Good morning. In today’s edition:

• Analyzing 36 Plastic Food-contact Articles From 5 Countries, Researchers Found 9,936 Different Chemicals in a Single Product That Can Affect Hormones, Metabolism, and Signal Transmission in the Body

• Things I've Learnt About Weight Loss

• Toxic Chemicals Can Be Absorbed Into the Skin From Microplastics, New Research Has Found

• Alzheimer's Risk Associated With Stressful Life Events During Childhood and Midlife, Study Finds

…and lots more. Have a great day!

FOOD & NUTRITION

Analyzing 36 Plastic Food-contact Articles From 5 Countries, Researchers Found 9,936 Different Chemicals in a Single Product That Can Affect Hormones, Metabolism, and Signal Transmission in the Body

Research by Martin Wagner, a professor at NTNU's Department of Biology, has revealed a shocking find. It was in plastic food packaging. His team found 9,936 different chemicals in just one type of plastic product. This study highlights the risks these chemicals pose to our health. They affect hormones, metabolism, and how our cells communicate.

The research analyzed plastic used in food packaging from five countries. They were the United States, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Germany, and Norway. It was published in the Environmental Science & Technology journal. It showed that many chemicals in plastics can disrupt hormones and metabolism. Hormones are important. They help our body's parts work together. Metabolism turns food into energy.

The study also found that some chemicals in plastic can block G-protein-coupled receptors. These receptors are vital for cell communication. Researchers identified 11 chemical combinations that negatively affect these receptors.

Also, the study confirmed that toxic chemicals can leak out of plastics into the environment. This is especially true when they are in water. This can harm human health and the environment, affecting things like fertility.

Plastics contain many chemicals. We can only identify a few at a time. So, there's much we don't know about their effects. The findings stress the need to make safer plastics to protect our health.

Source: norwegianscitechnews.com

WEIGHT LOSS

Things I've Learnt About Weight Loss

After working for 29 years and helping 40,000 people, I've learned a lot about how to lose weight. Here are seven important lessons from my experiences:

1. Fruit and Weight Loss: If you find it hard to lose weight, you might need to eat less fruit. Even a little can stop fat from burning for a day or two.

2. Snacking: I used to think healthy snacks were good, but I found out that any food increases insulin, which can stop weight loss. It's better to avoid snacks to see better results.

3. Protein is Important: In the past, I said to eat less protein, but that was bad advice. Our bodies need protein to fix and build things like hair and muscles. Make sure to eat a good amount of protein.

4. Skipping Breakfast: Breakfast isn't as important as we thought. Waiting longer to eat your first meal can help you feel less hungry during the day and help with weight loss.

5. Eating Fats: Healthy fats are good for you. They make you feel full longer and don't raise insulin much, which is great for managing weight.

6. Learning from History: Knowing a person's health history can help find out why they are gaining weight and how to fix it.

7. Health First: Focus on getting healthy first, then weight loss will follow. Improving your overall health can help you lose weight better than just trying to cut calories.

Understanding your own health and what works for you is key to successful weight loss.

Source: Dr. Eric Berg DC

HEALTH

Toxic Chemicals Can Be Absorbed Into the Skin From Microplastics, New Research Has Found

Recent research has found that harmful chemicals can enter our skin from tiny plastic particles. These particles are in everyday items like sofas, electronics, and clothes. These small plastics are called microplastics. They carry dangerous chemicals called polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). PBDEs are linked to serious health problems, including cancer.

A study published in Environment International used a 3D-printed skin model. It to see how fast these chemicals can get into our skin. The results showed that microplastic chemicals could get into the blood in 24 hours. This happens especially when the skin is sweaty.

Dr. Ovokeroye Abafe is a scientist from Brunel University London. He stressed the importance of these findings. "This is the first time we've proven that touching microplastics with PBDEs can lead to these harmful chemicals building up in the body," he said.

This research is important. It shows how microplastic pollution harms the environment. It can also directly harm our health. This finding increases the need for laws and actions. They must control microplastic pollution. They must also protect people from the hidden dangers of these small plastics and their toxic chemicals.

Researchers hope this information will help make new rules and safety measures. These will keep our health safe from the dangers of microplastics.

Source: newsweek.com

Alzheimer's Risk Associated With Stressful Life Events During Childhood and Midlife, Study Finds

Recent research shows that stressful events in childhood or midlife might raise the risk of Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's is a brain condition that causes memory loss. It affects about 50 million people worldwide. The study was published in the Annals of Neurology. It suggests that not all stressful times in life are equally harmful. But, those in early and middle years seem especially important.

The research involved over 2,700 people from the ALFA study. They do not have memory problems but are at risk of Alzheimer's because one of their parents had the disease. The study looked at how stress affects Alzheimer's signs in the brain, like inflammation and brain structure.

Findings showed that childhood stress causes long-term brain inflammation. This might lead to Alzheimer's later on. Stress in midlife was linked to the buildup of harmful proteins in the brain. These proteins are called beta-amyloid and are signs of early Alzheimer's.

The study also found differences between men and women. Men with more stress had more harmful proteins. Women had changes in brain size.

The researchers point out that their study has some limits, such as relying on people remembering their past stressful events. They also say more studies are needed to confirm their results. They suggest that knowing about specific stressors could help lower the risk of Alzheimer's.

This research shows how specific stressful life events might harm brain health years later.

Source: psypost.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.