01/22/25 - #310

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Good morning. In today’s edition:

  • FDA Proposes Putting Nutrition Info on the Front of Food Packages

  • New Obesity Definitions Considered as World’s Leading Health Professionals Move Away From Body Mass Index

  • The Oral-brain Axis: New Research Uncovers Surprising Links Between the Bacteria in Your Mouth and Mental Health Symptoms

  • Waking Up Does Not Activate an Increase in the Release of the Stress Hormone Cortisol, a New Study Finds | Cortisol Does, However, Increase in the Hours Prior to Wakening as Part of the Body’s Preparation for the Next Day

…and lots more. Have a great day!

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FOOD & NUTRITION

FDA Proposes Putting Nutrition Info on the Front of Food Packages

The FDA has a new idea. It wants to put nutrition labels on the front of food packages by 2028. This change would show important details like saturated fat, sodium, and added sugar right where we can easily see them while shopping.

This plan is meant to help us make healthier choices faster. Sometimes, foods that seem healthy because they're full of vitamins can also have a lot of sugar. The new labels would make this clear, encouraging us to think more about what we buy.

The goal is to make information simple and clear so that food companies will want to make their products healthier. However, not everyone agrees with this plan. Some industry groups think these labels could be too simple and might end up confusing shoppers more than helping. They prefer letting companies show nutrition facts on their own terms.

Other countries like Chile and Brazil already use similar labels and they've helped people choose healthier foods. But it's not sure if it will work the same way in the U.S., where people like to make their own choices.

The FDA will listen to people's opinions on this idea for 120 days before deciding what to do next. If they move forward, big companies will have three years and smaller ones four years to make the change. This could be a big step towards helping us all understand our food better and make healthier choices.

WEIGHT LOSS

New Obesity Definitions Considered as World’s Leading Health Professionals Move Away From Body Mass Index

Health experts want to change how we define obesity. They suggest using more than just Body Mass Index (BMI) to understand a person's health better. The new idea is to have two categories: clinical obesity and pre-clinical obesity.

Clinical obesity is when extra weight harms health. It can cause breathing problems, joint pain, and other serious issues. Pre-clinical obesity is when someone is overweight but isn't experiencing health problems yet. However, there's still a risk for future issues.

The Global Commission on Clinical Obesity has come up with 18 new ways to diagnose obesity. These new methods look at various health factors, not just BMI. For example, they consider sleep problems and liver health.

These changes have been in the works for five years. Experts are introducing measurements like the waist-to-hip ratio. They can better assess health risks than BMI alone.

The move away from BMI is based on evidence that it's outdated. BMI doesn't take into account things like muscle mass or where body fat is located, which can differ a lot between people.

These new guidelines might change how doctors treat and understand obesity. They could allow for more personalized treatments. This could mean better health care for everyone, focusing more on individual health than just numbers on a scale.

HEALTH

The Oral-brain Axis: New Research Uncovers Surprising Links Between the Bacteria in Your Mouth and Mental Health Symptoms

A study in Translational Psychiatry found links between oral bacteria and mental health. Scientists compared the mouth bacteria of the mentally unwell to those of the fine. They found big differences that could affect how we feel mentally.

Mental health issues impact millions of people, pushing researchers to find better treatments. Many studies have looked at how our gut affects our brain. Our mouth bacteria are proving to be just as important.

Stefanie Malan-Müller, a researcher, explained that she used to study gut bacteria but became interested in mouth bacteria. "I wondered if the bacteria in our mouths could also impact our mental health," she said. This led to new research showing that certain mouth bacteria are connected to feelings of stress and depression.

The study involved 470 people from Spain, analyzing their saliva and blood. The results showed that some mental health issues and poor gum health were linked. They caused problems with a process involving tryptophan. Tryptophan is important for producing serotonin, a mood-influencing brain chemical.

This research is a first step. It doesn't prove that mouth bacteria cause mental health issues. But, it opens new areas for research. Improving oral hygiene might help improve mental health. "This is just the beginning," Malan-Müller said. "Oral health may affect more than just your teeth." He urged everyone to pay attention to it.

Waking Up Does Not Activate an Increase in the Release of the Stress Hormone Cortisol, a New Study Finds | Cortisol Does, However, Increase in the Hours Prior to Wakening as Part of the Body’s Preparation for the Next Day

Many believe waking up raises cortisol, a stress hormone. However, a new study from the University of Bristol shows this isn't true. A study, published on January 15, 2025, found that cortisol starts to rise before you wake up. It gets your body ready for the day.

Previously, scientists believed in something called the "cortisol awakening response" (CAR). They thought that waking up caused a spike in cortisol, which helped us handle the stress of a new day. This idea was used to study health issues like PTSD, depression, and obesity.

The study involved 201 healthy people. Their cortisol levels were checked before and after waking up. The results showed no big increase in cortisol right after waking up. The rise in cortisol that happens in the early morning hours continues until a little after we wake up.

This research suggests that our body’s daily rhythms, known as circadian rhythms, are very important. These rhythms help control when we sleep, wake up, and how our hormones behave. When these rhythms are off, it can lead to health problems.

By knowing these patterns, we can better treat sleep disorders and other sleep-related health issues. The study’s lead researcher, Professor Stafford Lightman, says this could change how we think about sleep’s role in our health.

The findings warn us to be careful with morning cortisol levels. They might not tell the whole story.

✢ 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.