Good morning. In today’s edition:

• Evidence of 3,600 Chemicals Known to Be Used in Food Contact (Packaging, Cookware, etc.) Also Detected in Humans; ~25% of Known Food Contact Chemicals. Groups Like Bisphenols, PFAS Are Often Tested While Others Like Synthetic Antioxidants & Oligomers Little is Known of Their Presence or Fate in Humans

• What’s Your Best Motivation That Keeps You Motivated to Lose Weight?

• New Study Finds Placebos Can Alleviate Chronic Back Pain, Even When Patients Know They’re Placebos

• Catching Up on Sleep on Weekends May Lower Heart Disease Risk by Up to 20%

…and lots more. Have a great day!

FOOD & NUTRITION

Evidence of 3,600 Chemicals Known to Be Used in Food Contact (Packaging, Cookware, etc.) Also Detected in Humans; ~25% of Known Food Contact Chemicals. Groups Like Bisphenols, PFAS Are Often Tested While Others Like Synthetic Antioxidants & Oligomers Little is Known of Their Presence or Fate in Humans

A new study shows that over 3,600 chemicals used in making and packing our food end up inside our bodies. These chemicals can cause serious health problems like cancer and hormonal issues.

Martin Wagner, a biology professor, is concerned. "It's alarming how many chemicals from food packaging are getting into humans." We need to pay more attention to this issue.”

Jane Muncke from the Food Packaging Forum explains that not just the chemicals we know about are dangerous. There are also other harmful substances that we don't always intend to add but still find their way into our food and bodies. “We are discovering chemicals we didn’t know were there. This makes it hard to ensure our food is safe,” says Muncke.

A study in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology found 79 of these chemicals cause serious health issues. The study suggests we need better rules to make sure these chemicals don’t harm us.

Bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical that affects hormones and is linked to many health problems, is one of the chemicals found in our food and bodies.

The study calls for more careful monitoring of these chemicals. Right now, we don't check for many of them in people. Wagner emphasizes, “Our current checks on these chemicals are not enough.”

Experts say we need stricter safety measures. We also need clearer info from companies about the chemicals in food packaging. This will help protect our health.

Source: edition.cnn.com

WEIGHT LOSS

What’s Your Best Motivation That Keeps You Motivated to Lose Weight?

Losing weight can be hard, but finding the right reason can help a lot. Here's why some people decide to lose weight:

1. Looking Good: Many want to feel better about how they look in their clothes.

2. Staying Healthy for Family: Others hope to live longer and spend more time with their grandkids.

3. Feeling Better: Feeling healthier overall is a big reason for many.

4. Avoiding Sickness: Some lose weight to lower their chances of getting diseases like diabetes.

5. Moving Easier: Losing weight can help if your knees hurt when you get up.

6. Taking Fewer Pills: Some people can reduce their medications by losing weight.

One woman didn't realize how big she had become until she saw her shadow on the street and thought it was someone else. This moment shocked her into starting her weight loss.

A daily tip to keep you motivated is to put a full-length mirror in your bathroom. Look at yourself from every angle each day. This can really motivate you to stick with your plan.

Remember, eating better plays a bigger part in losing weight than exercise. Changing what you eat is responsible for about 85% of your weight loss results. If changing your diet seems too hard, start with something like eating only one meal a day. This can also help you lose weight.

Finding your personal reason to lose weight is the best way to start and keep going.

Source: Dr. Eric Berg DC

HEALTH

New Study Finds Placebos Can Alleviate Chronic Back Pain, Even When Patients Know They’re Placebos

A surprising new study shows that a simple saltwater shot, which is a placebo with no real medicine, can actually help people with chronic back pain feel better. This study, published in JAMA Network Open, is unique because patients knew they were getting a placebo.

Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus took part in this study. They worked with over 100 adults who suffer from long-term back pain. The team used special brain scans before and after giving the placebo shots. What they found was impressive: not only did people's pain decrease, but their mood and sleep got better too. These positive effects even lasted up to a year.

Dr. Yoni K. Ashar, the lead researcher, explained that the placebo seems to change how the brain handles pain. It calms the parts of the brain that feel pain and boosts the parts that control pain. This means the body’s own painkillers work better, even though the brain knows it's just a placebo.

This new finding could change how doctors use placebos. "It's safe, cheap, and honest," said Dr. Ashar. This study shows we don't need to trick patients for placebos to work.

The research highlights how powerful our bodies can be in healing themselves with just the right push, proving that even a known placebo can make a big difference.

Source: news.cuanschutz.edu

Catching Up on Sleep on Weekends May Lower Heart Disease Risk by Up to 20%

Do you feel tired during the week because you don't get enough sleep? Good news: sleeping more on weekends might lower your risk of heart disease by up to 20%.

Why Missing Sleep is Bad Adults need about 7-9 hours of sleep each night, but busy jobs and screens often cut this short. When we don't sleep enough, it can hurt our health badly.

What Research Shows A big study with over 90,000 people found that sleeping extra on weekends can really help. People who caught up on missed sleep had a much lower chance of getting heart diseases compared to those who didn’t.

How Sleep Helps Your Heart Not sleeping enough can lead to heart problems like blocked arteries, heart failure, and strokes. But if you sleep more on the weekends, it might help your heart rest and stay healthy.

Tips for Better Sleep To improve your sleep and help your heart, try these tips:

• Keep a Routine: Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, even on weekends.

• Relax Before Bed: Do calm things like reading or taking a warm bath, not looking at phones.

• Make Your Bedroom Nice: Keep it cool, quiet, and dark. Spend on a good mattress and pillows.

• Be Careful with Food and Drinks: Avoid caffeine and alcohol before bed.

By sleeping more on weekends and fixing your daily habits, you can better your health and cut down your risk of heart disease.

Source: wellnesshq.net

✢ 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.