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- 05/15/25 - #391
05/15/25 - #391
Health Horizon. Herald Staff
May 15, 2025
Good morning. In today’s edition:
Is Drinking Too Much Diet Soda Really Bad?
What’s Your Weight Loss Hack?
Toothpaste Widely Contaminated With Lead and Other Metals, US Research Finds
Lawsuit Alleges Maryland Man With Diabetes Became Blind After Taking Ozempic
…and lots more. Have a great day!
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FOOD & NUTRITION
Is Drinking Too Much Diet Soda Really Bad?
Diet soda first became popular in the 1960s as a sugar-free, low-calorie drink. It seemed like a smart choice for people trying to lose weight or avoid sugar. But new research shows it may not be as healthy as we once thought.
When we eat something sweet, our body expects calories. It gets ready by releasing insulin, which helps store sugar for energy. But diet sodas use artificial sweeteners that taste sweet but have no calories. This can confuse the body. Over time, this may lead to problems with how the body handles real sugar and calories.
Studies show that drinking a lot of diet soda is linked to health problems like high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and weight gain. These are signs of a condition called metabolic syndrome, which raises the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
One long-term study found that people who drank about 21 diet sodas a week were twice as likely to become overweight or obese compared to people who didn’t drink diet soda. Other research links diet soda to a higher risk of stroke and memory problems.
Artificial sweeteners can also be much sweeter than real sugar. This might make people crave more sweet foods and eat more overall.
If you're drinking diet soda to lose weight, it may not help. In fact, it could do the opposite. Drinking water or unsweetened drinks is likely a better choice for your health in the long run.
WEIGHT LOSS
What’s Your Weight Loss Hack?
If you’ve had a hard time losing weight or keeping it off, this simple but strict diet might help. Dr. Ken Berry calls it the carnivore diet. It’s not for everyone, but it may work if other diets have failed.
This diet cuts out almost all carbs. That lowers your insulin, the hormone that stores fat. It also raises growth hormone, which helps protect your muscles and bones while you lose fat.
Here’s what you can eat: beef, lamb, goat, organ meats (like liver), eggs, butter, and bacon. You can also drink water, coffee, or tea. No need to count calories or watch portions. Eat until you feel full. Just eat one or two large meals a day, in a 6-hour window.
Here’s what you must avoid: sugar, sweeteners, bread, pasta, rice, fruit, and most vegetables. Avoid anything with carbs or processed ingredients.
You may feel tired or have headaches in the first week. That’s normal. It’s your body adjusting to life without sugar and carbs. Make sure to get enough salt, potassium, and magnesium. Some people use electrolyte drops to help with this.
Many people feel better after just a few days. They lose fat, think more clearly, and have more energy. If you like the results, you can stay on this diet longer.
This diet is very different from most, so check with your doctor first. But if nothing else has worked for you, this could be the weight loss hack you’ve been waiting for.
HEALTH
Toothpaste Widely Contaminated With Lead and Other Metals, US Research Finds
New U.S. research shows that many toothpaste brands, including ones for kids, contain dangerous metals like lead, arsenic, mercury, and cadmium. These metals can harm the brain, heart, and kidneys. They can also increase the risk of cancer.
A group called Lead Safe Mama tested 51 toothpaste brands. About 90% had lead, 65% had arsenic, and many had mercury or cadmium. Some had more than one of these toxic metals.
The worst results were above the safety limit set by the state of Washington, but still under the higher federal limits. Health experts say even small amounts of lead are not safe.
Tamara Rubin, the head of Lead Safe Mama, said she first became concerned after meeting families with children who had high levels of lead in their blood. She linked many of these cases to a toothpaste brand called Earthpaste.
Rubin raised money to test more brands, including Crest, Sensodyne, Tom’s of Maine, Dr. Bronner’s, and others. Some companies sent her legal warnings, but none promised to remove the metals.
Rubin said the problem likely comes from ingredients like bentonite clay, calcium carbonate, and hydroxyapatite. These are added to help clean or strengthen teeth but may carry toxic metals.
Some children’s toothpastes, like Dr. Brown’s, did not contain any of the harmful metals.
This study raises serious questions about toothpaste safety and whether companies should do more to protect the public. Experts say stronger rules may be needed to keep consumers safe.
Lawsuit Alleges Maryland Man With Diabetes Became Blind After Taking Ozempic
A 62-year-old Maryland man has filed a lawsuit claiming the drug Ozempic caused him to go blind. Todd Engel was prescribed the drug in 2023 to manage his Type 2 diabetes. Four months later, he was diagnosed with a rare eye condition called NAION, which causes sudden, permanent vision loss.
The lawsuit says the drugmaker, Novo Nordisk, failed to warn doctors and patients about the risk of serious eye problems. Engel’s lawyer said he might have chosen a different treatment if he had known about the possible side effect.
Ozempic is part of a drug class known as GLP-1s. These drugs were made for diabetes but are now also used for weight loss. Some studies have found a link between Ozempic and NAION. However, experts say it’s too early to know for sure if the drug causes the condition. Diabetes itself is already a risk factor for eye disease.
Novo Nordisk denies any link between Ozempic and NAION. The company says the drug’s benefits still outweigh the risks and that eye problems are common among people with diabetes.
Engel’s vision loss forced him to leave his job and give up driving. He said it’s painful to know he’ll never see his wife smile again.
Other lawsuits have also been filed, and experts agree more research is needed. Anyone taking Ozempic is urged to talk with their doctor before making any changes to their medication.
✢ 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.