12/13/24 - #282

Author

Health Horizon. Herald Staff
December 13, 2024

Good morning. In today’s edition:

  • Vegetarians and Vegans Consume Slightly More Processed Foods Than Meat Eaters, Sparking Debate on Diet Quality. UPFs Are Industrially Formulated Items Primarily Made From Substances Extracted From Food or Synthesized in Laboratories

  • The Weight-loss Drug Boom Has Become One of the Internet's Biggest Scams

  • Alcohol-related Deaths in the US More Than Double From 1999 to 2020

  • A New Study Finds That Broken Sleep is a Hallmark Sign of Living With the Most Common Liver Disease

…and lots more. Have a great day!

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FOOD & NUTRITION

Vegetarians and Vegans Consume Slightly More Processed Foods Than Meat Eaters, Sparking Debate on Diet Quality. UPFs Are Industrially Formulated Items Primarily Made From Substances Extracted From Food or Synthesized in Laboratories

A new study from Imperial College London has found that vegetarians and vegans might be eating more ultra-processed foods (UPFs) than people who eat meat. The research looked at what 200,000 people eat, using data from the UK Biobank. It showed that vegetarians have a higher amount of UPFs in their diet compared to those who eat meat sometimes or eat fish.

UPFs are foods that are heavily altered from their natural form. They often have added fats, sugars, salts, and artificial ingredients. Examples include cookies from the store, ice cream, and ready-to-eat meals. These ingredients aren't usually in homemade meals and can take the place of healthier food choices.

Eating lots of UPFs can lead to serious health problems like obesity, heart disease, and even a shorter life span. There is a concern about the rise in plant-based UPFs, like plant milks and meat substitutes. They are marketed as healthy and eco-friendly.

Eating more plant-based foods can help the planet. But, the researchers stress the importance of choosing minimally processed foods. This is key to benefiting our health and the environment.

This study adds to a debate about UPFs in our diets. Some experts say we need more research before advising people to cut them out completely. The conversation continues about how to balance our diets with whole and less processed foods, no matter what kind of diet we follow.

WEIGHT LOSS

The Weight-loss Drug Boom Has Become One of the Internet's Biggest Scams

The weight-loss drugs Wegovy and Ozempic are becoming more popular. Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk are making more of these drugs because many people want them. But there aren't enough to meet the demand, and this has caused a big problem with scams on the internet.

Eli Lilly is spending $3 billion to make more obesity drugs in Wisconsin. Even with this, there are still not enough drugs, and this shortage has led to many fake offers online. Websites and social media pages promise to sell these drugs cheaply without needing a doctor's prescription. However, many of these offers are scams. People might end up with fake drugs or nothing at all.

Some of these fake drugs have caused serious health issues. Novo Nordisk reported several cases where people were hospitalized or even died because of these counterfeit drugs.

Social media sites are trying to stop these scams by shutting down fake accounts. But it's hard because new fake accounts keep appearing. It's like playing a game where you try to hit the fake accounts down, but they just pop up somewhere else.

Experts warn everyone to be careful. They advise buying these drugs only with a proper prescription from a doctor. The popularity of these drugs is growing, and so is the need for social media and online markets to protect people from scams.

HEALTH

Alcohol-related Deaths in the US More Than doubled from 1999 to 2020

From 1999 to 2020, alcohol-related deaths in the U.S. doubled. This raised serious concerns. A study from Florida Atlantic University found that alcohol-related deaths rose from about 19,356 in 1999 to 48,870 in 2020.

The biggest rise was in young adults aged 25 to 34. Deaths in this group almost quadrupled. The group aged 55 to 64 saw the highest death rates and the most significant rise over time. Although men typically had higher death rates, the number of deaths among women rose more in comparison, increasing by 2.5 times.

The Midwest saw the highest rise in alcohol-related deaths. Next were the Northeast, West, and South. These differences suggest that public health efforts need to be tailored to fit specific areas and groups.

One key concern is the rise in alcohol use among women, linked to targeted advertising. Women are generally more affected by alcohol due to body differences, leading to higher alcohol levels in the blood. This can worsen mental health issues like depression and anxiety, which are more common in women.

Dr. Panagiota “Yiota” Kitsantas from FAU highlighted the need for specific actions to tackle this growing problem. Health experts should screen for alcohol use in check-ups. The U.S. has high obesity and low exercise rates, which worsen alcohol's effects.

This research points out a major public health issue and suggests directions for future studies and health policies.

A New Study Finds That Broken Sleep is a Hallmark Sign of Living With the Most Common Liver Disease

Have you ever noticed waking up a lot at night and not being able to go back to sleep? It might be more than just stress or bad sleep habits. Recent research shows that this kind of sleep trouble could be a sign of the most common liver disease, called metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).

This disease is pretty common worldwide and often goes along with other health issues like obesity and diabetes. Scientists from the University of Basel looked into how people with MASLD sleep compared to healthy people. They used a special method called actigraphy, which tracks sleep patterns for several weeks.

The results were clear. People with MASLD had worse sleep than healthy people. They woke up more at night and spent longer awake after. Even though they spent about the same amount of time in bed, they felt like they didn’t sleep as much.

One finding was interesting. A single session on better sleep didn't help people with MASLD. So, just trying to improve sleep habits might not be enough for those with this liver condition.

This study helps us understand why people with MASLD have such a hard time at night. It also shows that we need better ways to help them sleep better, which might improve their liver health too. If you're struggling with sleep, consider talking to your doctor about your liver health as well.

✢ 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.