08/05/25 - #449

Good morning. In today’s edition:

• Research Found Older Adults Who Consistently Ate a Healthy Diet Developed Chronic Diseases More Slowly, in Contrast to Those Whose Diets Were Considered More Inflammatory; That is, Diets High in Processed Meats, Refined Grains and Sugary Drinks

• People Who Respond to Weight-loss Drugs Like Ozempic and Wegovy May Look Trimmer, but Are Not Necessarily Fitter. In Addition to Losing Fat, Patients on the Drugs Also Lose Something Called “fat-free Mass,” Which Can Be Up to 50% Muscle

• Heavy Drinking Raises the Risk of Pregnancy by 50% in Women Who Strongly Wish to Avoid It, While Cannabis Use Does Not

• Cannabis Use is Gaining Popularity in the United States, Driven by Growing Legalization, Public Acceptance, and Diverse Methods of Consumption. More American Adults — Mainly Men — Are Turning to Cannabis for Relief From Physical and Mental Health Symptoms

…and lots more. Have a great day!

FOOD & NUTRITION

Research Found Older Adults Who Consistently Ate a Healthy Diet Developed Chronic Diseases More Slowly, in Contrast to Those Whose Diets Were Considered More Inflammatory; That is, Diets High in Processed Meats, Refined Grains and Sugary Drinks

A new study from Sweden found that older adults who eat healthy foods get fewer chronic diseases as they age. The study followed over 2,400 people for 15 years.

Those who ate more fruits, vegetables, nuts, beans, whole grains, and healthy fats (like olive oil and fish) stayed healthier longer. They were less likely to get heart disease, stroke, depression, or memory loss.

But people who ate more processed meats, white bread, and sugary drinks developed more health problems over time. These foods can cause long-term swelling in the body, called inflammation. Inflammation is linked to many age-related diseases.

The study found that even small changes in diet helped—especially for women and adults over age 78. It shows that it’s never too late to start eating better.

Good food gives your body the nutrients it needs to fight illness, protect the brain, and keep muscles strong. This helps you stay active and independent as you get older.

While diet is not the only thing that matters—exercise, friendships, and good health care also help—it’s one of the easiest ways to stay healthy.

To eat better, focus on whole foods like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, and fish. Try to eat less red meat, sugar, and processed snacks.

Aging happens to everyone, but how you age can change. Choosing better foods today can help you feel better tomorrow—and for many years to come.

Source: theconversation.com

WEIGHT LOSS

People Who Respond to Weight-loss Drugs Like Ozempic and Wegovy May Look Trimmer, but Are Not Necessarily Fitter. In Addition to Losing Fat, Patients on the Drugs Also Lose Something Called “fat-free Mass,” Which Can Be Up to 50% Muscle

Weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy can help people lose a lot of weight. But new research from the University of Virginia shows these drugs don’t make people more fit — and may even cause muscle loss.

The drugs help reduce fat, but they also cause loss of “fat-free mass,” which includes muscle. Up to half of the weight lost can be muscle. This is a problem because muscle is important for strength, balance, and daily movement.

Some patients said they could feel their muscles getting weaker. Dr. Zhenqi Liu, one of the researchers, says this is a serious concern. Strong muscles are key to staying healthy, especially as we age.

The researchers suggest that people taking these drugs should also exercise and eat enough protein. This can help protect muscle and improve heart and lung health. This type of fitness, called cardiorespiratory fitness, is a strong sign of how long someone might live.

Dr. Siddhartha Angadi, another researcher, said that being fit is often more important than just losing weight. In fact, being fit can lower your risk of death more than just being thin.

So, while these weight-loss drugs can help you drop pounds, they are not a complete solution. To get the best health results, you still need to move your body and eat well. If you're taking a weight-loss drug, talk to your doctor about how to keep your muscles and your heart strong.

Source: news.virginia.edu

HEALTH

Heavy Drinking Raises the Risk of Pregnancy by 50% in Women Who Strongly Wish to Avoid It, While Cannabis Use Does Not

A new study found that women who drink heavily are more likely to get pregnant—even when they don’t want to. In fact, heavy drinking raised the risk of unwanted pregnancy by 50% compared to women who drank little or not at all.

The study looked at over 2,000 women aged 15 to 34. Out of those, 936 said they strongly wanted to avoid getting pregnant. Of that group, 429 reported heavy drinking, and 362 said they used cannabis, with 157 using it daily or almost daily.

Over one year, 71 of the 936 women got pregnant. More than half of those pregnancies—38—were among the heavy drinkers. Women who drank heavily were more likely to get pregnant than those who drank lightly or not at all.

On the other hand, cannabis use did not raise the risk of pregnancy. Only 28 pregnancies happened in women who used cannabis. This means cannabis users were not more likely to become pregnant than non-users.

Dr. Sarah Raifman from the University of California, San Francisco, said women who drink heavily often don’t want to get pregnant, but drinking may lead to risky behavior. She also warned that drinking while pregnant can harm the baby. Alcohol use during pregnancy can cause serious health problems called fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD).

Doctors should talk with women who drink heavily and help them avoid alcohol—especially if there’s a chance they could become pregnant.

This research helps us better understand how alcohol affects pregnancy risk.

Source: addictionjournal.org

Cannabis Use is Gaining Popularity in the United States, Driven by Growing Legalization, Public Acceptance, and Diverse Methods of Consumption. More American Adults — Mainly Men — Are Turning to Cannabis for Relief From Physical and Mental Health Symptoms

Cannabis use is growing in the U.S. More adults—especially men—are using it to help with pain, stress, and other health issues. This is partly because more states are making it legal and people are more open to using it.

A new study from Texas A&M University looked at cannabis use in Black and Hispanic men over age 40 who have long-term health problems. These men often deal with issues like arthritis, cancer, depression, and anxiety. Many also face stress, low income, and trouble getting health care.

Out of 1,982 men in the study, about 21% said they used cannabis in the past month. Many used it for fun, but also to manage health problems. The most common health issues were pain (37%), depression or anxiety (32%), arthritis (30%), and cancer (14%).

Men who used cannabis were more likely to be younger, have less money, and report more bad days for both physical and mental health. They also had more pain and stress.

But using too much cannabis can cause problems. It may lead to memory loss, fast heart rate, breathing issues, or cannabis use disorder. This can affect health, money, and well-being.

Experts say we need more education and better warning labels. Doctors should talk openly with patients about safe options for pain and stress.

As cannabis becomes more common, it’s important that people know the risks and benefits, so they can make good choices for their health.

Source: stories.tamu.edu

✢ 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.