07/21/25 - #438

Good morning. In today’s edition:

• Long Blamed for High Cholesterol, Eggs Have Been Beaten Up for Their Assumed Role in Cardiovascular Disease. A New Study Found That Eating Two Eggs a Day – as Part of a High Cholesterol but Low Saturated Fat Diet – Can Actually Reduce LDL Cholesterol Levels and Lower the Risk of Heart Disease

• Weight Loss Jabs 'May Protect Against Dementia and Stroke', Study Suggests. During a Seven-year Follow-up Period, Researchers Found That People Given the GLP Agonist Drugs Appeared to Have a 37% Lower Risk of Dementia and a 19% Reduced Risk of Stroke

• Secret Changes to Major U.S. Health Datasets Raise Alarms | A New Study Reports That More Than 100 United States Government Health Datasets Were Altered This Spring Without Any Public Notice

• A Global Study Finds People Age Faster in Countries With More Inequality, Weaker Democracies, and More Pollution. Education Helps Slow the Process. Stress and Unfairness May Be Ageing Us, Literally.

…and lots more. Have a great day!

FOOD & NUTRITION

Long Blamed for High Cholesterol, Eggs Have Been Beaten Up for Their Assumed Role in Cardiovascular Disease. A New Study Found That Eating Two Eggs a Day – as Part of a High Cholesterol but Low Saturated Fat Diet – Can Actually Reduce LDL Cholesterol Levels and Lower the Risk of Heart Disease

For years, eggs were blamed for raising cholesterol and hurting heart health. But new research shows that may not be true. In fact, eating two eggs a day could be good for your heart—if you're careful about the rest of your diet.

Researchers from the University of South Australia found that eggs are high in cholesterol, but low in saturated fat. And that’s the key. The study showed that when people ate a diet high in cholesterol but low in saturated fat—like eggs without bacon or sausage—their “bad” LDL cholesterol actually went down.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death around the world. In Australia alone, it kills one person every 12 minutes. That’s why this study matters.

Professor Jon Buckley, the lead researcher, says it’s time to stop blaming eggs. He explained that saturated fat—not the cholesterol in eggs—is the real problem for your heart.

So what does this mean for your breakfast? The eggs are fine. It’s the fatty meats like sausage and bacon that are more likely to raise your cholesterol.

In short, you can enjoy your eggs—boiled, scrambled, or fried—as long as you skip the greasy extras. Eggs may not just be safe; they might actually help protect your heart when eaten as part of a healthy, balanced diet.

It's time to give eggs a break—and maybe a spot back on your breakfast plate.

Source: unisa.edu.au

WEIGHT LOSS

Weight Loss Jabs 'May Protect Against Dementia and Stroke', Study Suggests. During a Seven-year Follow-up Period, Researchers Found That People Given the GLP Agonist Drugs Appeared to Have a 37% Lower Risk of Dementia and a 19% Reduced Risk of Stroke

A new study found that popular weight-loss and diabetes drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro may do more than help people lose weight. These drugs may also lower the risk of dementia and stroke.

Researchers looked at the health records of 60,000 adults over seven years. People taking these drugs—called GLP-1 agonists—had a 37% lower risk of getting dementia and a 19% lower risk of stroke. The biggest benefits were seen in people over age 60, women, and those with a body mass index (BMI) between 30 and 40.

Diabetes and obesity are both linked to a higher risk of brain diseases. They can lead to problems like long-term inflammation and insulin resistance, which may damage the brain over time. That’s why doctors are interested in how these drugs might protect brain health.

Still, experts say more research is needed. The study showed a lower risk for “other” types of dementia, but not for Alzheimer’s or vascular dementia—the two most common types. Also, the average follow-up time in the study was less than two years. That may be too short to fully understand the drug’s long-term effects on the brain.

These drugs may also carry risks. Some past studies have linked them to a higher chance of thyroid cancer.

While the results are hopeful, more studies are needed before doctors can say these drugs protect the brain. Always talk to your doctor before starting any new treatment.

Source: newsweek.com

HEALTH

Secret Changes to Major U.S. Health Datasets Raise Alarms | A New Study Reports That More Than 100 United States Government Health Datasets Were Altered This Spring Without Any Public Notice

A new study found that over 100 U.S. government health files were changed this spring without any public notice. These changes were not listed in the update logs, which has raised concerns among researchers and the public.

The study looked at 232 health datasets from agencies like the CDC and Veterans Affairs. Nearly half had wording changes, but most didn’t say so in their official records. One file changed the word “gender” to “sex” in the title and throughout the document—but the log still said no changes were made.

In total, 114 files had wording changes. Most swapped “gender” for “sex.” A few others replaced terms like “social determinants of health” with “non-medical factors.” Only 25 files admitted the updates.

These edits may seem small, but they can cause big problems. Many health studies rely on this data. When wording changes, it can confuse results and make older studies harder to trust or repeat. For example, researchers studying veterans’ mental health or childhood obesity might get incorrect results if they don’t know the wording changed.

The timing of the changes also raised questions. Most happened in February and March, shortly after a White House order to remove certain language related to “gender.” While the government hasn’t confirmed a reason, the pattern suggests a possible link.

Experts say the government must be more open about any changes. Keeping full records helps protect public trust and keeps health research honest and clear.

Source: psypost.org

A Global Study Finds People Age Faster in Countries With More Inequality, Weaker Democracies, and More Pollution. Education Helps Slow the Process. Stress and Unfairness May Be Ageing Us, Literally.

A large global study has found that people age faster in countries with more pollution, more inequality, and weaker governments. Researchers looked at over 160,000 people in 40 countries and found that stress from unfair systems may be speeding up the aging process.

The study, published in Nature Medicine, used a special model to compare someone’s actual age to how old their body “acts.” If your body functions like it’s older than your real age, that’s called an “age gap.”

Countries like Egypt and South Africa had the highest age gaps. On the other hand, many European nations showed the slowest aging. Air pollution, high blood pressure, heart disease, and hearing loss were all linked to faster aging.

But there’s good news. Education was one of the strongest protectors against aging. People who stayed active, had good memory, could walk easily, and manage their daily tasks also aged more slowly.

Lead researcher Agustín Ibañez said we often don’t think about how stress, politics, and the world around us affect our health—but they do, in a big way.

The takeaway? Healthy living matters—but so does where and how you live. Being educated, staying physically and mentally active, and reducing stress can help your body age more slowly—even in an unfair world.

If you’re 45 or older, it’s not too late to start making changes that support healthier aging.

Source: nature.com

✢ 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.