#HarvardResearch

A new warning from Harvard-affiliated medical experts and recent research has raised urgent concerns over the safety of commercially available protein powders, drawing attention to potentially hazardous contaminants in products widely consumed by fitness enthusiasts, athletes, and health-conscious Thais. According to reviews by researchers and reports by advocacy groups such as the Clean Label Project, many popular protein powders contain significant levels of heavy metals, plastic-derived chemicals, and other toxins—a finding that threatens to upend perceptions of these supplements as inherently “healthy” choices for those pursuing muscle gain or dietary supplementation [Harvard Health][LADbible].

In an age where snack foods often carry the blame for rising rates of obesity and chronic diseases, a prominent Harvard medical expert has spotlighted four specific snack options that can be enjoyed daily without jeopardizing liver or gut health. This comes as welcome news to Thai readers who are increasingly conscious of both diet-related illnesses and the influence of Western fast food culture on local snacking habits. The advice aligns with broader global trends in nutritional science, which highlight the importance of making mindful snack choices to support overall health.

In a compelling new development that challenges popular notions of physical health, a Harvard University professor’s book asserts that humans may actually be evolutionarily built for sitting, rather than for long-distance running or relentless physical activity. This argument, summarized in a recent summary report, invites readers to reconsider ingrained beliefs—particularly the now-infamous comparison that “sitting is the new smoking”—and urges a reassessment of how we live, work, and exercise in modern society source.

Touch is a sense so omnipresent that most people rarely pause to appreciate its profound influence—until it’s disrupted. Yet, as fresh research led by Harvard’s Dr. David Ginty reveals, touch is our most complex sense, arising from an intricate landscape of cellular sensors that function as the body’s constantly vigilant interface with the world. These findings, summarized in a sweeping feature in Quanta Magazine and recent reports from Harvard’s neurobiology teams, paint touch not as a single sensation but as a rich, dynamic network involving myriad neuron types, each finely tuned to unique tactile experiences—from the gentle tickle of a breeze on the skin to the comforting pressure of a mother’s hug (Quanta Magazine, 2025; Harvard Medical School, 2024).

Recent research led by MIT and Harvard Medical School has uncovered the intriguing role that the immune molecule interleukin-17 (IL-17) plays in shaping social behavior and anxiety by acting directly on specific brain regions. This groundbreaking study reveals that IL-17 serves dual functions: enhancing sociability by reducing neuron excitability in the brain’s cortex and triggering anxiety by increasing excitability in the amygdala. These findings suggest IL-17 acts like a neuromodulator, drawing a fascinating link between immune system activity and behavioral outcomes, with potential implications for the treatment of conditions like autism and depression (Neuroscience News).

In a groundbreaking revelation, researchers from Harvard Medical School have underscored the significant role of dietary changes in enhancing cognitive reserve, thereby helping to stave off conditions such as dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and stroke. This research holds substantial promise for individuals seeking to prolong mental acuity and autonomy into their later years.

Cognitive reserve refers to the brain’s ability to creatively improvise and adapt when faced with challenges, effectively ‘finding another way’ to accomplish tasks. This ability is often credited to a lifetime of education and intellectual curiosity. The concept gained traction in the 1980s when researchers observed that some individuals, despite having brain changes indicative of Alzheimer’s disease, displayed no symptoms during their lifetime. This anomaly was attributed to their substantial cognitive reserves, which compensated for the neurological damages.