Good morning. In today’s edition:

• More Than Half of Calories Consumed at Home by US Adults Come From Ultra-processed Foods. Ultra-processed Foods Contain Substances With Little or No Nutritional Value, Such as Colorings, Emulsifiers, Artificial Flavors, and Sweeteners. They Are Linked to Heart Disease, Obesity, and Colorectal Cancer

• Weight-loss Drugs Draw Americans Back to the Doctor

• Patients Whose Allergies Cause the Sniffles Have Different Fungi Living in Their Noses. Researchers Found That People With Allergic Rhinitis Had a Significantly Higher Fungal Diversity and a Different Fungal Community Compared to Healthy People

• Irregular Sleep Patterns May Raise Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke, Study Suggests

…and lots more. Have a great day!

FOOD & NUTRITION

More Than Half of Calories Consumed at Home by US Adults Come From Ultra-processed Foods. Ultra-processed Foods Contain Substances With Little or No Nutritional Value, Such as Colorings, Emulsifiers, Artificial Flavors, and Sweeteners. They Are Linked to Heart Disease, Obesity, and Colorectal Cancer

A recent study from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health shows a concerning trend. More than half of the calories U.S. adults eat at home are from ultra-processed foods. These include chips, hot dogs, and ready-made meals. They have many artificial ingredients and low nutrition.

The research, which was published in the Journal of Nutrition, analyzed data from a large national survey from 2003 to 2018. It revealed that the percentage of ultra-processed foods consumed at home has increased from 51% to 54% over the years. Eating a lot of these foods is linked to serious health issues like heart disease, obesity, and colorectal cancer.

Despite the risks, people often choose ultra-processed foods. They are convenient, cheap, and last a long time. Julia Wolfson, PhD, the study's lead author, points out that the problem is bigger than just junk food. Ultra-processed foods are now a major part of what we find in grocery stores and have greatly changed the way we prepare meals at home.

The findings stress the need for better food choices. They also call for policies that promote healthy eating. The study suggests that clearer food labels could help people avoid ultra-processed foods. This could encourage them to choose healthier, less processed options. This could make a big difference in improving the nation's health.

Source: publichealth.jhu.edu

WEIGHT LOSS

Weight-loss Drugs Draw Americans Back to the Doctor

More Americans are visiting doctors thanks to new weight-loss drugs. These meds help people lose weight and find health issues, like sleep apnea, diabetes, and heart disease.

A health data company, Truveta, did research. It showed that, soon after starting a weight-loss drug called GLP-1, doctors found health problems in some patients. This study, of prescriptions from 2020 to 2024, found that these drugs are encouraging people to seek help they had avoided before due to fear of being judged for their weight.

These drugs do more than aid weight loss. They are helping patients get treatments they couldn't have before. These include knee surgeries and fertility treatments.

Doctors like Dr. Rekha Kumar from New York think this is good because people are coming back to the doctor and taking care of their health. The use of these drugs might raise health care costs at first, but catching diseases early could save money later.

Drug companies like Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly want to help people with obesity. They aim to provide access to important treatments.

With these drugs, more people are able to improve their health and get the medical care they need early. This could make health care better for everyone by finding and treating diseases sooner.

Source: reuters.com

HEALTH

Patients Whose Allergies Cause the Sniffles Have Different Fungi Living in Their Noses. Researchers Found That People With Allergic Rhinitis Had a Significantly Higher Fungal Diversity and a Different Fungal Community Compared to Healthy People

Researchers found something interesting about the fungi in the noses of people with hay fever, or allergic rhinitis. A study in Frontiers in Microbiology shows that hay fever sufferers have more types and a greater variety of fungi in their noses than healthy people.

Hay fever causes symptoms like sneezing, a stuffed or runny nose, and it often occurs with asthma. This link led scientists at the University of Porto in Portugal to explore more. They looked at the mycobiome, which is all the fungi living inside our noses.

The study involved 214 people, including kids and young adults, who visited an immunology and asthma clinic. The researchers took nose samples, extracted DNA, and identified the fungi. They found two types of fungi: Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. They can cause allergies and other health issues in humans.

They found a mix of fungi in the noses of both hay fever and asthma sufferers, and those with just hay fever. Dr. Luís Delgado, a lead researcher, said this mix might affect the nose's ability to fight diseases. It could worsen symptoms.

This finding is important. It could lead to new ways to treat or diagnose hay fever and asthma in the future. More research is needed to know how these fungi affect health. But, this study opens the door to new possibilities.

Source: scimex.org

Irregular Sleep Patterns May Raise Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke, Study Suggests

A regular sleep schedule may be more important than we thought. This is especially true for adults over 45. A new study shows that changing your sleep schedule often could raise your risk of serious heart problems, even if you get enough sleep.

Researchers looked at the sleep habits of over 72,000 adults between 40 and 79 years old. They used a Sleep Regularity Index (SRI) to check sleep schedule consistency. Those with irregular sleep patterns had a 26% higher chance of heart attacks or strokes than those who slept and woke at the same times each day.

The study followed participants for eight years, watching for heart issues and other health problems. Even those who slept the recommended seven to nine hours were at higher risk if their sleep times varied.

Jean Pierre Chaput, the study's lead author, stressed the importance of a consistent sleep schedule. He suggests trying to go to bed and wake up at about the same time every day, within an hour of your usual times. This supports your body's natural rhythms, improving heart health, mood, and brain function.

Chaput warned against trying to make up for lost sleep on weekends. It doesn't fix the negative effects of poor sleep during the week. A steady sleep pattern may help protect your heart and health. It's a simple but important way to do so.

Source: edition.cnn.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.