09/30/25 - #489

Good morning. In today’s edition:

• It's Time to Stop Eating Plastic. Start by Trashing These 7 Items Full of Microplastics

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

• Infections Caused by Bacteria That No Longer Respond to Many Antibiotics Are Climbing at an Alarming Pace in the U.S., New Federal Data Shows. Between 2019 and 2023, These Hard-to-treat Infections Rose Nearly 70%, Fueled Largely by Strains Carrying the NDM Gene

• LSD Shows Promise for Reducing Anxiety in Drugmaker's Midstage Study

…and lots more. Have a great day!

FOOD & NUTRITION

It's Time to Stop Eating Plastic. Start by Trashing These 7 Items Full of Microplastics

You may not see it, but tiny plastic bits—called microplastics—are getting into your food. They come from everyday items in your kitchen and may harm your health over time. Studies show these plastics can build up in the body and may raise the risk of heart problems, liver damage, and more.

Here are 7 common kitchen items that could be adding plastic to your meals:

1. Nonstick pans – When scratched, they can release millions of plastic particles into food.

2. Plastic containers – Heating or washing them can break them down, letting plastic mix with food.

3. Plastic utensils – Hot foods cause them to release plastic into what you eat.

4. Tea bags – Many contain plastic that leaks into your tea when boiled.

5. Plastic spice jars – Spices stored in plastic may pick up microplastics over time.

6. Plastic straws – These break down easily and can be swallowed or inhaled.

7. Canned food linings – Even newer linings can contain plastic particles.

What you can do:

• Use wood or stainless steel utensils and pans.

• Store food in glass or ceramic containers.

• Drink tea using loose leaves and metal infusers.

• Buy spices in glass jars.

• Switch to metal, bamboo, or paper straws.

• Choose fresh or frozen food instead of canned.

Bottom line: A few simple swaps can help you eat less plastic and protect your health.

Disclaimer: This article is for information only. Always talk to your doctor.

Source: cnet.com

WEIGHT LOSS

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

The FDA just took a big step to protect people using popular weight loss and diabetes drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound.

These drugs, called GLP-1s, became hard to get in recent years. So many Americans turned to cheaper, compounded versions made by local pharmacies. But not all of these copycat drugs were safe—some caused serious side effects, including hospitalizations due to dosing errors.

To fix this, the FDA has released a new “green list” of approved raw ingredients for GLP-1s. These ingredients come from overseas suppliers that passed FDA inspections. If the ingredients aren’t on this list, they may be blocked from entering the U.S.

While this move aims to improve safety, it may hurt big drugmakers like Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, whose stock prices dipped after the announcement. Analysts say the FDA is allowing some compounding to continue—as long as it meets strict quality standards.

At the same time, Apple is doubling down on health tech. Its new Apple Watch Series 11 includes a tool that can alert users to signs of high blood pressure. It doesn’t give a medical diagnosis, but it could help people catch issues early. Apple also added a new sleep score feature to help users better understand their rest patterns.

For older adults keeping an eye on their health, these updates from the FDA and Apple could make a real difference.

Source: cnbc.com

HEALTH

Infections Caused by Bacteria That No Longer Respond to Many Antibiotics Are Climbing at an Alarming Pace in the U.S., New Federal Data Shows. Between 2019 and 2023, These Hard-to-treat Infections Rose Nearly 70%, Fueled Largely by Strains Carrying the NDM Gene

New government data shows a troubling rise in infections caused by bacteria that no longer respond to many antibiotics. Between 2019 and 2023, these hard-to-treat infections rose by nearly 70% in the United States.

The main driver? A powerful resistance gene called NDM. In just four years, infections linked to this gene have increased by over 460%. These so-called “nightmare bacteria” are especially dangerous because they can survive even our strongest antibiotics, known as carbapenems. That leaves doctors with very few—and very expensive—treatment options.

In 2023 alone, the CDC reported more than 4,300 drug-resistant infections across 29 states. Nearly half of those were linked to the NDM gene. Experts warn that even common illnesses, like urinary tract infections, could soon become much harder to treat.

Why is this happening? One reason may be the overuse of antibiotics—especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Taking antibiotics when they aren’t needed, or not finishing a full course, gives bacteria more chances to adapt and fight back.

Some experts also believe the true number of cases may be even higher. That’s because many hospitals don’t have the tools to test for these resistant bacteria, and large states like California and Florida weren’t included in the latest data.

Doctors urge people to use antibiotics wisely and only when prescribed. The rise of drug-resistant bacteria is a serious public health concern—and one we can’t afford to ignore.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not provide medical advice.

Source: griffonnews.com

LSD Shows Promise for Reducing Anxiety in Drugmaker's Midstage Study

A new study shows that LSD might help reduce anxiety. LSD is a psychedelic drug that has been banned in the U.S. for over 50 years. But now, it’s being studied again for its possible medical use.

In the study, people with moderate to severe anxiety took a single dose of LSD under medical supervision. After one month, people who got the two highest doses felt less anxious. After three months, 65% still felt better, and nearly half were in remission. The most common side effects were nausea, headaches, and seeing things that weren’t real (hallucinations).

The study didn’t include talk therapy, which makes it easier to tell if LSD alone helped. However, some patients guessed they were given LSD, which may affect results. Also, many dropped out before the study ended.

This is one of the first modern studies to test LSD in this way. Back in the 1950s and 60s, doctors used LSD to study addiction, depression, and anxiety, but those studies stopped when the drug was banned in 1970.

Now, drugs like LSD, MDMA (ecstasy), and psilocybin (magic mushrooms) are being studied again. The FDA calls them “breakthrough” therapies because of early promising results.

The company behind the study, MindMed, is planning larger trials. If future results are good, LSD could be approved for medical use to help treat anxiety.

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

Source: yahoo.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.