Good morning. In today’s edition:

• When to Eat White Rice Vs Brown Rice?

• Being Overweight Hampers Body’s Immune Response to SARS-CoV-2: Research Shows Being Overweight Can Impair the Body’s Antibody Response to SARS-CoV-2 Infection but Not to the Protection Offered by Vaccination

• FDA Approves Gene-editing Treatment for Sickle Cell Disease

• Couples May Share High Blood Pressure, New Study Claims

…and lots more. Have a great day!

FOOD & NUTRITION

When to Eat White Rice Vs Brown Rice?

Have you ever wondered if white rice or brown rice is better for your health? Let's look at the differences to help you decide.

White rice is the more processed kind. They take away its bran, germ, and husk, leaving mostly carbs. This means it doesn't have many nutrients, like B vitamins, which are important for our health.

Brown rice is less processed and keeps these nutritious parts. It has more vitamins and minerals, so it's healthier. It also doesn't make your blood sugar rise as quickly as white rice. But, both types can raise your blood sugar, so be careful if you're trying to lose weight.

There's a catch with brown rice, though. It has something called phytates, which are good because they're antioxidants, but they can also grab onto minerals and make them hard for your body to use. Also, brown rice can have arsenic, a harmful substance that can make you feel sick with headaches or tiredness.

So, which should you eat? Brown rice has more good stuff in it but also has arsenic. White rice has less arsenic but doesn't have many nutrients and can raise your blood sugar. If you're looking for health benefits, brown rice might be better, but try not to eat too much of it.

It's important to choose what's right for you and your body.

Source: Dr. Eric Berg DC

WEIGHT LOSS

Being Overweight Hampers Body’s Immune Response to SARS-CoV-2: Research Shows Being Overweight Can Impair the Body’s Antibody Response to SARS-CoV-2 Infection but Not to the Protection Offered by Vaccination

Scientists at the University of Queensland discovered something important about weight and COVID-19. They learned that if you're overweight, your body doesn't fight off the COVID-19 virus as well as it should. But, if you're vaccinated, being overweight doesn't stop the vaccine from working.

The leader of this study, Marcus Tong, and his team studied people who had gotten over COVID-19. After they got better, they found that heavier people had weaker immune systems. After 13 months, these people still had fewer of the special cells that fight COVID-19.

Kirsty Short, an expert on the team, says this finding is really important for health advice. People who are overweight might get sicker from COVID-19 and could catch it again easier. This means they should really get vaccinated.

The research suggests that health tips should be more specific. The tips should target people who are overweight. This is not just for COVID-19, but for other diseases in the future too. It also shows that getting vaccines to people in poorer countries is very important. Many people there are overweight and rely on their own body's defense against the virus.

This study tells us that keeping a healthy weight isn't just good for your overall health. It also helps your body fight diseases like COVID-19 better.

Source: eurekalert.org

HEALTH

FDA Approves Gene-editing Treatment for Sickle Cell Disease

The FDA has approved a new treatment for sickle cell disease, which is great news for the 100,000 people in the U.S. with this condition. This treatment uses a special method called gene-editing.

Sickle cell disease changes red blood cells from round to a stiff, sickle shape. This can block blood flow and prevent oxygen from reaching all parts of the body. It causes a lot of pain and can lead to serious health issues like bone damage, strokes, and organ problems.

Johnny Lubin, a 15-year-old from Connecticut, has sickle cell disease. He got it from both of his parents and often had to go to the hospital because of it.

When Johnny's parents heard about a new trial using gene editing, they were hopeful. In this trial, doctors took cells from Johnny, changed them in a lab using a tool called CRISPR, and then put them back into his body.

Dr. Monica Bhatia, Johnny's doctor, says this treatment increases a special kind of hemoglobin in the blood. This helps reduce the symptoms of sickle cell disease.

After spending five tough weeks in the hospital and missing six months of school, Johnny is now much better. He even joked about getting superpowers from his new cells!

The treatment, named Casgevy, was developed by two companies. It's very expensive and not a guaranteed cure. It can't stop the disease from being passed to kids. But for many like Johnny, it offers hope for a healthier life.

Source: cbsnews.com

Couples May Share High Blood Pressure, New Study Claims

Did you know if you have high blood pressure, your partner might have it too? A big study found that many older couples living together share this health issue.

Researchers looked at couples who were middle-aged or older from the US, England, China, and India. They discovered that in 20% to 47% of these couples, both people had high blood pressure.

This was a huge study, including thousands of couples. In the US, over 35% of couples older than 50 both had high blood pressure. The numbers were different in other countries. For example, in England, almost half of the couples had high blood pressure, while in China and India, it was about 20%.

In some countries, if one partner had high blood pressure, the other was more likely to have it too. This was especially true in China and India. The researchers think this might be because in these countries, families often do things together, affecting each other's health.

However, the study had some limits. It only checked blood pressure once and only looked at men and women couples.

Even with these limits, the study is important. It shows that treating high blood pressure might work better if both partners in a couple are involved.

High blood pressure is a big risk for heart disease. So, it's important for both you and your partner to watch your blood pressure!

Source: euronews.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.