Good morning. In today’s edition:

• Pacific Island Governments Are Increasingly Imposing Taxes on Unhealthy Foods as They Battle a Non-communicable Disease Crisis, a New Zealand Study Shows

• How Much Does Walking Help?

• Lupus Trigger Discovered, Researchers Were Able to Trace a Form of the Autoimmune Disease Lupus Back to a Single Mutation

• Trends in Psychological Distress and Outpatient Mental Health Care of Adults During the Covid-19 Era

…and lots more. Have a great day!

FOOD & NUTRITION

Pacific Island Governments Are Increasingly Imposing Taxes on Unhealthy Foods as They Battle a Non-communicable Disease Crisis, a New Zealand Study Shows

In the Pacific Islands, governments are trying a new trick to help people eat better and live longer. They're putting extra taxes on foods that are not good for you, like snacks that are too salty, sweet, or processed. This idea comes from a study in New Zealand that looked at how 22 island places have been dealing with food taxes between 2000 and 2020.

Why are they doing this? Well, in these islands, diseases that come from not eating right, like heart disease and diabetes, are a big problem. A lot of times, these diseases are why people get very sick or even die. By making junk food more expensive, the hope is that people will choose healthier foods instead.

Out of these islands, 14 have already started using these food taxes. Most of these taxes are on foods that come from other countries. The goal is to make people think twice before they buy unhealthy food, hoping they'll pick something better for their health.

This move is part of a bigger plan to fight diseases that you can prevent by eating right and staying healthy. The World Health Organization thinks it's a good idea too. It's all about helping everyone in the Pacific Islands eat better so they can avoid diseases and live healthier lives.

Source: cambridge.org

WEIGHT LOSS

How Much Does Walking Help?

Have you ever thought about walking to lose weight? Some people say it works, while others don't think so. Let's see what the science tells us.

Mish, a scientist who looks into this stuff. Found studies that show walking can help you lose weight and fat. Here's the scoop:

A big study looked at people who started walking more without changing their diet. They walked for 40 minutes, four times a week. After a while, they lost about two pounds and a bit of body fat. This is pretty cool because they didn't do anything else but walk. Plus, people who didn't walk ended up gaining weight.

Another study compared walking with running and biking. They made sure everyone did their activity the same amount of time. Guess what? People who walked lost as much weight as those who ran and even lost more fat than bikers.

The best way to burn fat while walking is to keep your heart rate at about 60% of its max. This usually means walking at a pace that feels a bit brisk but not too hard.

So, walking can be a great way to lose weight and get healthier. It's simple, doesn't cost anything, and you can start anytime. Next time someone says walking isn't effective, you'll know the truth!

Source: Miche, PhD

HEALTH

Lupus Trigger Discovered, Researchers Were Able to Trace a Form of the Autoimmune Disease Lupus Back to a Single Mutation

Scientists have found a key clue in understanding lupus. Lupus is a tough disease where the body's defense system attacks itself. This causes pain and swelling all over. They discovered that a tiny error in our genes can cause lupus.

Lupus has been a mystery for a long time. It makes people very sick by making their immune system act against their own body. The smart folks at the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology in Berlin and doctors from the University of Munich found out that this happens because of a problem with a special part of immune cells called the Toll-like receptor 7.

This part usually helps fight off germs. But, if there's a genetic mistake, too many of these parts build up. Then, the body starts fighting itself by mistake, leading to lupus.

The team found a patient with lupus who had this exact genetic mistake. This was a big moment because it proved their theory right.

This discovery is really exciting because it could lead to new ways to treat lupus. Instead of just treating the symptoms, doctors might be able to stop the disease before it even starts by checking for this genetic mistake.

This research gives hope to people with lupus and their families. Understanding lupus better means doctors are getting closer to finding better treatments.

Source: mpg.de

Trends in Psychological Distress and Outpatient Mental Health Care of Adults During the Covid-19 Era

The COVID-19 pandemic not only made many people sick but also had a big impact on how people felt emotionally. A recent study looked at how adults in the U.S. were doing mentally from 2018 to 2021. They found more people were feeling very stressed and having a hard time getting the help they needed.

Between 2018 and 2021, the number of adults feeling a lot of stress went up a little, from 3.5% to 4.2%. Even though more people looked for mental health care, going from 11.2% to 12.4%, fewer people who were really stressed got the help they needed. Younger adults and people with jobs were more likely to get help than older adults and those without jobs. In 2021, about one-third of the people getting help did so through video chats. This was mostly younger, educated, and wealthier people living in cities.

This study shows it's been hard for older people, those without jobs, and those feeling very stressed to find the right mental health care. It also shows that talking to a doctor over video can help. Not everyone can do this easily, especially if they're older, earn less money, or live in rural areas.

The pandemic has changed a lot of things, including how we take care of our mental health. It's important that everyone can get the help they need, no matter their age, job status, or where they live.

Source: acpjournals.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.