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"You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great." - Zig Ziglar 

The Daily Tonic is a two to five minute read sharing science backed health news and tips, all while getting you to crack a smile or even lol on occasion.

Thursday.  May the Fourth be with you to any readers out there that are also Star Wars fans. Today is the day we remember the iconic franchise that has brought us lightsabers, Jedis, Darth Vader memes, and cute little baby Yoda! Let’s also take a moment to not remember the prequel trilogy — what a debacle that was. Speaking of debacles, the federal government recently passed a bill to help those suffering from a common food allergy. The result of that bill? A huge mess. Let’s dive in.

What A Mess 

Congress can’t agree on anything these days, making it difficult for them to pass legislation. It seems so simple when kids watch the Schoolhouse Rock video on how a bill becomes a law. However, that video leaves out the crucial fact that team red and team blue can’t ever agree on anything except for sesame allergies, that is. 

Last year, Congress actually passed a little-known bill at relatively warp speed. The FASTER Act, which mandates sesame allergen labeling on foods, cleared the Senate unanimously (woah) in early March, cleared the House a few weeks later, and was signed into law by President Biden in April. The government doesn’t do anything that fast. It’ll take you longer to get a response from the IRS than it took for the FASTER Act to become law.

Since the law went into effect this year, sesame — the ninth most common food allergy in the U.S. — is now required to be disclosed on food packages. However, food companies have been adding sesame to their products en masse to comply with the letter but not the spirit of the law. This approach has made it difficult for over a million people allergic to sesame to find safe food options, contradicting the law's purpose.

The recent situation begs the question of how the federal government will enforce these rules and if industries will follow them. Many companies claim that adding sesame flour is the safest way to avoid cross-contamination. Under federal labeling rules, they cannot disclose that their products contain sesame unless they actually contain it. Therefore, food companies are using an underhanded technique that places consumers with allergies at risk.

Parents are outraged by this fiasco as finding sesame-free food products for their children has become challenging. A mother whose son is allergic to sesame recently realized the severity of the issue while ordering food from Chick-fil-A. The fast-food chain had previously been safe for her son but now suddenly contains sesame. Similarly, the grocery store bakery aisle and several other restaurant chains now have sesame in their products.

Companies are defending themselves by saying they cannot guarantee their products do not contain sesame, so they have to make a choice. Either they invest the time, money, and energy to ensure their equipment is completely free of any cross-contamination with sesame, or they take the easy way out and just add sesame flour to their products and label them accordingly. 

Obviously, most companies are taking the easy route because, well, duh. 

What a mess. 

The whole issue is putting pressure on the FDA to take some action. The law has been taken to the letter, not the spirit, of the law, which has allowed companies to include sesame in their products without informing consumers of the change. The FASTER Act was meant to help protect people with food allergies, but instead, it is making their lives more difficult. 

The key takeaway? If you or a family member suffers from a sesame allergy, watch out. It might now be in foods you previously thought were safe. Despite their best effort, the government just can’t get it right. We should give them some brownie points for agreeing on something for a change, but now they need to take further action to clean up this whole mess. 

Together with Gundry MD

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Try Something New 

When was the last time you tried something new? It is so easy to get caught up in your routine or get lost in trying to check off all the things on your to-do lists. We’ve all been there — we settle into auto-pilot and never have the time or energy to do something new.

Well, it might be time to add some novelty to your life. Research suggests that doing something new promotes a dopamine surge that improves learning and memory. Also, dopamine is linked to having more positive and fewer negative emotions — aka feeling happier. 

So try something new. That could be taking up a hobby or exploring a new city. You could surprise an old friend with a visit or a phone call. You could try a new sport or sign up for a new class. It doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does have to be something outside of your norm. 

You’ll be surprised by how much better you feel after taking a chance, going outside your comfort zone, and throwing a wrench in your routine. 

Tonic Shots

• Spiking blood sugar is something you want to avoid. Here are a handful of recipes unlikely to make your blood sugar spike. Check out the recipes.

• It’s a taboo subject, but your poop can tell you a lot about your health. Check out these tips to find out what to look for and what your poop might be trying to tell you. Learn more.