A Blow Against the Common Cold?

Staff / Truthdig Feb 18, 2008 It turns out a little echinacea might go a long way toward preventing a cold and reducing the duration of a cold, especially when combined with vitamin C. A new study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases analyzed 14 other studies and flies in the face of other research that has showed no positive effect from echinacea. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Is Obesity Contagious?: Round Two

Staff / Truthdig Aug 21, 2007 It's beginning to look like there's nowhere to hide from the often-referenced "obesity epidemic." First came the news this month that friends may cause each others' waistlines to expand, and now there's a new study out that links excess weight, in certain cases, to a common cold-inducing virus, adenovirus-36. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

State of Emergency for California Crops

Staff / Truthdig Jan 17, 2007 Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency in California after nearly three-quarters of the state's citrus crop was wiped out by subfreezing weather last week, causing up to $1 billion in losses. Prices around the country are expected to rise drastically, as California is the nation's major producer of fresh citrus fruit. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )