09/15/25 - #478

Good morning. In today’s edition:

• Children Following a Vegan Diet Were the Most Active During Leisure Time, Most Active Across the Week, and Most Consistently Ate Fruits Compared to Vegetarians and Omnivores, Study of 8,799 Pupils Finds

• New Research Found the Benefits of Weight Loss Extend Well Beyond the Scales With Nearly 90 Percent of People Who Lost Over 15kg Reporting Improved Health, Wellbeing, and Energy Levels. Those Who Achieved Greater Weight Loss Reported Greater Improvements to Their Quality of Life

• A Single Fecal Microbiota Transplant in Obese Teens Delivered Long-lasting Metabolic Benefits, Shrinking Waistlines, Reducing Body Fat and Inflammation, and Lowering Heart Disease Risk Markers, Which Were Still Visible Four Years Later

• Smartwatches Are Useless for Measuring Actual Stress Levels, Study Says | Researchers Found Little Correlation Existed Between the Data and the Participants' Personal Experience. None of the 800 Subjects Got a "Stress Score" on Their Tracker That Matched the Level of Stress They Were Feeling

…and lots more. Have a great day!

FOOD & NUTRITION

Children Following a Vegan Diet Were the Most Active During Leisure Time, Most Active Across the Week, and Most Consistently Ate Fruits Compared to Vegetarians and Omnivores, Study of 8,799 Pupils Finds

A new study from Austria looked at the health habits of 8,799 students aged 10 to 19. It found that kids who follow a vegan diet are the most active and eat the most fruits and vegetables.

Only a small group—about 1.6%—were vegan, but they stood out. Vegan students were active an average of 3.4 days a week, more than meat-eaters and vegetarians, who averaged 2.8 days. Vegans also led in healthy eating. Over 80% ate fruit every day, and about the same number ate vegetables daily. That’s more than meat-eaters, where only about 65% ate fruit and 62% ate vegetables each day.

Health was the top reason for choosing a diet. Vegans also said sports performance was important. Vegetarians often chose their diet for animal welfare. Students who ate meat said taste or tradition was their main reason.

Most students still ate meat, especially boys. But vegan students showed the healthiest habits. They moved more, ate more plant foods, drank more water or tea, and were less likely to drink alcohol.

The study shows that a plant-based diet may help kids live a more active and healthy life. These results could help schools and parents make better food and activity choices for kids.

“Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. It does not give medical advice. Always talk to your doctor before making changes to your or your child’s diet.”

Source: sciencedirect.com

WEIGHT LOSS

New Research Found the Benefits of Weight Loss Extend Well Beyond the Scales With Nearly 90 Percent of People Who Lost Over 15kg Reporting Improved Health, Wellbeing, and Energy Levels. Those Who Achieved Greater Weight Loss Reported Greater Improvements to Their Quality of Life

A new study from CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, shows that losing weight improves more than just how you look. People who lost over 15kg (about 33 pounds) said they felt healthier, had more energy, and felt better overall. In fact, nearly 90% said their health and wellbeing improved.

The study looked at 1,300 people who followed the CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet. Even those who lost just 5kg (about 11 pounds) noticed changes—72% said they felt better about their health and life.

People also reported better mood, more confidence, easier movement, and higher energy. Some even changed how they spent money. On average, they spent $315 less per month on things like fast food, snacks, and alcohol. Instead, they spent a little more—about $325—on groceries and healthy activities.

Many people had long-term health problems. Among those with obesity, 87% had at least one chronic condition. After losing weight:

• 64% with type 2 diabetes said their condition improved

• 12% said they no longer had diabetes

• 40% improved their mental health, blood pressure, or cholesterol

• 32% used less medication

• 30% felt less pain from arthritis, sleep problems, or osteoporosis

Lead researcher Dr. Gilly Hendrie said, “Losing weight can change how you feel, how you move, and how you live.”

For adults over 45, weight loss isn’t just about the scale—it’s about living a healthier, fuller life.

Source: csiro.au

HEALTH

A Single Fecal Microbiota Transplant in Obese Teens Delivered Long-lasting Metabolic Benefits, Shrinking Waistlines, Reducing Body Fat and Inflammation, and Lowering Heart Disease Risk Markers, Which Were Still Visible Four Years Later

A new study found that one dose of healthy gut bacteria helped obese teens improve their health for over four years.

Researchers in New Zealand gave 87 teens, ages 14 to 18, either a real treatment or a fake one (placebo). The real treatment was 28 capsules, taken over two days, filled with gut bacteria from healthy, lean donors. The pills were taken by mouth.

At first, there were no big changes in weight or body fat. But after four years, the group that got the real treatment had smaller waists—about 4 inches less—and 5% less total body fat. They also had lower levels of inflammation and higher levels of “good” cholesterol. These are signs of better heart and metabolic health.

Even more surprising, the gut bacteria from the donor were still found in the teens’ bodies after four years. About 23% of their gut bacteria still came from the healthy donors.

While the treatment didn’t help with weight or BMI, it showed lasting effects on other health markers. It may help lower the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes later in life.

The study suggests that changing gut bacteria could be a new way to improve long-term health. More research is needed, but experts hope to create special probiotic treatments to help prevent disease.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not provide medical advice. Always talk to your doctor before starting any new health treatments.

Source: newatlas.com

Smartwatches Are Useless for Measuring Actual Stress Levels, Study Says | Researchers Found Little Correlation Existed Between the Data and the Participants' Personal Experience. None of the 800 Subjects Got a "Stress Score" on Their Tracker That Matched the Level of Stress They Were Feeling

Many people use smartwatches to check their stress levels. But a new study says these devices may not be as helpful as we think. Researchers found that smartwatch “stress scores” don’t match how people actually feel.

In the study, 800 young adults wore Garmin Vivosmart 4 trackers for three months. Four times a day, they wrote down how stressed, tired, or sleepy they felt. When scientists compared the notes to the data, there was almost no match. In fact, not a single person had a stress score that truly reflected how they felt.

Even more surprising, one in four people felt stressed while their watch said they were relaxed—and vice versa. The reason? Smartwatches mostly measure heart rate. But heart rate can go up for many reasons—like exercise, fear, or even romance—not just stress.

The study also tested the watches' “body battery” feature, which is supposed to track energy levels. This score was a bit more accurate, but still not reliable.

Sleep tracking showed more promise. While watches couldn’t tell how rested people felt, they were fairly good at measuring how long someone slept. Researchers say this data could one day help spot early signs of depression.

Experts warn that smartwatches are not medical devices. “Be careful and don’t live by your smartwatch,” one researcher said. They can give useful insights—but only if you understand their limits.

Bottom line: Smartwatches may help track sleep or activity, but they fall short on reading your mind.

Source: techspot.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.