06/24/24 - #158

Good morning. In today’s edition:

  • Eating Cheese Plays a Role in Healthy, Happy Aging | A Study of 2.3 Million People Found, Those Who Reported the Best Mental Health and Stress Resilience, Which Boosted Well-being, Also Seemed to Eat More Cheese

  • Including Almonds, Peanuts, Pistachios or Walnuts (42–84g/d) in Calorie-controlled Weight Loss Diets Does Not Hinder Weight Loss, and Instead May Have the Opposite Effect

  • Scientists Have Discovered That a Type of White Blood Cell Exists as a Single Large Population of Cells That Move Throughout the Body Looking for, and Repairing, Damaged Tissue | Discovery of ‘new Rules of the Immune System’ Could Improve Treatment of Inflammatory Diseases, Say Scientists

  • Type 1 Diabetes Prevalence in Older Adults Nearly Triples Since 1990s. In the US, the Prevalence Went Up 0.51% Yearly Among Older Adults Over 65. That’s an Increase of 1.3 Million People Over 65 in 1990 With the Disease to 3.7 Million in 2019

…and lots more. Have a great day!

FOOD & NUTRITION

Eating Cheese Plays a Role in Healthy, Happy Aging | A Study of 2.3 Million People Found, Those Who Reported the Best Mental Health and Stress Resilience, Which Boosted Well-being, Also Seemed to Eat More Cheese

Did you know that eating cheese might help you live a happier and healthier life as you get older? A big study involving 2.3 million people has discovered just that. Led by Tian-Ge Wang at Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, the research wasn't initially set to explore cheese. It aimed to understand how our social status, mental health, and lifestyles affect how healthily we age.

The researchers found that people who felt better mentally also tended to live healthier and longer lives. What's interesting is that these people also ate more cheese.

The study looked deeper into various factors that could impact aging. It turns out that cheese, a favorite snack for many, had a positive effect on health and longevity, even more than fruits, which are also good for you.

So, what does this mean for us? While the study focused on adults in Europe, the message is clear: enjoying a slice of cheese could be more than just tasty—it might also be a small part of staying healthy as we age.

Next time you reach for a snack, grabbing some cheese might not just satisfy your hunger—it could also be a step toward a longer, happier life.

WEIGHT LOSS

Including Almonds, Peanuts, Pistachios or Walnuts (42–84g/d) in Calorie-controlled Weight Loss Diets Does Not Hinder Weight Loss, and Instead May Have the Opposite Effect

Want to lose weight? Consider adding nuts to your diet. A recent study from the University of South Australia has found that nuts can actually help with weight loss, not hinder it.

The study looked at seven different research projects and found no bad effects on weight loss when nuts were included in diets meant to cut calories. In fact, people who ate 42-84 grams of nuts daily in their diets lost more weight. Some even lost an extra 1.4 to 7.4 kilograms compared to those who didn't eat nuts.

Nuts like almonds, peanuts, pistachios, and walnuts are full of nutrients that make you feel full, which can help you eat less. They contain healthy fats, protein, and fiber, all of which help keep you satisfied.

Many people avoid nuts because they think they are too high in fat and calories, which might cause weight gain. However, this study shows that's not true. Nuts can fit into a weight loss diet and even help with losing weight.

This is important news, especially since 67% of adults in Australia are overweight or obese. Nuts not only help with weight management but also provide other health benefits.

So, if you're looking for a healthy snack that can also help you lose weight, don't overlook nuts. They might just give you the extra edge you need in your weight loss journey.

HEALTH

Scientists Have Discovered That a Type of White Blood Cell Exists as a Single Large Population of Cells That Move Throughout the Body Looking for, and Repairing, Damaged Tissue | Discovery of ‘new Rules of the Immune System’ Could Improve Treatment of Inflammatory Diseases, Say Scientists

Scientists at the University of Cambridge have made an exciting discovery. It is about our immune system. They found that a type of white blood cell called regulatory T cells travel around the body as one large group, helping to fix damaged tissues. This is a big change from what we thought before, which was that these cells stayed in one place.

Professor Adrian Liston, who led the study, says this discovery could really change how we treat many diseases. These cells act like a healing team, helping to repair muscles, improve how fat cells use insulin, and even help regrow hair.

Usually, when doctors treat inflammation, they have to treat the whole body, which can cause side effects where they're not needed. But now, they might be able to target just the part of the body that's sick, which means treatments could work better and more safely.

The team used a special drug in mice. It makes these T cells go to where they're needed, increase, and turn off the immune response to start healing. This method could be used for many problems. For example, autoimmune diseases where the body attacks itself. It could also help people with organ transplants avoid rejection. It would do this without weakening their immune system.

The researchers want to test this new way of treatment in people soon, hoping it will help treat diseases better by using our body's own defenses.

Type 1 Diabetes Prevalence in Older Adults Nearly Triples Since 1990s. In the US, the Prevalence Went Up 0.51% Yearly Among Older Adults Over 65. That’s an Increase of 1.3 Million People Over 65 in 1990 With the Disease to 3.7 Million in 2019

A new study has found a big increase in type 1 diabetes among Americans over 65. From 1990 to 2019, the number of older adults with this disease went from 1.3 million to 3.7 million. This information comes from a recent publication in The BMJ. It looked at data from 204 countries.

While more older adults have type 1 diabetes now, fewer are dying from it compared to 30 years ago. Deaths from this disease have dropped by 25%. This improvement is likely due to better healthcare, economic growth, and new medical treatments.

The study shows that regions like North Africa, the Middle East, and Western Europe saw the biggest increases in diabetes. North America had the smallest increase. However, every region studied showed more older people living with diabetes now than before.

The use of insulin and insulin pumps has helped lower the number of deaths and manage the disease better. The study's authors said, "Although no cure exists for type 1 diabetes, it is manageable." They also mentioned that life expectancy for many with the disease hasn't decreased because of better medical care.

The study also noted that while disability rates from diabetes have gone down, they're doing so more slowly than death rates. But, high blood sugar is still a major problem for these patients. It shows that controlling blood sugar is still hard.

This increase in diabetes highlights the need for ongoing improvements in how we care for and manage the disease.

✢ 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.