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Integrative Health

The Health and Wellness Stories You Need to Know This Month

The health and wellness industry moves at lightning speed, and we're always on the lookout for the stories and studies that matter. That's why every month, we're selecting the top health and wellness headlines that you need to know to stay informed and on top of the latest trends.

The Health and Wellness Stories You Need to Know This Month

Here are the four stories that caught our attention this month.

FDA Bans Red No. 3

This was a big win for clean eating proponents everywhere.

On January 15th, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that it's banning Red No. 3. A synthetic dye, Red No. 3 is used in over 9,000 food items, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest. It gives foods and drinks — including cereals, candy, and strawberry milkshakes —a bright red cherry color, but NBC News reports that it's been linked to cancer in animals.

"The FDA cannot authorize a food additive or color additive if it has been found to cause cancer in humans or animals," said Jim Jones, FDA's Deputy Director for Human Foods. "Evidence shows cancer in laboratory male rats exposed to high levels of FD&C Red No. 3."

Read More: The 10 Most Important (+ Interesting) Health Stories of 2024

United States Withdraws From World Health Organization

President Donald Trump wasted no time making his presence felt upon assuming office on January 20th, signing over 30 executive orders. One that caught the health community's attention was his decision to withdraw the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO). WHO, which was founded in 1948, is a United Nations agency that "works to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve the vulnerable."

Trump had previously begun a withdrawal from WHO in 2020, CNN reports, but President Joe Biden stopped it upon taking office.

"It's a cataclysmic presidential decision," Georgetown University public health law professor Lawrence Gostin wrote on X. "Withdrawal is a grievous wound to world health, but a still deeper wound to the US."

Additional Health Benefits of GLP-1 Medications

GLP-1 medications might have more health benefits than we previously thought.

They've already been approved for weight loss, diabetes, and heart disease, but a new study in Nature Medicine reveals that they could also be used to treat substance abuse disorders, psychosis, infections, certain cancers, and dementia.

There are many potential side effects to consider, though. They can negatively affect your digestive system, CNN reports, leading to nausea and vomiting, stomach pain, and heartburn (just to name a few). These medications have also been linked to arthritis and tendinitis.

Wellness Takes Center Stage at the Nasdaq Exchange

The wellness industry continues to explode (according to a Bloomberg report, the global wellness industry is now worth an astounding $6.3 trillion), and it was recognized on one of the world's biggest stages earlier this month.

The New York-based stock exchange hosted Wellness Week 2025, featuring such innovative health and wellness companies as Headspace, Athletech News, Modern Health, WellHub, ŌURA, and Mindbody. The purpose of the event — in addition to recognizing these companies for their incredible success, and the important work that they do — was to"explore how technology is driving innovation and growth in the health and wellness industry."

We covered Wellness Week 2025 in more detail here.

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