Good morning, and welcome to The Epoch Times Health Brief for Sunday, March 16, 2025. I’m Bill Thomas, we have some really intriguing stories to share with you right now, and here’s what’s going on.
Many people could be endangering their health by misdiagnosing a widespread virus; hoping to avoid long waits in the doctor’s office, millions of people are now turning to an innovative form of health care; and a certain type of food is linked to higher mortality rates and dozens of harmful diseases.
Also, a Missouri judge issues an enormous ruling against the Chinese communist regime related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and one U.S. state will soon become the first state in the nation to ban a controversial additive from their public drinking water.
Think It’s Just a Cold? Flu Warnings Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore
One medical expert tells The Epoch Times that the influenza virus mutates every year, and that based on his observations and experience, this season’s outbreak began much earlier than usual and it could stick around until some time in April. He also says that this year, many people are mistaking severe infections for a common cold, leading to lengthy delays in treatment.He says that most people who get the flu typically develop a high fever, with their body temperature peaking at up to 102 degrees.
Additionally, they develop a number of common respiratory issues, including sore throat, cough, and runny nose. He says that in severe cases, it could even develop into a lower respiratory tract infection.
He points out that some individuals might experience a variety of gastrointestinal issues as well, and that muscle pain from the flu is typically much more severe than that of a common cold.
The expert we spoke with went on to say that if you experience a number of severe symptoms, such as a high fever lasting more than two days, difficulty breathing, continued vomiting, or even extended confusion and drowsiness, you should seek medical attention right away.
He says that each year, multiple strains of the flu circulate, and that even though the flu vaccine is formulated to target only those strains which are most likely to spread, he recommends that people who have a high risk of getting the flu get the vaccination every year in order to reduce their risk of severe illness.
Health Care Without the Waiting Room
Frustrated by long waits, rushed visits, and insurance bureaucracy, more and more people are now opting to pay out of pocket for membership-based care models, including what are known as direct primary care (DPC) and concierge medicine.Here’s how it works: Patients pay a monthly or annual fee in exchange for direct access to their doctor, longer appointments, and fewer bureaucratic hurdles.
Direct primary care plans typically charge monthly fees and don’t bill your insurance at all. Meanwhile, concierge medicine often combines an annual membership fee with insurance billing for certain covered services.
Additionally, more and more doctors are opting to turn to direct primary care. Instead of battling insurance and paperwork, these physicians charge their patients a flat monthly fee—typically $50 to $150—for unlimited visits, longer appointments, and direct phone, text, or video access, resulting in greater satisfaction for doctor and patient alike.
It’s worth noting that research shows both of these models reduce unnecessary trips to urgent care as well as trips to a specialist.
Supporters of these innovative models say they make health care more personal and effective. However, critics are concerned that they could make our nation’s current doctor shortage even worse, as well as deepen the disparities between people who can afford better access to health care and others who could be left behind.
Ultra-Processed Foods Linked to Higher Mortality, 32 Diseases
One recent study, which tracked adults between the ages of 50 and 71 over a 23-year period, shows that people who ate a great deal of ultra-processed foods had a 10 percent higher mortality rate than those who ate fewer ultra-processed foods.Meanwhile, another recent review of nearly 10 million individuals links the intake of those products with an increased risk of 32 diseases, including cardiovascular issues, cancer, diabetes, and cognitive decline.
Additionally, a third study says that 14 percent of adults and 12 percent of children are actually addicted to ultra-processed foods, which include heavily manufactured products such as chips and breakfast cereals.
One nutritionist tells The Epoch Times that these types of foods have always been the focus of controversy in the health field due to their high fat, sugar, and oil content.
He says the combination of those ingredients is particularly addictive because they taste good and make your brain feel happy, leading you to want to eat more. He also says that some people eat snacks instead of full meals, resulting in excessive calorie intake without essential nutrients.
However, he offers five tips which he says can help people overcome their addiction to these unhealthy food choices. They include staying informed about your health, learning to read nutrition labels, and getting enough sleep. He also encourages people to drink more water and to exercise regularly. Unfortunately, your Health Brief host is three out of five—I’ll try harder.
Missouri Judge Finds CCP Liable for Hoarding COVID-19 Protective Equipment
A federal judge in Missouri has just found that China’s communist leadership is liable for more than $24 billion in damages to that state for making the pandemic worse by obstructing U.S. access to COVID-19-related medical supplies.The judgment took particular care to note both the CCP’s role in hiding information about the virus during its initial outbreak in China, as well as the regime’s efforts to hoard personal protective equipment (PPE), causing shortages in the United States.
The decision also says that China engaged in a campaign to “suppress information” about the existence, scope, and the human-to-human transmissibility of COVID-19 in an effort to stockpile those supplies and keep them from an “unsuspecting world” that did not yet understand the gravity of the situation.
The State of Missouri brought the case against China, its communist leadership, and several subordinate departments—including the Wuhan Institute of Virology, from where intelligence leaders say the COVID-19 virus most likely originated.
By the way, the judge rendered the decision by default after officials from the CCP failed to appear in court to plead their side of the case, which is a common outcome involving cases concerning foreign entities.
Meanwhile, Missouri’s attorney general calls the decision a landmark victory for both his state and the country in “the fight to hold China accountable for unleashing COVID-19 on the world.” He says that if they don’t pay up, he’ll seize China’s assets across the United States as compensation.
Utah to Become First State to Ban Fluoride in Public Drinking Water
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox says he’s going to sign a new law which bans the addition of fluoride to his state’s public drinking water, making it the first state in the nation to do so.The bill recently cleared the state legislature with mixed bipartisan support. Once signed into law, it will prohibit public water systems from adding fluoride to their supply, while allowing pharmacists to prescribe fluoride tablets for those individuals who still want the mineral supplement as part of their dental health regimen.
For his part, the Republican governor says that right now, half of Utah does not add fluoride to their water. He also says that he consulted a number of dentists about the issue, and that they reported no “drastically different outcomes” concerning the dental health of people living in fluoridated and non-fluoridated counties.
He went on to say that “it’s got to be a really high bar” if his state is going to require people to be “medicated by their government.”
However, the American Dental Association is calling on Cox to veto the bill, citing fluoridation’s reported benefits to both dental health and the prevention of cavities.
Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is a longtime critic of fluoridation. He says that among other things, fluoride can lower an individual’s IQ—a claim which has been supported by recent studies showing potential links between fluoride exposure and the IQ scores of children.
And now, it looks like our time is just about up for today, so we’re gonna call it a wrap for our final edition of The Epoch Times Health Brief.
But before we go, and as we have done each and every week on this program since its inception, we share with you a very notable quote and this one comes to us from Sophia Loren who said:
“There is a fountain of youth: It’s in your mind, your talents, the creativity you brought into your life and the lives of people you loved.”
Loren is an Academy Award-winning Italian actress who has worked in both Hollywood and Italian productions throughout her 70-year career. She’s considered one of the last surviving stars from Hollywood’s Golden Age.
Now, before we shut the studio down and head out to enjoy another extraordinary Sunday, a couple of Health Brief extras:
The surgeon general says smoking causes lung cancer, heart disease, emphysema, and may complicate pregnancy. Therefore, if you’re a smoker, give it a shot and make every effort to quit smoking right away. Nobody likes a quitter, except in the game of smoking.
Also, from time to time, we like to remind you that we all know there are tons of fast food drive-thru restaurants all over the planet, but it’s just as easy to drive by as it is to drive through—please eat healthy.
Additionally, whether it’s texting, calling, navigating, or anything else, using your cellphone while driving can be dangerous. In fact, our partners with AAA say that texting and driving can have the same consequences as drinking and driving: deaths and injuries. Please stay safe—put the phone away while you’re driving.
Finally, this is the last edition of The Epoch Times Health Brief. Over the past several months, we’ve had the great pleasure of sharing a wide variety of health stories with you and while this program has come to an end, we’ll still be providing for you our daily News Brief program as well as our Friday afternoon Sports Brief program.
As always, feel free to remain in contact with us by sending over a note to [email protected]—that’s [email protected].
For all of us here at The Epoch Times Health Brief, I’m Bill Thomas.
The Epoch Times Health Brief program was written today by David Ross.
Thank you for making us your one-stop source for a concise, accurate, and unbiased weekly synopsis of many of the health stories you need to know about.
Enjoy the remainder of your day, please stay healthy, and let’s all continue to watch out for one another. Have an absolutely superb day today and bye for now.
