04/04/25 - #362

Good morning. In today’s edition:

  • Under-8s Should Not Drink Slushies Containing Glycerol - Study of 21 Hospitalisations Shows the Iced Drinks Can Cause Glycerol Intoxication Syndrome, Leading to Decreased Consciousness and Low Blood Sugar. Glycerol is a Sugar Substitute in Slushies to Prevent Liquid From Freezing Solid

  • Anyone Else Lose Weight Slowly?

  • Five Minutes of Eccentric Exercise a Day Can Improve Your Life | Study Finds Home-based Bodyweight Eccentric Exercise Improved Muscle Strength, Flexibility, Strength Endurance, and Mental Health

  • While It May Seem Obvious, Your Bedtime Wind-down Ritual Might Be Costing You Sleep. Study Found That an Hour of Phone Use in Bed Increases Risk of Insomnia by 59% and Shaves 24 Minutes Off Your Night's Sleep. Social Media Was Not the Driving Force - Any Phone Use Had the Same Impact

…and lots more. Have a great day!

FOOD & NUTRITION

Under-8s Should Not Drink Slushies Containing Glycerol - Study of 21 Hospitalisations Shows the Iced Drinks Can Cause Glycerol Intoxication Syndrome, Leading to Decreased Consciousness and Low Blood Sugar. Glycerol is a Sugar Substitute in Slushies to Prevent Liquid From Freezing Solid

Doctors are warning parents not to give slushies with glycerol to children under eight. A study looked at 21 young kids who got very sick after drinking these slushies. These children showed symptoms like feeling less alert and having low blood sugar.

Glycerol is used in slushies to stop them from freezing too hard. But for young kids, it can cause serious health problems quickly. Most of the kids in the study felt sick within an hour after having a slushie. The good news is they all got better fast after getting help.

From 2018 to 2024, the kids in the study, who were between two and almost seven years old, went to hospitals with these issues. Doctors now think that public health advice about these slushies needs to change.

Even though the rules now say kids under four shouldn't have these drinks, and older kids should only have one slushie a day, this study shows those rules might not be enough.

The study also points out that it's hard to know how much glycerol is in a slushie, which makes it tough to say how much is safe. Things like how fast and how much a child drinks, and whether they eat with the slushie, can make things worse.

Health experts suggest that slushies are not good for a balanced diet and aren't healthy for kids. They believe we need clearer rules to make sure kids stay safe.

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WEIGHT LOSS

Anyone Else Lose Weight Slowly?

Have you ever wondered why it's so hard to stick to a diet and why people often gain back the weight they lose, plus some extra? It turns out our bodies don’t like quick changes, especially with food and calorie cuts that many diets involve.

Many people start a diet, lose some weight, and then see it come back. From my experience, those who have tried many diets find it tougher to lose weight each time. This is because our bodies get better at using less energy to do the same work. It’s like having a car that runs longer on less fuel.

When we eat fewer calories, our body becomes more efficient. This might sound good because it means our body needs fewer calories to work. However, this makes losing weight harder. This better energy use is great for survival but not so great if you’re trying to lose weight.

Interestingly, being a bit overweight doesn’t always mean you’re unhealthy, especially compared to someone thin who eats poorly. Overweight people who eat well might actually have a survival advantage.

The main point isn’t that we have a slow metabolism; it’s that our bodies are really good at saving energy. This means we need to understand how our bodies work to manage weight better. It’s not just about eating less all the time but understanding how our bodies use what we eat.

HEALTH

Five Minutes of Eccentric Exercise a Day Can Improve Your Life | Study Finds Home-based Bodyweight Eccentric Exercise Improved Muscle Strength, Flexibility, Strength Endurance, and Mental Health

Researchers at Edith Cowan University (ECU) have found that just five minutes of special exercise each day can make a big difference in your health. This exercise is called "eccentric exercise." It includes movements where muscles stretch while they work, like slowly sitting down in a chair.

The study, led by Dr. Benjamin Kirk and Professor Ken Nosaka, asked people to do a few easy exercises at home every day. These included chair squats, wall push-ups, and others, all done slowly to stretch the muscles. After four weeks, people felt stronger and more flexible. They also felt better mentally.

What’s great about these exercises is that you don’t need to go to the gym. You can do them at home anytime, which is perfect for busy people. Although many adults don’t get enough exercise, it’s really important, especially as you get older. Regular exercise helps you stay healthy and prevents diseases.

The ECU researchers say to start with five minutes of these exercises each day and then slowly do more. This can help everyone, especially if you’re just starting or are busy. Just remember, every bit of exercise helps improve your health over time. So, why not start with five minutes a day? It could really help, especially as you get older.

While It May Seem Obvious, Your Bedtime Wind-down Ritual Might Be Costing You Sleep. Study Found That an Hour of Phone Use in Bed Increases Risk of Insomnia by 59% and Shaves 24 Minutes Off Your Night's Sleep. Social Media Was Not the Driving Force - Any Phone Use Had the Same Impact

Do you use your phone before bed? A study says this habit might be hurting your sleep. Researchers found that using your phone for just one hour in bed increases your chance of not sleeping well by 59% and cuts your sleep time by 24 minutes.

We all know that screens before sleep aren't great. Studies have shown that they can mess up our sleep. This new study tells us just how bad it can be, no matter if you're on social media or just scrolling through articles. It seems that any kind of screen time is the problem.

Dr. Gunnhild Johnsen Hjetland, who led the study, said, "It doesn't really matter what you're doing on your phone. It's the screen time that disrupts sleep."

Why does using phones in bed keep us awake? It takes away from our sleep time, but there's more to it. Screens keep our brains active, making it tough to fall asleep. Also, the light from screens tells our body it's not time to sleep yet.

If you find it hard to sleep, try to cut down on phone use before bed. Stop using gadgets at least 30 minutes before you sleep. If you really need to use your phone, turn off notifications to avoid disruptions.

Even though this study looked at students, its message is clear for everyone. Less screen time at night could lead to better sleep.

✢ 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.