administration’s order on behalf of six trans service members and asked a federal judge to block the order amid the legal proceedings. 

"A dishonorable action from a dishonorable administration," the Human Rights Campaign Foundation and Lambda Legal said in a Feb. 27 statement. "This attack on those who have dedicated themselves to serving our country is not only morally reprehensible but fundamentally un-American. Forcing out thousands of transgender servicemembers, who have met every qualification to serve, does not enhance military excellence or make our country safer."

The Human Rights Campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital. 

Navy leaders have previously defended LGBTQ service members. For example, former Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday defended a nonbinary Navy officer assigned to the aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford featured in a video the Navy Judge Advocate General Corps shared on Instagram about participating in an LGBTQ spoken-word night during deployment.

PENTAGON SAYS TRANSGENDER TROOPS ARE DISQUALIFIED FROM SERVICE WITHOUT EXCEPTION

The video attracted scrutiny from Republican lawmakers, who called into question the Navy’s war-fighting priorities. For example, then-Sen. Marco Rubio shared the video on X in April 2023, and said: "While China prepares for war this is what they have our @USNavy focused on." 

But Gilday, who retired in August 2023, told Republican lawmakers on the Senate Armed Services Committee in April 2023 that he was proud of the officer and that people from all different backgrounds serve in the Navy. 

As a result, Gilday said it is incumbent upon Navy leaders to "build a cohesive warfighting team that is going to follow the law, and the law requires that we be able to conduct prompt, sustained operations at sea."

"That level of trust that a commanding officer develops across that unit has to be grounded on dignity and respect," Gilday said in April 2023. "And so, if that officer can lawfully join the United States Navy, is willing to serve and willing to take the same oath that you and I took to put their life on the line, then I’m proud to serve beside them."

NBA investigating why Thunder sat all five starters for same game: report

The Oklahoma City Thunder were able to defeat the Portland Trail Blazers by 18 points last Friday, but they did it without any of their five starters.

The starting lineup is led by MVP favorite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, yet he, along with the other four starters, all had the night off in their 107-89 victory.

Clearly, the Thunder were OK, but the NBA is investigating the matter for potentially violating the league's player-participation policy, according to ESPN.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

It was the second game of a back-to-back, and this week, the Thunder had a stout schedule, including another back-to-back against the Denver Nuggets and a potential NBA Finals matchup against the Boston Celtics. (They split with Denver and beat Boston on the road.)

Saturday also starts another back-to-back for OKC against the Pistons and Bucks, both of whom own playoff spots.

The Thunder are 54-12, good for easily the top record in the Western Conference. It's easy to say they are playing the long game, as they have the No. 1 seed all but clinched. However, the NBA has begun to crack down on load management for players.

It was just the second time Gilgeous-Alexander missed a game this season, who was out due to what the team called "rest." However, OKC did list injuries for the other four starters.

Two years ago, the Dallas Mavericks were fined $750,000 for sitting players in a game, but that had been in a rather clear effort to tank for a better draft pick.

BULLS' CHAMPIONSHIP BANNERS REMOVED AFTER DAMAGE DURING UNITED CENTER CONCERT

Later in 2023, the league voted in favor of a new player-participation policy, which would restrict teams from resting a star player during a nationally televised game or for the in-season tournament games.

The association was also set to investigate the Philadelphia 76ers amid Joel Embiid's absence earlier this season, and they are now being looked at due to Paul George and Tyrese Maxey missing games as their season continues to falter.

Teams are not allowed to have any players stop playing long-term unless they are dealing with injury. 

The policy also states that players must play in at least 65 of the 82 regular-season contests on the schedule to be eligible for league awards, including MVP and All-NBA teams. 

Fox News' Scott Thompson contributed to this report.

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