06/26/25 - #421

Good morning. In today’s edition:

  • Study Found Food Packaging is Actually a Direct Source of the Micro- and Nanoplastics Measured in Food. Plastic Contamination May Occur When You’re Unwrapping Food, Steeping Tea Bag in Hot Water, or Opening Cartons. Glass Bottles With a Plastic-coated Metal Closure May Also Shed Microplastics

  • Ozempic Babies: How Weight-loss Drugs Affect Birth Control

  • Millions of Children Worldwide Are at Risk of Lethal Diseases Because Vaccine Coverage Has Stalled or Reversed Amid Persistent Health Inequalities and Soaring Levels of Misinformation and Hesitancy, the Largest Study of Its Kind Has Found. Vaccine-preventable Disease Pose a Growing Global Risk

  • Anxious Minds Don’t Always Fixate on Danger, According to New Study | Individuals With Higher Anxiety Are Thought to Have Difficulty Disengaging Attention From Threatening Stimuli, Potentially Fueling Hypervigilance and a Sense That Danger is Always Present

…and lots more. Have a great day!

FOOD & NUTRITION

Study Found Food Packaging is Actually a Direct Source of the Micro- and Nanoplastics Measured in Food. Plastic Contamination May Occur When You’re Unwrapping Food, Steeping Tea Bag in Hot Water, or Opening Cartons. Glass Bottles With a Plastic-coated Metal Closure May Also Shed Microplastics

A new study found that tiny plastic pieces, called microplastics and nanoplastics, can get into your food from the packaging. This can happen when you unwrap plastic around food, steep a tea bag in hot water, or open a plastic or glass bottle. Even twisting a bottle cap can cause plastic to fall into your drink.

These small plastic bits come from many sources. Plastic wraps, bottle caps, food containers, and even cartons for milk or juice can all release plastic when used. Heating plastic, washing it for reuse, or exposing it to sunlight can also cause more plastic to break off.

Some of these plastic pieces are so small they can enter your blood and move through your body. Scientists have found them in human blood, lungs, and even brain tissue.

One study found that just two bottles of water could contain around 240,000 plastic particles. Another found that washing a plastic bowl many times caused more plastic to break off each time.

To lower your risk, try using glass or stainless steel containers. Don’t microwave food in plastic or wash plastic containers in the dishwasher. Avoid plastics with recycling code 3.

Still, experts say this problem is too big for individuals to solve alone. They believe governments must take action to reduce plastic use and pollution. A worldwide meeting to help fight plastic pollution is planned for later this year.

Everyone can help by making small changes and speaking up for cleaner choices.

WEIGHT LOSS

Ozempic Babies: How Weight-loss Drugs Affect Birth Control

A new warning from the U.K. says that popular weight-loss drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro may make birth control pills less effective. These medicines slow down how your body digests food, which might also slow or reduce how the birth control pill is absorbed.

Because of this, health experts now suggest using a backup method of birth control, like condoms, while taking these drugs. Or, switch to a method that isn’t affected, like an IUD or implant.

Women are also warned not to use these drugs if they are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or breastfeeding. If you become pregnant while on the drug, stop using it and talk to your doctor right away.

Online, some women are sharing stories of unexpected pregnancies, even though they were on the pill. These surprise pregnancies are now being called “Ozempic babies.” Some doctors say that weight loss itself may make it easier to get pregnant by improving hormone balance.

The maker of Ozempic says it hasn’t found strong proof that the drug changes how the pill works, but they still tell women to stop using it if they become pregnant.

Doctors also say to stop these drugs at least two weeks before surgery. Because the drug slows digestion, food might still be in the stomach during surgery, which can be dangerous.

If you’re taking one of these drugs and thinking about getting pregnant, talk to your doctor to make a safe plan.

HEALTH

Millions of Children Worldwide Are at Risk of Lethal Diseases Because Vaccine Coverage Has Stalled or Reversed Amid Persistent Health Inequalities and Soaring Levels of Misinformation and Hesitancy, the Largest Study of Its Kind Has Found. Vaccine-preventable Disease Pose a Growing Global Risk

A new study shows that millions of children around the world are now at risk of deadly diseases because fewer are getting vaccinated. For 50 years, vaccines have saved lives—over 150 million children. But since 2010, progress has slowed or even reversed in many countries.

The study found that vaccine rates have dropped in over 100 countries. Even in rich countries like the U.S., France, and the U.K., fewer children are getting shots for measles, polio, and whooping cough.

There are a few reasons for this decline. Some families can’t access health care. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted health services. But one of the biggest problems now is false information. More people are worried or unsure about vaccines, even though vaccines are safe and save lives.

In 2025, the U.S. had over 1,000 measles cases in 30 states. In 2024, Europe saw a large rise in measles cases. Polio is coming back in places like Afghanistan and Papua New Guinea, where many people are not vaccinated.

Experts say we must act quickly. They warn that more children will get sick or die from diseases that can be prevented. They call for better public health programs, more access to vaccines, and strong efforts to fight vaccine lies.

Vaccines are one of the best ways to protect children. But their success depends on trust, fairness, and good health care. Without action now, the world may miss its vaccine goals for 2030.

Anxious Minds Don’t Always Fixate on Danger, According to New Study | Individuals With Higher Anxiety Are Thought to Have Difficulty Disengaging Attention From Threatening Stimuli, Potentially Fueling Hypervigilance and a Sense That Danger is Always Present

Many people believe that anxiety makes it hard to look away from danger. This can lead to constant worry and feeling unsafe. But a new study shows that this may not always be true.

In the study, researchers tested if anxious people really struggle to shift their attention away from scary things. In one test, people looked at shapes on a screen. One shape was linked to a loud, unpleasant sound. They were told to look away quickly to avoid the sound. Most people were slower to look away from the “danger” shape, but anxiety levels didn’t make a difference.

In two other tests, people saw emotional pictures—like angry faces or snakes. Then, they had to quickly find something else on the screen. Some people were offered money for faster answers. The results showed that rewards helped people respond faster, but not because they were more distracted by scary images. Even people with high anxiety didn’t focus longer on the scary pictures than others.

This study shows that anxiety doesn’t always make people focus on danger. The way we respond to scary things may depend more on the situation, the type of image, or how motivated we are—not just on how anxious we feel.

These findings may help change how we think about anxiety. It could also help improve treatments by showing that anxious minds may not always be “stuck” on fear the way we once thought.

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.