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- 08/26/25 - #464
08/26/25 - #464
Health Horizon. Herald Staff
August 26, 2025
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Good morning. In today’s edition:
Woman, Saying Raw Milk Sickened Her Toddler and Led to Loss of Unborn Baby, Sues Florida Dairy Farm
Your Body Fat Percentage is Killing You, Not Your BMI, Study Suggests
Two Years Ago, FDA Approved Sale of Over-the-counter Birth Control Pill for First Time in US Without a Prescription. This Has Dramatically Improved Access to Contraception, Especially for Women Who Would Have Had No Birth Control at All Because They Lack Insurance or Routine Access to Health Care
RFK’s War on Antidepressants Will Hit Pregnant Patients Hard
…and lots more. Have a great day!
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FOOD & NUTRITION
Woman, Saying Raw Milk Sickened Her Toddler and Led to Loss of Unborn Baby, Sues Florida Dairy Farm
A Florida woman is suing Keely Farms Dairy after claiming raw milk from the farm made her toddler sick and led to the loss of her unborn baby.
Rachel Maddox says she bought raw milk in June from Wild Hare Natural Market. The label said “for animal consumption,” but she was told that was just a legal technicality. Maddox gave the milk to her toddler, who soon developed severe symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, and bloody stool. He was hospitalized three times and diagnosed with E. coli and campylobacter infections.
Maddox says she also got sick while caring for her son. At the time, she was 20 weeks pregnant. She was later hospitalized with sepsis, and her fetus died. Doctors believe she got infected through contact with her sick child.
The lawsuit claims the milk was contaminated and dangerous. It says the farm failed to test the milk properly and didn’t warn buyers about the risks. Maddox is asking for compensation for medical bills, pain, and lost wages.
Florida health officials say 21 people got sick from raw milk tied to Keely Farms, including six children. They warned that raw milk — which is not heat-treated to kill germs — can carry harmful bacteria like E. coli, listeria, and salmonella.
Keely Farms and the store say they followed the law and only sell raw milk labeled for pet use. Still, the case has shaken the community and raised questions about raw milk safety.
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WEIGHT LOSS
Your Body Fat Percentage is Killing You, Not Your BMI, Study Suggests
A new study suggests that your body fat percentage—not your BMI—may be a better sign of your future health risks.
BMI (body mass index) is a number based on your height and weight. But it doesn’t show how much of your weight is fat, muscle, or bone. For years, doctors used BMI to check health, but this study says it might not tell the full story.
Researchers from the University of Florida followed over 4,000 adults for 15 years. They found that people with higher body fat percentages were far more likely to die—especially from heart disease. In fact, those with high body fat were nearly twice as likely to die from any cause and over three times more likely to die from heart problems.
Surprisingly, people who had a “high” BMI were not at a higher risk of death—unless their body fat percentage was also high.
The study also found that measuring waist size or using body fat scales (which use a small electric current to estimate fat) gives better health clues than BMI. For example, having a waist larger than 35 inches for women or 44 inches for men showed higher health risks.
Doctors hope this research helps shift focus toward measuring body fat, not just weight.
The bottom line: A normal BMI doesn’t always mean you’re in the clear. Keeping body fat in check—especially belly fat—may be more important than the number on the scale.
HEALTH
Two Years Ago, FDA Approved Sale of Over-the-counter Birth Control Pill for First Time in US Without a Prescription. This Has Dramatically Improved Access to Contraception, Especially for Women Who Would Have Had No Birth Control at All Because They Lack Insurance or Routine Access to Health Care
Two years ago, the FDA approved the first-ever birth control pill in the U.S. that could be bought over the counter—no doctor’s visit or prescription needed. A new study now shows that this change has made a big difference for women who had little or no access to contraception before.
Researchers from Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) surveyed nearly 1,000 people across 49 states. They found that the number of people using birth control after using nothing at all jumped by more than 30 percentage points. Most of these new users had previously relied on no method or less effective methods to prevent pregnancy.
The over-the-counter (OTC) pill is especially helping women who don’t have health insurance, regular access to doctors, or live in rural areas. Many of these users are from minority communities, are on Medicaid, or are younger adults.
Dr. Maria Rodriguez, the lead researcher, said this study shows the pill is reaching the women who need it most. She also noted that with abortion access becoming more limited in some states, the need for easy-to-get birth control is greater than ever.
The OTC pill costs about $50 for a three-month supply. While that’s still a cost, it’s a step forward for many who couldn’t access contraception at all.
The takeaway? Making birth control easier to get is helping more women take control of their reproductive health—no doctor required.
RFK’s War on Antidepressants Will Hit Pregnant Patients Hard
Pregnancy and motherhood can bring joy—but also stress, anxiety, and depression. Many women find relief through antidepressants like Zoloft and Prozac, which doctors say are safe and helpful during and after pregnancy. But a new push by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. may put that care at risk.
RFK Jr. recently led a federal hearing questioning the safety of antidepressants during pregnancy. Some speakers had no background in pregnancy care and even claimed that women’s emotions are just “gifts,” not signs of mental illness. Others wrongly said these medications cause birth defects or autism—claims experts say are not supported by good science.
Doctors and mental health experts are worried. Without treatment, pregnant women with depression or anxiety face higher risks of suicide, poor bonding with their babies, and long-term problems for their children. Suicide is already the top cause of death related to pregnancy in the U.S.
More than 1 in 5 women suffer from postpartum anxiety or depression. Many, like Mikaela Rodkin, say antidepressants helped them feel stable and bond with their babies. Limiting access to these drugs could force women to suffer in silence.
Experts fear this is part of a larger pattern. Cuts to health insurance, birth control, and vaccine programs are already making care harder to get. Now, this move may take away one more tool mothers need to stay healthy.
As one doctor put it, “A healthy mom is the most important thing for the baby.” Let’s not forget that.
✢ 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.