Health Concerns Rise: Diet, Preservatives, and DHS Practices Under Scrutiny

New research released this week has raised concerns about the potential impact of diet and food preservatives on long-term health, while federal health workers are condemning the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) over a recent fatal shooting. Studies indicate links between carbohydrate consumption, food preservatives, obesity, high blood pressure, and increased dementia and cancer risks. Separately, health officials are accusing DHS of causing a public health crisis.

A study published by Universitat Rovira i Virgili on January 27, 2026, suggests that the type of carbohydrates consumed may affect dementia risk. The research found that diets high in fast-acting carbs that rapidly raise blood sugar were linked to a higher risk of dementia, while diets built around slow-glycemic foods like fruit, legumes, and whole grains were associated with a lower risk of Alzheimer's. "The quality of carbs, not just the amount, appears to matter for brain health," according to the Science Daily report.

Another study, published by BMJ Group on January 27, 2026, found a link between common food preservatives and cancer. The French study, which tracked over 100,000 people for over a decade, indicated that higher consumption of certain preservatives commonly found in processed foods and drinks was linked to a modestly higher cancer risk. According to Science Daily, several widely used preservatives, including potassium sorbate, sulfites, sodium nitrite, and potassium nitrate, were tied to increased risks of overall cancer and specific types such as breast and prostate cancer.

Further research from The Endocrine Society, reported on January 26, 2026, suggests that obesity and high blood pressure may directly cause dementia, not just increase the risk. By analyzing data from large populations in Denmark and the U.K., researchers found strong evidence that higher body weight can damage brain health over time, especially when it leads to elevated blood pressure. "Much of the dementia risk appeared to be tied to vascular damage in the brain, which affects blood flow and cognitive function," Science Daily reported. The findings highlight weight and blood pressure control as potentially powerful tools for preventing dementia before symptoms appear.

Meanwhile, federal health care workers are condemning the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by federal agents. A coalition of current and former Health and Human Services (HHS) staffers wrote in a letter released by the group Save HHS on Monday, stating, "We cannot pursue our mission to improve the health and well-being of all Americans while DHS agents are murdering, assaulting, and terrorizing people who call this country home." The letter writers said they had been deeply shaken by what they described as the execution of Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care unit nurse at the Veterans Affairs hospital in Minneapolis. Multiple videos of the incident show Pretti attempting t

In other news, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has been managing the city's response to Winter Storm Fern, which brought heavy snowfall and below-freezing temperatures to a number of states over the weekend. The storm led to thousands of canceled flights and power outages affecting more than 1 million people. More than a dozen people died during the storm, including seven in New York City. "It is still too early to share a broader diagnosis or a cause of death," Mamdani said regarding the deaths in New York City, according to Time. The deaths are still under investigation.