10/23/25 - #506

Good morning. In today’s edition:

• California Becomes the First State to Phase Ultraprocessed Food Out of School Meals

• The Fastest Way to Lose Belly Fat

• Whooping Cough Cases Soar in Florida as Pediatricians Worry About Vaccine Rollback

• A Major Global Study From the Lancet Shows Infectious Diseases Keep Falling, but Chronic Conditions Like Diabetes, Heart Disease, and Anxiety Are Rising Worldwide

…and lots more. Have a great day!

FOOD & NUTRITION

California Becomes the First State to Phase Ultraprocessed Food Out of School Meals

California is taking a big step toward healthier school meals. On October 9, 2025, Governor Gavin Newsom signed a new law that makes California the first state to phase out certain ultraprocessed foods in public schools.

The law gives schools 10 years to fully remove these foods from breakfast and lunch menus. By 2029, schools must begin cutting back. By 2035, the phase-out must be complete.

What are “ultraprocessed foods”? These are foods that contain additives like artificial colors, flavors, thickeners, or sweeteners—and have high levels of added sugar, salt, or unhealthy fats. They’re often low in real, whole ingredients. Studies show eating a lot of these foods can raise the risk of cancer, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes.

California’s Department of Public Health will decide which foods are considered the most harmful, based on health risks and possible addiction. These will be labeled “ultraprocessed foods of concern.”

Support for the law came from both Democrats and Republicans. State Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, who introduced the bill, said parents of all political views want healthier food for their kids. Some school districts that already offer healthier meals have even saved money doing so.

Other states like Texas and West Virginia have taken steps to limit food dyes and additives. But California is leading the way with the most ambitious law so far.

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

Source: nbcnews.com

WEIGHT LOSS

The Fastest Way to Lose Belly Fat

If you’ve been trying to lose belly fat with no results, the problem may not be your effort—it may be your plan.

Step 1: Remove Seed Oils Certain oils—like canola, soy, corn, sunflower, and cottonseed—are linked to weight gain. They’re found in fast food, salad dressings, and even meat from grain-fed animals. These oils can cause more fat gain than sugar. Instead, cook with olive oil and eat grass-fed meat, wild-caught fish, and pasture-raised eggs.

Step 2: Eat a Big Salad Every Day One large salad a day can help your gut health and support weight loss. If raw vegetables bother you, try fermented ones like sauerkraut or kimchi. Dress your salad with olive oil, not seed oils.

Step 3: Try Intermittent Fasting Eating one meal a day gives your body time to burn fat. This can also lower insulin levels, boost energy, and reduce hunger.

Step 4: Move More Walk every day to reduce stress and sleep better—both help with fat loss. Add short bursts of high-intensity exercise 1–3 times per week to burn more fat.

Step 5: Get Enough Salt and Vitamins Low energy and poor sleep can be caused by not getting enough salt or B vitamins. Sea salt and nutritional yeast can help.

To lose belly fat fast, don’t just work harder—work smarter. Eat the right fats, fast wisely, move daily, and support your body’s needs.

Disclaimer: This article is for information only. Talk to your doctor before making health changes.

Source: Dr. Eric Berg DC

HEALTH

Whooping Cough Cases Soar in Florida as Pediatricians Worry About Vaccine Rollback

Whooping cough is rising fast in Florida. As of late September, 1,295 cases have been reported in 2025—an 81% jump from all of 2024. Doctors say this illness, also called pertussis, is most dangerous for babies and young kids, especially those who are not vaccinated.

Whooping cough is a lung infection that spreads easily. It causes long, hard coughing fits. These can lead to broken ribs, vomiting, or trouble breathing. In babies, it can cause pneumonia, seizures, brain damage, or even death.

Doctors are concerned because Florida leaders want to remove vaccine rules for schoolchildren. The state’s top health official said they plan to end all vaccine requirements. In response, some doctors are trying to set up their own warning system to track outbreaks.

Vaccines are still the best way to prevent whooping cough. Children usually get five shots between 2 months and 6 years old. Even one shot helps lower the risk.

Florida’s school vaccine rate has dropped. In 2024, only 90.6% of kindergartners were vaccinated—the lowest in over 10 years. Health experts say 95% is the safe level to stop disease from spreading.

Doctors warn that unvaccinated kids could spread whooping cough to babies and others. One doctor said, “We may not see change until children start dying again from diseases we know how to prevent.”

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Please talk to your doctor about vaccines.

Source: tallahassee.com

A Major Global Study From the Lancet Shows Infectious Diseases Keep Falling, but Chronic Conditions Like Diabetes, Heart Disease, and Anxiety Are Rising Worldwide

A new study from The Lancet shows that diseases like HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis are falling around the world. Better vaccines, health care, and clean water have helped reduce infections. From 2010 to 2023, the global rate of early death and illness dropped by 13%.

But not all news is good. Long-term health problems—called chronic diseases—are rising fast. These include heart disease, diabetes, anxiety, and depression. Today, about two-thirds of health problems worldwide come from these types of illnesses.

The study says nearly half of all health issues are linked to things we can change, like poor diet, obesity, smoking, air pollution, and lack of exercise. Mental health issues have also gone up, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Experts say we need to focus more on preventing disease. That means helping people eat healthier, move more, quit smoking, and get regular checkups. Mental health support is also very important.

The study also warns that many new medicines for weight and blood sugar problems are only available in rich countries. Many people still don’t have access to basic care or medicine, especially in low-income areas.

In short: we’ve made big progress on stopping infections. But unless we act now, chronic diseases could undo these gains.

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

Source: thelancet.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.