The European Union's decision to ban mercury dental fillings (amalgams) by January 2025 marks a significant step in public health and environmental safety. Justin Silverman covered some aspects of the ban in The New York Times on September 17, 2024, in an article called Mercury Dental Fillings and a New E. U. Ban. The author mentioned that removing mercury-containing fillings would cause further mercury toxicity. However, he neglected to tell readers that mercury-containing fillings, called amalgams, can be safely removed, leaving readers to believe they are stuck with their fillings. I will cover the ban, provide information on amalgams, explain the reasons for removing them, and explain how to do it safely.
Read MoreIn a recent New York Times piece by Katie Baker, titled "Downsides For Plus-Sizers Who Size Down," the narrative unfolds around plus-sized influencers facing backlash from their community for losing weight. The author uses the term fat phobia several times. One poignant story is that of Dronme Davis, a beacon of body positivity, who shared her personal journey only to be met with hostility for becoming thin. Worse, she had to suffer criticism while experiencing an eating disorder relapse. This situation illuminates the nuanced and often polarized landscape of body positivity, where the intention to embrace all bodies somehow loses its inclusivity when those bodies change in ways that don't align with the expected narrative. This post will cover the ins and outs of the obesity epidemic, the body positivity movement, and how we can improve things.
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