NEW: Avian Flu Confirmed at Antonelli Poultry in Providence, 445 Birds Euthanized
The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) want to alert consumers that birds at Antonelli Poultry in Providence tested positive for the H5N1 strain of avian influenza during routine quarterly testing by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The infected birds, which included live chickens and ducks, did not come from Rhode Island farms. They were from out-of-state dealers.
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On Saturday, the State Veterinarian oversaw the USDA-required humane euthanasia of about 445 asymptomatic birds at the market to prevent the spread of the disease to other birds. Per USDA regulations, Antonelli Poultry will be closed until 5 days after they have disposed of infected birds and have cleaned and sanitized all areas of the business. Antonelli Poultry is closely cooperating with DEM and RIDOH.
Staff Monitored for 10 Days
Because staff at Antonelli Poultry may have been exposed to avian influenza, and out of an abundance of caution, RIDOH is monitoring all staff for 10 days for symptoms of avian influenza. The overall risk of humans getting H5N1 remains low.
“Cooking poultry to the proper internal temperature of 165° kills bacteria and viruses, including avian influenza A viruses,” says Director of Health Jerry Larkin, MD. “RIDOH recommends that if anyone still has poultry they bought between June 9 and June 12 that was killed and dressed by Antonelli Poultry, they should double bag the poultry and dispose of it in their regular trash. If you have properly cooked and eaten chicken from Antonelli Poultry, the risk of becoming ill is very low; however, if you develop symptoms of avian influenza, you should seek medical care.”
Symptoms of avian influenza include eye redness, fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, muscle or body aches, fatigue, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, or pneumonia that requires hospitalization. People who get avian influenza can be treated with antivirals.
To prevent any foodborne illness, RIDOH recommends:
Wash hands, utensils, and cutting boards before and after contact with raw poultry, meat, seafood, and eggs.
Keep raw poultry and meat away from food that won’t be cooked—like fruits and vegetables.
Cook food to the proper temperature and use a food thermometer to check the food’s internal temperature. You cannot tell by looking at food if it is cooked to the proper temperature.
Avian influenza infections in humans are rare. The best way to prevent avian influenza in humans is for people to avoid exposure.
Avoid direct contact with birds or other animals infected with, or suspected to be infected with, avian influenza.
Avoid direct contact with sick or dead wild birds, poultry, or other animals.
Do not touch surfaces or materials contaminated with saliva, mucous, or animal feces from wild or domestic birds or other animals with confirmed or suspected avian influenza.
Do not touch or drink raw milk (unpasteurized milk), especially from animals with confirmed or suspected avian influenza
Do not handle any sick or dead wild birds or other animals without wearing personal protective equipment (PPE).
“DEM works closely with federal and State veterinary and public health officials to respond quickly to confirmed H5N1 cases in domestic birds,” said State Veterinarian Scott Marshall, DVM. “The USDA performs quarterly testing at live bird markets to ensure the public’s safety.”
This is Rhode Island’s first confirmed domestic bird case of avian influenza in 2026. Rhode Island has previously confirmed infections in noncommercial flocks in 2022 and in 2025.
To learn more about avian influenza in humans, visit RIDOH’s website. To learn more about avian influenza in animals, visit DEM’s website.

Specialists Are Practically Begging People To Eat These 3 Foods That Actually Lower Dementia Risk
There are several things you can do to help control your brain health, including eating a few powerhouse foods.
As terrifying as the thought of dementia is, there’s hope in all of the ways we can prevent it. Certain protein sources can lower your dementia risk, as can finding purpose in life (the latter by 30%, actually). You can also keep your mind sharp by exercising, challenging your brain, sleeping, eating nutritious foods, getting social, limiting stress and not smoking.
Let’s focus on that nutrition piece: To create a simple, easy habit, what’s the main food dementia specialists want you to add to your plate? There are a few options, actually. Ahead, various types of those experts — from internists to professors to psychologists to neuroscientists — share their answers and explanations.
Leafy Green Vegetables
Spinach, kale, arugula, romaine, collards: They’re different foods, but they all fall into the same category of leafy green vegetables that protect brain health. While that probably isn’t surprising, let’s hear the expert-backed insight into why they’re a smart option.
“They are packed with nutrients the brain seems to benefit from, including folate, vitamin E, vitamin K, lutein and anti-inflammatory plant compounds,” said Dr. Dung Trinh, an internist of MemorialCare Medical Group and the chief medical officer of Healthy Brain Clinic in Irvine, California. “We also know that what is good for the heart and blood vessels is often good for the brain, and leafy greens support both.”
Jordan Weiss, an assistant professor at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and a scientific writer at Assisted Living Magazine, agreed. “My answer is boring, and I‘ll stand by it anyway: leafy greens,” he said. “Greens carry folate, vitamin K1, lutein and nitrate. Each is doing something useful in an aging brain.”
He pointed to data from the Rush Memory and Aging Project, in which researchers followed 960 older adults for five years. “People eating roughly a serving a day of greens looked cognitively 11 years younger than people who rarely touched them,” he reported. “That effect size is wild for a single food, and it survived adjustment for overall diet, exercise and education.”
Your next potential question, especially if leafy greens aren’t your favorite: How many do you need to eat? Trinh and Weiss recommend aiming for at least one serving daily. What that can look like varies from a salad to a half-cup of cooked greens to a generous handful in a smoothie, omelet or soup.
“Going beyond that doesn’t seem to add much,” Weiss noted. Plus, remember to focus on doing what you can. Something is better than nothing. “The key is consistency, not perfection,” Trinh said. “You do not need an expensive supplement or a complicated cleanse — you need habits you can sustain for years.”
Fatty Fish
Yep, “fat” is not inherently unhealthy or a “bad” word, and this proves it.
“If I had to choose a single food to recommend for the prevention of dementia and cognitive protection, it would be fatty fish, specifically salmon, mackerel or sardines,” said Eleni Nicolaou, who has a Ph.D. in clinical psychology, specialized training in neurocognitive conditions, clinical practice supporting patients and families dealing with dementia and research on the effects of biological and lifestyle determinants. “I don’t recommend it because it is a superfood in the marketing sense, but because the evidence behind it is more consistent and specific than anything in the nutrition and brain health literature.”
She explained that the brain is about 60% fat, mostly composed of an omega-3 called DHA. The brain uses DHA to build and repair neurons, which transmit information. With lower DHA levels, communication in the brain slows down, and the brain is more susceptible to the inflammation that causes conditions such as Alzheimer’s.
All of that is to say, some of the highest levels of DHA are in fatty fish. Nicolaou pointed to studies affirming this. For starters, research published in Neurology found that the higher the levels of omega-3 in the blood, the better the brain structure and cognitive performance. Additionally, a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that long-term omega-3 supplementation was linked to a 64% lower risk of Alzheimer’s in participants followed for six years.
She incorporates this into her practice, of course, too. “In my clinical work with families dealing with dementia, getting consistent omega-3 intake into a patient’s weekly diet was one of the first dietary conversations I’d have because the evidence for it is very solid,” Nicolaou said. She recommended two to three servings a week, with one serving equaling around 100 to 150 grams.
Blueberries
Fruit lovers, it’s your time to shine. “I understand that blueberries are the single food most consistently linked with better brain aging because their high levels of anthocyanins and other antioxidants help reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, two major drivers of cognitive decline,” said Christopher U. Missling, a neuroscientist who specializes in Alzheimer’s disease and is experienced in mechanisms linking diet, metabolism and brain health.
Research shows that blueberries can protect brain cells from damage, he continued, as well as improve communication between neurons and slow age-related memory loss by counteracting free-radical injury and supporting healthier blood vessels that support the brain.
How much and how often should blueberries be on your plate? According to Missling, most studies suggest around a half-cup to one cup of blueberries a day, but some observational research has shown benefits with just one serving a week.
Dementia prevention isn’t just about food.
While nutrition is undeniably helpful, it’s not everything. Health is all-encompassing, including social health, emotional health, environmental health and more. Experts will tell you this, too. “Food matters, but it works best as a part of a broader brain-health strategy,” Trinh said. “I tell patients to think in terms of ‘protect the brain by protecting the body’ — control blood pressure, stay physically active, prioritize sleep, treat hearing loss, stay socially engaged and eat in a way that lowers inflammation and supports vascular health.”
Missling agreed that nutrition is more complex than adding just one food. While blueberries are his No. 1 suggestion, he encouraged people to incorporate other brain-healthy foods, too. “No single food — blueberries included — can prevent dementia on its own, but regularly eating them as part of an overall pattern rich in colorful fruits, leafy greens, nuts, whole grains and omega-3-rich fish seems to offer the strongest cognitive protection,” he said. “Consistency matters more than perfection, and pairing these foods with sleep, movement and social engagement creates a much more powerful long-term effect on brain resilience.”
This article originally appeared on HuffPost.

GLP-1 drugs like semaglutide (the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy) have changed weight loss treatment for the better. That said, people taking these medications might be less inclined to keep up with other healthy habits, research out today shows.
Doctors at HSHS Saint John’s Hospital in Illinois and others examined Fitbit data from people with obesity who were prescribed a GLP-1 medication. People’s level of physical activity significantly decreased after starting a GLP-1, they found. Though preliminary, the study’s findings suggest that promoting exercise should be an important part of managing the care of patients who go on these drugs, the researchers say.
The GLP-1 paradox
While exercise isn’t a major driver of weight loss, at least for most people, it’s long been recommended alongside diet. When people lose weight, they lose both fat and lean body mass, some of which can include muscle. Exercise can help stave off this muscle loss and maintain people’s physical strength and functioning.
Though people can lose weight through lifestyle changes alone, the addition of GLP-1 therapy has proven to be much more effective on average. The researchers wanted to understand how people taking these drugs might alter their level of exercise, so they turned to data from the All of Us research program, an ongoing project that tracks the health of a large, diverse group of Americans.
They focused on a subset of volunteers, 753 in total, who were prescribed a GLP-1 for their obesity and also had Fitbit activity data available before and after their prescription. These GLP-1s included the newest drugs on the market, like semaglutide and tirzepatide, as well as older medications liraglutide and dulaglutide.
Overall, people’s physical activity decreased after starting a GLP-1, the researchers found. The average daily steps of GLP-1 users dropped from 5,047 to 4,487, for instance, while their daily level of moderate-to-vigorous activity lowered from 28 minutes to 22 minutes. This decline in exercise was steeper among men as well as people who also reported having some amount of musculoskeletal pain.
What to do
The team’s research is set to be presented this weekend at ENDO 2026, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting. That means these findings are preliminary, so they should be viewed with more caution than usual. Other research, including from large-scale clinical trials, has also indicated that muscle loss isn’t a major concern for people taking a GLP-1 and that people’s physical functioning generally improves while on these drugs.
Still, there are some GLP-1 users who are at greater risk of muscle loss than others, particularly older people. And since exercise is one of the healthiest things you can do no matter your current weight or medication status, it should still be concerning if many GLP-1 users are dropping their gym or walking routine. The researchers argue that people going on these drugs should be reminded about the importance of maintaining their exercise habits.
“These findings suggest that weight loss alone may not promote increased physical activity, highlighting the need for targeted interventions that encourage physical activity alongside pharmacologic therapy,” they wrote in their paper.

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Not every cancer begins with pain: Doctors reveal the everyday symptoms people often ignore for too long
Not every cancer begins with pain: Doctors reveal the everyday symptoms people often ignore for too long
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The cancer warning signs people often mistake for everyday health issues
Most people imagine cancer begins with severe pain, a large lump, or a dramatic health crisis. The reality is often much quieter.
A cough that refuses to go away. Constant tiredness that gets blamed on work stress. Bloating that feels like a digestive issue. A mouth ulcer that seems to be taking its time to heal. These symptoms are easy to brush aside because they resemble common health complaints that almost everyone experiences from time to time.
The challenge is not that every cough or ulcer means cancer. The challenge is knowing when a symptom has stayed longer than it should.
According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), cancer symptoms are often mistaken for less serious conditions, and many cancers do not cause pain in their early stages. That is one reason why persistent symptoms deserve attention rather than repeated self-treatment.
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When “it’s just acidity” might be more than acidity
Difficulty swallowing is often blamed on spicy food, acid reflux, or poor eating habits. Many people simply change their diet or take over-the-counter remedies and move on.
But when swallowing problems continue for weeks or gradually worsen, doctors advise getting them checked.
Dr Saadvik Raghuram Y, Director – Medical Oncology & Hemato-Oncology, CARE Hospitals, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, explained, “Many cancer symptoms overlap with common day-to-day health complaints, which is why awareness is so important. A person may dismiss difficulty swallowing as acidity, abnormal bleeding as a minor hormonal issue, or a persistent mouth ulcer as something caused by spicy food or stress. In reality, when these signs persist or repeatedly return, they should be medically evaluated instead of self-managed for months.”
Persistent swallowing difficulties can sometimes be linked to conditions affecting the food pipe, throat, or surrounding tissues. While most cases are not cancer, recurring symptoms should never be ignored.
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The tiredness that sleep doesn’t fix
Modern life has made fatigue feel normal.
Long work hours, poor sleep schedules, family responsibilities, and digital overload leave many people exhausted. As a result, persistent fatigue is one of the most overlooked warning signs in medicine.
Cancer-related fatigue is often different from ordinary tiredness. It may continue despite adequate rest and can slowly affect everyday activities.
Dr Vijay Karan Reddy, HOD & Senior Consultant – Radiation Oncologist and Director of Oncology, Arete Hospitals, said, “One of the biggest challenges in cancer care is that early symptoms rarely arrive dramatically. People often explain them away as stress, ageing, acidity, hormonal changes, or a hectic routine. Persistent fatigue, unexplained weight loss, recurring bloating, a lingering cough, or even subtle changes in bowel habits may seem harmless individually, but when these symptoms continue for weeks, they deserve attention.”
The American Cancer Society notes that extreme tiredness that does not improve with rest can sometimes be associated with cancer and should be evaluated when persistent.
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Mouth ulcers, bleeding and other “small” symptoms that stay too long
Almost everyone develops a mouth ulcer at some point.
Most heal within days. However, an ulcer that remains for weeks, repeatedly returns, or becomes increasingly painful deserves medical attention.
The same principle applies to unusual bleeding.
Many women may attribute abnormal bleeding to hormonal fluctuations. Blood in the stool may be blamed on piles. Blood in the urine may be dismissed as a temporary infection.
Yet these symptoms are among the body’s most important warning signals.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that abnormal vaginal bleeding can be a symptom associated with several gynecologic cancers, while changes in bowel habits or blood in stool may require further investigation.
Dr Saadvik added, “What concerns oncologists most is the tendency to normalize discomfort until it starts interfering with daily life. Cancer does not always begin with severe pain; sometimes the earliest clues are subtle and easy to overlook.”
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The weight loss people secretly celebrate
Few things attract compliments faster than sudden weight loss.
Friends may ask for diet tips. Family members may admire the change. But unexplained weight loss without changes in eating habits or exercise should raise questions.
The body typically loses weight for a reason.
Sometimes that reason is harmless. Sometimes it is linked to thyroid conditions, infections, digestive disorders, or other illnesses. In certain cases, it can be an early sign of cancer.
Health experts advise paying attention when weight drops noticeably without any deliberate effort. When weight loss is accompanied by fatigue, appetite changes, or persistent digestive symptoms, medical evaluation becomes even more important.
Dr Vijay Karan Reddy noted, “The problem is not that every symptom indicates cancer — most do not — but that persistent changes in the body should never be ignored. Early-stage cancers are often far more treatable, and timely diagnosis can significantly improve outcomes.”
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Why paying attention to patterns matters more than pain
One of the biggest myths surrounding cancer is that it always hurts.
In reality, many cancers develop quietly. Some produce symptoms that are so mild they blend into everyday life.
A lingering cough may be blamed on pollution. Recurring bloating may be dismissed as poor digestion. Changes in bowel habits may be explained away as dietary fluctuations.
The National Cancer Institute specifically notes that cancer often does not cause pain in its early stages, which is why waiting for severe symptoms can delay diagnosis.
Dr Vijay Karan Reddy offered an important perspective, “I always encourage people to pay attention to patterns rather than isolated discomfort. Your body usually signals when something is not right, even quietly. Listening early can make a meaningful difference in both treatment and recovery.”
Dr Saadvik echoed a similar message, “Simple health check-ups and timely medical advice can sometimes help detect problems earlier, when treatment is usually more manageable and outcomes tend to be better.”
In many ways, cancer awareness is not about fear. It is about curiosity. It is about noticing when something has changed and refusing to let a persistent symptom become the new normal.
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Medical experts consulted
This article includes expert inputs shared with TOI Health by:
Dr Saadvik Raghuram Y, Director – Medical Oncology & Hemato-Oncology, CARE Hospitals, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad.
Dr Vijay Karan Reddy, HOD & Senior Consultant – Radiation Oncologist, Director of Oncology, Arete Hospitals.
Inputs were used to highlight how common cancer warning signs are often mistaken for everyday health issues such as stress, acidity, ageing, or minor infections, and why persistent or recurring symptoms should be medically evaluated rather than ignored or self-managed for long periods.
Read more: What people who stay healthy into their 80s do differently every day​
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As we get older, we all want healthier, younger-looking skin. That’s why so many of us spend money on moisturizers, retinoids, collagen powders, sunscreen, facials and anti-aging treatments that promise smoother skin and a healthier glow. In recent years, wellness culture and beauty trends have also pushed consumers toward approaches that include red-light therapy, injectable treatments and biohacking supplements.
One ingredient now gaining major attention in skincare and longevity circles is GHK-Cu, a copper peptide that supporters claim may help the body regenerate more effectively and reduce visible signs of aging. But there’s still important nuance around what GHK-Cu peptides are and what they can realistically do. Here’s what to know.
What are GHK-Cu peptides?
GHK-Cu, short for glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine copper, is a “naturally occurring copper peptide made up of three amino acids – glycine, histidine and lysine – that are bound to a copper ion,” said Lisa Young, a registered dietitian nutritionist and adjunct professor at New York University.
Researchers originally identified GHK-Cu in human plasma in 1973 “for its ability to help older liver tissue behave more like younger tissue,” said Jen Messer, a researcher, registered dietitian and president of the New Hampshire Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. But scientists have since “become increasingly interested in its role in tissue repair and cellular signaling.”
While “we don’t get GHK-Cu directly from foods, we do get the building blocks of it – amino acids and copper – from a balanced diet that includes protein-rich foods and copper-containing foods like nuts, seeds, whole grains and legumes,” said Young.
Using these and other building blocks, the body naturally produces GHK-Cu, Young explains. However, she and Messer say that levels decline significantly with age. That reduction is partially why skin becomes thinner, less elastic and slower to heal as we get older.
In addition to being naturally produced in the body, Messer says GHK-Cu is commonly found in topical skincare products such as creams, serums and eye treatments marketed for anti-aging benefits. It also appears in some hair-growth products and experimental wellness supplements, including injectable peptide formulations sold through longevity and wellness clinics.
Why are GHK-Cu peptides good for you?
Much of the excitement surrounding GHK-Cu centers on its potential role in skin health and repair.
Topical GHK-Cu can be applied directly to areas where people hope to stimulate collagen and elastin production, “helping support firmer skin, improved elasticity and fine-line reduction,” said Young. Some small studies have suggested it might provide benefits similar to retinoids while causing less irritation.
Researchers are also exploring its potential role in wound healing, noted Messer. This is because GHK-Cu appears to encourage blood vessel formation and attract repair cells to damaged tissue, both of which are important parts of the healing process.
Young said another growing area of interest is hair health as early findings suggest copper peptides may help enlarge hair follicles, prolong the hair-growth cycle and improve scalp circulation, though such research is inconclusive and ongoing.
Beyond cosmetic uses, scientists are also studying whether GHK-Cu may have broader regenerative effects throughout the body. Several newer studies “suggest the peptide may influence genes tied to neuron growth and maintenance,” said Messer. “Because of all this, GHK is being explored as a potential tool to help protect the brain, support healthy aging and possibly reduce age-related cognitive decline.”
Researchers are also investigating whether GHK-Cu could support nerve regeneration, lung healing and cellular repair pathways linked to inflammation. However, much of this research also remains early-stage and is still based primarily on laboratory and animal studies rather than large human clinical trials.
Are GHK-Cu peptides safe?
Based on current evidence, “GHK-Cu appears safe when used topically and has a long history of safe use in wound healing and anti-aging skin care,” said Messer. And compared with stronger anti-aging ingredients like retinoids or chemical exfoliants, copper peptides are generally considered less irritating and are often well-tolerated by sensitive skin.
Still, some users “may experience mild redness, itching, dryness or breakouts,” when applying it, said Young.
The bigger unanswered questions involve injectable or oral peptide supplements “because we don’t have good human studies on oral or injectable forms,” cautioned Messer. “We also don’t know the long-term effects, ideal dosing or which conditions it might truly benefit.”
And many peptide products sold online are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for anti-aging use. Young cautions that purity, dosing and manufacturing standards can vary widely.
Another potential area of concern is that, because copper levels in the body are tightly regulated, excessive supplementation could theoretically contribute to toxicity or interfere with other minerals in susceptible individuals. “This would matter most to anyone with copper metabolism issues like Wilson’s disease or other rare conditions where copper builds up in the body,” said Messer.
While GHK-Cu peptides show genuine scientific promise, there’s still reason for caution – especially with newer injectable or oral formulations and with specific groups of people. “People who are pregnant, have medical conditions or take medications,” said Young, “should check with a healthcare professional before using GHK-Cu.”