Good morning. In today’s edition:

• Ultra-processed Foods and Cardiovascular Disease: Analysis of Three Large US Prospective Cohorts and a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies

• Severe Obesity is on the Rise in the US

• Microplastics Found in the Human Brain

• Antidepressant Could Help Treat Aggressive Brain Tumours - Study

…and lots more. Have a great day!

FOOD & NUTRITION

Ultra-processed Foods and Cardiovascular Disease: Analysis of Three Large US Prospective Cohorts and a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies

Did you know the food you eat can impact your heart? A big study in the United States looked at over 200,000 adults to see how processed foods—like soda, packaged snacks, and ready-made meals—affect heart health.

What Are Processed Foods? Processed foods are things you find packaged in stores that are ready to eat or easy to prepare. They often have a lot of sugar, fat, and salt but don't offer much nutrition.

What the Study Found The study used surveys to learn about what people ate and followed them for many years to see how it affected their health. It found that people who ate the most processed foods had a higher chance of getting heart diseases and strokes. For example, those who ate lots of these foods had a 17% higher risk of heart diseases and a 9% higher risk of strokes.

Why It Matters For adults over 45, it's really important to know how food can impact your health, especially your heart. The study suggests that eating fewer processed foods might help lower your risk of heart problems.

What You Can Do Try to eat fewer processed foods. Instead, choose fresher options like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. These foods are better for your weight and your heart.

Conclusion Choosing healthier foods can help keep your heart strong. Making small changes in what you eat can make a big difference in your health.

Source: sciencedirect.com

WEIGHT LOSS

Severe Obesity is on the Rise in the US

Obesity is a big health problem in the United States, with about 40% of adults affected. The latest studies show that nearly one in ten Americans has severe obesity, a number that has gone up in the last ten years. This information comes from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Women, in particular, are more likely to have severe obesity compared to men. Even though the overall number of obese people has slightly decreased, this small change is not enough to show a real improvement.

The survey that found these results was done between 2021 and 2023 and included around 6,000 people. It revealed that severe obesity is more common because it can lead to serious health issues like heart disease and diabetes. These diseases can greatly lower the quality of life.

The study also found that people with more education tend to have lower obesity rates. Additionally, where you live affects obesity rates, with the highest numbers in the Midwest and South.

There is hope, though. New treatments and a better understanding of obesity as a long-term disease are being developed. Preventing obesity, especially from a young age, is crucial. But, turning around the obesity trend is tough and needs both public health efforts and personal commitment. This is a big challenge that the U.S. continues to face.

Source: apnews.com

HEALTH

Microplastics Found in the Human Brain

Brazilian scientists have found tiny plastic particles, called microplastics, in the human brain. These particles were found in the olfactory bulb. It helps us detect and identify smells.

Microplastics are tiny, some even thinner than a human hair. They were found in the brains of people aged 33 to 100. The study suggests that these plastics may enter the brain through the nose. Our nose acts like a filter, cleaning the air we breathe by trapping particles like dust and pollen. However, due to the widespread use of plastic in home products, tiny plastic particles are now in the air around us.

The big question is whether these microplastics can reach deeper areas of the brain, beyond the olfactory bulb. Those areas control memory, thinking, and decision-making.

This is concerning. The brain has a barrier that blocks harmful substances. If microplastics can bypass this barrier, they could pose serious health risks. Previous studies have shown that environmental pollutants, like air pollution, are linked to neurological diseases such as dementia.

As plastics are now everywhere, we must understand their health effects. This research is vital. It may reveal risks microplastics pose to brain health. It could lead to ways to protect our brains from pollutants.

Source: nbcnews.com

Antidepressant Could Help Treat Aggressive Brain Tumours - Study

A cheap antidepressant might be a new way to fight a tough type of brain cancer called glioblastoma, which usually doesn't have a cure. This cancer is very aggressive and most people who have it live only 12 to 18 months after they are diagnosed.

Researchers at the University Hospital Zurich in Switzerland discovered this potential treatment. They tested over a hundred drugs on cancer tissue from patients. They focused on drugs that can pass the blood-brain barrier. This layer usually stops medicines from reaching brain tumors.

The antidepressant called vortioxetine, often used for depression, showed good results. It worked well against the cancer cells in about two-thirds of the tests. Dr. Michael Weller, one of the researchers, noted that vortioxetine is safe and cheap.

Next, they will do clinical trials. They will give vortioxetine with standard treatments, like surgery, chemo, and radiation. They want to see if it helps patients live longer. Vortioxetine is approved for depression in the EU and US. So, it won't need a long approval process if it works for brain cancer.

This study is part of ongoing research. It is testing if antidepressants can help with brain cancer. Although it’s still early to tell how effective these drugs will be, this research offers hope to those facing this hard-to-treat cancer.

Source: euronews.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.