Good morning. In today’s edition:

• Over 3,600 Food Packaging Chemicals Found in Human Bodies

• Weight Loss Drug Liraglutide Shows Promise for Younger Children With Obesity, Study Finds

• Women's Health Harmed by "Invisible" Household Burden

• Study Links Bananas, Oats, and Yogurt to Greater Diabetes Risk in Susceptible Children | Wheat Also Raised Risk of Type 1 Diabetes in Study of Finnish Children, While Berries and Some Green Vegetables Lowered It

…and lots more. Have a great day!

FOOD & NUTRITION

Over 3,600 Food Packaging Chemicals Found in Human Bodies

A new study has found that over 3,600 chemicals from food packaging are in human bodies, and some may be harmful. The Food Packaging Forum Foundation in Zurich says about 100 of these chemicals are a big worry for our health.

The chemicals include PFAS and bisphenol A. PFAS are "forever chemicals." They don't break down in the environment and can cause health issues. Bisphenol A, used in some plastics, can mess with our hormones and is not allowed in baby bottles in many places.

Researchers analyzed health data. They were surprised to find so many chemicals—about one-fourth of all known chemicals that can touch food. These chemicals can get into food from containers and other things, like conveyor belts and kitchen tools. They can be plastic, paper, glass, or metal.

Some samples showed up to 30 different PFAS chemicals.

Lead researcher Birgit Geueke said it’s important to study more about how these chemicals affect our health. She advises people to try to avoid using packaging too much, especially not to heat food in it.

Experts say we shouldn't be too worried but should want more information and try to stay away from these chemicals when we can. The EU plans to ban PFAS in food packaging and limit bisphenol A. We must know what's in our food packaging. We should be careful about what gets into our bodies.

Source: france24.com

WEIGHT LOSS

Weight Loss Drug Liraglutide Shows Promise for Younger Children With Obesity, Study Finds

A new study shows that a weight loss drug called liraglutide might help younger kids who are very overweight. Usually, kids under 12 can only try diet and exercise, but these don't always work well.

In the study, 82 kids aged 6 to 12 tried liraglutide. They either got the real drug or a fake drug called a placebo every day. The kids also got advice on eating better and staying active. After more than a year, the kids who took liraglutide had a bigger decrease in their body mass index (BMI), a way to measure obesity, than the kids who took the placebo.

Dr. Claudia Fox, who led the study, said, "This study suggests we might do better to help kids at younger ages." She shared these findings at a big health conference and in a medical journal.

Some kids had stomach issues like nausea, but these problems got better over time. The study shows that liraglutide could be a good option for young kids, but doctors still need to learn more about using it long-term.

Obesity is a big problem, affecting about 20% of kids in the U.S. A drug like liraglutide could make a big difference in helping kids be healthier as they grow up. This research is a step towards understanding how best to treat young kids who are struggling with obesity.

Source: edition.cnn.com

HEALTH

Women's Health Harmed by "Invisible" Household Burden

While many homes say chores are split equally, the truth is women often do more, especially in their minds.

Studies show that even when both partners work and make the same money, women still do more than twice as much housework as their husbands. Sure, cooking and cleaning are more shared. But, planning and managing—what we call cognitive labor—still mostly fall on women.

A study published in the Archives of Women's Mental Health looked at 322 moms in marriages with men. These women did 73% of the mental work. This included scheduling doctor's visits and organizing family activities. Physical chores were more evenly shared.

This uneven load affects their health. Women taking on more mental tasks reported feeling more depression, stress, and burnout. This "invisible" work impacts their mental health more than the physical chores.

Interestingly, men usually do take full care of one chore: taking out the trash, planning and doing it.

Though the study had a small group, it highlights a big issue: the need to see and value all the work done at home, not just what we can easily see. Recognizing the unseen mental load many women carry is key as we work towards fair sharing at home.

Source: newsweek.com

Study Links Bananas, Oats, and Yogurt to Greater Diabetes Risk in Susceptible Children | Wheat Also Raised Risk of Type 1 Diabetes in Study of Finnish Children, While Berries and Some Green Vegetables Lowered It

A recent study in Finland found surprising links. Certain foods may raise the risk of type 1 diabetes in at-risk children. Foods that are usually considered good for you, like bananas, oats, and yogurt, might actually increase the risk. Wheat also seems to be a risk factor.

On the other hand, berries such as strawberries and blueberries, as well as green veggies like broccoli and cauliflower, might lower the risk of these children getting diabetes.

The research tracked the diets of 5,674 Finnish kids from birth until they were six years old. All these kids had a genetic risk of getting diabetes. By age six, 94 of them had developed type 1 diabetes.

Suvi Virtanen, who led the study, said some fruits are risky due to pesticides. But, berries are usually free of these chemicals and contain polyphenols. These substances might help reduce inflammation linked to diabetes.

These findings were shared at a major diabetes study meeting in Madrid. Although the results are interesting, Virtanen advised that we should not change what babies eat just yet. More studies are needed to fully understand these links.

The results are different from what Diabetes UK says. They remind us that the causes of type 1 diabetes are still not clear and seem unrelated to one’s diet.

Source: theguardian.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.