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Home Daily Digests Dr. Casey Means for Surgeon General, Cell Phones Linked to Cancer, Plastics to Heart Disease

Dr. Casey Means for Surgeon General, Cell Phones Linked to Cancer, Plastics to Heart Disease

WHO links cellphone radiation to cancer; phthalates tied to heart disease; Trump nominates Dr. Casey Means; food companies phase out dyes; China’s thorium reactor; gold prices surge.

The User's Profile Ivor May 8, 2025
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DISCLAIMER: The following content does not reflect the opinions of Peak Prosperity, but is rather a summarization of content that has caught the interest of members of the community.

Discussion is welcome in the comments section!

Health

President Donald Trump has withdrawn the nomination of Dr. Janette Nesheiwat for U.S. Surgeon General and instead nominated Dr. Casey Means, a leader in the “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) movement. Dr. Means, a Stanford University-trained surgeon, focuses on reversing the chronic disease epidemic through public health initiatives. This move has been supported by MAHA advocates. Holden Culotta, a conservative commentator, celebrated the nomination on X, sharing a video of Means discussing the lack of nutrition education in medical school.

In a related policy shift, major food companies like PepsiCo and Tyson Foods are reportedly planning changes to their American recipes to eliminate petroleum-based food dyes, aligning with the MAHA initiative. This effort, spearheaded by Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., aims to phase out these dyes by the end of 2026, following an FDA initiative. PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta and Tyson Foods CEO Donnie King have committed to this transition, responding to consumer demand for natural ingredients. However, some industry insiders have raised concerns that the rush to eliminate artificial dyes might overlook the safety and stability these dyes provide, potentially affecting product availability and pricing.

Moving on to studies, a systematic review commissioned by the World Health Organization (WHO) has concluded with “high certainty” that cellphone radiation exposure causes two types of cancer in animals. The review, published in Environmental International, found that radiofrequency-electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) from cellphones and other wireless devices increase the risk of malignant gliomas in the brain and schwannomas in the heart, tumors previously identified in human studies. The WHO researchers analyzed 52 studies, finding “moderate certainty” for increased risks of pheochromocytomas and hepatoblastomas, but minimal evidence for increased cancer risks in other systems like the kidney or mammary glands. Some critics have expressed concerns that the WHO’s assessments might be influenced by industry-friendly biases within its review teams. However, the International Commission on the Biological Effects of Electromagnetic Fields (ICBE-EMF) has called for immediate policy action to protect people from wireless radiation exposure, emphasizing the need for revised exposure limits based on the WHO’s findings.

Another study, by NYU Langone researchers, has linked daily exposure to phthalates, chemicals used in plastics like PVC, to over 350,000 heart disease deaths annually among people aged 55 to 64 worldwide. The research, published in Lancet eBiomedicine, suggests that di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) exposure is associated with increased arterial inflammation, potentially leading to heart attacks or strokes. The economic cost of these deaths could reach $3.74 trillion, highlighting the need for regulatory measures to curb exposure, especially in rapidly industrializing countries. Dr. Leonardo Trasande from NYU Langone Health has stressed the need for global regulatory measures to curb phthalate exposure, particularly in regions with high exposure rates.

Meanwhile, in New Brunswick, Canada, a study has concluded that what was thought to be a new, mysterious brain disease is actually a collection of well-known neurological disorders. After examining 25 patients, researchers found no evidence of a novel illness, attributing the cases to misdiagnosis. However, some doctors and patient advocates remain skeptical, pointing to high levels of herbicides and heavy metals in many patients, alongside rare autoimmune antibodies. Dr. Alier Marrero, one of the first to raise concerns about the illness, has expressed profound disagreement with the study’s conclusions and methodology, highlighting concerns shared by patients, families, and communities.

US Politics

On the legislative front, Congress was scheduled to vote on rescissions to cut waste identified by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), targeting programs like USAID, PBS, and NPR. However, these votes were reportedly canceled, as announced by Representative Thomas Massie on X. The Washington Post reported that the cancellation was due to procedural issues, not necessarily a reflection of the content of the rescissions.

Energy

China has unveiled what is claimed to be the world’s first operational thorium molten salt reactor, marking a significant advancement in clean energy technology. Located in the Gobi Desert, this 2-megawatt experimental reactor uses thorium as its primary fuel source, offering advantages like less waste production, meltdown-proof design, and the ability to consume existing plutonium stockpiles. China is now constructing a larger 10-megawatt reactor, expected to be operational by 2030. This development comes amidst a global nuclear energy renaissance, with the U.S. also exploring thorium’s potential through projects like ANEEL, aimed at reducing nuclear waste and operational costs. However, there are voices of skepticism regarding the scalability and economic viability of thorium reactors, with some experts highlighting the need for significant technological breakthroughs in materials science to handle the corrosive nature of molten salts.

Economy

Some are predicting gold prices could reach $10,000 or even higher. This surge reportedly reflects broader economic instability, where governments are borrowing to cover debts, potentially leading to financial collapse. The increase in gold prices is attributed to its role as a safe haven during economic chaos, central banks stockpiling gold, and changes in banking regulations treating gold as a tier one asset. However, some financial analysts argue that the rapid rise in gold prices might lead to a correction, pointing out that while gold has been a safe haven, its price could be overstretched, suggesting a potential pullback.

In Paris, there have been reports of abductions and severed fingers linked to cryptocurrency ransom demands. French gendarmes have been dealing with these severe crimes, including the recent kidnapping of an older gentleman from the 14th arrondissement, where his finger was severed during ransom negotiations. This incident follows similar abductions earlier in the year, indicating an escalation in crypto-related crimes. Reuters has noted that these incidents could deter new investors from entering the crypto market due to the perceived risks.

Sources

WHO Study Finds ‘High Certainty’ Link Between Cellphone Radiation and Cancer in Animals

The evidence is now clear — cell phone radiation can cause cancer in animals in concordance with the tumor types identified in human studies of mobile phone users.

Source | Submitted by bcoop

Gold Soars Past $3,000: Navigating the New Economic Reality

“Gold is where we hide out in times of chaos, you know, and so that that’s one explanation for gold going up.”

Source | Submitted by rhollenb

Major Food Companies Accelerate Shift to Natural Ingredients Under “Make America Healthy Again” Initiative

“I look forward to seeing more companies follow suit and put the health of Americans first. Together, we will Make America Healthy Again.”

Source | Submitted by BonnieB2A

Congress Cancels Votes on Rescissions to Cut Waste Identified by DOGE

Congress was scheduled to vote on rescissions THIS WEEK to cut the waste that DOGE found, but the votes were quietly canceled.

Source | Submitted by bcoop

Crypto Crimes Escalate: Abductions and Severed Fingers in Paris

We have reached the “severed fingers and abductions” stage of the crypto revolution

Source | Submitted by Shplad

Study Concludes New Brunswick’s Mystery Brain Disease is a Misdiagnosis, Sparks Controversy

“I think the takeaway message is that we have no evidence that there is a mystery disease,” Lang said.

Source | Submitted by Shplad

Trump Swaps Surgeon General Nominee for MAHA Advocate Dr. Casey Means

“Casey has impeccable ‘MAHA’ credentials, and will work closely with our wonderful Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., to ensure a successful implementation of our Agenda in order to reverse the Chronic Disease Epidemic, and ensure Great Health, in the future, for ALL Americans.”

Source | Submitted by BonnieB2A

Phthalates in Plastics Linked to Over 350,000 Heart Disease Deaths Annually

Daily exposure to a type of phthalate—chemicals commonly used in polyvinyl chloride products like piping, medical tubes and bags, and cling films—may be linked to more than 13 percent of deaths from heart disease globally in 2018, according to a new study.

Source | Submitted by BonnieB2A

China’s Thorium Reactor Leap: A New Era in Clean Energy?

“We chose the hardest path, but the right one,” he said.

Source

In addition to sources submitted by community members, the following were also used in the creation of this report: Dr. Alier Marrero, Dr. Leonardo Trasande, Holden Culotta, ICBE-EMF Press Release, Nuclear Energy Insider, Reuters, Seeking Alpha, The Washington Post.

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