02/14/25 - #327

Good morning. In today’s edition:

• Eating From Plastic Takeout Containers May Increase the Chance of Heart Failure, Study of 3,000 People Suggests. Exposure to Plastic Chemicals in Boiled Water Poured Out of Takeout Containers Led to Changes to Gut Biome in Rats That Cause Inflammation Damaging the Circulatory System

• Weight Loss Surgery is Safe and Gets 61% of Diabetics Off Their Meds | A Large Percentage of People Who Were Diabetic Before the Surgery, Meant That They Didn’t Require Diabetes Medication Five Years After

• Long-Term Yogurt Consumption Tied to Decreased Incidence of Certain Types of Colorectal Cancer

• Researchers in China Found That Exercise Reduces Symptoms of Internet Addiction. Additionally, Exercise Was Found to Reduce Anxiety, Loneliness, Stress, Feelings of Inadequacy, and Fatigue, as Well as Depression, While Improving Overall Mental Health

…and lots more. Have a great day!

FOOD & NUTRITION

Eating From Plastic Takeout Containers May Increase the Chance of Heart Failure, Study of 3,000 People Suggests. Exposure to Plastic Chemicals in Boiled Water Poured Out of Takeout Containers Led to Changes to Gut Biome in Rats That Cause Inflammation Damaging the Circulatory System

Do you love ordering takeout? A new study says you might want to think twice about using plastic containers. Researchers found that eating from plastic can really increase your risk of heart failure.

The study involved over 3,000 people in China. It looked at how often they used plastic containers and their heart health. Researchers also tested rats by putting chemicals from plastic containers into their drinking water. They found that people who use plastic a lot might be more likely to have heart problems.

Plastic containers have chemicals like BPA, phthalates, and PFAS. These can get into your food, especially when the food is hot. These chemicals are bad for your health and can cause diseases like cancer.

In the study, rats drank water that had these chemicals. This changed the good bacteria in their guts and caused inflammation that can hurt the heart. Even a little bit of hot water in a plastic container released a lot of microplastics quickly.

Although the study doesn't tell people exactly what to do, health experts suggest not heating food in plastic containers. Using glass, wood, or stainless steel is a better choice for your health.

This research tells us to be careful about using plastic, not just for the environment but for our health too. It's important to think about what we eat and also how we store and heat our food.

Source: theguardian.com

WEIGHT LOSS

Weight Loss Surgery is Safe and Gets 61% of Diabetics Off Their Meds | A Large Percentage of People Who Were Diabetic Before the Surgery, Meant That They Didn’t Require Diabetes Medication Five Years After

Recent studies show that weight loss surgery is safe and works well, especially for people with diabetes. Many who had the surgery were able to stop using diabetes medicines within five years.

As more people use weight loss drugs like semaglutide, not everyone finds them helpful because of their high costs and side effects. They might also gain the weight back after stopping the drugs. Research from Monash University highlights weight loss surgery. This method has been effective even before the arrival of new drugs.

Professor Wendy Brown from Monash University says the study used real-life data. It shows that weight loss surgery benefits can last for five years. The Bariatric Surgery Registry tracked more than 122,000 patients in Australia and New Zealand. It found significant weight loss and a large drop in diabetes medicine use.

The study looked at surgeries that change the stomach's size or how it works to help people eat less and absorb fewer calories.

Results were very positive. Many participants lost a lot of weight, and about 61% of those with diabetes could stop their medications after five years.

This study shows that weight loss surgery is a safe choice for better long-term health. It helps many people manage or even reverse diabetes.

Source: newatlas.com

HEALTH

Long-Term Yogurt Consumption Tied to Decreased Incidence of Certain Types of Colorectal Cancer

New research from Mass General Brigham shows that eating yogurt often may reduce the risk of some colon cancer types. The study focused on over 150,000 people's health data collected for more than 30 years. Researchers found that eating yogurt two or more times a week lowered the risk of colon cancer by 20%. This type is called Bifidobacterium-positive proximal colon cancer. This cancer type appears in the right side of the colon and tends to have more severe outcomes.

Yogurt is beneficial because it contains live bacteria, such as Bifidobacterium. These bacteria may change the gut microbiome for the better. This change might help protect against this type of cancer. Yogurt did not lower the risk of all colon cancers. It only helped with those positive for Bifidobacterium.

Dr. Shuji Ogino, who led the research, emphasized that more studies are needed to confirm these results. The research team will keep studying how diet affects gut health and cancer risk.

This study is part of a bigger investigation. It looks at how the microbiome, the bacteria in our bodies, affects disease progression and treatment responses. Scientists aim to find new ways to prevent or treat diseases like colon cancer. They believe that understanding these connections will help them focus on dietary choices. This could mean that simply choosing the right foods to eat might help keep us healthier in the future.

Source: massgeneralbrigham.org

Researchers in China Found That Exercise Reduces Symptoms of Internet Addiction. Additionally, Exercise Was Found to Reduce Anxiety, Loneliness, Stress, Feelings of Inadequacy, and Fatigue, as Well as Depression, While Improving Overall Mental Health

A new study in China shows that regular exercise can help college students who are addicted to the internet. When people use the internet too much, it can take over their lives. This is called internet addiction. It can make someone feel anxious, lonely, and stressed. It can also make it hard to do daily tasks.

The research was led by Yan Yan. His team looked at many studies and found that exercises like running, swimming, and playing sports can really help. These activities lower the need to be online all the time and improve overall mental health. They also reduce feelings of sadness and tiredness.

The researchers studied 760 students in China who did exercises for 4 to 18 weeks. The students exercised in sessions that lasted between 50 and 120 minutes. The results were very good. The students felt less need to be online and were less anxious and lonely.

The study shows that different kinds of exercises, especially team sports and activities that require quick reactions, are very helpful. This might be true for other people too, not just students in China.

In short, if you’re feeling overwhelmed by how much time you spend online, trying some sports or getting into a regular exercise routine could be a great help. It’s a simple way to feel better and live a healthier life.

Source: psypost.org

✢ 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.