04/01/25 - #359

Good morning. In today’s edition:

  • Breast vs Bottle: What Happens When Babies Are Fed Differently Revealed | The Study Found That Longer and Exclusive Breastfeeding Was Significantly Linked to Better Language and Social Development

  • Low-carb and Keto Diets Are Safe, Effective, and Sustainable for Treating Obesity, Diabetes, and Heart Disease, and Common Fears About Them—like Nutrient Deficiencies, Heart Risk, or “Keto Flu”—are Mostly Myths Not Backed by Strong Science

  • We May Be One Step Closer to Not Just Treating Baldness but Preventing It, With Scientists Discovering That Hair Growth Comes to a Screeching Halt Without MCL-1, a "Bodyguard" Protein, in Mice. By Boosting MCL-1 Levels, We Might Be Able to Safeguard Hair Follicle Stem Cells and Prevent Hair Loss

  • A New Study of 1,000+ Adults Aged 45+ Found That Sleep Quality Partly Mediates the Link Between Loneliness and Depression

…and lots more. Have a great day!

FOOD & NUTRITION

Breast vs Bottle: What Happens When Babies Are Fed Differently Revealed | The Study Found That Longer and Exclusive Breastfeeding Was Significantly Linked to Better Language and Social Development

The debate about whether breastfeeding is better than bottle feeding has been around for a long time. New research now shows that breastfeeding longer and exclusively has big benefits.

A big study in Israel looked at more than 570,000 kids. It found that kids who were breastfed for six months or longer had fewer developmental delays. The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding babies exclusively for the first six months. Then, continue breastfeeding while introducing other foods for up to two years or more.

The study found that children who were breastfed exclusively for longer did better than their siblings who were breastfed less or not at all. Dr. Inbal Goldshtein, who led the study, mentioned that the most benefits are seen in the first eight months of breastfeeding.

Experts say breast milk has key nutrients like DHA and AA. These help the brain develop and improve nerve function. Danielle Facey, a breastfeeding expert, said breastfeeding supports key brain growth processes.

The study also looked at how babies bond with their parents. It found that breastfeeding doesn't stop other family members from bonding with the baby. Other caregivers can bond by holding, cuddling, and feeding the baby expressed breast milk.

Breastfeeding is crucial for a baby's growth. It also strengthens family bonds.

WEIGHT LOSS

Low-carb and Keto Diets Are Safe, Effective, and Sustainable for Treating Obesity, Diabetes, and Heart Disease, and Common Fears About Them—like Nutrient Deficiencies, Heart Risk, or “Keto Flu”—are Mostly Myths Not Backed by Strong Science

As we age, we face higher risks of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. A low-carb or ketogenic diet is a great way to tackle these issues. These diets are safe, effective for weight loss, and sustainable.

Myth: Low-Carb Diets Lack Nutrients It’s a myth that low-carb diets don’t provide enough nutrients. These diets have lots of proteins, fats, and veggies. They help keep you healthy and manage carbs. This is especially good for diabetes.

Myth: They Increase Heart Disease Risk In fact, low-carb diets can improve heart health by lowering bad fats in your blood and reducing blood pressure. The fats in these diets are healthy and do not cause heart problems.

Myth: ‘Keto Flu’ Is a Big Problem The 'keto flu' is just a temporary tiredness when starting the diet. It goes away quickly if you drink more water and get enough salts.

Fact: Can Reverse Type 2 Diabetes Lowering carb intake can control and sometimes even reverse type 2 diabetes by reducing body sugar and stabilizing blood sugar levels.

Fact: Promotes Weight Loss Low-carb diets help with weight loss because they make you feel full longer, which cuts down on snacking.

Fact: Affordable and Long-lasting These diets are budget-friendly and focus on proteins and fats. Foods like eggs and veggies are inexpensive yet nutritious.

Low-carb and keto diets are not just trends. They are scientifically proven methods to improve health and tackle serious health challenges.

HEALTH

We May Be One Step Closer to Not Just Treating Baldness but Preventing It, With Scientists Discovering That Hair Growth Comes to a Screeching Halt Without MCL-1, a "Bodyguard" Protein, in Mice. By Boosting MCL-1 Levels, We Might Be Able to Safeguard Hair Follicle Stem Cells and Prevent Hair Loss

Scientists have made a big discovery that might help not only treat but also prevent baldness. They found out about a protein called MCL-1, which acts like a "bodyguard" for hair follicles.

Researchers from Australia's Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research and Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore learned that hair follicle stem cells need MCL-1 to work right. Without this protein, these cells get too stressed and die, causing hair loss.

This is important because things like stress, getting older, and some medicines can make MCL-1 levels go down. This leaves hair follicles weak and easy to damage. The studies showed that turning off MCL-1 in mice made them lose hair because their stem cells died off.

Boosting MCL-1 could keep these cells healthy and stop them from dying out, which would prevent baldness. The research also shows how MCL-1 works with another protein called P53, which is linked to stress. Understanding how these proteins work together could lead to new treatments for hair loss.

Scientists are discovering how MCL-1 aids hair growth. They hope to find new ways to treat and prevent hair loss. This could be a big deal for many people who are dealing with baldness.

A New Study of 1,000+ Adults Aged 45+ Found That Sleep Quality Partly Mediates the Link Between Loneliness and Depression

A new study explored how feeling lonely and having poor sleep can lead to depression in adults over 45. More than a thousand people from Ankang City, Shaanxi Province, took part in this study. It was recently published in Scientific Reports.

Loneliness can lead to poor sleep, and both increase the chance of depression. In fact, lonely people are seven times more likely to feel depressed if they also sleep poorly. This study proves that sleep quality plays a key role, but it's not the only thing linking loneliness to depression. It affects about 13% of this connection.

Researchers used detailed methods to figure out these relationships. They found that better sleep can lessen the sadness of loneliness. This is important because the world's population is aging, and many may feel lonely.

This information is vital for coming up with ways to help older adults feel better by improving their sleep and reducing loneliness. Good sleep can lighten the emotional load of loneliness and help prevent depression.

It's important to understand and address these issues for the mental health and happiness of older adults. This study boosts our understanding and offers practical steps to help those facing loneliness and its effects.

✢ 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.