01/15/24 - #44

Good morning. In today’s edition:

  • Vitamin B12 Produced by Gut Bacteria Modulates Cholinergic Signalling

  • Researchers Have Discovered in Mouse Model That Bacteria Residing in the Small Intestines — the Gut Microbiota — Produce a Compound That Protects Against Obesity, This Shed Light on How Disturbances in the Microbiota, Such as Early-life Exposure to Antibiotics, Increase Risk for Childhood Obesity

  • Researchers Associate Taking Higher Amounts of Tylenol While Pregnant With Language Delays in Early Childhood

  • Analysis of Existing Research Has Found Mindfulness to Be Highly Effective at Reducing Worry, Stress, Anxiety, and Helping People to Live Healthier, Happier Lives. The Benefits for Mental and Physical Health From Mindfulness Were Found in People With and Without Health Issues

…and lots more. Have a great day!

FOOD & NUTRITION

Vitamin B12 Produced by Gut Bacteria Modulates Cholinergic Signalling

Did you know the tiny bacteria in your stomach can do more than help digest food? They might also affect your brain! Scientists have found out that these bacteria, the ones that make Vitamin B12, can change the way our nervous system works.

This research was done on a small type of worm called Caenorhabditis elegans. The researchers noticed that when these worms had Vitamin B12-making bacteria in their stomachs, their nerve signals were different.

Here’s how it happens: Vitamin B12 changes some processes in the worms' guts. These processes are about how the worms use certain nutrients. With more Vitamin B12, these processes change.

The important part is that with more Vitamin B12, there's less choline available. Choline is a nutrient needed for making a brain chemical that's important for nerve communication. So, less choline means the nerve signals in the worms change.

Why is this interesting for us? It helps us understand how the bacteria in our stomach might influence our brain and behavior. It also makes us think about how our diet and vitamins could affect our brain health, especially as we get older. So, when you think about what you eat, remember it's not just feeding you; it might be feeding your brain too!

WEIGHT LOSS

Researchers Have Discovered in Mouse Model That Bacteria Residing in the Small Intestines — the Gut Microbiota — Produce a Compound That Protects Against Obesity, This Shed Light on How Disturbances in the Microbiota, Such as Early-life Exposure to Antibiotics, Increase Risk for Childhood Obesity

Have you ever thought that bacteria in your gut might help keep you from getting overweight? Researchers at Vanderbilt University have made an exciting discovery in mice: a special kind of gut bacteria can help stop obesity.

Dr. Mariana Byndloss and her student, Catherine Shelton, found that these good bacteria in our small intestines make a special thing called phenyllactic acid. This acid helps control how our body deals with fat. When kids take antibiotics and eat too much fatty food, they lose these good bacteria. This makes them gain weight more easily.

But there's good news! Eating foods with these good bacteria might help. Foods like kimchi, kombucha, and some special milk drinks have them. These could help kids, especially those who need antibiotics, not to gain too much weight.

The study also showed that just antibiotics or just a high-fat diet didn't cause weight gain. It was the mix of both that was the problem. This means eating healthy is really important when taking antibiotics.

What's really cool about this study is it shows our gut and the bacteria in it play a big part in controlling our weight. This isn't something many people think about. The researchers are now looking at how these bacteria might help babies through breast milk.

In short, this research shows that the tiny bacteria living in our guts can have a big impact on staying a healthy weight.

HEALTH

Researchers Associate Taking Higher Amounts of Tylenol While Pregnant With Language Delays in Early Childhood

Is it okay to take Tylenol when you're pregnant? Scientists have been trying to answer this. Now, a team from Northeastern University found something important. They say if pregnant people take a lot of Tylenol, their kids might have trouble with language when they're little. This is especially true for boys and when Tylenol is used late in pregnancy.

Megan Woodbury, a researcher at Northeastern, shared their discovery. "Kids whose moms took more Tylenol while pregnant often had slower language learning, especially boys," she said. But, it's not certain that Tylenol is the only reason for this.

Their study used information from 532 kids. It checked how much Tylenol their moms took during pregnancy and then saw how well the kids talked at ages 2 and 3.

The study found something interesting. Taking Tylenol early in pregnancy didn't seem to cause problems. But using more Tylenol in the middle of pregnancy was linked to smaller vocabularies and less talking in three-year-olds. In the last part of pregnancy, this link was even stronger, mainly in boys.

Woodbury, who is pregnant and took Tylenol recently, gives some advice. "If you really need Tylenol, it's okay to take it. Just don't use it all the time," she says. This research helps us understand more but doesn't say to completely stop using Tylenol during pregnancy. It's about using it carefully.

Analysis of Existing Research Has Found Mindfulness to Be Highly Effective at Reducing Worry, Stress, Anxiety, and Helping People to Live Healthier, Happier Lives. The Benefits for Mental and Physical Health From Mindfulness Were Found in People With and Without Health Issues

Are you 45 or older and want to feel better this year? Good news! A new study says doing mindfulness with exercise is great for your health. The University of Bath found that this mix helps with stress, worry, and makes you happier.

Mindfulness means paying full attention to what's happening now. It's known to help your mind. When you add exercise, the benefits get even better. This study, in the "Mental Health and Physical Activity" journal, shows it's good for your mood and overall health.

Masha Remskar, a psychologist, led this study. She says mindfulness helps people start exercising and deal with small pains or feeling down when exercise gets tough. This helps everyone, even people without health problems.

The Medito Foundation, a group that focuses on mindfulness, helped with this study. They made a free app called Medito to make mindfulness easy for everyone.

Based on their research, they created two audio courses. The first one, already out, helps people start exercising. The second one, coming later in 2024, helps keep the habit going.

Starting to exercise can be hard, but mindfulness can make it easier and more fun. Remskar explains that mindfulness helps us connect with our bodies and enjoy exercise more. It also helps us see how good exercise is for us.

So, if you're thinking about being more active this year, try adding some mindfulness. It might be just what you need for a healthier, happier life!

✢ 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.