09/22/25 - #483

Good morning. In today’s edition:

• Mice Fed on the Keto Diet Had Trouble Processing Sugar, Showed Signs of Liver and Cardiovascular Disease | Long-term Adherence to the Low-carb, High-fat Diet Caused Buildups of Fat in the Bloodstream

• Healthy Returns: New FDA Rules Affect Copycat GLP-1s, and Apple Adds Health Tools to Its Latest Watch

• Poverty May Be Linked to Lower Fertility. Researchers Have Found That About Half of Couples on Low Incomes Had Fertility Problems Compared to About a Third of Couples on High Incomes. Lifestyle Factors, Such as BMI, Smoking, and Drinking, Did Not Fully Explain This Difference

• Research Has Found in Older Adults Later Breakfast Time Was Consistently Associated With Having Physical and Mental Health Conditions Such as Depression. As Adults Age, They Tend to Eat Breakfast and Dinner at Later Times, While Also Narrowing the Overall Time Window in Which They Eat Each Day

…and lots more. Have a great day!

FOOD & NUTRITION

Mice Fed on the Keto Diet Had Trouble Processing Sugar, Showed Signs of Liver and Cardiovascular Disease | Long-term Adherence to the Low-carb, High-fat Diet Caused Buildups of Fat in the Bloodstream

The ketogenic diet, or “keto,” is known for cutting carbs to a minimum and replacing them with fat. This shift forces the body to burn fat for energy instead of sugar, often leading to weight loss. But new research in mice shows that staying on keto for too long could come with health risks.

Scientists fed mice a high-fat, low-carb diet for almost a year — the human equivalent of decades. While the mice stayed slimmer than those eating a Western-style diet, their health suffered in other ways. They developed trouble handling sugar, built up extra fat in the blood, and showed early signs of liver and heart disease. Male mice also had fatty livers that did not work properly. Their insulin-producing cells struggled to release enough insulin to keep blood sugar under control.

These findings suggest long-term keto eating may not be harmless. Doctors note that the diet was first created to help epilepsy patients, not for general weight loss. Short-term use may help people shed pounds, but experts warn it is not a “magic” solution.

One positive sign: when mice returned to a normal diet, their blood sugar problems improved. This suggests some risks may reverse if the diet is stopped.

If you are thinking about keto, talk to your doctor first. Monitoring is important, especially for older adults.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and not medical advice. Always consult your doctor before making dietary changes.

Source: sciencenews.org

WEIGHT LOSS

Healthy Returns: New FDA Rules Affect Copycat GLP-1s, and Apple Adds Health Tools to Its Latest Watch

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is taking steps to make weight-loss and diabetes drugs safer. Some people have been using cheaper, copycat versions of brand-name drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound. These are made by smaller pharmacies using raw ingredients from other countries.

To protect people, the FDA made a “green list” of approved suppliers. These companies have passed safety checks. Pharmacies can only use ingredients from this list. If ingredients come from unapproved suppliers, they may be blocked at the border.

The FDA says some copycat versions of GLP-1 drugs have caused problems, like wrong doses that sent people to the hospital. The new rules aim to stop poor-quality or unsafe drugs from reaching patients.

However, the FDA is still allowing some compounded versions if they meet safety standards. This means people who can’t get or afford brand-name drugs may still have access to safe options.

Drug companies like Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk say the FDA should do more. They want stronger rules to stop illegal drug ingredients from being sold. Both companies have sued several compounding pharmacies and telehealth sites for selling copycat drugs.

At the same time, Apple is adding more health tools to its latest Watch, helping users track their wellness.

Bottom line: The FDA is tightening safety rules to protect people from unsafe versions of popular weight-loss drugs.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and not medical advice. Always talk to your doctor first.

Source: cnbc.com

HEALTH

Poverty May Be Linked to Lower Fertility. Researchers Have Found That About Half of Couples on Low Incomes Had Fertility Problems Compared to About a Third of Couples on High Incomes. Lifestyle Factors, Such as BMI, Smoking, and Drinking, Did Not Fully Explain This Difference

A new study shows that couples with lower incomes may have a harder time getting pregnant. Researchers looked at how money and education levels affect fertility in both women and men. They found that almost half of low-income couples had trouble getting pregnant. In comparison, only about one-third of high-income couples had the same problem.

Fertility issues were more common in couples with lower education and income. These couples were also more likely to need over a year to get pregnant or use fertility treatments. The chance of getting pregnant each month was lower for them too.

Things like smoking, drinking, and body weight did not fully explain these fertility problems. This means other factors, like stress or lack of access to health care, may be involved.

The study did not find a link between income and miscarriage risk. But the researchers say more studies are needed to understand why lower-income couples have more trouble with fertility. They believe that better support could help people from all income levels who want to start a family.

Fertility is a sensitive topic, and many factors can affect it. But this study suggests that money and education may play a bigger role than we thought.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always talk to your doctor if you have questions about fertility or your health.

Source: eurekalert.org

Research Has Found in Older Adults Later Breakfast Time Was Consistently Associated With Having Physical and Mental Health Conditions Such as Depression. As Adults Age, They Tend to Eat Breakfast and Dinner at Later Times, While Also Narrowing the Overall Time Window in Which They Eat Each Day

New research suggests that when you eat your meals—especially breakfast—could affect your health as you age.

A large study from Mass General Brigham and Harvard Medical School looked at nearly 3,000 adults aged 42 to 94 over more than 20 years. They found that people tend to eat breakfast and dinner later as they get older. At the same time, they shorten the total number of hours during the day when they eat.

But here’s the important part: older adults who ate breakfast later were more likely to have health issues—both physical and mental. These included depression, fatigue, sleep problems, and trouble with oral health. People who ate breakfast late were also more likely to die during the study period.

The study found that people who are “night owls” by nature—those who prefer staying up late and waking up late—also tend to eat later. This group showed more signs of poor health as well.

Lead researcher Dr. Hassan Dashti says tracking when someone eats breakfast could be a simple way for doctors to spot early signs of health problems. It might also help guide habits that support healthy aging.

While the study doesn’t prove that late breakfast causes health issues, it shows a strong link. Eating meals—especially breakfast—at a regular, earlier time could be one easy step toward better health and a longer life.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always talk to your doctor.

Source: news.harvard.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.