Health Headlines: Strawberries are Growing in Greenland, But Shouldn’t Be.

Plus: Is sushi making you fat?

Strawberries are growing in Greenland—and they shouldn’t be. Also on the list of things growing in the Arctic Circle are potatoes, peas, thyme, peppers, and tomatoes. Greenland is not farm country, but locals are saying that longer and warmer summers are making it possible for them to grow the kind of crops that were unheard of just a few years ago. [Scientific American]

Can you stop a virus from replicating? Researchers at Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) have identified a new chemical class of compounds that have the potential to block viruses from replicating. Viruses are small disease-causing agents (pathogens) that replicate inside the cells of living organisms. The findings were recently published in the journal Chemistry & Biology and could allow for the development of broad-spectrum antiviral medications to treat a number of viruses. [Boston University School of Medicine]

There is a difference between being lonely and social isolation and a new study says that being socially isolated can not only contribute to depression and heart disease, but it could also end your life. Researchers from University College in London followed 6,500 British people age 52 and older from 2004 until 2012. The most socially isolated were 26 percent more likely to die during the study period than those with more active social lives, even after controlling for factors that also affect mortality, like age and illness. [Time]

One in three moms feed infants solid food too soon, according to a new study by researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Doctors have been pushing parents to delay the introduction of solid foods until a baby is 6 months old because switching too soon is increasing their baby’s risk of problems later on, including diabetes, obesity, eczema, and celiac disease. [Globe]

Is sushi making you fat? We always thought of sushi as a healthier lunch option, but it turns out that California rolls can pack as many calories and twice as much sugar as a Big Mac and French fries from McDonald’s. Perhaps it’s time to switch to sashimi? [WCVB]