06/21/24 - #157

Good morning. In today’s edition:

  • A Lawsuit Challenges Poppi Soda’s Claims of Boosting Gut Health. Scientists Say the Drink Doesn’t Offer Much Benefit

  • Young People’s Use of Diabetes and Weight Loss Drugs is Up 600 Percent

  • Restricting the Choice of Flavored Vapes in E-cigs Could Have an Adverse Effect on the Many Adults Who Use Them to Reduce or Quit Smoking, Because the Lack of Flavors It Might Lead Them Back to Smoking

  • Fantasy Proneness, or the Tendency to Engage in Vivid Mental Worlds, is Positively Associated With a Sense of Meaning in Life for Individuals Experiencing Depression | the Findings, Suggest That People With Depression May Find Meaning in Life Through Engaging in Mental Fantasies

…and lots more. Have a great day!

FOOD & NUTRITION

A Lawsuit Challenges Poppi Soda’s Claims of Boosting Gut Health. Scientists Say the Drink Doesn’t Offer Much Benefit

A popular soda, Poppi, marketed as good for gut health, is facing legal heat. The company's ads boasted that their sodas have 2 grams of inulin from agave. They claimed it could boost gut health. But, a lawsuit filed in California argues that the can of Poppi has too little inulin to be effective.

The suit has sparked a broader discussion on the effectiveness of so-called healthy sodas. Nutrition experts are skeptical about relying on processed drinks for gut health. Caitlin Dow is a senior nutrition scientist. She advises, "Eat a diet rich in beans, vegetables, fruits, and oats. That's where you'll get the foundation for gut health, not from a flashy soda.""

Poppi's defense claims their product is backed by science and they are prepared to fight the allegations vigorously. Despite this, newer cans of Poppi on the shelves have dropped the gut health slogans, hinting at a change following the controversy.

The lawsuit challenges the health benefits. It also notes the possible side effects of too much inulin, such as bloating and gas. It raises concerns about sugar intake if you need multiple cans to get the effective inulin dose.

Experts suggest a need for a significant intake of prebiotics to see any real benefits, a quota not met by just one or even several cans of Poppi. This lawsuit adds to growing skepticism about the health claims of lifestyle-oriented beverages.

WEIGHT LOSS

Young People’s Use of Diabetes and Weight Loss Drugs is Up 600 Percent

Since 2020, there has been a huge jump in the number of young people in the U.S. using certain diabetes and weight loss drugs. The number of young people taking drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy has shot up from about 8,700 to over 60,000 in just three years.

These drugs are called GLP-1 receptor agonists. They were first approved for adults with type 2 diabetes but are now also used for helping people lose weight. The increase in use is especially high among young women between 18 and 25 years old. They are getting prescriptions three times more than young men the same age. This difference might show how society thinks differently about weight for men and women.

Dr. Joyce Lee, a doctor who studies children's health at the University of Michigan, led the research. She is worried about how fast the use of these drugs is growing. Dr. Lee says these drugs are known to help with weight loss, but doctors and patients need to learn more about the possible side effects and how safe they are over a long time.

This research highlights an important trend in medicine. As more young people use these drugs, it's crucial to keep an eye on who is using them and how they affect health in the long run.

HEALTH

Restricting the Choice of Flavored Vapes in E-cigs Could Have an Adverse Effect on the Many Adults Who Use Them to Reduce or Quit Smoking, Because the Lack of Flavors It Might Lead Them Back to Smoking

A study by the University of Bristol warns that banning flavored vapes might make it harder for adults to stop smoking. The UK government is thinking about this ban because more kids are trying vaping.

Adults like flavored e-cigarettes because they don't taste like tobacco. However, some countries only allow tobacco and menthol flavors now. The study, shown in the Harm Reduction journal, examined how these bans could affect adults who vape to quit smoking.

Researchers looked at 24 adults: half smoked every day and the other half vaped but had quit smoking in the last year. These people tried flavorless vapes and shared their thoughts. Some didn't mind the lack of flavor, but others felt they might go back to smoking. They mostly didn't enjoy the unflavored vapes.

The participants said flavors were important for choosing to vape instead of smoke. Dr. Jasmine Khouja led the study. She said that banning flavored vapes might cut youth vaping. But, it could make adults start smoking. She also mentioned that people might try to get flavors from other countries, which could be unsafe.

Dr. Khouja suggests that the government think about these effects. They should do this before banning flavored vapes. She believes such a ban could really affect adults trying to quit smoking.

Fantasy Proneness, or the Tendency to Engage in Vivid Mental Worlds, is Positively Associated With a Sense of Meaning in Life for Individuals Experiencing Depression | the Findings, Suggest That People With Depression May Find Meaning in Life Through Engaging in Mental Fantasies

New research from The Journal of Positive Psychology suggests that people with depression often imagine vivid fantasy worlds. They may feel a stronger sense of meaning in life. Joseph Maffly-Kipp, a researcher at The Ohio State University Medical Center, led this study. He believes that when depressed people find it hard to enjoy life, dreaming up fantasy worlds can offer them comfort and a sense of purpose.

Depression can make people feel very sad and hopeless, making it tough to find joy in everyday activities. This study suggests that making up imaginary worlds might help people who are feeling down. Doing so gives them a different way to see their lives as meaningful.

The research included two parts. First, it surveyed 386 adults from different backgrounds. It measured their levels of depression, love for fantasy, and feelings about life’s meaning. Then, it followed 278 college students for six weeks to see how these feelings changed over time.

The results showed that people with worse depression who liked to imagine things felt life was more meaningful. This link wasn't found in people with less depression.

Although the study’s findings are interesting, they are not conclusive. Maffly-Kipp warns that we need more research. We need to see if imagining helps increase life's meaning. Or, if those who find life meaningful tend to fantasize more. He also notes that fantasies might offer relief. But, they could also stop people from dealing with real issues.

✢ 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.