Tag: health

creativity

Ditch the Mower, Find the Wonder! 🌿 Your Guide to a Wild(ish) Lawn

Christa Avampato
Photo by Elisa on Unsplash

As spring flourishes in all its glory (hello, sunshine!), you might be eyeing that lawnmower with a familiar sigh. But what if I told you less work for you could mean more life in your lawn? This week, let’s talk about a trend that’s buzzing with benefits: letting your lawn go a little wild!

Forget the pressure of a perfectly manicured green carpet. In reality, that perfect lawn is nearly dead. A wilder lawn isn’t about letting things run completely rampant (unless that’s your jam!). It’s about consciously creating a more natural, vibrant, and wonderfully low-maintenance space that’s teeming with life. And that wild lawn has benefits for you, your bank account, wildlife, and this beautiful planet we all share.

Why Let Your Lawn Loosen Up? More Buzz, Less Fuss!

  • Become a Local Wildlife Hotspot: Think of it — your very own mini-nature reserve! Longer grasses and native “weeds” (I prefer “wildflowers-in-disguise” like clover and dandelions) become a five-star restaurant and hotel for bees, butterflies, ladybugs, and songbirds. You’ll be amazed at who shows up!
  • Kick Back & Relax (More!) and Save Money: Less mowing, less watering, less fertilizing… need we say more? A wilder lawn means more time for you to actually enjoy your outdoor space, not just work on it. And it also saves you money.
  • Better For You, Better for the Planet: Wild lawns are surprisingly powerful. Their diverse plant life helps soak up rainwater (reducing runoff), improves soil health, and even captures more carbon. You’ll also naturally reduce (or eliminate!) the need for chemical pesticides and fertilizers, which is a win for everyone. And again, it saves you money.
  • A Feast for the Senses: Swap out the monotonous green for a shifting tapestry of textures, colors, and gentle movement. Watch wildflowers bloom and seed, listen to the hum of happy pollinators, and discover the intricate beauty of a natural ecosystem right outside your door.

Ready to Embrace Your Lawn’s Wild Side? It’s Easier (and Less Expensive) Than You Think!

Going wild doesn’t mean your yard needs to look messy. It’s about intentional choices that welcome and embrace nature. Here’s how to get started:

  1. Start Small, Mow Tall: You don’t have to go all-in at once. Designate a section of your lawn — maybe the back corner, or a strip along the fence — to let grow longer. Even raising your mower blades to 3–4 inches on the parts you do mow makes a big difference for tiny critters and plant health.
  2. “No Mow May” (and Beyond!): You might have heard of “No Mow May” — it’s a fantastic initiative by Bee City USA, a nonprofit that connects communities of people and pollinators in mutually-beneficial ways, to give emerging pollinators a head start! Why not extend the idea? Try mowing less frequently throughout the growing season. Every two weeks? Once a month for certain areas? Experiment and see what works for you.
  3. Love Your “Weeds”: Those dandelions? Early spring food for bees! Clover? It’s a nitrogen-fixer, meaning it naturally fertilizes your soil, and pollinators adore it. There’s a lot to love about these volunteer plants.
  4. Sprinkle Some Native Charm: Consider overseeding parts of your lawn with native low-growing wildflowers (spread wildflower seed over an existing lawn without disturbing the soil) or a “bee lawn” mix suitable for your geographic region. These plants are adapted to our climate and provide the best resources for local wildlife. A quick search for “bee lawn” mix or a visit to a local native plant nursery can provide great options.
  5. Create “Cues to Care”: Worried about what the neighbors might think? Keep the edges of your wilder areas neatly mown. This creates a look of “intentional wildness” and shows your landscape is cared for, not neglected. A small, friendly sign explaining your lawn is a “Pollinator Paradise” or “Wildlife Life” area can also work wonders and tell your story, raising awareness, advocating for wildlife, and encouraging your neighbors to give it a try, too.
  6. Patience is Your Superpower: Transforming a conventional lawn into a mini-meadow takes time. Don’t get discouraged. Enjoy observing the changes each week and season. You’re creating a living landscape, and every small step is a win.

Wild Fact: Allowing your grass to grow taller encourages deeper root systems, making your lawn more drought-tolerant. Less watering for you, less money spent, fewer resources used, and more resilience for your yard!

Ready to trade some mowing time for more butterflies and birdsong? Letting your lawn go a little wild is a simple, rewarding way to make a big difference for your local ecosystem and your own well-being.

Happy wilding!

creativity

Having fun protects our health

Christa Avampato

“The best thing you can do for your health? Hang onto your sense of fun, Christa. Especially in your work. It’s important.” This is what my wonderful general practitioner, Dr. Peter Lotfi, said to me at the end of my annual physical this week.

I’m feeling great though I still get some anxiety going to the doctor. I breathed a huge sigh of relief when all my bloodwork and tests came back with perfect results.

I’m always asking Dr. Lotfi what I can do to safeguard my health after going through active cancer treatment and now receiving maintenance treatment to prevent cancer recurrence. While we talked about diet, exercise, stress reduction, and the different medications I take, his biggest advice was to never lose my sense of fun.

We talked about how difficult the world is, especially in our country, with the current political climate. In the midst of all that, he doesn’t want me to lose my sense of joy, which is a way to preserve mental and physical health that doesn’t cost anything and has only good side effects.

In that spirit, last night one of my best friends, Ashley, and I got dressed up and went to a cocktail party on the 87th floor of a building on Wall Street. It was for Silhouette Eyewear, a sustainable eyewear brand that manufactures glasses from biowaste. I was invited because I write about sustainability and Ashley was happy to join me. The glasses are colorful, extremely lightweight, comfortable, flexible, and durable — all the benefits of plastic without using fossil fuel. (I’m sporting a cute pink pair that I love in the first photo.)

After the party, we wandered around the Financial District, reveling in all of the hidden art deco that people pass by every day. The fun door with mirrors in the photo below is an example. Ashley and I are tour guides, historians, and writers who love this beautiful town.

To end the night, we found a new favorite pizza place called Siena Pizza & Cannoli on Rector Street, named after that gorgeous Italian city in Tuscany.

Tucking into our delicious pizza slices, I said a silent thank you to Dr. Lotfi. A sense of fun in everything we do and everywhere we go really does make life better.

creativity

Greenland sharks may help us cure cancer

Christa Avampato
Close-up image of a Greenland shark taken at the floe edge of the Admiralty Inlet, Nunavut. Photo credit — Hemming1952 | Wikimedia Commons | Used under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International

A cure for cancer may be swimming 2,200 meters (~7,200 feet) below the surface of the Arctic and North Atlantic oceans. Greenland sharks (Somniosus microcephalus) are deep-dwelling animals who live to be ~400 years old in the wild without a shred of medical care. The secret to their longevity is likely in their genes that fend off cancer.

An international team of 28 scientists recently published a paper mapping the Greenland shark’s genome. And the results are astonishing. The shark’s genome has two remarkable features: many duplicate genes give the shark an enhanced ability to repair damaged DNA, and their genome has an altered p53 protein that makes the protein more robust. What do those two things have to do with cancer? As it turns out, everything!

Damaged DNA and cancer Damaged DNA that isn’t repaired causes mutations in genes that regulate how a cell grows and divides. This damage causes cell growth to skyrocket uncontrollably leading to tumors, a.k.a. cancer. There are many ways DNA can be damaged — UV rays from the sun when we don’t wear sufficient sunscreen, tobacco smoke, exposure to toxic chemicals, aging, and the normal processes of living.

Most of the time and for most of our lives, our bodies recognize the damaged DNA and either repair the cell or purge that cell through our natural waste processes, kicking the damaged cell out of our bodies so it never causes problems. However, these damaged cells can be sneaky and hide, or the amount of damage can be very extensive, making it difficult for our bodies to repair or remove all of it.

The Greenland shark’s enhanced ability to repair damaged DNA is an incredible adaptation that helps prevent cancer. Knowing that DNA damage is such an asset for the shark’s longevity further spurs our cancer research to seek out new treatments and therapies to enhance human abilities to repair DNA damage.

p53 protein and cancer The p53 protein is a powerhouse in the bodies of almost every animal. p53 is a tumor suppressor, protecting cell DNA from damage, initiating repairs when it detects damaged DNA, and kicking damaged cell out of the body when necessary. Greenland sharks have a more robust p53 protein than other animals, allowing them to be more highly attuned to protect against and repair DNA damage.

Biomimicry, nature preservation, and biodiversity conservation is vital for human health Among its many attributes, nature is a research lab, pharmacy, library, and archive. The species with whom we share this planet hold the answers to every question we have. It takes time, effort, and funding to study nature and find these answers.

By employing biomimicry (the emulation of nature’s design genius, such as the adaptations of the Greenland sharks that give them such great longevity), protecting nature, and safeguarding biodiversity, we are providing ourselves with a source of unlimited creativity, knowledge, and wisdom. Our lives, and the lives of all beings, are intricately intertwined. Nature will help us thrive if we care enough to help nature survive.

creativity

How I embrace Finland’s nature-based wisdom in Brooklyn

Christa Avampato
Photo of Lake Summanen, Saarijärvi, Finland by Tapio Haaja on Unsplash

In this moment in time, I’m looking for comfort and advice in nature and books. I recently read The Finnish Way: Finding Courage, Wellness, and Happiness Through the Power of Sisu by journalist Katja Pantzar. A Canadian with Finnish heritage, she moved to Finland for work. What she never expected and found is that embracing the Finnish lifestyle would radically transform her mental and physical health. Curious to see if I could adopt these lessons myself in my Brooklyn life, this is what I’ve tried and how it’s going:

Nature heals

Finns spend time outside in all sorts of weather all year long, even when the days are short and cold. They bike to work. They go out of their way to take the scenic route, spending as much time in nature as they can. They take winter swims (or dunks!) in the frigid sea followed by warm and cozy saunas. Cold water dips have been shown to have health benefits: circulation, reduced inflammation, and enhanced mood, along with a possible boost to the immune system. (However, if you have heart issues, please consult a doctor before trying cold water swimming.)

People in Finland put away their technology and embrace being together with others, often outside and in natural settings. They see nature as a generous neighbor. Yes, it takes effort and time, but the benefits far exceed the work and planning required to experience them.

Once Pantzar took on this view of nature, and practices like cold water swims and warm saunas, she noticed her mental and physical health improve. She felt clear-headed and physically stronger. Her gratitude for nature grew. Her relationships flourished.

My take:

I’m fortunate to live close to Prospect Park in Brooklyn. It’s a sprawling green space of over 500 acres. I’ve been trying to get there more often, even when it’s cold, either before or after work or at lunch time. I’ve also been trying to spend time in nature with others, a walking meet up.

I’m about a 20-minute subway ride from the ocean. However, there’s no sauna close by so I’ve not done the cold plunges in the open water. Instead, at the end of my morning shower, I turn the water to cold and try to bear 10 seconds. Though I can’t say I love the cold water, I have found them helpful. From the first time I tried this, I felt a rush afterwards. Something about doing this makes me smile. I feel alert and ready to take on the day.

I also learned that in NYC, we have a few saunas. Brooklyn Bathhouse and Bathhouse Flatiron to name just two.

The beauty of difficulty

Doing things that are difficult carries a certain level of pride and accomplishment. When we realize we can do hard things, our confidence grows. Whether that’s a cold-water swim, a strenuous hike or bike ride, learning a new skill, or simply getting through a long and difficult winter, there is joy to be found in overcoming obstacles and challenges. We don’t need to shy away from something because we’re afraid of failing, nor because we’re complete beginners trying to find out way. We can embrace that, one step at a time.

My take:

I really love being a beginner. I’m always trying to do new things, with varying degrees of success and learning! Whether it’s learning a new language, cooking and baking, in my writing and paper collage work, a new academic pursuit, or new sports, workouts, and physical challenges, I approach things with curiosity. The older I get, the more comfortable I am saying, “I have no idea how to do this but I’m just going to see how it goes.” I’ve especially loved taking on tasks that I initially think are way too difficult for me to do. I like practice. I like seeing progress and improvement, however small. And when I do make it up that mountain, the views are really spectacular.

Food and exercise

When it comes to diet and exercise, Finns take a sensible approach. They eat more vegetables and fruit than anything else. They bake movement and exercise into their everyday routines. And they make it all fun and engaging. Feeding themselves and exercising is not work; they’re essential to their well-being and a source of joy.

My take:

Having been through cancer, I have seen how what I eat and how I exercise can improve my health outcomes. I got through cancer treatment and continue to get through my current medication side effects largely through diet and exercise rather than taking more medications with even more side effects. My medications impact my muscles, joints, mental health, bone health, and everyday life. They’re not a picnic to manage, but I find when I eat well and move more, I feel better, and the side effects are lessened. Being in good physical shape also helps my medications be as effective as possible. Diet and exercise are within my control, and therefore empowering. Though I’m an omnivore, I’m a plant-based eater and I love cooking and baking. I exercise every day. For my health, I gave up alcohol. I’ve never felt better!

Body-mind communication

One of the many things I admire about the Finns is their growth mindset at every age. They understand the connection between their minds and bodies as part of their culture. Reducing stress is a big part of their motivation of how they live their lives.

My take:

In different chapters of my life, I’ve gone back and forth on whether the body influences the mind more than the mind influences the body. Now I see them as truly equal partners. Sometimes, my mind helps my body level up. Other times, embracing physical challenges helps clear and calm my mind. Their partnership makes me whole.

Though I live over 4,000 miles from Finland, this book helped me bring a bit of the Finnish lifestyle to Brooklyn. I’m excited to keep exploring and to see where this all leads.

creativity

The latest cancer treatment is in your medicine cabinet right now

Christa Avampato
Photo by Hal Gatewood on Unsplash

Open up your medicine cabinet and have a look around. You may have the latest cancer treatment front and center—aspirin. Yep. Good ole regular aspirin that costs ~$0.05 per tablet.

The discovery of aspirin’s nature roots dates back to ancient civilizations. Sumerians, Egyptians, and Greeks used willow bark as a pain reliever. The 18th- and 19th-century ushered in a host of developments that led to modern day aspirin. In 1763, English clergyman Edward Stone observed willow bark reduced fevers. In 1828, German chemist Joseph Buchner isolated salicin as the active chemical in willow bark. In 1853, French chemist Charles Gerhardt synthesized salicylic acid, a derivative of salicin. In 1897, German chemist Felix Hoffmann, working for the Bayer company, synthesized acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), a more stable and less irritating form of salicylic acid. He named the new compound “aspirin,” a combination of the words “acetyl” and “spiraea,” a plant related to willow. Bayer patented aspirin on March 6, 1899, and began marketing it as a pain reliever and fever reducer. 

Fast forward 126 years, almost exactly to the day. Scientists have now uncovered how aspirin works to stop some cancers such as breast, bowel, and prostate from spreading (known as metastasis.) Metastasis, the spread of cancer cells from primary tumors to distant organs, is the cause of 90% of cancer deaths globally.

When cancer first spreads, there’s a window of opportunity for treatment when cancer cells are particularly vulnerable. By stimulating the immune system during this window of time, aspirin could prevent spread and recurrence in patients with early cancer. The study, published on March 5, 2025 in the journal, Nature, will support ongoing clinical trials in humans, to work out who is most likely to benefit based on the many different aspects of tumors (known as biomarkers.) It’s also important to note that aspirin is known to increase bleeding risk and can cause extreme stomach upset and toxicity so this treatment must only be done under the recommendation and supervision of a medical team.

Professor Rahul Roychoudhuri in the Department of Pathology at the University of Cambridge, who led the work, said, “Despite advances in cancer treatment, many patients with early stage cancers receive treatments, such as surgical removal of the tumor, which have the potential to be curative, but later relapse due to the eventual growth of micro metastases–cancer cells that have seeded other parts of the body but remain in a latent state.

“Most immunotherapies are developed to treat patients with established metastatic cancer, but when cancer first spreads there’s a unique therapeutic window of opportunity when cancer cells are particularly vulnerable to immune attack. We hope that therapies that target this window of vulnerability will have tremendous scope in preventing recurrence in patients with early cancer at risk of recurrence.”

Aspirin is less expensive than antibody-based therapies, so more accessible globally. It also has fewer side effects than many cancer treatments and could therefore be better tolerated by patients to protect and preserve quality of life without compromising other aspects of a person’s health.

I have a long day of medical appointments with my oncology team at NYU’s Perlmutter Cancer Center next week on March 25th. (These are my regular check-ups and include the administration of some of my medications that I have to have done by my medical team.) I’ll absolutely discuss with them the potential of aspirin to help keep me cancer-free, and keep you updated on their response. I love to participate in research studies – not only does it help me, but it also helps me pay forward all of the benefits I’ve received from others who participated in research that make my treatments possible. Curing cancer takes a village, and maybe someday, a daily dose of aspirin.

creativity

New research to relieve radiation fibrosis for cancer patients

Christa Avampato
Photo by Oksana Taran on Unsplash

Some nerdy science news! Ever since my early breast cancer diagnosis in 2020, I’ve participated in a number of scientific studies and new medical treatments. Last week I began a new one after one of my doctors suggested it as a way to help support my body’s ongoing healing.

I had my bilateral mastectomy in October 2020. When the pathology was done, the research team found that lymph nodes in my left breast were positive for cancer cells even though they had biopsied negative. Additionally, I had something called “vascular invasion” on my left side. This means a few pesky breast cancer cells were trying to make their way out of my breast tissue by traveling through my blood vessels and lymphatic system. I was fortunate that my surgery removed them and brought their journey to an end before they could do any more damage. We also did a second surgery under my left arm 2 weeks after my mastectomy to test those lymph nodes. Thankfully, all of the lymph nodes under my left arm were cancer-free (just like the ones under my right arm!) However, there was a very slight possibility that one or two of those cancer cells on the left side got away without us knowing. On the off chance that this happened, my radiation oncology team suggested radiation just on the left side to ensure we stopped them. (There was no vascular invasion on my right side, so radiation on the right side wasn’t needed.) Also, there was one lymph node very close to my lung and heart on the left side that was a tiny bit enlarged. Because of its location near my heart and lung, it was too risky to biopsy or remove it. So, radiation would be used to kill any cancer cells that might be trying to hang out in that lymph node.

In total, I had 6 weeks of radiation, 5 days each week, for a total of 30 radiation sessions. The last 5 sessions were a “boost” week meaning the radiation was stepped up to a higher level and aimed right at that lymph node near my heart and lung. Though I’m grateful for these lifesaving treatments, the side effects were a bit rough. I got a 3rd degree burn the size of a baseball in the center of my chest and it caused the muscles, ligaments, and tendons on the left side to tighten up considerably. Though I’ve regained almost all of my mobility in my upper body through a lot of hard work, those muscles, ligaments, and tendons on my left side are still very tight and my left shoulder rolls in very slightly as a result. This condition is called radiation fibrosis.

All of my medical cancer care is through NYU Langone Health in New York City. They recently hired Dr. Yingrong Zhu, a physiatrist who specializes in breast cancer survivorship. A physiatrist, also known as a physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) physician, is a medical doctor specializing in diagnosing and treating conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system, nervous system, and other bodily functions, with the goal of restoring function and improving quality of life.

I went to see Dr. Zhu this week and had a fantastic experience. She explained that the effects of radiation can persist for 20 years – I had no idea! – so this issues I’m having with tightness deserve attention. She also explained that because I work out and stretch every day (including stretches given to me by my physical therapy team right after my active treatment), more physical therapy wasn’t likely to help me. However, she told me about some small scientific studies that show a 6-month course of vitamin E 1000 i.u. supplements combined with a medication called pentoxifylline ER can help release tension in muscles affected by radiation fibrosis and lead to increased mobility.

Together, Dr. Zhu and I decided it was worth me trying this new medication combo. The side effects are minimal, and she’s had a few other patients who have benefitted from it. It’s too soon to tell if it will help me, but I’m always willing to try anything that helps support my health and well-being. I also see this as an opportunity to not only help myself, but also to help others by sharing my experience with this new treatment. I’m excited about the possibility of regaining more of my mobility and improving my quality of life. Here’s hoping that someday I’ll be able to do my beloved yoga backbends again!

creativity

The many forms of medicine

Christa Avampato

Every day, I’m grateful for the gift to be here with all of you. As a cancer survivor, I’m alive because of science and modern medicine. In addition to those incredible resources, there are also many other forms of medicine that we can embrace to support our health and well-being.

Nature is medicine.
Fresh air is medicine.
Healthy food is medicine.
Water is medicine.
Movement is medicine.
Meditation is medicine.
Peace is medicine.
Joy is medicine.
Laughter is medicine.
Love is medicine.
Creativity is medicine.
Music is medicine.
Purpose is medicine.
Friendship is medicine.
Community is medicine.
A pet is medicine.
Freedom is medicine.
Time is medicine.
Travel is medicine.
Access to care is medicine.

creativity

NIH funding freeze endangers American lives and the US economy

Christa Avampato
Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash. Chanelle Case Borden, Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow in the National Cancer Institute’s Experimental Immunology Branch, pipetting DNA samples into a tube for polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, a laboratory technique used to make multiple copies of a segment of DNA.

Earlier this week, I wrote in my Togetherhood newsletter about the history and scientific research of Gila monster venom that led to Novo Nordicks’s medications Ozempic and Wegovy. This research began at the National Institutes of Health and led to some of the most profitable and promising drugs. These types of advances are now in danger because the Trump administration has frozen much of the $47 billion the US spends annually on biomedical research like this through 60,000 NIH grants.

The US houses the world’s leading medical labs that research cancer, dementia and Alzheimer’s, heart disease, child health, and diabetes to name just a few. NIH grants provide significant funding to these labs. To make sure the grants are used efficiently and ethically, there’s an extensive review process of grant applications. When the Trump administration froze the funding, they stopped all these review processes. These frozen funds also caused many research labs and universities that house them to halt hiring and PhD and post-doc admissions. Even if they released the funding today, it would take weeks or months to restart all these processes.

Additionally, freezing these funds is negatively impacting the economy and US competitiveness on the world stage. Every $1 of NIH spending generates more than $2 dollars in US economic activity. Healthcare is the biggest industry in the US. Without the foundation of NIH-funded research, the industry is in crisis. The US produces more influential health science research than the next 10 leading countries, combined. Every day that goes by, lives and livelihoods of Americans are in jeopardy. Please call your reps today and tell them to fight to restore NIH funding. Your life and the lives of those you love depend on it.

creativity

A monster created Ozempic

Christa Avampato
Gila monster. 2023. Photo by David Clode on Unsplash

If you’ve benefitted from the medications Ozempic, Wegovy, and others like them to treat diabetes and support weight management, thank the Gila monster. They have a hormone (exendin-4) that controls their blood sugar and delays the stomach from emptying, prolonging feelings of fullness. It’s similar in chemical composition to our GLP-1 hormone that performs the same functions in our bodies. However, the Gila monster’s exendin-4 allows them to stay healthy while eating only 5 to 10 times per year.

This ability to fast for long periods of time without impacting their health piqued the interest of endocrinologist Dr. John Eng and his team of researchers in the 1980s and 1990s. They set out to discover if a medication that mimics exendin-4 would help humans manage their blood sugar and weight.

A component of their venom, the Gila monster’s exendin-4 while similar to our GLP-1 was found by Eng and his team to be effective for much longer. In clinical trials, one injection of a medication inspired by exendin-4 helped diabetics keep their blood sugar under control for an entire week and decreased their appetite, helping them to lose weight, too.

Though it took decades of testing and evaluation, exenatide, a synthetic version of exendin-4 was approved by the FDA in 2005 to treat Type-2 diabetes. Research continued to evaluate it as a treatment for obesity and weight management. That research led the creation of semaglutide, the active ingredient in the drugs Ozempic and Wegovy.

Gila monsters are our elders. They trace their ancestry back to the Cretaceous period when dinosaurs ruled the planet, 145 – 66 million years ago, nearly 60 million years before our earliest ancestors made an appearance. Gila monsters are in essence “living fossils”. In that time, they evolved astounding abilities that we’re just beginning to fully understand.

Unfortunately, this creature who survived the catastrophic asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs is steadily being wiped out by us. Their population is declining due to the pet trade and the destruction of habitat from agriculture and urbanization despite the fact that without them, the multi-billion-dollar drugs Ozempic, Wegovy, and others wouldn’t exist.

Nature, and the species with whom we share this one planet, are intricately tied to our health and well-being. Stories like that of the Gila monster and Ozempic remind us that nature is a research lab, pharmacy, archive, library, concert hall, and constant source of inspiration. When we threaten the lives of other species, we compromise our own opportunities to live well. There’s no getting around it: We are a part of nature, not apart from nature. How bright our future will be depends on how much we respect and safeguard the natural world, and the health of the ecosystems within which we all live.

creativity

The health of our babies depends on the health of bats

Christa Avampato
Image created by Christa Avampato with Canva Magic Media

When you think about ways to improve the health of human babies, you may not immediately think of helping bats stay healthy. You should. The journal Science published a shocking paper linking a rise in human infant mortality to a declining bat population.

In addition to being pollinators that bring us the gifts of flowers and food, bats also consume massive amounts of insects that would otherwise infest our crops and cause us endless hours of itching from bug bites. A single bat can eat up to 1,200 mosquito-sized insects every hour, and each bat usually eats 6,000 to 8,000 insects each night. That’s a helpful service but what does that have to do with infant mortality? It’s a direct cause and effect.

Plagued by an outbreak of the deadly white-nose syndrome, a fungal disease that kills bats, North American bat populations are dropping. This means there are fewer bats to eat insects that infest crops. That’s caused farmers to use more chemical insecticide. This insecticide leaches into crops, land, and water. This toxin has increased infant mortality. It’s also lowered crop yields, decreasing farmers’ crop revenue and the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables.

This is just the latest study to show how the health of ecosystems is directly linked to human health and the economy. As much as I’d love for municipalities and companies to care about the planet because we depend on nature for our survival, as climate communicators and nature advocates we often have to make the economic business case to protect the environment. Studies like the one in Science linking bats and infant mortality provide a solid example of how to quantify the cost and value of biodiversity and ecosystem health.

I often hear the media vilify animals like bats without recognizing the vital role they play in our lives and in nature. If we can’t get people to care about bats because they are sentient beings and a part of nature, maybe now we can get people to care about them because they affect babies, the food supply, and our economy. If that’s the argument that works, it’s the argument I’ll make, backed up with research-based science and facts.

Protect babies. Protect bats.