10/06/25 - #493

Good morning. In today’s edition:

• Mediterranean Diet Improves Psoriasis Symptoms by Up to 75% | A Mediterranean Diet Proved Easy to Stick With and Significantly Helpful in Reducing Psoriasis Severity

• It's the Deep Visceral Fat Around Organs That Has Biggest Impact on Brain Aging, Affecting Reasoning, Memory, and Processing Speed. This Adds More Evidence to Doing Away With Body Mass Index (BMI) – Judging Weight and Height Alone – as an Accurate Marker of Brain Health (and Health More Broadly)

• FDA Approves Another Generic Abortion Pill, Prompting Outrage From Conservatives

• Your Social Status Has a Surprising Influence on Your Biological Stress Responses. A New Study Suggests That Feeling Lower in Social Rank Due to Socioeconomic Factors Like Income or Education Can Heighten the Body’s Cardiovascular Stress Responses

…and lots more. Have a great day!

FOOD & NUTRITION

Mediterranean Diet Improves Psoriasis Symptoms by Up to 75% | A Mediterranean Diet Proved Easy to Stick With and Significantly Helpful in Reducing Psoriasis Severity

A new study shows that changing your diet may help with psoriasis. People who followed a Mediterranean diet for 16 weeks saw big improvements in their skin.

Psoriasis is a long-term skin condition that causes red, itchy patches. There’s no cure, but some treatments help manage it. Now, food may help too.

The Mediterranean diet includes fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, olive oil, and fish. It’s known to fight inflammation. In this study, 38 adults with mild to moderate psoriasis joined a trial. Half followed the Mediterranean diet with help from a diet coach. The other half followed a low-fat diet.

After 16 weeks, the Mediterranean group showed better results. They had a 3.4-point drop in their psoriasis scores. The other group had almost no change. Even better, nearly half of the people on the Mediterranean diet saw their skin symptoms improve by 75%.

They also had better blood sugar levels, less anxiety, better sleep, and felt healthier overall. This is important because psoriasis is linked to heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

The researchers say this diet isn’t a cure but could be a helpful extra step. It’s simple, healthy, and tasty.

If you have psoriasis, talk to your doctor or a dietitian. A diet change could be worth trying.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not offer medical advice. Always speak with your doctor before making changes to your health or treatment plan.

Source: newatlas.com

WEIGHT LOSS

It's the Deep Visceral Fat Around Organs That Has Biggest Impact on Brain Aging, Affecting Reasoning, Memory, and Processing Speed. This Adds More Evidence to Doing Away With Body Mass Index (BMI) – Judging Weight and Height Alone – as an Accurate Marker of Brain Health (and Health More Broadly)

Not all body fat is the same. A new study shows that visceral fat—the deep fat around your organs—may be worse for your brain than fat under your skin. This type of fat can affect your memory, thinking, and how fast your brain works.

Researchers looked at over 23,000 people and found that high levels of visceral fat were linked to smaller brain areas used for memory, judgment, and emotions. It also affected how brain parts connect and work together. These changes showed up even in people with a normal Body Mass Index (BMI).

BMI is based on your height and weight. But this study suggests BMI doesn’t tell the full story. Where fat is stored in the body matters more, especially for brain health.

Visceral fat builds up from eating too much sugar or processed food, not getting enough exercise, poor sleep, and high stress. Unlike belly fat you can pinch, visceral fat sits deep inside the body, wrapped around organs like your liver and intestines.

The good news? You can reduce it. Regular aerobic exercise, strength training, better sleep, and stress control can help. Even small changes can make a big difference over time.

The brain effects were small, but real. This research shows that hidden fat may speed up brain aging—more than overall weight does.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not offer medical advice. Always talk to your doctor before making changes to your diet, exercise, or health plan.

Source: newatlas.com

HEALTH

FDA Approves Another Generic Abortion Pill, Prompting Outrage From Conservatives

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new low-cost version of the abortion pill mifepristone. The pill is made by Evita Solutions and is used to end pregnancies during the first 10 weeks. It will likely be available starting January.

This new pill is a generic version, meaning it’s made with the same ingredients as the original. The FDA says it must approve generic drugs if they are proven to be safe and work the same way as the original. The first mifepristone pill was approved in 2000, and the first generic version came out in 2019.

Even though this kind of approval is normal, it caused a strong reaction from abortion opponents. Some conservative lawmakers and groups blamed the FDA and called for changes. Senator Josh Hawley said he no longer trusts the agency’s leaders.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary have promised a full review of the pill’s safety. The FDA says it does not “endorse” any product and that its scientists are just doing their jobs.

Mifepristone is usually taken with another drug, misoprostol. Together, they cause the body to end a pregnancy and are used in about two-thirds of abortions in the U.S. However, many states have laws that ban or limit these pills.

Major health groups, like the American Medical Association, say the pill is safe.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and not medical or legal advice.

Source: npr.org

Your Social Status Has a Surprising Influence on Your Biological Stress Responses. A New Study Suggests That Feeling Lower in Social Rank Due to Socioeconomic Factors Like Income or Education Can Heighten the Body’s Cardiovascular Stress Responses

A new study shows that feeling “lower” in social status—because of income, education, or job—can affect your body’s stress levels. This may help explain why people with less money or fewer resources often have worse heart health.

Researchers looked at 25 studies with over 2,000 people. In each study, people were made to feel higher or lower in status. Some felt this way after doing a task, like a puzzle or game. Others were told they had less money or education than others.

The results showed that short-term tasks didn’t cause much stress. But when people were made to feel lower in social class, their bodies reacted more. Their heart rate, blood pressure, and stress hormone (cortisol) levels went up—signs that the heart and blood vessels are under strain.

This effect was stronger in women than men in some studies. Experts believe this is because our social class is tied to feelings of safety, value, and control. A single game might not matter much, but feeling “less than” in life can take a toll on your body over time.

The researchers say more studies are needed. Most people in the research were young, white, and from the U.S., so results may not apply to everyone. Still, this study shows how the stress of feeling lower in status may harm your heart.

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

Source: psypost.org

✢ 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.