06/27/25 - #422

Good morning. In today’s edition:

  • One in Five U.S. Food and Drink Products Contain Synthetic Dyes, With Highest Rates in Confectionery and Children's Products, New Study Finds. Ferrero, Mars, and PepsiCo Among Top Offenders, Raising Health Concerns Over Widespread Exposure

  • What Are the Best Foods for Weight Loss?

  • Many U.S. Babies Lack Detectable Levels of Bifidobacterium, a Gut Bacteria That Trains Their Immune Systems to Protect Against Developing Allergies, Asthma, and Eczema

  • Heart Attacks Are No Longer the Leading Cause of Death in the US

…and lots more. Have a great day!

FOOD & NUTRITION

One in Five U.S. Food and Drink Products Contain Synthetic Dyes, With Highest Rates in Confectionery and Children's Products, New Study Finds. Ferrero, Mars, and PepsiCo Among Top Offenders, Raising Health Concerns Over Widespread Exposure

A new study shows that 1 in 5 packaged foods and drinks in the U.S. contain synthetic dyes. These dyes are most often found in candy, sweet drinks, and products made for kids.

Researchers looked at nearly 40,000 items from top food companies in 2020. Big brands like Ferrero, Mars, and PepsiCo used synthetic dyes in many of their products.

The most common dye was Red No. 40, found in 14% of the foods and drinks. Some products had up to seven different dyes.

Foods marketed to children had even higher rates. About 28% of products for kids had synthetic dyes, compared to just 11% of other products.

The study also found that foods with synthetic dyes had a lot more sugar. On average, they had 141% more sugar than products without dyes. For example, dyed foods had about 33 grams of sugar per 100 grams, while those without dyes had only 14 grams.

These dyed foods usually had less salt and less saturated fat, but the high sugar content is still a concern.

Experts worry that eating too many foods with synthetic dyes may not be safe. Some past research links them to behavior issues in children, though more studies are needed.

Reading food labels can help you avoid these dyes. Bright colors may look fun, but they often come with extra sugar and other risks.

Choosing simpler foods may be better for your health and your family’s well-being.

WEIGHT LOSS

What Are the Best Foods for Weight Loss?

If you're trying to lose weight, choosing the right foods is key. One of the most important things to know is how different foods affect your insulin levels. Insulin is a hormone that helps your body store fat. Even small amounts can block fat burning, so it’s best to eat foods that don’t raise insulin much.

Low-insulin proteins include eggs, beef, chicken, pork, lamb, and seafood. Just be sure to avoid added sugars in items like sausage, deli meat, or jerky.

Healthy fats like butter, olive oil, coconut oil, lard, MCT oil, and ghee have no effect on insulin. These fats can become fuel for your body, especially if you're not eating many carbs. Avocados and whole cream are also great choices.

Non-starchy vegetables like spinach, mushrooms, cucumbers, lettuce, zucchini, and cauliflower are low in “net carbs” (total carbs minus fiber) and won’t spike insulin. You can eat a lot of these without hurting your weight loss.

Cheese can also be a good option—cream cheese, parmesan, blue cheese, and others are very low in carbs. You can even make low-carb “bread” using cheese or eggs.

Drinks like black coffee, tea, water, and even zero-carb sweeteners like stevia or monk fruit are safe. Seasonings like mustard and vinegar also work well.

Losing weight doesn’t have to be hard. Focus on low-carb vegetables, moderate protein, and healthy fats—and keep meals simple.

HEALTH

Many U.S. Babies Lack Detectable Levels of Bifidobacterium, a Gut Bacteria That Trains Their Immune Systems to Protect Against Developing Allergies, Asthma, and Eczema

A new study found that many babies in the U.S. are missing an important type of gut bacteria called Bifidobacterium. This bacteria helps babies digest breast milk and teaches their immune systems to fight off allergies, asthma, and eczema.

Researchers looked at over 400 babies. About 76% had low or no levels of Bifidobacterium. One important type, B. infantis, was missing in 92% of babies. Babies without these bacteria were three times more likely to develop allergies or skin problems by age two.

Why is this happening? Experts say things like C-section births, antibiotics, processed foods, and antibacterial soaps have reduced this healthy bacteria over time. If a mother doesn’t have it, she can’t pass it to her baby.

Even breastfeeding didn’t fully fix the problem in babies born by C-section. Without Bifidobacterium, harmful bacteria can grow instead. The long-term health effects of this are not yet known.

One company is testing a supplement that includes Bifidobacterium, breast milk sugars, and vitamin D to help babies get the bacteria they need. Results from this test are expected soon.

Some experts believe that probiotics may help lower the risk of diseases like asthma and eczema. However, the FDA has warned against probiotics for premature babies after one baby died.

Still, many believe that for healthy babies, the risk is low and the benefits could be big. Protecting babies’ gut health may help them avoid health problems later in life.

Heart Attacks Are No Longer the Leading Cause of Death in the US

Heart attacks used to be the top cause of death in the U.S., but that’s no longer true. Since 1970, heart attack deaths have dropped by nearly 90%. This is thanks to better treatments, such as stents, bypass surgery, and medications that lower cholesterol and blood pressure. CPR training and lower smoking rates have also helped save lives.

Even with fewer heart attack deaths, heart disease is still the number one killer in the country. That’s because other heart problems have become more common. These include heart failure, irregular heartbeats, and high blood pressure-related heart disease. Deaths from these problems have increased by as much as 450% since 1970.

Experts say this may be because people are living longer. Many now survive heart attacks but go on to develop long-term heart problems. These conditions often happen with age, as the heart and blood vessels slowly weaken over time.

While we’ve made big progress, doctors say we need to focus more on preventing chronic heart disease. To stay healthy, adults should check their blood pressure and cholesterol regularly, stay active, eat more fruits and vegetables, and avoid smoking. Learning CPR and getting enough sleep can also help protect your heart.

Even though the most dangerous type of heart disease has dropped, other types are rising. The next step is helping people live longer, healthier lives by taking care of their hearts every day. Prevention is now more important than ever.

✢ 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.