01/01/26 - #556

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Good morning. In today’s edition:

  • New Study Finds Skin Collagen Production and Renewal Directly Respond to the Amount of Vitamin C We Eat, Suggesting Increasing Fruit Consumption Can Boost Skin Health

  • Doctors Turn Ozempic Patients Away From Surgery Due to Extra Risks

  • Adverse Childhood Experiences Linked to Increased ADHD Symptoms in College Students

  • Type 5 Diabetes Has Officially Been Recognized — Here's How It Differs From Other Types

…and lots more. Have a great day!

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FOOD & NUTRITION

New Study Finds Skin Collagen Production and Renewal Directly Respond to the Amount of Vitamin C We Eat, Suggesting Increasing Fruit Consumption Can Boost Skin Health

A new study from New Zealand found that eating more vitamin C-rich foods can help your skin look and feel better.

Researchers asked healthy adults in New Zealand and Germany to eat two SunGold™ kiwifruit each day for eight weeks. These fruits are high in vitamin C. After the study, people had more vitamin C in their blood and skin. This helped their skin become thicker and healthier. It also improved skin renewal, which means the skin repaired itself better.

Professor Margreet Vissers, who led the study, said, “We were surprised by how closely skin health followed vitamin C levels in the blood.”

Vitamin C is needed to make collagen, which keeps skin firm and smooth. Many skin creams add vitamin C, but it doesn't soak in well. The study shows that getting vitamin C through food works much better.

While SunGold™ kiwifruit was used in the study, other fruits and vegetables high in vitamin C—like oranges, berries, bell peppers, and broccoli—can work too.

The body doesn’t store vitamin C, so you need to eat it every day. Experts suggest eating five or more servings of fruits and vegetables daily, with at least one being rich in vitamin C.

This study shows that beauty really can start from within—by giving your skin what it needs through healthy food.

Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. Always talk to your doctor before making changes to your diet or health routine.

WEIGHT LOSS

Doctors Turn Ozempic Patients Away From Surgery Due to Extra Risks

Doctors are warning that some popular weight loss and diabetes drugs, like Ozempic and Mounjaro, may cause problems during surgery. These drugs are called GLP-1 medications. They work by slowing down how fast food leaves the stomach, which helps people feel full longer.

But during surgery, this slow digestion can be risky. If food or liquid is still in the stomach, it can come back up and enter the lungs while the patient is asleep. This is called pulmonary aspiration. It can cause serious breathing problems and, in some cases, even lead to death.

Some people don’t tell their doctors they’re taking these drugs. Others stop taking them just a few days before surgery, not knowing the effects can last weeks. This makes it hard for doctors to keep patients safe.

To lower the risk, some doctors are delaying surgery. Others ask patients to drink only clear liquids for 24 hours, then fast for 6 more hours. In emergencies, special tools can help protect the lungs.

Doctors say these drugs are helpful for weight loss and diabetes. But they also say it’s very important to tell your doctor if you are taking them — even if you feel embarrassed.

“It’s not about judging,” one doctor said. “It’s about keeping you safe.”

Never stop your medication without talking to your doctor. Being honest helps your care team plan the safest way to treat you — especially if surgery is needed.

HEALTH

Adverse Childhood Experiences Linked to Increased ADHD Symptoms in College Students

A new study shows that hard experiences in childhood may lead to stronger ADHD symptoms in college students. These experiences, called Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), include things like abuse, neglect, or living in a home with violence or divorce.

Researchers studied 442 students in Türkiye, most of them women. About 76% said they had at least one ACE, and 27% had four or more. The more ACEs a student had, the more likely they were to show signs of inattention, restlessness, or impulsive behavior—common symptoms of ADHD.

The study also found that students with more ACEs were less kind to themselves and had a harder time managing their emotions. These two things—low self-compassion and poor emotion control—seemed to make ADHD symptoms worse.

But there’s good news. Students who were more caring toward themselves had better control of their emotions and fewer ADHD symptoms. This means that learning self-kindness may help people handle ADHD better, even if they had a rough childhood.

The study had some limits. It only looked at college students and used surveys, not medical exams. Still, it offers helpful ideas. Teaching self-compassion and emotional skills could be a good way to support young adults with ADHD, especially those who faced trauma growing up.

If you had a tough childhood, being kinder to yourself may help more than you think.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Talk to a doctor for personal guidance.

Type 5 Diabetes Has Officially Been Recognized — Here's How It Differs From Other Types

Type 5 diabetes was officially recognized in 2025. It’s different from Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, but many people still don’t know about it. Experts say up to 25 million people may have it.

All types of diabetes affect how your body controls blood sugar. But each type starts in a different way. Type 1 happens when the immune system attacks the pancreas. Type 2 happens when the body stops responding to insulin, often due to weight gain or aging.

Type 5 diabetes starts for another reason — poor nutrition early in life. If someone didn’t get enough healthy food during childhood, their pancreas may not develop properly. This makes it hard to produce enough insulin.

Many people with Type 5 diabetes were misdiagnosed in the past. They may be treated for Type 1 or Type 2, but those treatments might not work well.

Type 5 is more common in areas where food insecurity or childhood malnutrition is common. But it may also affect people in wealthier countries who didn’t get enough nutrition when they were young.

Symptoms include thirst, tiredness, frequent urination, and weight loss. People are often underweight, even with high blood sugar.

Treatment is still being studied, but some may need small doses of insulin. Others may take Type 2 diabetes medicine. Doctors also focus on better nutrition and careful blood sugar control.

If you’ve had trouble managing blood sugar despite eating well or being a healthy weight, ask your doctor about Type 5 diabetes.

Talk to a doctor before making changes.

✢ A Note From Hem Hero

The information in this health newsletter is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment; always consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health. The publishers are not responsible for any actions taken by the reader based on the information provided.