07/15/24 - #173

Good morning. In today’s edition:

  • Reducing US Adults’ Processed Meat Intake by 30% (Equivalent to Around 10 Slices of Bacon a Week) Would, Over a Decade, Prevent More Than 350,000 Cases of Diabetes, 92,500 Cardiovascular Disease Cases, and 53,300 Colorectal Cancer Cases

  • Coffee Found to Burn Belly Fat in Women if You Have Three Cups a Day

  • Study Reveals New Secret to a Longer, Healthier Life

  • Diabetes and Cancer Protein Link Bombshell Could Radically Alter Low-sugar Diets

…and lots more. Have a great day!

FOOD & NUTRITION

Reducing US Adults’ Processed Meat Intake by 30% (Equivalent to Around 10 Slices of Bacon a Week) Would, Over a Decade, Prevent More Than 350,000 Cases of Diabetes, 92,500 Cardiovascular Disease Cases, and 53,300 Colorectal Cancer Cases

A new study shows that if American adults eat about one-third less processed meat, like bacon, they could avoid over 350,000 diabetes cases. This would happen in the next ten years. This means eating about 10 fewer slices of bacon each week. Such a change could also prevent about 92,500 cases of heart disease and 53,300 cases of colorectal cancer.

The researchers are from the University's Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Systems. They are also from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. They used health data from a national survey. It was by the CDC. They created a model to see how eating less processed and unprocessed red meat affects people's health.

Their study found that cutting processed meat by 30% leads to fewer cases of major diseases. This is especially true for white men and those earning $25,000 to $55,000 a year.

The study also looked at eating less unprocessed red meat, like beef burgers. Cutting this by 30% could prevent over 732,000 diabetes cases.

However, the researchers say more studies are needed to fully understand the effects of eating less unprocessed red meat.

This research was funded by The Wellcome Trust and published in The Lancet Planetary Health journal. It shows health benefits and supports global efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions by changing our diets. Eating less meat helps both people's health and the planet.

WEIGHT LOSS

Coffee Found to Burn Belly Fat in Women if You Have Three Cups a Day

Good news for coffee lovers! A new study shows that women who drink two to three cups of coffee every day have less belly fat. This benefit is seen in women of all ages. Women between 20 and 44 years old who drink coffee can see their belly fat go down by 3.4% compared to those who don't drink coffee. Women aged 45 to 69 who drink four or more cups have an even bigger drop in belly fat, at 4.1%.

What's more, it doesn't matter if the coffee has caffeine or not. The positive effects are the same even for women who smoke or have chronic diseases.

Men also benefit from drinking coffee, but not as much as women. Men aged 20 to 44 who drink two or more cups of coffee daily have 1.3% less body fat and 1.8% less trunk fat compared to those who don't drink coffee.

Dr. Lee Smith from Anglia Ruskin University says that coffee might have special compounds that help manage weight. These findings suggest that coffee could be part of a healthy diet to help fight obesity.

However, it's important to remember that this study only looks at one moment in time. It does not show a long-term trend. Still, coffee could be more than just a morning wake-up drink; it might also help keep our weight in check.

HEALTH

Study Reveals New Secret to a Longer, Healthier Life

Want to stay healthy as you get older? The answer might be in your gut! A new study from the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine shows that the tiny bacteria in our gut are vital for fighting heart disease. Heart disease is the top cause of death worldwide.

As we age, we're more likely to get heart disease because of problems like high blood pressure and diabetes. But this study says that our gut bacteria are key to staying healthy. These bacteria help with more than just digestion—they also impact our mood and our risk for many diseases.

Researchers looked at over 19,000 people from ages 40 to 93. They found that people with 'younger' gut bacteria were less likely to get heart disease, even if they had other health issues. This means that the age of our gut bacteria can affect our health, no matter how old we are.

People have considered moving gut bacteria from healthy to less healthy people. But, it might cause problems, like more inflammation. So, scientists say we need safer ways that consider each person's health.

While we usually focus on diet and exercise to stay healthy, this research shows our gut bacteria are also very important. Keeping these bacteria balanced might help us avoid serious diseases like heart disease as we get older. More research will help us understand better, but for now, taking care of our gut might be a good way to stay healthy.

Diabetes and Cancer Protein Link Bombshell Could Radically Alter Low-sugar Diets

Researchers at the University of British Columbia made a surprise discovery. It could change diets for people with diabetes and some cancers. Traditionally, people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes focused on limiting sugars and carbs. They did this to manage their blood sugar. However, this new study shows that proteins and fats might also play a big role. They help control blood sugar by helping the body produce insulin.

Dr. James Johnson, a leading researcher, found that people's bodies react differently to foods. Some people's bodies produce a lot of insulin when they eat proteins, while others have this response when they eat fats. This was a surprising discovery because it was believed that only sugars could cause this strong insulin response.

The team studied the pancreas cells from 140 deceased individuals to see how they reacted to proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. While most cells responded to carbs, about 9% reacted to proteins and another 8% to fats.

This study suggests that diet advice could become much more personalized. Knowing how foods affect insulin production could help doctors. It could help them create better diets for people with diabetes. This could improve how they manage their condition and reduce their risk of cancer related to high insulin levels. This research is a big step. It helps us understand how our bodies respond to different foods. It could lead to better health advice in the future.

✢ 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.