Good morning. In today’s edition:

• Are There Risks to Eating Lots of Garlic?

• What Triggered You to Lose Weight?

• FDA Moves to Pull Common Drug Used by Pork Industry, Citing Human Cancer Risk

• Study Has Revealed That 20 Minutes of Morning Moderate Intensity Exercise Can Improve Cognitive Function in People Who Are Sleep Deprived and Have Low Levels of Oxygen

…and lots more. Have a great day!

FOOD & NUTRITION

Are There Risks to Eating Lots of Garlic?

Garlic is great for health. It helps control blood sugar, lowers blood pressure, and can even prevent heart issues. But eating too much garlic can have some downsides.

One concern is that garlic can thin your blood. This is good for preventing clots and heart issues. However, if you're on blood-thinning medicines or are about to have surgery, too much garlic can increase bleeding risk.

Another common issue with garlic is bad breath. You can fix this by brushing, using mouthwash, or chewing mint. These tips aren't always easy to follow right after eating, but they help.

Garlic can also affect the smell of your sweat and make you dizzy, especially if you take blood pressure medicine. It might lower your blood pressure more than you want.

Garlic can also upset your stomach. It can cause bloating, gas, and diarrhea, particularly if eaten without other food. Eating garlic with meals can help avoid these problems.

Additionally, garlic can worsen acid reflux or heartburn. This happens when it relaxes the muscle that keeps food in your stomach.

How much garlic should you eat? It's best to have just one or two cloves a day, and not more than three. Remember, it's important not to eat too much garlic.

Source: Dr. Anil Rajani

WEIGHT LOSS

What Triggered You to Lose Weight?

Big news from the Mayo Clinic! They found out something new about why people want to lose weight. It's not about looking good anymore. Now, 83% of people say they want to be healthier. This is a big change!

Women are really into this new way of thinking. 67% of those who are super motivated to lose weight are women. Take Becky Hubbard, for example. She wants to be healthy before she and her husband have kids. She's not the only one thinking this way. Many people, especially after the pandemic, are focusing more on being healthy than just looking good.

Exercise habits are changing too. With online classes and different kinds of workouts, it's easier to exercise whenever you want. Becky changed her meal sizes and started hiking. She's lost over 40 pounds and feels much healthier.

Experts say that wanting to be healthy for yourself is what helps you lose weight and keep it off. It's not just about how you look. Dr. Azar from the study says that feeling good inside is what really matters. Even people who weren't super excited about losing weight still lost a good amount.

So, the main point? If you want to lose weight, think about being healthy inside. This way of thinking helps you lose weight and stay healthy longer. It's not just about looking good, but feeling good too.

Source: TODAY

HEALTH

FDA Moves to Pull Common Drug Used by Pork Industry, Citing Human Cancer Risk

The FDA, which checks the safety of our food, wants to stop using a drug called carbadox in pork farming. This drug has been used for a long time to keep pigs healthy and help them grow. But now, there's worry that it might cause cancer in people who eat pork products like hot dogs and sausages.

The FDA has been looking into this problem for almost 10 years. They say that even though they're concerned, people don't need to stop eating pork right now. Back in 1998, the FDA thought they had a good way to make sure pork was safe from the drug. But now, they say that way isn't good enough to tell if there's a cancer risk.

Countries like those in Europe and Canada stopped using carbadox a long time ago because they were worried about it too. Some people wonder why the FDA didn't stop using it earlier.

The company that makes carbadox, Phibro, isn't happy with the FDA's decision. They say it's not based on good science. They've tried to talk to the FDA and suggest other ways to check if the drug is safe.

The National Pork Producers Council is also worried. They say not using carbadox could make many pigs sick and cost a lot of money. They're also concerned that farmers might have to use other drugs that could make some germs stronger.

Phibro might ask the FDA to think again about their decision. They want to help farmers keep using carbadox to protect their pigs.

Source: cbsnews.com

Study Has Revealed That 20 Minutes of Morning Moderate Intensity Exercise Can Improve Cognitive Function in People Who Are Sleep Deprived and Have Low Levels of Oxygen

Did you know that a short morning workout can make your brain sharper, even if you didn't sleep well? A new study has found this exciting fact!

The study, done by the University of Portsmouth and others, looked at how exercise, sleep, and oxygen levels affect our brains. It turns out that many adults don't get enough sleep, which can cause health problems and make it hard to concentrate.

The researchers found that just 20 minutes of exercise, like cycling, can help your brain work better. This is true even if you didn't sleep much or the oxygen level is low. Dr. Joe Costello, who led the study, says this is the first time we've seen that exercise helps our brains after both a little and a lot of sleep loss.

In the study, 24 people did two experiments. First, some people slept only five hours for a few nights. They then did some brain tasks, before and after cycling. The second group stayed awake all night and then went into a room with less oxygen. In both groups, people did better on tasks after exercising.

This study tells us that exercise helps our brains in many ways. It's great news for everyone, like travelers, parents with young kids, or people who work at night. The researchers want to learn more about this and include more types of people in their studies.

So, remember, a quick exercise in the morning might be just what you need after a night of tossing and turning!

Source: port.ac.uk

✢ 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.