1: When Superfoods Aren’t So Super

A cohort study of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis), along with research in mice and cultured cells, found that compared with healthy individuals, those with IBD have lower levels of two transporter proteins responsible for moving oxalate out of the gut. So, although spinach, almonds, and sweet potatoes have high nutritional value, these high-oxalate foods may contribute to intestinal inflammation in this patient group. Further research is needed to determine whether novel therapies targeting oxalate breakdown could be a viable treatment for patients with IBD.

2: A Hot Take on Heart Health in Perimenopausal and Menopausal Women

An observational cohort study assessed the effect of menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) on cardiovascular disease risk in perimenopausal and recently postmenopausal women with hot flashes and other vasomotor symptoms. Among 2,737 women, starting MHT was associated with a 22% lower cardiovascular disease risk. The strongest benefit was seen in women who initiated MHT within 10 years of menopause onset, as well as Black women. Further research is needed to tease out how MHT can be optimized to reduce cardiovascular risk in women.

3: Attention Deficit, Screen Surplus

A prospective cohort study of 11K youth explored whether social media use is associated with changes in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms. Among kids who self-reported increased “social media addiction,” parents also reported increases in ADHD symptoms. The association was stronger in boys than girls. Overall, the findings suggest social media use may be worth screening for in kids with ADHD.

It turns out the tea might be too hot to handle after all 

What happened: A new study has found a link between drinking very hot beverages and the risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

Why it matters: Around 3,000 Canadians are diagnosed with esophageal cancer each year, and globally, cases are projected to rise by more than 50% by 2040. Tobacco and alcohol use are among the major risk factors for esophageal SCC, which is more common in men. While treatment can include chemotherapy and radiation, the disease can be difficult to cure.

Researchers looked at data from over 900,000 middle-aged adults in the UK who were asked about their hot-drink habits, including how many they drank and whether they preferred them warm, hot or very hot. And temperature mattered.

Compared with people who preferred warm drinks, those who preferred them hot had nearly twice the risk of esophageal SCC. Among those in the very-hot group, the risk was more than 3 times as high. How much people drank mattered, too. Drinking 6 or more hot beverages a day was associated with a 71% higher risk of esophageal SCC. And these findings add to longstanding concerns about temperature: in 2016, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified drinking very hot beverages — above 65°C — as “probably carcinogenic to humans.”

But: Despite these findings, the chance of esophageal cancer is relatively low. It is considered the 19th most common cancer type. Researchers also didn’t measure the actual temperature of the drinks, relying instead on each participant to describe them as warm, hot, or very hot. One possible explanation is thermal injury: repeated exposure to very hot liquids can damage the cells lining the esophagus and cause inflammation. Letting drinks cool before sipping is a simple way to reduce that exposure.

Bottom line: Sometimes a hot coffee or tea is the only thing getting you through the night shift, or a cold Canadian winter. The findings aren’t a reason to give either up, but they do suggest temperature matters. If your drink is still scalding, waiting a few minutes before taking that first sip may be worthwhile.

CReATe Fertility is growing, and we are looking for physicians to join our team and help expand access to specialized fertility care across the Greater Toronto Area.

We are currently welcoming applications from GPs and reproductive endocrinology and infertility (REI) specialists interested in joining our team in North York, Etobicoke and Durham Region.

Why CReATe?

For more than 30 years, CReATe Fertility Centre has provided comprehensive fertility care to patients across Ontario. Our multidisciplinary team combines personalized care, advanced reproductive technologies, and expertise across a broad range of fertility services.

Joining CReATe means becoming part of a team with expertise across fertility services, including IVF, IUI, fertility preservation, donor and gestational carrier programs, genetic testing, male factor infertility, and more.

If you or a colleague are interested in joining CReATe, we would be happy to connect and share more about current opportunities.

Get in touch directly with Lisa Hogan, Director of Business Development at [email protected]

1: 💊 That bottle of acetaminophen in the medicine cabinet might be worth a second look. Health Canada has recalled one lot of Novo-Gesic Forte 500 mg because some tablets may have been contaminated with phenolic resin or epoxy, materials that could injure the digestive system if swallowed. The tricky part? The affected pills were shipped to pharmacies in 1,000-count bottles and may have been dispensed into smaller containers, meaning patients might have no idea which lot they received. The recall is nationwide, but only one lot is affected. Here’s how to find out if your acetaminophen is one of them.

2: 🧠 1.9 million people just strengthened the ADHD-gut connection. A new systematic review and meta-analysis of 23 studies found people with ADHD had 48% higher odds of GI symptoms overall, including nearly twice the odds of constipation and 58% higher odds of IBS. What’s behind it is less clear. Researchers point to everything from ADHD medications and eating patterns to differences in the gut microbiome, and stress that the findings show an association, not causation. But the pattern was strong enough that researchers say GI symptoms may deserve more attention in people with ADHD.

3: 🚬 One of smoking’s strangest health paradoxes may finally have an explanation. For decades, studies have found that people who smoke are less likely to develop Parkinson’s disease, even as smoking sends the risk of plenty of other diseases soaring. Now, a study of more than 512K adults points to an unexpected suspect: carbon monoxide. Researchers found higher exhaled CO was associated with a lower risk of Parkinson’s even among people who had never smoked, suggesting tobacco itself may not explain the strange relationship. It’s far from proof of protection, but the finding is intriguing enough that low-dose CO is already being investigated as a potential Parkinson’s treatment.

4: 🇨🇦 Canada is looking across the Atlantic for a new best friend. With the US trade war escalating, Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada will begin talks on a “unique alliance” with the European Union, one that could deepen ties well beyond the trade deal already in place. Reports suggest discussions have included everything from energy, AI and critical minerals to making it easier for some Canadian goods, services and workers to move between Canada and Europe. Canada isn’t joining the EU, Carney insists, but with the PM heading to Strasbourg this week, just how close could Canada and Europe get?

>10%: the odds one senior AI safety researcher estimates for AI causing human extinction within the next decade. There’s no scientific consensus on that number, but he’s not alone in sounding the alarm. Other AI insiders have now publicly backed the warning.

17.2%: how much the value of Canadian maple product exports jumped in 2025, reaching $844 million. And amid the US trade war, international appetite for Canada's sweetest export appears to be growing.

35 g: the amount of concentrated tomato paste eaten daily in a new study looking at tomatoes and brain health. After 3 months, healthy adults showed improvements in attention, processing speed and memory. Lycopene may deserve some credit, but with just 42 people completing the study, call it food for thought.

🥘 Make: one of these easy September dinners for when summer cooking is winding down but you’re not quite ready for full-on soup season, from curry-glazed salmon to crispy gnocchi caprese and basil chicken stir-fry. 

❄️ Save: on this 2-stage snow blower from Home Hardware. We sincerely apologize for bringing up winter in September, but the savings were simply too good to hide from you. 

🧬 Learn: what’s coming next in IBD treatment at this free 60-minute webinar exploring the emerging immune pathways, biomarkers and new mechanisms that researchers hope could push treatment beyond today’s therapeutic ceiling.

✈️ Escape: the usual tourist crowds with these 10 under-the-radar destinations tipped for 2027, from a quiet Greek island to Sri Lanka’s tea country. Canada made the list too, with one destination coming in at No. 2. 

😂 Watch: what doctors admit they'll steal from you every single time.

First clue: Movement of water through a semipermeable membrane from low to high solute concentration

Need a rematch? We’ve got you covered. Check out our Crossword Archive to find every puzzle we’ve ever made, all in one place.

Think you crushed it? Challenge your physician friends to beat your time.

Want to reach thousands of Canadian physicians every week? Email [email protected] to learn more.