Holiday healthy hearts; patients speak out on drug price negotiations; good bugs, bad bugs, food bugs, gut bugs – Morning Medical Update

Valentine’s Day treats

Everyone loves sweets from their sweetheart on Valentine’s Day. But those treats aren’t always the best for your body. NPR offers this list of alternatives to sugary candy and chocolate.

Of drug prices and negotiations

Federal regulators and Big Pharma are gearing up for the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program. What do patients have to say about that? The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services posted transcripts of 10 listening sessions held last fall to hear from patients, physicians and other experts about high prescription drug prices.

Causing a tummy ache

“Lantibiotics” have become a common food preservative. They are a form of bacteriocins, or chemicals made by bacteria to kill competing microbes. Scientists are studying exactly how they affect the human gut microbiome – and the results may not be good if they kill off bacterial beneficial to human digestion.