Why nutrients are disappearing from our fruits and veggies

Health Update: The subvariant driving a new COVID wave; microplastics in our bodies; why we love yoga [ ] [THE SUBVARIANT DRIVING A NEW COVID WAVE]( [VIEW ONLINE]( [A NEW COVID WAVE]( [National Geographic]( YOUR WEEKLY CHECKUP This week: The declining nutritional value of [fruits and vegetables]( ); what we know about [the subvariant]( ) driving a new COVID wave; what [microplastics]( ) are doing to our bodies; the health [benefits of yoga]( ). PHOTOGRAPH BY LUCAS FOGLIA [Fruits and vegetables are less nutritious than they used to be]( Mounting evidence shows that many of today’s whole foods aren't as packed with vitamins and nutrients as they were 70 years ago, potentially putting people's health at risk. [SUBSCRIBER EXCLUSIVE]( MANUEL CANALES [How to feed 10 billion people without destroying the planet]( Yes to fruits and nuts, while consumption of red meat and sugar is cut in half. [SUBSCRIBER EXCLUSIVE]( REBECCA HALE, NAT GEO IMAGE COLLECTION [What's the real difference between fruits and vegetables?]( Even the Supreme Court has weighed in on this age-old question. [THE DEFINITIONS]( PHOTOGRAPH BY SPENCER PLATT, GETTY IMAGES [What we know about the BA.2 Omicron subvariant driving a new COVID-19 wave]( BA.2 infections aren't as mild as once thought, and even newer versions of Omicron are circulating and spreading fast. [FAQ]( [RELATED: If no one else is wearing a mask, should you? +]( PHOTOGRAPH BY DAVID LIITTSCHWAGER, NAT GEO IMAGE COLLECTION [Microplastics are in our bodies. How much do they harm us?]( They've been found in every corner on Earth, including the air we breathe, the food we eat, the water we drink. While the science is unsettled on what kind of harm they might be doing to our bodies, researchers say there is cause for concern. [WHAT WE KNOW]( [LEARN MORE: The world's plastic pollution crisis explained +]( PHOTOGRAPH BY ANDY RICHTER [ FROM THE ARCHIVES ]( [Our fast-paced society loves yoga. What does the science say?]( This ancient practice is held up as a fitness regimen, a path to transformation or enlightenment, and a treatment for so much that ails us—from addiction, headaches, and hearing loss to post-traumatic stress disorder and heart disease. Here's what research has shown about its benefits. [SUBSCRIBER EXCLUSIVE]( [CORONAVIRUS UPDATE]( NG STAFF [Moderna seeks approval for its vaccine for kids under 6]( Meanwhile, new cases continue to rise in the U.S., with Omicron subvariants BA.2 and BA.2.12.1 responsible for the uptick. [TRACK COVID IN THE U.S.]( SCIENCE SOURCE [Are more powerful COVID vaccines coming? Shots targeting T cells show promise.]( Early trials suggest vaccines that activate these immune cells work better and faster and may protect people with weakened immune systems. [READ ON]( DIAGNOSING A MYSTERY PHOTOGRAPH BY UNIVERSAL HISTORY ARCHIVE, UIG/GETTY [How PTSD went from 'shell-shock' to a recognized medical diagnosis]( The battles were over, but the soldiers still fought: flashbacks, nightmares, depression. Some slurred their speech. Others couldn't concentrate. These soldiers didn't fight in Vietnam or World War I—their symptoms were recorded on cuneiform tablets in Mesopotamia more than 3,000 years ago. Back then, they were said to be hexed by ghosts. [INVISIBLE WOUNDS]( MORE HEALTH NEWS PHOTOGRAPH BY JOEL SARTORE, NAT GEO IMAGE COLLECTION [The rare medical condition that makes you love everyone]( Williams syndrome, whose sufferers have a surfeit of oxytocin, affects roughly 1 in 10,000 people worldwide, with 30,000 in the U.S. [LEARN MORE]( [Sign up here]( to receive our daily newsletters, covering History, Environment, Science, Animals, Travel, Photography, and Family. [SHOP]( [DONATE]( [SUBSCRIBE]( [TRAVEL]( [READ OUR LATEST STORIES]( [SHOP]( [DONATE]( [SUBSCRIBE]( [TRAVEL]( [FB]( [Twitter]( [IG]( Clicking on the Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and National Geographic Channel links will take you away from our National Geographic Partners site where different terms of use and privacy policy apply. This email was sent to: {EMAIL}. Please do not reply to this email as this address is not monitored. This email contains an advertisement from: National Geographic | 1145 17th Street, N.W. | Washington, D.C. 20036 [Stop all types of future commercial email]( from National Geographic regarding its products, services, or experiences. [Manage all email preferences]( with the Walt Disney Family of Companies. © 2022 National Geographic Partners, LLC, All rights reserved.