04/28/25 - #378

Good morning. In today’s edition:

  • These Are the 6 Food Dyes the FDA Wants to Phase Out and Some of Products That Use Them

  • Social Media is Fueling the Childhood Obesity Crisis, Global Study Warns

  • One Dose of Experimental Drug Nearly Wipes Out Stealthy Cholesterol in 'Remarkable' Trial

  • Probiotics May Improve Mood via Gut–brain Axis: Young, Healthy Adults Who Took Probiotic Daily for a Month Had Reduced Negative Feelings (Anxiety, Stress, Fatigue or Depression) Compared to Placebo. It Took About 2 Weeks for Probiotics to Work, About the Same Time as Antidepressants

…and lots more. Have a great day!

FOOD & NUTRITION

These Are the 6 Food Dyes the FDA Wants to Phase Out and Some of Products That Use Them

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is asking food companies to phase out six petroleum-based food dyes by the end of next year. Instead, companies are encouraged to use natural alternatives. FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said the agency will speed up the review and approval of safer, natural colorings to help companies make the change faster.

CBS News medical expert Dr. Jon LaPook explained that this move is important because artificial dyes have no nutritional value and may pose safety risks. “You want to be safe, not sorry,” he said. However, the food dye industry argues that artificial colors are important for making food look good and keeping customers happy.

Here are the six dyes the FDA is targeting:

  • Red No. 40: Found in Gatorade, Fanta, Lucky Charms, Froot Loops, and many ice creams like Blue Bell's Birthday Cake flavor.

  • Yellow No. 5: Found in M&Ms, Skittles, Mountain Dew, Doritos, sweet relish, and cake mixes.

  • Yellow No. 6: Found in Trix cereal, Fanta sodas, and Otter Pops frozen treats.

  • Blue No. 1: Found in Skittles, Airheads, Funfetti frosting, berry-flavored yogurts, and even some medicines like Prozac.

  • Blue No. 2: Found in candy decorations, soaps, shampoos, and even some pet foods.

  • Green No. 3: Found in mouthwashes like Listerine and Colgate, and some breath mints.

The hope is that removing these dyes will lead to a healthier food supply for everyone.

WEIGHT LOSS

Social Media is Fueling the Childhood Obesity Crisis, Global Study Warns

A new global study says social media is making childhood obesity worse. Researchers found that kids and teens are seeing a lot of ads for junk food, like candy, fast food, and sugary drinks. Most kids don’t even realize they are being targeted.

These ads are hidden in videos, games, quizzes, and posts on popular apps like TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. Social media tracks what kids watch and shows them more ads for unhealthy foods.

The study looked at 36 reports from different countries. It found kids are exposed to dozens of junk food ads every day. Boys often saw ads focused on sports and winning, while girls saw polls and games tied to unhealthy snacks. Children in Mexico and the U.S. saw more ads for fast food than children in Australia, Canada, or the U.K.

Experts say this kind of marketing is a major health problem, just like tobacco and alcohol ads were in the past. They are calling for stronger rules to protect kids from unhealthy food ads online.

Parents can help by talking to their kids about how ads work online. Teaching kids to spot marketing tricks is important, but experts say new laws are needed too. Right now, many rules that protect children from ads are too weak for today’s fast-changing internet.

If nothing changes, more kids will struggle with obesity, and their risk for diseases like type 2 diabetes and heart problems will keep going up.

HEALTH

One Dose of Experimental Drug Nearly Wipes Out Stealthy Cholesterol in 'Remarkable' Trial

A new drug may finally offer hope for millions of Americans battling a hidden form of cholesterol called lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a). In a new study, one shot of an experimental drug called lepodisiran lowered Lp(a) levels by almost 94% in just six months. Even after a year, levels stayed about 88% lower.

Doctors have struggled for years to treat high Lp(a) because it doesn’t respond to diet, exercise, or existing medications. People with high Lp(a) face a much higher risk of heart attack, stroke, and early death, often without knowing it. Routine cholesterol tests don’t check for it.

“This is remarkable,” said Dr. Eric Brandt, a heart expert not involved in the study. “These drugs could almost eliminate Lp(a).”

The trial, funded by drugmaker Eli Lilly, included 320 people. Researchers found that a second dose at six months helped keep cholesterol levels even lower after one year.

Lepodisiran works by blocking the messenger RNA that tells the body to make Lp(a).

For Donald Kosec, 61, the issue hit close to home. Although healthy and active, he had no idea he had dangerously high Lp(a) until he needed emergency heart surgery at age 53.

Today, Kosec is staying active and healthy while waiting for these new treatments to become available.

“I’ll feel a lot better when I can get on a drug that actually fixes the problem,” he said.

The results were presented at a major heart conference and published in The New England Journal of Medicine.

Probiotics May Improve Mood via Gut–brain Axis: Young, Healthy Adults Who Took Probiotic Daily for a Month Had Reduced Negative Feelings (Anxiety, Stress, Fatigue or Depression) Compared to Placebo. It Took About 2 Weeks for Probiotics to Work, About the Same Time as Antidepressants

Taking probiotics may help improve your mood, according to a new study. Probiotics are “good” bacteria found in yogurt, fermented foods like sauerkraut, and supplements. Researchers say they may benefit not only your gut but also your brain.

In the study, young, healthy adults took a probiotic every day for one month. They reported how they felt each day. After about two weeks, many noticed fewer negative feelings such as anxiety, stress, tiredness, and sadness. This timeline is similar to how long it takes for antidepressants to begin working. However, probiotics seemed to reduce only negative feelings, without dulling positive emotions.

The connection between the gut and brain is called the “gut–brain axis.” It includes nerves, hormones, and the immune system. Scientists believe that the bacteria in our gut may affect how we think and feel by using this connection.

Not everyone will respond to probiotics the same way. People who are cautious or avoid taking risks seemed to get the biggest mood boost in this study. The probiotic also seemed to help people recognize emotions in others more accurately.

Experts say probiotics can't replace antidepressants. However, they might help some people, especially in the early stages, before problems worsen.

More research is needed. However, probiotics might one day help mental health, especially for those with mild symptoms. Asking people how they feel each day turned out to be a simple and powerful way to track these 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.