Powder and ready-to-drink protein sales have exploded, reaching over US$32 billion^[1] globally from 2024 to 2025. Increasingly, consumers are using these protein sources daily^[2].

A new study by Consumer Reports, published on Oct. 14, 2025, claims that some such protein products contain dangerously high levels of lead^[3], as well as other heavy metals such as cadmium and arsenic. At high levels, these substances have serious, ...

There are almost 1.1 million licensed physicians^[1] in the United States. That may sound like a lot, but the country has struggled for decades^[2] to train enough physicians to meet its needs^[3] – and, in particular, to provide care in rural and underserved communities^[4].

Foreign-born physicians have long filled that gap, reducing the overall national shortage and signing up to practice in often overlooked regions and...