11/19/25 - #525

Good morning. In today’s edition:

• The Prevalence of Vegetarian/Vegan Diets in Bavaria Increased From 2.2% in 2003 to 6.3% in 2023, Study Finds

• Creatine, Diet Pills Would Be Off-limits to Michigan Minors Under New Bill

• Cannabis Use Associated With a Reduction in Alcohol Intake: A New Study Reports That for Some Heavy Drinkers, Using Cannabis May Be Associated With Consuming Less Alcohol. This Reduction in Drinking Appears Linked to a Decrease in Alcohol Craving That Occurs After Cannabis Use

• Finnish Study Has Revealed an Association Between Severe Nausea During Pregnancy and Depression. Women Who Experienced Severe Nausea Were More Likely to Have Depression Both Before and After Pregnancy and to Receive an Earlier Diagnosis of Depression After Pregnancy

…and lots more. Have a great day!

FOOD & NUTRITION

The Prevalence of Vegetarian/Vegan Diets in Bavaria Increased From 2.2% in 2003 to 6.3% in 2023, Study Finds

More people in Bavaria are now eating vegetarian or vegan diets. A new study found that 6.3% of adults in 2023 said they followed one of these diets. That’s almost three times more than in 2003, when only 2.2% did.

The study looked at over 1,500 adults aged 18 to 75. It found that women and people with higher education were more likely to avoid meat. Women were almost twice as likely as men to follow a vegetarian or vegan diet. People with more education were over four times more likely to do so.

Most people who chose these diets said they did it for health or the environment. Vegetarians and vegans were also more likely to eat more vegetables, beans, and nuts. They ate less meat, dairy, and alcohol. Their fiber intake was higher, and their body weight was lower. They also ate enough protein, even though it was less than what meat-eaters ate.

Older age and whether someone lived in a city or rural area did not affect their choice to go vegetarian or vegan. People following these diets cared less about tradition or eating socially than meat-eaters.

Experts say this trend shows more people are thinking about health and the planet when they eat. But they also warn that plant-based diets need good planning to get enough key nutrients.

Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. Always check with your doctor or dietitian before making major changes to your diet.

Source: onlinelibrary.wiley.com

WEIGHT LOSS

Creatine, Diet Pills Would Be Off-limits to Michigan Minors Under New Bill

Teens in Michigan may soon be blocked from buying certain diet and muscle supplements. A new bill in the state House would stop anyone under 18 from buying products like creatine, green tea extract, and diet pills.

Rep. Erin Byrnes, who introduced the bill, says these supplements can harm young people. Many are not tested for safety in minors, yet are heavily marketed to them. Experts worry these products lead to body image issues, eating problems, and poor health.

Stores would need to check ID to sell these products. Online sellers would have to confirm a buyer’s age through a database. Businesses that break the rules could be fined up to $1,000 per sale.

The bill gives the Michigan Board of Pharmacy the power to decide which supplements should be restricted. They will look at how products are labeled and sold—especially if they claim to help with weight loss or muscle gain.

Some of the named supplements in the bill include creatine, raspberry ketone, garcinia cambogia, green tea extract, and coffee bean extract. These are often found in pre-workout and diet products.

Supporters say this is about protecting kids from unsafe products and shady marketing. Similar laws already exist in New York and are being proposed in other states.

Health experts say it’s a smart step to support healthy growth and help teens avoid eating disorders and long-term harm.

The bill is now waiting to be reviewed by a House committee.

Source: mlive.com

HEALTH

Cannabis Use Associated With a Reduction in Alcohol Intake: A New Study Reports That for Some Heavy Drinkers, Using Cannabis May Be Associated With Consuming Less Alcohol. This Reduction in Drinking Appears Linked to a Decrease in Alcohol Craving That Occurs After Cannabis Use

A new study shows that for some heavy drinkers, using cannabis may lead to drinking less alcohol. This drop in alcohol use seems to happen because cannabis lowers the craving for alcohol in some people.

Researchers from Colorado wanted to test this in real-life settings. They worked with 61 adults, aged 21 to 60, who drank heavily and used cannabis regularly. Each person took part in two lab sessions—one with cannabis and one without.

The sessions happened in a mobile lab parked outside the person’s home. In one session, they had a small alcoholic drink to “prime” their urge to drink more. They could then choose to drink up to four more drinks—or skip them and earn a dollar per drink not taken.

In the second session, they used their own cannabis first, then went through the same alcohol setup.

Results showed that after using cannabis, participants drank about 25% fewer drinks. Those who drank less after using cannabis were called “substituters.” These people also reported feeling less desire for alcohol after using cannabis. Others, called “non-substituters,” didn’t change their drinking.

Interestingly, the amount of THC (the chemical in cannabis that causes a high) didn’t explain the results. This means the effect may depend more on how each person reacts to cannabis.

The study has limits, but it opens new questions. Could cannabis be used to help some people drink less? More research is needed to know for sure.

Source: psypost.org

Finnish Study Has Revealed an Association Between Severe Nausea During Pregnancy and Depression. Women Who Experienced Severe Nausea Were More Likely to Have Depression Both Before and After Pregnancy and to Receive an Earlier Diagnosis of Depression After Pregnancy

A new study from Finland found that women with severe nausea during pregnancy are more likely to have depression. The condition, called hyperemesis gravidarum, causes extreme nausea and vomiting. It can make it hard to eat, drink, or do daily tasks, and often leads to hospital stays.

Researchers looked at health records from over 437,000 women. They found that women with severe nausea were more than five times as likely to have had depression before pregnancy. After giving birth, they were about 3.5 times as likely to be diagnosed with new depression.

The timing also mattered. On average, women with severe nausea were diagnosed with depression 3.3 years after giving birth. For women without severe nausea, it was 4.5 years. This shows that depression may appear earlier in women who had more difficult pregnancies.

Doctors think there may be a link between the body changes that cause both nausea and depression. The study shows the need to check women for depression during and after pregnancy—especially if they had severe nausea.

“This isn’t just about feeling sick in the morning,” said lead researcher Eeva Terävä-Utti. “It’s a serious condition that affects both the body and mind. These women need better support.”

The study highlights the need for doctors in women’s health, mental health, and general care to work together. By doing so, they can better help pregnant women who are struggling.

Source: utu.fi

✢ 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.