Good morning. In today’s edition:

• Consumer Reports Finds More Lead, Cadmium in Chocolate, Urges Change at Hershey

• Patients Are More Likely to Lose Weight if Physicians Offer Advice Using an Optimistic Tone

• “Today, I Am Going Blind”: Many Americans Say Health Insurance Doesn't Keep Them Healthy

• A New Study Has Found That Spontaneous Laughter Can Significantly Reduce Levels of the Stress Hormone Cortisol, Leading to Positive Effects for Overall Health

…and lots more. Have a great day!

FOOD & NUTRITION

Consumer Reports Finds More Lead, Cadmium in Chocolate, Urges Change at Hershey

Chocolate lovers, here's something important. Consumer Reports, a group that makes sure products are safe, found too much lead and cadmium in some chocolates. They tested 48 chocolate items from brands like Hershey, Walmart, Target, Trader Joe's, Nestle, and Starbucks. Out of these, 16 had higher levels of lead and cadmium than what's considered safe.

What did they check? The study included dark and milk chocolate bars, cocoa powder, chocolate chips, and mixes for brownies, chocolate cake, and hot chocolate. Luckily, milk chocolate bars usually had lower levels of these metals, likely because they have less cocoa.

Why worry? Lead and cadmium can harm our health if we're exposed to them too much. They can affect our nerves, immune system, and kidneys, and are especially risky for pregnant women and kids.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says chocolate isn't a big source of these metals, but chocolate makers need to keep their products safe.

Consumer Reports is urging Hershey to reduce these metal levels in their chocolates. Hershey is aware and working on it. These metals are naturally in the soil and can get into chocolate.

Already, over 75,000 people have asked Hershey to make their chocolates safer. Now, Consumer Reports is asking again.

For those who love chocolate, it's important to be mindful of what types and how much we eat. Staying informed helps us make healthier choices.

Source: reuters.com

WEIGHT LOSS

Patients Are More Likely to Lose Weight if Physicians Offer Advice Using an Optimistic Tone

Did you know that when doctors talk in a cheerful way about losing weight, their patients are more likely to lose weight? A study from the American College of Physicians found this out. It's not just what doctors say about weight loss, but how they say it, that can really help.

Doctors often talk to their patients about why it's good to lose weight, especially if someone is overweight. But the way doctors talk about it makes a big difference. Researchers looked at how doctors in 38 clinics talked to their patients. They found that when doctors talked about weight loss as something positive and exciting, patients were more likely to join programs to lose weight and actually lost more weight.

There are a few ways doctors can talk about weight loss. Some might talk about the problems of being overweight in a kind of sad way. Others might just talk in a normal, not too happy or sad way. But the study showed that being positive is the best. This means doctors talk about losing weight as a great chance to be healthier.

The study's results were really clear. People who heard their doctors talk positively about weight loss joined a 12-week weight loss program more often. They also lost more weight, about 10.6 pounds on average, which is really good!

So, if your doctor talks to you about weight loss, listen to how they say it. A positive and happy talk can make a big difference!

Source: eurekalert.org

HEALTH

“Today, I Am Going Blind”: Many Americans Say Health Insurance Doesn't Keep Them Healthy

Edna Garcia worked as a teacher for 34 years. Now retired, she faces a big problem. Although she has health insurance, it doesn't cover all her medical needs. Edna has diabetes, Crohn's disease, and a vision problem that's making her slowly go blind. Her insurance doesn't pay for the best medicine for her eyes, so she's using something less effective.

Edna's situation isn't rare. A survey shows that 30% of adults in the U.S. with insurance still struggle to pay for basic things because medical costs are too high. This means they have to make tough choices, like whether to buy food or medicine.

Eddie Vader, a 45-year-old veteran, has a similar issue. He needs a dental treatment that costs $1,300, but his insurance won't cover it. To pay for this, he and his wife can't take their usual birthday trip.

Then there's Adam Rollings, whose family pays about $10,000 a year for insurance through his wife's teaching job. They spend more money on extra health care, especially for their son's diabetes. Adam feels that the insurance should do more since his wife is a teacher.

These stories show a big problem: even with insurance, many Americans can't afford the health care they need. They have to choose between important things like food, trips, and medicine. It makes us wonder: is having health insurance enough to keep us healthy?

Source: cbsnews.com

A New Study Has Found That Spontaneous Laughter Can Significantly Reduce Levels of the Stress Hormone Cortisol, Leading to Positive Effects for Overall Health

Have you ever heard that laughter is the best medicine? Well, it turns out there's some truth to that old saying! A recent study has shown that just laughing can make us healthier by lowering our stress levels.

When we're stressed, our bodies release a hormone called cortisol. This is normal, but too much cortisol can be bad for our health. It can make us feel sick or down. But guess what? Laughing can help reduce cortisol!

Researchers looked at different studies where people laughed by watching funny movies or doing laughter therapy. They found that laughing made the levels of cortisol go down by about 32%. That's a big deal!

What's even more interesting is that it doesn't take a lot of laughing to see this benefit. Just one session of laughing, which can be as short as 9 minutes or as long as an hour, can lower cortisol by about 37%. And it doesn't matter how long you laugh, the effect is the same.

Laughing doesn't just help with stress. It's also good for our hearts and can even help our hair grow better! But, like with any study, there are some things to keep in mind. For example, different studies made people laugh in different ways, and they checked their cortisol levels at different times.

So, next time you're feeling stressed, try watching a funny movie or just sharing a good laugh with friends. It's not just fun, it's good for your health too!

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.