Saturday 24 October 2026 · 5 small stories to take into your day
Today in 30 seconds
Total ultra-processed food was not linked to bowel cancer in 461,682 older US adults
In about half of 62 therapy studies, better emotion skills were part of why it worked
A cocoa farmer in Ghana says growing under trees raised her profit by about 80%
EatObservational study
1Type of ultra-processed food, not the total, linked to bowel cancer
What happened. A team led by Erikka Loftfield at the US National Cancer Institute studied diet and health records from 461,682 Americans. They were aged 50 to 71 when they joined in 1995 and 1996, and were followed for a median of 18.8 years. Total ultra-processed food was not linked to colorectal (bowel) cancer. Ultra-processed whole grains, fibre, dairy and calcium were linked to lower rates, and ultra-processed meat to higher rates.
Why it matters. A broad label like ultra-processed can hide big differences between foods. In the data, swapping 10% of ultra-processed intake by weight for minimally processed food was linked to a 2% lower rate of colorectal cancer.
Observational; mostly older white Americans; diet reported once; no absolute risks given
2Better emotion skills were part of why therapy helped about half the time
What happened. Researchers in Sweden reviewed 62 therapy studies, mostly in adults who were already struggling. Better emotion handling was part of the reason therapy worked about half the time. That link rose to about 8 in 10 when therapy taught the skills directly, using an established framework. Only 10 of the 62 studies included children or teens.
“just as we teach children to read and write, we can also teach them to cope.”
Sandra M. Chafouleas, Distinguished Professor, University of Connecticut
Why it matters. Managing feelings is a set of skills people can learn and practise, not just something fixed from birth, the author argues. That is hopeful for adults and children who want better ways to cope.
Unclear which improved first; few child studies; blog author co-created a programme she mentions
3A psychologist argues autism support should build choice, not conformity
What happened. Ty Vernon directs the Koegel Autism Center at the University of California, Santa Barbara. In a column, the clinical psychologist argues that support should explain social goals, so autistic people can choose when to mask, or hide, their autistic traits. Earlier research has linked long-term masking to chronic stress, anxiety and lower wellbeing.
“The goal of autism support should not be to teach people how to appear less autistic.”
Ty Vernon, Ph.D., Director, Koegel Autism Center, University of California, Santa Barbara
Why it matters. For autistic people and those who support them, the aim shifts from fitting in to having real choices. Vernon also notes that masking can be useful when chosen on purpose and used sparingly.
Opinion column, not new research; harms are associations from earlier studies
4A therapist argues an uneven mental load at home lowers desire
What happened. Martha Kauppi, a couples and sex therapist, argues that when one partner carries far more of a household's mental load, that partner's desire usually drops. Uneven work at home creates stress and resentment, she writes. She suggests sharing the work more fairly and easing the pressure around sex, focusing on pleasure and connection instead.
“When you're overwhelmed, it's hard for desire to bloom.”
Martha Kauppi, LMFT, therapist and author
Why it matters. Low desire is often treated as one person's problem. This view points to the shared load at home, which is something both partners can notice and change together.
Advice column for therapists; author says fairer chores cannot guarantee more sex
5A cocoa farmer in Ghana grows under trees and helps keep the forest
What happened. Susana Afrifa Ankrah farms cocoa in Ghana's Atewa Range. She joined a forest programme, run by Ghana's Forestry Commission and Cocoa Board, soon after it launched in 2019. She stopped clearing and burning land and planted native trees, such as African mahogany, between her crops. She estimates her profit margin rose by about 80%. She has since opened a daycare nursery and a bakery that employ 17 people.
“The forest gives us fresh air. It cools the land. It helps the rains to fall.”
Why it matters. Her story shows that protecting a forest and earning a living can work together. Nearby mining could still put the programme at risk, the article notes.
Personal story; 80% is her own estimate; grant-funded series; nearby mining is a risk
