Type 1 diabetes is one of the most prevalent chronic conditions in children in the U.S.,1 affecting around four out of every 1,000 youths.2 This autoimmune disease causes the body’s immune system to mistakenly destroy the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas. This leads to lifelong dependence on insulin injections, frequent blood sugar monitoring, and increased risk for severe complications.3 While genetics is involved in its development, disruption of the gut microbiome has also been found to play a role. Particularly, early exposure to antibiotics in children has been shown to alter the composition and function of gut bacteria during vital…

“¿Qué ondas?” That’s a familiar greeting in El Salvador, where I’m from, a land where surf and coffee blend harmoniously. When I was growing up there as a kid, my grandma asked me if I wanted to take summer classes. She gave me three choices: drawing, math, or English classes. At the time, I felt like I was good enough in math. I was more into music than drawing. So, she paid for my summer English classes. Little did I know that her humble pension and that decision would change my life forever. After that first summer English class, I…

Jonathan Knowles/Digital Vision/Getty Images The Trump administration announced its intention to phase out synthetic dyes used to enhance color in common foods like candy and cereals. At a press conference Tuesday, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said his agency is making the move as a first step to improve the nation’s food supply and address chronic disease. “We are going to get rid of the dyes and then one by one, we’re going to get rid of every ingredient and additive in food that we can legally address,” he said. The Food and Drug Administration will…