01/22/24 - #49

Good morning. In today’s edition:

  • Study (N=64,945 European) Found That Dark Chocolate Intake is Significantly Associated With the Reduction of the Risk of Essential Hypertension and Venous Thromboembolism

  • Study Found That Intermittent Fasting Itself Will Not Make Your Extra Kilos Disappear if You Don't Restrict Your Caloric Intake, but It Has a Range of Health Benefits (16-18 Hours IF a Day)

  • Bottled Water Contains Hundreds of Thousands of Plastic Bits: Study

  • Online Yoga Can Reduce Stress, Anxiety, and Depression - a Rutgers University Insight

…and lots more. Have a great day!

FOOD & NUTRITION

Study (N=64,945 European) Found That Dark Chocolate Intake is Significantly Associated With the Reduction of the Risk of Essential Hypertension and Venous Thromboembolism

Do you like dark chocolate? A new study has some exciting news! It shows that eating dark chocolate might lower the risk of getting high blood pressure and blood clots in your veins.

Dark chocolate is different from regular chocolate. It has more cocoa, which is good for your heart. Scientists have been trying to find out if dark chocolate really helps the heart. Now, they used a special method called Mendelian randomization (MR) to understand this better. This method looks at people's genes to see how their eating habits affect their health.

The study found that people who eat dark chocolate are less likely to have high blood pressure. High blood pressure is a common health problem, especially as people get older. It can cause serious issues like heart attacks and strokes.

But, it's important to know that this study isn't perfect. It focused on people from Europe, so the results might not be the same for everyone. And it doesn't mean that only eating dark chocolate will make your heart healthy.

Dark chocolate is rich in cocoa, which has good stuff for your heart, like flavanols. These flavanols help keep your blood vessels healthy and might lower blood pressure.

So, what does this mean? Eating a little dark chocolate could be part of a healthy lifestyle, especially if you're thinking about your heart health. Just remember to also eat other healthy foods and exercise!

WEIGHT LOSS

Study Found That Intermittent Fasting Itself Will Not Make Your Extra Kilos Disappear if You Don't Restrict Your Caloric Intake, but It Has a Range of Health Benefits (16-18 Hours IF a Day)

Many people try intermittent fasting to lose weight. This means not eating for about 16 to 18 hours a day or skipping meals for two whole days a week. However, a recent study shows that just fasting isn't enough to shed extra weight. You also need to watch how much you eat.

Philip Ruppert, a scientist studying body energy, points out, “Fasting is healthy but it's not a magic way to lose weight.” He and another expert, Sander Kersten, wrote a science paper about this. They explain that while fasting, your body uses its stored energy, but to really lose weight, eating less is key.

Still, fasting has other good effects on health. It helps your body use energy from food and then fat stores. This can go on for quite a while, depending on how much body fat you have.

Fasting can make you feel more energetic and sleep better. It can also improve your blood pressure and blood sugar levels.

Some people fast for many days. After a couple of days, they often feel really good, similar to how runners feel after a long run.

Ruppert, who fasts for a week each year, says, “It gives you a clear mind.”

Everyone reacts to fasting differently. Ruppert plans to study this more. But remember, while fasting is healthy, it's not the only way to manage weight.

HEALTH

Bottled Water Contains Hundreds of Thousands of Plastic Bits: Study

Did you know that bottled water has a lot more plastic in it than we thought? Scientists just found out that each liter of bottled water from famous brands can have up to 240,000 tiny plastic bits. This is way more than what we used to think.

These small plastics are called nanoplastics and microplastics. Nanoplastics are really tiny, even smaller than a speck of dust. They are so small that they can move around in our bodies and reach important parts like our heart and brain. Microplastics are a bit larger but still very small. Both kinds are worrying because they could be harmful to our health and the environment.

To find these plastics, scientists used a special laser technique. They checked three big bottled water brands but didn't say which ones. They think all bottled water has these plastics, so it's not right to just talk about a few.

The study found that most of these plastics come from the filters used in making the water or from the bottles when they are squeezed. Sometimes, they also come from the caps.

The scientists say that even though these plastics might be bad, not drinking water is worse. They suggest thinking about other options like tap water, which usually has less plastic.

Now, the researchers want to study tap water too. They are still learning about how these tiny plastics affect our health, but early studies show they might cause stomach problems and other issues.

Online Yoga Can Reduce Stress, Anxiety, and Depression - a Rutgers University Insight

Did you know you can do yoga online and it might make you feel better? Rutgers University did some studies and found out that yoga on the internet can really help with stress, anxiety, and feeling sad.

Tracy Chang, a professor at Rutgers, led the research. They looked at two online yoga programs. Many people who did these yoga exercises at home said they felt less stressed and happier in just two weeks!

One study was about Upa Yoga. This is a kind of yoga with standing poses and breathing exercises. They asked 679 college students to do Upa Yoga at home for a few weeks. The students watched videos from the Isha Foundation and practiced at least three times a week. They felt a lot better and less stressed after 12 weeks.

Another study looked at a program called Inner Engineering Online. This program mixes yoga with meditation. About 347 people tried it, and most of them felt more energetic and happy. They even slept better!

The best part? These yoga programs work for everyone. The studies showed that it didn't matter how old the people were, what job they had, or where they came from. Everyone felt the benefits. But, to really feel better, you have to do the yoga regularly.

So, if you're feeling stressed or a bit down, why not try online yoga? It's easy, free, and you can do it right at home. It could really help make your day better!

✢ 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.