- Health Horizon Herald
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- 10/28/25 - #509
10/28/25 - #509
Health Horizon. Herald Staff
October 28, 2025
In partnership with
Good morning. In today’s edition:
Higher Intake of High-quality, Unprocessed Plant Foods May Reduce Cardiovascular Disease Risk by ~40%. However, Ultra-processed, Low-quality Plant Foods Like Ready-made Pasta, Store-bought Soups, or Sweetened Drinks Don’t Decrease This Risk, and Could Potentially Elevate It by ~40%
People Taking Ozempic Say Booze Just Doesn’t Hit Same | Research Found That People Taking GLP-1 Receptor Agonists — Medications Like Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Saxenda Absorb Alcohol More Slowly and Feel Less Drunk When Drinking
Reducing Cholesterol Levels Might Not Just Be Good for Your Heart; They Might Also Be Effective at Reducing Your Risk of Dementia, According to a Comprehensive Meta-analysis Involving Close to a Million Participants
Side Effects of Different Antidepressants Have Been Ranked for the First Time, Revealing Huge Differences Between Drugs
…and lots more. Have a great day!
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FOOD & NUTRITION
Higher Intake of High-quality, Unprocessed Plant Foods May Reduce Cardiovascular Disease Risk by ~40%. However, Ultra-processed, Low-quality Plant Foods Like Ready-made Pasta, Store-bought Soups, or Sweetened Drinks Don’t Decrease This Risk, and Could Potentially Elevate It by ~40%
A new study from France shows that eating more plant-based foods can lower your risk of heart disease—but only if the foods are fresh and not heavily processed.
Researchers followed over 63,000 adults for about nine years. People who ate more high-quality plant foods—like fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes—had a 40% lower risk of heart disease.
But not all plant foods are healthy. Some are ultra-processed, meaning they’re made in factories and often full of added sugar, salt, and chemicals. Examples include sweetened drinks, instant noodles, store-bought soups, sugary cereals, and packaged snacks. People who ate a lot of these foods had a 40% higher risk of heart disease.
Even plant-based foods that sound healthy—like whole grain bread or veggie soup—can be bad for your heart if they are made with too many additives or unhealthy ingredients.
The study shows that it’s not just what you eat, but how it’s made that matters. If you want to protect your heart, choose plant foods that are as close to natural as possible. Fresh, frozen, or canned fruits and vegetables with no added sugar or salt are good options.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor before making changes to your diet.
WEIGHT LOSS
People Taking Ozempic Say Booze Just Doesn’t Hit Same | Research Found That People Taking GLP-1 Receptor Agonists — Medications Like Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Saxenda Absorb Alcohol More Slowly and Feel Less Drunk When Drinking
If you take Ozempic, Mounjaro, or Saxenda, you might notice alcohol doesn’t hit as hard. A new study shows these medicines may change how your body handles alcohol.
These drugs are called GLP-1 receptor agonists. They’re used for weight loss and diabetes. But researchers now say they also slow down how quickly alcohol moves from your stomach to your small intestine — where it gets absorbed. That means alcohol enters your blood more slowly, and you feel less drunk.
In the study, 20 adults came to a lab and drank vodka with juice. Half were taking a GLP-1 drug. The other half weren’t. Everyone drank enough to raise their blood alcohol levels near the legal limit. Then, the researchers tracked how drunk they felt.
People on GLP-1 drugs had lower breath alcohol levels and said they felt less buzzed. This wasn’t because of nausea or other side effects. It’s likely because the medicine slowed their digestion.
This may also explain why some people on Ozempic say they don’t crave alcohol anymore. Since alcohol reaches the brain more slowly, it may feel less rewarding. That could make it easier for people to drink less.
Experts say more research is needed, but this early study offers hope. If a drug already approved for weight loss can also help people cut back on drinking, it could be a game changer.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always talk to your doctor before making health changes.
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HEALTH
Reducing Cholesterol Levels Might Not Just Be Good for Your Heart; They Might Also Be Effective at Reducing Your Risk of Dementia, According to a Comprehensive Meta-analysis Involving Close to a Million Participants
Lowering your cholesterol may help more than just your heart. A large study found it could also lower your risk of dementia.
Researchers looked at data from nearly one million people. They studied people with certain genes that naturally lower cholesterol levels. These genes act like a lifelong version of taking cholesterol medicine such as statins or ezetimibe.
The study found that people with lower levels of LDL cholesterol—often called “bad” cholesterol—had a lower risk of getting dementia. This supports earlier research showing a link between cholesterol and brain health.
The researchers used a method called Mendelian Randomization. It helps remove confusion from things like diet or exercise by focusing on genes. This makes the results more reliable.
One reason for the link may be a condition called atherosclerosis. This happens when fatty deposits build up in blood vessels, making it harder for blood to reach the brain. Over time, this could lead to brain damage and increase the risk of dementia.
While the study didn’t test the actual drugs, it strongly suggests that lowering cholesterol may protect the brain. Experts now want long-term trials to test whether taking cholesterol-lowering medicine earlier in life can help prevent dementia later on.
More than 57 million people around the world live with dementia. If cholesterol medicine helps, it could be a powerful tool for brain health.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor before making health decisions.
Side Effects of Different Antidepressants Have Been Ranked for the First Time, Revealing Huge Differences Between Drugs
A large study has ranked the physical side effects of 30 common antidepressants. It shows big differences in how these drugs affect the body in just eight weeks.
Some caused weight gain of nearly 2 kg. Others, like agomelatine, led to weight loss. Some drugs raised blood pressure. Others changed heart rate by as much as 21 beats per minute.
Experts say about 1 in 6 adults in North America and Europe take antidepressants. These side effects can affect your health and whether you stay on the medicine.
The study looked at over 58,000 patients and was done by King’s College London and the University of Oxford. It found that people with the same diagnosis may need different antidepressants, based on their body and health needs.
For example:
Someone worried about weight gain may do better on agomelatine or sertraline.
If you have high blood pressure, you may want to avoid venlafaxine or amitriptyline.
For high cholesterol, citalopram may be a better choice than paroxetine or duloxetine.
Doctors say there’s no “best” antidepressant for everyone. What works for one person might not work for another. The study's goal is to help doctors and patients pick the right drug together.
Doctors also say not to stop your medicine without talking to your healthcare provider.
A free online tool to help pick the best option is in the works.
Disclaimer: This is for informational purposes only and not medical advice. Always talk to your doctor first.
✢ 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.