A high school student, Destany “Sky” Pete from the Shoshone and Paiute Tribes, won her regional science fair by showing that chokeberry pudding, a traditional Native American food, can kill cancer cells in the lab. Inspired by advice from tribal elders about the importance of traditional foods, she tested chokeberry extracts and found they inhibited cancer cell growth. This discovery could lead to new cancer treatments.
Separately, there is concern about lead contamination in some cinnamon powders. Lead, a toxic heavy metal, can be absorbed by cinnamon trees grown in polluted soil, making certain cinnamon products unsafe.
Consumer Reports tested 36 cinnamon powders and found 12 brands with high lead levels, posing health risks, especially for children and pregnant people. However, six brands tested had very low or no lead, showing safer options are available. Consumers are advised to choose cinnamon products carefully to avoid lead exposure.