08/15/25 - #457

Good morning. In today’s edition:

  • A Randomized Crossover Trial Shows That the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), Which is a Diet Rich in Foods (Fruits, Vegetables, Whole Grains) May Reduce Hyperglycemia and Glycemic Variability

  • Eli Lilly Shares Drop After Obesity Pill Shows Modest Late-stage Trial Results

  • More Than Half of the Calories Americans Consume Come From Ultra-processed Foods That Studies Have Increasingly Linked to Health Problems. Youth Consume More Calories From the Products Than Adults Do — Nearly 62 Percent Compared With 53 Percent

  • Beetroot Juice Lowers Blood Pressure in Older People by Changing Oral Microbiome. New Study Shows That Nitrate-rich Foods Alter the Oral Microbiome in a Way That Could Result in Less Inflammation, as Well as a Lowering of Blood Pressure in Older People

…and lots more. Have a great day!

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FOOD & NUTRITION

A Randomized Crossover Trial Shows That the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), Which is a Diet Rich in Foods (Fruits, Vegetables, Whole Grains) May Reduce Hyperglycemia and Glycemic Variability

New research shows that the DASH diet may help people with type 2 diabetes keep their blood sugar steadier.

In a randomized crossover trial, 89 adults with diabetes tried four prepared meal plans. Each plan lasted five weeks. The diets had the same calories. People ate either a DASH-style plan designed for diabetes (called DASH4D) or a typical American plan. Each plan came in a higher-sodium and a lower-sodium version. During each period, participants wore a continuous glucose monitor for 14 days.

Results were clear. Compared with the typical diet, the DASH4D plan lowered average blood sugar by about 11 mg/dL and increased “time in range” (70–180 mg/dL) by about five percentage points. The DASH4D plan cut time spent above 180 mg/dL and 250 mg/dL, without raising time spent below 70 mg/dL. Blood sugar ups and downs (measured as variability) did not change. No serious problems were linked to the diets or the monitors.

What is DASH? It is a pattern rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts, and low-fat dairy, with lean proteins and limited sweets. It is best known for lowering blood pressure.

What this means for you: If you have type 2 diabetes, a DASH-style eating plan may help improve daily control without extra medication. Focus your plate on produce and whole grains, choose lean protein, and limit highly processed foods and added sugars. Talk with your clinician or dietitian before making changes, especially if you use insulin or pills that can cause low blood sugar.

WEIGHT LOSS

Eli Lilly Shares Drop After Obesity Pill Shows Modest Late-stage Trial Results

Eli Lilly’s stock fell after trial results on its daily obesity pill, orforglipron. In a 72-week trial, people on the highest dose lost almost 12% of their body weight—about 27 pounds. When researchers included everyone who started the study, even those who stopped the drug, the average loss was 11.2%.

Wall Street had hoped for closer to 15%, and shares dropped about 13%.

The pill still matters. It is taken once a day, without the food rules some other pills require, and could help people who dislike injections. Doctors called the results “clinically meaningful,” especially for an oral drug. The pill is a GLP-1 that helps control appetite and blood sugar.

Side effects are the trade-off. At the highest dose, about 10% stopped the drug because of nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea; overall dropouts were higher than with shots.

Lilly plans to send the data to regulators by year-end and hopes to launch around this time next year. If approved, an easy-to-make pill could expand access and ease supply shortages. Price and insurance coverage will be key; today’s shots can top $1,000 a month.

Bottom line: an oral GLP-1 pill with solid, if modest, results may soon give patients and doctors another option. If you’re considering weight-loss medicines, ask about benefits, side effects, and costs—and which form fits your needs.

HEALTH

More Than Half of the Calories Americans Consume Come From Ultra-processed Foods That Studies Have Increasingly Linked to Health Problems. Youth Consume More Calories From the Products Than Adults Do — Nearly 62 Percent Compared With 53 Percent

From August 2021 to August 2023, ultra-processed foods made up 55% of all calories in U.S. diets. Youth ages 1–18 got 61.9% of their calories from them, compared with 53.0% for adults. Ultra-processed foods are designed to taste very good, are energy-dense, very low in fiber, and often contain many additives. Higher intake has been linked to more heart disease and a higher risk of death.

Adults ate fewer ultra-processed calories as age increased: 54.4% for ages 19–39, 52.6% for 40–59, and 51.7% for 60+. Men and women ate similar amounts. Income mattered for adults: the highest-income group averaged 50.4%, versus 54.7% and 55.3% in lower-income groups.

The top sources were familiar favorites. For youth: sandwiches and burgers, sweet bakery items, savory snacks, pizza, and sweetened drinks. For adults: sandwiches and burgers, sweet bakery items, sweetened drinks, savory snacks, and breads, rolls, and tortillas.

Still, among adults, the share fell from 55.8% in 2013–2014 to 53.0% in 2021–2023. Both youth and adults saw declines since 2017–2018.

What can you do? Follow the Dietary Guidelines: choose whole or minimally processed foods. Build meals around vegetables, fruits, beans, eggs, fish, plain yogurt, and nuts. Swap soda for water or unsweet tea. Pick breads with short ingredient lists. Save sweets and chips for once-in-a-while treats.

Beetroot Juice Lowers Blood Pressure in Older People by Changing Oral Microbiome. New Study Shows That Nitrate-rich Foods Alter the Oral Microbiome in a Way That Could Result in Less Inflammation, as Well as a Lowering of Blood Pressure in Older People

A University of Exeter study finds that nitrate-rich beetroot juice lowers blood pressure in older adults by changing mouth bacteria. The trial, reported in Free Radical Biology and Medicine, compared older and younger adults.

Researchers enrolled 39 people under 30 and 36 people in their 60s and 70s. Participants drank a concentrated beetroot “shot” twice a day for two weeks, then a nitrate-free placebo, with two-week washouts. The team sequenced oral bacteria before and after each phase.

In both groups, the microbiome shifted after the nitrate drink, but the pattern differed by age. In older adults, potentially harmful bacteria such as Prevotella fell, while helpful types like Neisseria grew. Their average blood pressure dropped after the nitrate drink but not after the placebo. Younger adults did not see a blood pressure drop.

Why this matters: Vegetables contain nitrate. Mouth bacteria turn nitrate into nitric oxide, which helps blood vessels relax and control blood pressure. As we age, our bodies make less nitric oxide. A nitrate-rich diet may also lower inflammation.

If you dislike beetroot, try spinach, arugula (rocket), fennel, celery, or kale. This was the largest study of its kind, but still small. Larger trials will show who benefits most and how to use this approach safely.

✢ 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.