06/30/25 - #423

Good morning. In today’s edition:

  • A Study of 1,707 U.S. Children Aged 8-11 Found That Higher Fruit Intake is Associated With Lower Abdominal Adiposity, as Measured by Waist Circumference and Sagittal Abdominal Diameter

  • Body Fat Percentage Beats BMI  in Predicting 15-year Mortality Risk Among U.S. Adults Ages 20 to 49

  • Routine Blood Test Can Catch Cancer Years Sooner, Study Suggests

  • Stem Cells and Diabetes: Woman Off Insulin After Experimental Treatment

…and lots more. Have a great day!

FOOD & NUTRITION

A Study of 1,707 U.S. Children Aged 8-11 Found That Higher Fruit Intake is Associated With Lower Abdominal Adiposity, as Measured by Waist Circumference and Sagittal Abdominal Diameter

Fruit may be a simple tool for fighting belly fat in children. Researchers looked at food records and waist sizes for 1,707 U.S. kids aged eight to eleven. On average, fruit made up only 5 percent of their daily calories. Yet every extra bite mattered.

After the team adjusted for age, exercise, screen time, and overall diet, they saw a trend: kids who ate the most fruit had the smallest waists. Those in the top third, getting about one tenth of their calories from fruit, had waists nearly two centimeters thinner than children who skipped fruit entirely. Their “belly height,” measured while lying down, was lower, showing less hidden fat around the organs.

Why might fruit help? First, whole fruit is mostly water and fiber, so it fills kids up without many calories. It also replaces high-fat snacks and sweet drinks. The vitamins, minerals, and natural compounds in fruit can calm swelling in the body and keep blood sugar steadier, both linked to better weight control.

What can parents and grandparents do? Keep washed fruit in sight, pack apple slices or berries in lunch boxes, and offer frozen grapes or bananas as dessert. Aim for two handfuls of fruit a day. Small changes now can guard children from future problems like diabetes and heart disease—and may inspire healthier habits for the whole family.

WEIGHT LOSS

Body Fat Percentage Beats BMI  in Predicting 15-year Mortality Risk Among U.S. Adults Ages 20 to 49

A new study shows that body fat percentage is better than Body Mass Index (BMI) at predicting the risk of early death in adults ages 20 to 49.

BMI is a common way to tell if someone is underweight, normal weight, or overweight. But BMI does not show how much fat is actually in the body. Two people can have the same BMI but very different amounts of body fat.

In this study, researchers looked at health data from people across the U.S. They followed them for 15 years to see who lived and who died. They found that people with more body fat or larger waistlines were more likely to die early, especially from heart disease.

For example, people with high body fat were over three times more likely to die from heart disease than those with lower body fat. A large waistline also raised the risk. However, BMI did not show a strong link to the risk of death once other health factors were included.

This means body fat percentage may be a better way to measure health risk than BMI. Waist size can also be a useful sign of too much fat.

For adults over 45, it’s important to know that what matters most is not just weight, but how much fat you have and where it’s stored. Keeping a healthy body fat level and waist size may help lower your risk of serious health problems in the future.

HEALTH

Routine Blood Test Can Catch Cancer Years Sooner, Study Suggests

A new study suggests that a simple blood test could find cancer more than three years before a person shows symptoms. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University used a special test to look for tiny traces of cancer DNA in the blood.

They studied samples from a large health project that tracked people over many years. Out of 52 people studied, 26 were later diagnosed with cancer. The test was able to find signs of cancer in the blood of 8 of these people—before any symptoms appeared.

In four cases, the cancer signals were found in blood samples taken 3.1 to 3.5 years before the cancer was diagnosed. Though the cancer DNA levels were very low, the test still picked them up.

Dr. Yuxuan Wang, who led the study, said early detection is key. “If we can find cancer sooner, we have a much better chance to treat it and possibly cure it,” she said.

Most cancer deaths happen because the cancer is found too late. With earlier detection, surgery or other treatments could be more effective.

While these results are promising, larger studies are still needed. Researchers also want to make sure the test is affordable and available to the public.

The hope is that one day, a routine blood test during a check-up could catch cancer early—when it’s most treatable.

This research gives hope for a future where fewer people die from cancer because it’s caught before it spreads.

Stem Cells and Diabetes: Woman Off Insulin After Experimental Treatment

A Canadian woman with Type 1 diabetes is now living without insulin, thanks to an experimental stem cell treatment. Amanda Smith, a 36-year-old nurse and mother, received a single dose of lab-grown stem cells nearly two years ago. Since then, she hasn’t needed insulin and hasn’t had any serious blood sugar crashes.

Amanda was part of a small study where doctors used stem cells to replace the pancreas cells that help control blood sugar. These cells were placed into her liver, where they began to act like the body’s natural insulin-producing cells. Of the 12 people in the study, 10 were able to stop taking insulin for at least a year.

The treatment shows promise, but it comes with risks. Patients must take immune-suppressing drugs to stop their bodies from attacking the new cells. These drugs can raise the risk of infections and other health issues. Still, Amanda says the tradeoff is worth it. “Taking a few pills a day is nothing compared to the fear of a diabetic coma,” she said.

Experts say this could be a major step forward. The cells used can be grown in labs, which means more people could get help in the future—without waiting for organ donors.

The study is ongoing, and doctors don’t yet know how long the treatment will last. But for Amanda, it’s life-changing. “I feel like I’m free,” she said. “Like I don’t have diabetes anymore.”

✢ 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.