#Traditionandscience

A high-profile kratom incident abroad has intensified global scrutiny of the plant, a topic that resonates in Thailand where kratom is rooted in the landscape and recent regulatory changes. A 37-year-old man in Washington state died after consuming a single tablespoon of kratom powder, a case cited in legal filings as part of a broader trend of harms linked to concentrated kratom products.

For Thai families, the issue touches daily life. Kratom trees grow across southern Thailand, and many communities have used fresh leaves for generations to ease labor and pain. Today, the plant sits at the crossroads of youth safety, evolving laws, and the challenge of balancing tradition with modern science.

The sudden death of a 37-year-old man in the United States after ingesting powdered kratom—a plant long used in Southeast Asia—has triggered renewed international safety warnings and legal scrutiny, with fresh research revealing mounting risks for consumers worldwide, including in Thailand. The case, now at the heart of a wrongful death lawsuit against manufacturers and vendors, highlights a surge in kratom-related poisonings, youth experimentation, and the global push for improved regulation and public awareness.

The deep purple-black berries of black currant (Ribes nigrum) have been a cornerstone of herbal practices for centuries, their use woven into the culinary and healing traditions of Europe and Asia. Today, as superfoods trend and scientific curiosity turns to the natural pharmacy of the past, black currant stands out at the fascinating intersection of folk wisdom and modern research. What makes this humble fruit so revered? What does the science say about its reputed powers for immunity, heart health, joint pain, and more? This magazine feature dives deep into the journey of black currant—from wild medicine and old wives’ tales to the cutting-edge laboratories of today—highlighting how a berry once foraged from European forests has become a focus of global wellness research and food innovation.

Black currant (Ribes nigrum) has long threaded its way through European and Asian healing and culinary traditions. Today it sits at the crossroads of folk wisdom and contemporary science, captivating health-minded readers worldwide. This feature explores why this small berry remains so revered and what research says about immunity, heart health, joints, and beyond. The journey from forest foragers to modern wellness products reveals a fruit that travels well beyond its origin.

For decades, fitness enthusiasts and nutrition experts in Thailand and around the world have debated whether eating animal-based or plant-based protein is better for muscle building. Now, new research from the University of Illinois—published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise—has found that both plant and meat proteins support muscle growth equally, so long as overall protein intake is sufficient. This finding could shift the way Thai athletes, gym-goers, and health-conscious citizens approach their diets, expanding acceptance of plant-based eating patterns while reassuring those who consume traditional animal protein sources.

A recent study from the University of Illinois, published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, shows that plant-based and animal-based proteins support muscle growth equally well, provided overall daily protein intake is sufficient. This finding offers Thai gym-goers and health-conscious citizens more flexibility in their diets while respecting traditional eating patterns.

The study involved 40 healthy adults aged 20 to 40 who trained regularly. Researchers found no meaningful difference in muscle growth between vegan and omnivorous diets when total protein intake was around 1.1 grams per kilogram of body weight daily. An important takeaway is that distributing protein evenly across meals did not outperform concentrating protein in fewer meals. In short, meeting daily protein needs matters more than meal timing.