07/14/25 - #433

Good morning. In today’s edition:

  • New Research Shows Americans Can’t Tell Healthy Processed Foods From Unhealthy Ones | Doctor’s Group: Consumption of Items Such as Bacon, Bologna, and Hot Dogs — Not Processed Plant Foods — Associated With Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease, and Cancer

  • Research Found Time Restricted Eating (TRE) Appeared to Be a Well-tolerated Nutritional Strategy for Managing Body Weight Without Apparent Adverse Effects on Overall Sleep Health and Psychological Well-being in Both Men and Women Regardless of the Fasting-eating Window Implemented

  • The U.S. Is Going Backwards on Vaccines, Very Fast

  • The Largest Review of ‘Gold Standard’ Antidepressant Withdrawal Studies to Date Has Identified the Type and Incidence of Symptoms Experienced by People Discontinuing Antidepressants, Finding That Most People Do Not Experience Severe Withdrawal

…and lots more. Have a great day!

FOOD & NUTRITION

New Research Shows Americans Can’t Tell Healthy Processed Foods From Unhealthy Ones | Doctor’s Group: Consumption of Items Such as Bacon, Bologna, and Hot Dogs — Not Processed Plant Foods — Associated With Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease, and Cancer

A new study shows that many Americans don’t know which processed foods are healthy. The research, done by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, found that 39% of adults wrongly think all processed foods are bad.

The online survey asked over 2,100 U.S. adults what foods raise the risk for type 2 diabetes. Most blamed sugar, desserts, or carbs. But health experts say it’s processed meats—like bacon, bologna, and hot dogs—that are strongly linked to diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.

Dr. Neal Barnard, who led the study, said not all processed foods are the same. Some processed plant foods, like cereals and canned vegetables, can actually help lower the risk of disease. For example, a Harvard study showed that eating a lot of processed meat raised the risk of diabetes by 44%. But eating whole-grain cereal cut the risk by 22%.

The American Medical Association now supports better education to help people understand the difference between harmful and healthy processed foods. The FDA is also working on a new definition for “ultra-processed foods” to reduce confusion.

Most saturated fat in the American diet comes from animal products. Too much of it can make the body less sensitive to insulin in just four weeks, even without weight gain.

Dr. Barnard said we should stop using the vague term “processed foods” and focus on what really matters: how the food affects our health.

Knowing the difference can help people make smarter choices.

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WEIGHT LOSS

Research Found Time Restricted Eating (TRE) Appeared to Be a Well-tolerated Nutritional Strategy for Managing Body Weight Without Apparent Adverse Effects on Overall Sleep Health and Psychological Well-being in Both Men and Women Regardless of the Fasting-eating Window Implemented

A new study shows that time-restricted eating (TRE) may help adults lose weight without harming their sleep, mood, or quality of life.

Researchers studied 197 men and women between the ages of 30 and 60 who were overweight or obese. They were split into four groups. One group ate as usual. The other three followed TRE—eating only during an 8-hour window each day. One group ate early in the day, one ate late, and one picked their own time.

All groups also got advice on healthy eating based on the Mediterranean diet.

After 12 weeks, the people using TRE lost more weight than those who ate as usual. But sleep, stress, and mood did not change much between the groups. It didn’t matter if people ate early, late, or chose their own schedule. Everyone slept about the same and reported similar levels of stress and mood.

TRE also worked well for both men and women. Women, who are often more likely to have sleep or mood problems, did not have worse results from TRE.

The study shows that TRE is a safe and simple way to manage weight. It may help people eat less without causing problems with sleep or mental health.

TRE may not work for everyone, and more studies are needed. But for many people, choosing a daily eating window could be an easy way to support better health without big side effects.

HEALTH

The U.S. Is Going Backwards on Vaccines, Very Fast

Health experts are worried that the U.S. is moving backward on vaccine safety. A chemical called thimerosal is at the center of the issue. Thimerosal helps keep vaccines clean by stopping germs from growing. It was removed from most vaccines over 20 years ago to calm fears about mercury, even though studies showed it was safe.

Scientists have looked at thimerosal many times. They found no proof that it causes autism or other health problems. Still, some anti-vaccine groups keep pushing false claims about it. Their ideas have spread online and created fear, even without evidence.

Now, the CDC’s vaccine advisory group, called ACIP, plans to talk about thimerosal again. They will vote on whether flu shots with tiny amounts of it should still be used. These shots are only a small part of the vaccines given today, and the amount of thimerosal in them is very low.

Doctors like Dr. Kathryn Edwards, a vaccine expert, say bringing this issue back into the spotlight is dangerous. She warns it may confuse people and make them question vaccine safety when there is no reason to worry.

Experts believe this debate could hurt public trust and lead more people to skip important vaccines. They say we should rely on facts, not fear. Vaccines save lives, and spreading old, false claims puts everyone at risk.

Bottom line: Vaccines are safe. Reopening old debates that have already been settled only causes more harm.

The Largest Review of ‘Gold Standard’ Antidepressant Withdrawal Studies to Date Has Identified the Type and Incidence of Symptoms Experienced by People Discontinuing Antidepressants, Finding That Most People Do Not Experience Severe Withdrawal

A new study has found that most people who stop taking antidepressants do not have serious withdrawal symptoms. Researchers looked at data from 50 high-quality studies. These studies included nearly 18,000 adults, most around age 44, and 70% were women.

Some people did feel mild symptoms after stopping their medicine. The most common were dizziness, nausea, nervousness, and a spinning feeling called vertigo. On average, people had just one extra symptom compared to those who stayed on the drug or took a placebo (a fake pill). This is not enough to count as a serious problem.

The study also found that depression did not return just because someone stopped their antidepressant. If a person felt depressed again, it was likely due to the illness coming back, not withdrawal.

The type of antidepressant mattered. Some, like venlafaxine, caused more symptoms. Others, like agomelatine, caused almost none. How people stopped—suddenly or by slowly reducing the dose—also made a difference.

The researchers say these findings should help people feel less worried. Most people can stop antidepressants without major problems, especially with support from a doctor. A few people may still have stronger symptoms and need extra care.

Doctors now have better information to help patients who want to stop taking antidepressants. Experts say this study may help improve medical guidelines and ease fears about withdrawal.

As always, anyone thinking about stopping medication should talk to their doctor first to make a safe plan.

✢ 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.