12/24/24 - #289

Author

Health Horizon. Herald Staff
December 24, 2024

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Good morning. In today’s edition:

  • Researchers Found That Vegetarians Consuming Plant-based Meat Alternatives (PBMAs) Had a 42% Increased Risk of Depression Compared to Those Who Did Not. PBMAs Are Considered Ultra-processed Foods and May Be Associated With Similar Harms

  • FDA Approves Weight Loss Drug Zepbound for Sleep Apnea

  • A Study Links Higher Urinary Arsenic Levels to Hearing Loss in U.S. Adults, Especially at Low and Speech Frequencies

  • Caffeine Can Disrupt Your Sleep — Even When Consumed 12 Hours Before Bed. While a 100 mg Dose of Caffeine (1 Cup of Coffee) Can Be Consumed Up to 4 Hours Before Bedtime Without Significant Effects on Sleep, a 400 mg Dose (4 Cups of Coffee) Disrupts Sleep When Taken Up to 12 Hours Before Bedtime

…and lots more. Have a great day!

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FOOD & NUTRITION

Researchers Found That Vegetarians Consuming Plant-based Meat Alternatives (PBMAs) Had a 42% Increased Risk of Depression Compared to Those Who Did Not. PBMAs Are Considered Ultra-processed Foods and May Be Associated With Similar Harms

Is fake meat good for us? A new study shows that vegetarians who eat plant-based meats may be more at risk for depression.

Researchers at the University of Surrey found that vegetarians who eat meat substitutes are 42% more likely to get depressed than those who don't. The study, published in Food Frontiers, did not find big differences in salt, sugar, or fat intake between the two groups. But it did notice that those eating meat alternatives had higher blood pressure and more signs of body inflammation. They also had lower levels of a good cholesterol protein. On a positive note, these people were less likely to suffer from irritable bowel syndrome by 40%.

Professor Nophar Geifman said that these findings mean plant-based meat alternatives can fit into a healthy diet. But, the link between these foods and depression needs more study.

The study mostly looked at white people in the UK. It only checked their diet at the start, ignoring changes over time. Professor Tony Whetton said that plant-based meats can help people switch to a vegetarian diet. They are also better for the environment. However, we need more research on how these foods affect our mood.

This study shows that choosing what we eat, especially when it comes to meat substitutes, can have big effects on our health.

WEIGHT LOSS

FDA Approves Weight Loss Drug Zepbound for Sleep Apnea

The FDA has approved a new drug called Zepbound to treat sleep apnea in adults who are very overweight. This is the first time a drug has been approved for this common problem, which affects about 39 million people in the U.S.

Zepbound was made by a company called Eli Lilly. It was already being used to help people lose weight. The company hopes that now more insurance companies will help pay for it because it's quite expensive.

Sleep apnea is often just thought of as loud snoring, but it's much more serious than that. It happens when the airway gets blocked repeatedly during sleep, making it hard to breathe. This can lead to other serious health issues like heart disease and diabetes if not treated. Being very overweight can make it worse.

In studies, Zepbound helped people lose about 20% of their body weight, and this helped reduce their sleep apnea symptoms a lot.

Usually, sleep apnea is treated with machines that help keep the airway open at night, like CPAP machines. Some people find these machines uncomfortable. Zepbound offers a new way to treat sleep apnea without a machine. It's a shot given once a week.

Doctors are excited about this new drug but say more research is needed to fully understand how it works. They think it might help people not only by making them lose weight but also in other ways that they are still studying. This could mean a better night's sleep for many.

HEALTH

A Study Links Higher Urinary Arsenic Levels to Hearing Loss in U.S. Adults, Especially at Low and Speech Frequencies

Recent research has found a troubling link between arsenic exposure and hearing loss in U.S. adults. It studied data from 2015-2016 and included adults aged 20 to 69. It found that people with more arsenic in their urine often had worse hearing, especially in low and normal speaking tones.

Arsenic is a harmful metal that can get into drinking water and food, posing health risks. The study checked the arsenic levels in the urine of over a thousand adults and tested their hearing.

The results were clear. Higher levels of a type of arsenic called dimethylarsinic acid were linked to poorer hearing. This connection did not change with age or gender. The study found that, for higher-pitched sounds, a certain level of arsenic caused no further hearing loss.

This research is important because hearing loss affects many parts of life, like talking and interacting with others. The study shows that things in our environment, like arsenic, can greatly impact our hearing health.

The findings suggest we need more research to fully understand how arsenic affects hearing and to find ways to protect people. Studies like this one are vital for keeping the public informed and safe from environmental dangers.

Caffeine Can Disrupt Your Sleep — Even When Consumed 12 Hours Before Bed. While a 100 mg Dose of Caffeine (1 Cup of Coffee) Can Be Consumed Up to 4 Hours Before Bedtime Without Significant Effects on Sleep, a 400 mg Dose (4 Cups of Coffee) Disrupts Sleep When Taken Up to 12 Hours Before Bedtime

A new study shows that drinking four cups of coffee, or 400 mg of caffeine, even 12 hours before bedtime can mess up your sleep. This finding is important because 80% of people drink caffeine regularly.

Caffeine is a common way to stay awake and fight tiredness. While we knew it could affect sleep, we didn’t know how much and when it caused the most trouble. This latest study tried to answer those questions by looking at how different amounts of caffeine taken at different times before bed affect sleep.

The research involved 23 healthy men. They tested what happens when they drank about one cup of coffee or four cups of coffee 12, 8, or 4 hours before bed.

The study found that one cup of coffee four hours before bed didn’t change sleep much. But four cups of coffee made it hard to sleep well, even if taken 12 hours before bedtime. The more coffee they drank close to bedtime, the worse the sleep problems.

Even when caffeine was taken early in the day, it still harmed sleep quality, and people often didn’t realize it.

Carissa Gardiner, the study leader, said it’s important to know how caffeine can disrupt sleep. "People often don’t realize that their sleep is being disrupted by caffeine, especially when it's consumed earlier in the day," she explained.

These findings can help us understand how to drink caffeine without harming our sleep.

✢ 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.