 | By Daphne Lee, News Editor | | | I was on the hunt for some overpriced smoked paprika last week. But when I was at the grocery store, I spent extra time to look up which brand was "safe." | | | Today's Top Story | | Your Spices May Have High Levels of Heavy Metals |  | Lead exposure has been a recurring concern in the United States. It's present in old paint, baby food, and vintage pottery. And now, researchers have even found lead in everyday spices and dried herbs like paprika, thyme, oregano, and ginger powder.
Consumer Reports recently tested over 120 household spices and dried herbs, and 40 of the products contained heavy metals like lead, arsenic, and cadmium.
It doesn't matter if the brand has an "organic" label. Trader Joe's organic ground cumin and Walmart's organic ground ginger both failed the test for heavy metals. Just having one serving—or ¾ teaspoon—of these spices daily can pose a health risk to children over time.
Lead exposure can affect adults, but it's much more dangerous in children. According to the CDC, there's no safe level of lead for children and even small traces of it can affect a child's intelligence and behavioral development.
The presence of arsenic and cadmium is equally troubling. Long-term exposure to arsenic is associated with medical conditions such as skin disorders, an increased risk for diabetes, high blood pressure, and several types of cancer. Cadmium is a cancer-causing agent, and it can severely irritate your stomach. | | Know More | | Lead can get into foods or spices along the production process. Experts say spices that have bright colors, like turmeric and chili powder, are more worrisome because lead is sometimes used as a coloring agent or to increase product weight. | | Feel Better | | When you shop for spices and herbs next time, you can refer to the list of heavy metal test results by Consumer Reports. Or, you can take a stab at gardening and grow something easy at home, like basil and oregano. | | |  | | All Adults Are Eligible for a COVID-19 Booster | | If you're 18 or older, you can now get a COVID-19 booster regardless of your occupation or underlying medical condition. Public health experts say this will help eliminate confusion about whether someone is eligible for a booster or not. Find an appointment at your local pharmacy or on vaccines.gov. | | | | Deep Breathing May Improve Your Digestion | | Anxiety and stress may signal your brain to focus your energy on the fight-or-flight response and shut down your digestive systems. You can try to practice diaphragmatic breathing, a simple exercise that can help relieve stress from your body and your gut. Inhale for six seconds while keeping your chest flat and allowing only your stomach to expand. Exhale gently for another six seconds. Then repeat a few times until you feel more relaxed—it's like a massage for your stomach. | | | | | | | |  | | In an interview with Verywell, Mandy Enright, MS, RDN, a registered dietitian, said that getting enough exercise can help your body digest food. |  | | In addition to cardiovascular and strength training exercises, explore moving meditations such as Tai Chi. Tai Chi involves continuous slow-flowing movement connected to the breath that is very calming for the mind and body. | |  |  | Mandy Enright, MS, RDN
Registered Dietitian
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