12/05/25 - #537

Good morning. In today’s edition:

• Study Links America’s Favorite Cooking Oil to Obesity

• There May Not Be a Safe Off-ramp for Some Taking GLP-1 Drugs, Study Suggests

• The Shutdown is About to End. Will Millions Lose Their Health Insurance?

• Music Eases Surgery and Speeds Recovery. Research Found Patients Exposed to Music Required Lower Doses of Propofol and Fentanyl. They Experienced Smoother Recoveries, Lower Cortisol or Stress-hormone Levels and a Much Better Control of Blood Pressure During the Surgery

…and lots more. Have a great day!

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FOOD & NUTRITION

Study Links America’s Favorite Cooking Oil to Obesity

A new study from UC Riverside shows that soybean oil—the most common cooking oil in the U.S.—may play a role in weight gain.

Researchers found that mice fed a high-fat diet rich in soybean oil gained more weight than expected. But some special mice, bred to have a different liver protein, didn’t gain as much weight. This protein helps control how the body uses fat.

The key difference? The regular mice made more of a substance called oxylipins. These are formed when the body breaks down linoleic acid, a fat found in soybean oil. Too many oxylipins may lead to more body fat and inflammation.

Interestingly, even mice on a low-fat diet had high oxylipin levels—but didn’t become obese. This suggests that weight gain isn’t just about one thing, but a mix of diet, genetics, and how our bodies process fat.

Soybean oil now makes up nearly 10% of the average American’s daily calories, up from just 2% a century ago. While soybean oil is plant-based and has no cholesterol, eating too much of it may stress the body in ways we don’t fully understand.

Experts say the problem isn’t the oil itself—but how much we’re eating. This research may help explain why some people gain weight more easily than others.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor before making changes to your diet.

Source: news.ucr.edu

WEIGHT LOSS

There May Not Be a Safe Off-ramp for Some Taking GLP-1 Drugs, Study Suggests

GLP-1 drugs like Zepbound are helping people lose weight and improve heart health. But a new study shows problems can happen when people stop taking them.

In the study, 670 people who were overweight or obese took tirzepatide for 36 weeks. Then half stayed on the drug, and the other half stopped and took a placebo. Everyone was told to keep eating fewer calories and stay active.

Of those who lost at least 10% of their weight, 82% gained back 25% or more after stopping the drug. Some gained back over half of the weight they lost. As weight came back, so did health problems like high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and high cholesterol.

About 18% of people didn’t gain much weight back. A small number even kept losing weight. But doctors couldn’t explain why they did better.

Some experts say these drugs should be called “weight management” drugs, not “weight loss” drugs, because people may need to take them long-term—like blood pressure pills.

Right now, there is no proven way to safely stop these drugs. Slowly reducing the dose or increasing exercise might help, but we need more research.

For now, people should not expect to take a GLP-1 drug for just a short time. Talk to your doctor before stopping any medication.

Source: arstechnica.com

HEALTH

The Shutdown is About to End. Will Millions Lose Their Health Insurance?

Millions of Americans who rely on Affordable Care Act (ACA or “Obamacare”) plans could soon face much higher insurance costs. That’s because extra tax credits—put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic—are set to expire at the end of 2025 unless Congress acts.

These pandemic-era subsidies helped lower premiums for about 22 million people. If they disappear, monthly costs could rise by over $1,000 a year for many. Those earning more than 4 times the federal poverty level (about $62,600 for a single person or $128,600 for a family of four) may lose all financial help.

Lower-income Americans would still get the original ACA support, but it won’t go as far.

The uncertainty may cause healthier people to drop coverage, experts warn. If that happens, insurance companies could raise rates again in 2027 to cover the cost of serving a sicker group of patients. Some insurers may even leave the ACA marketplaces.

People most at risk include entrepreneurs, farmers, and gig workers—anyone without employer health benefits. Some may try to switch to cheaper “bronze” plans, which have lower monthly premiums but higher out-of-pocket costs.

A final decision is expected in December. If Congress doesn’t extend the subsidies, millions could be forced to choose between paying more or losing coverage.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and not intended as financial or legal advice. Talk to a licensed advisor about your options.

Source: usatoday.com

Music Eases Surgery and Speeds Recovery. Research Found Patients Exposed to Music Required Lower Doses of Propofol and Fentanyl. They Experienced Smoother Recoveries, Lower Cortisol or Stress-hormone Levels and a Much Better Control of Blood Pressure During the Surgery

A new study from India shows that music can help people during surgery and may speed up healing afterward. Even when people are fully asleep under anesthesia, their brains can still hear music.

Doctors in Delhi studied 56 adults getting gallbladder surgery. All the patients were given the same drugs to keep them asleep and pain-free. But only half of them listened to soft flute or piano music through headphones. The other half wore headphones with no sound.

The results were surprising. People who listened to music needed less of two strong drugs: propofol (to stay asleep) and fentanyl (for pain). They also had lower stress hormone levels, better blood pressure control, and woke up more clearly and calmly after surgery.

Surgery can be very stressful for the body, even when you're unconscious. The heart beats faster, blood pressure rises, and stress chemicals increase. Music seems to help calm these reactions.

Doctors believe the brain can still respond to sounds while we sleep, even if we don’t remember them. Music may help the brain stay more relaxed during surgery, which could lead to faster healing and fewer side effects.

Music has already been used in other types of care, like mental health and stroke recovery. Now, it may also help in the operating room.

This simple, low-cost idea could change how hospitals care for patients.

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

Source: bbc.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.