Good morning. In today’s edition:

• CDC Wants to Fortify Corn Masa Flour With Folic Acid to Prevent Birth Defects

• Some Doctors Are Ditching the Scale, Saying Focusing on Weight Drives Misdiagnoses

• 6+ Hours/Day of Sedentary Leisure Time Linked to Doubling in Fibroids Risk | Risk Seems to Be Linear in Women Who’ve Not Yet Gone Through Menopause

• New Research Provides Evidence That Heightened Variability in Sleep Patterns, Rather Than Just Average Sleep Duration, is Significantly Associated With Cognitive Impairment in Older Adults

…and lots more. Have a great day!

FOOD & NUTRITION

CDC Wants to Fortify Corn Masa Flour With Folic Acid to Prevent Birth Defects

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) wants to add folic acid to corn masa flour. This is to help stop birth defects in babies, particularly in the Latino community. Each year, about 3,000 babies in the U.S. are born with neural tube defects (NTDs) like spina bifida and anencephaly. These are serious health problems that happen when the baby's spine and brain don't develop right.

Folate, a type of Vitamin B9, is really important for healthy baby development. But, it's hard to get enough from just eating fruits and vegetables because cooking can destroy it. That's where folic acid comes in. It's a form of folate that doesn't get ruined by heat or light, so it's great for adding to foods.

For over 20 years, foods like bread and cereal have had folic acid added to them. But, corn masa flour, which is used a lot in Latino diets to make things like tortillas, hasn't had folic acid added. The CDC wants to change this. They say it's important because not all families eat lots of bread or cereal, and some don't take vitamin supplements.

Adding folic acid to corn masa flour could help more people get the nutrients they need, especially those who might become pregnant. This could prevent many birth defects. The CDC's goal is to make sure everyone has access to the vitamins they need for healthy babies.

Source: tpr.org

WEIGHT LOSS

Some Doctors Are Ditching the Scale, Saying Focusing on Weight Drives Misdiagnoses

Imagine going to the doctor because of a thumb injury, but instead of getting help for your thumb, the doctor tells you to lose weight. This happened to Sarah Barak in Seattle. She knew her weight wasn't the reason her thumb was hurt, but the doctor focused on it anyway. Sarah found it really tiring to always have to speak up for herself.

Doctors often use weight to judge health. A high body mass index (BMI) can be a sign of health problems like heart disease. But focusing only on weight can make people miss important health checks. Sometimes, doctors might not find other health problems if they only think about weight.

Now, some doctors are changing how they do things. They are trying not to focus only on weight. The American Medical Association tells doctors to look at other things too, like a person's genes and blood sugar.

In Seattle, Dr. Tess Moore makes everyone feel welcome at her clinic, no matter their size. She doesn't tell people to lose weight to fix health problems. Instead, she talks about the good things exercise and healthy food can do, no matter if you lose weight or not.

Still, weight loss can be helpful for some health problems, like diabetes. Doctors like Ellen Schur believe in talking about weight loss in a kind and helpful way.

But the main thing is, everyone, no matter their size, should feel listened to and respected at the doctor's office.

Source: npr.org

HEALTH

6+ Hours/Day of Sedentary Leisure Time Linked to Doubling in Fibroids Risk | Risk Seems to Be Linear in Women Who’ve Not Yet Gone Through Menopause

A new study in the BMJ Open journal says that women who sit a lot every day might have a higher chance of getting non-cancerous growths called uterine fibroids. This is especially true for women who haven't gone through menopause yet.

Uterine fibroids are lumps that grow in the womb. They usually don't cause problems, but sometimes they can lead to pain or other health issues.

The study looked at 6,623 women between 30 and 55 years old. These women hadn't experienced menopause. Researchers checked how much time these women spent doing things like reading, playing board games, or watching TV.

They found something interesting. Women who spent six or more hours every day doing these sitting activities were twice as likely to have uterine fibroids compared to women who sat less than two hours a day.

Why does this happen? The study thinks it might be because sitting a lot can change estrogen levels in the body. Estrogen is a hormone that can make fibroids grow. Also, sitting too much can lead to weight gain, which is another risk factor for fibroids.

The study doesn't say sitting causes fibroids, but there is a strong link. Reducing the time spent sitting could help lower the chance of these growths.

It's a good idea for women to try to move more and sit less. This might be a simple way to stay healthier and reduce the risk of uterine fibroids.

Source: eurekalert.org

New Research Provides Evidence That Heightened Variability in Sleep Patterns, Rather Than Just Average Sleep Duration, is Significantly Associated With Cognitive Impairment in Older Adults

Did you know changing how you sleep can affect your brain, especially when you're older? A recent study has found that if your sleep pattern changes a lot, it could be linked to memory and thinking problems in older adults.

Researchers looked at information from 826 people, who were about 76 years old on average. These people were part of a big study called the Seattle Longitudinal Study. They answered questions about their sleep and took brain function tests for many years.

The study found that people who frequently changed their sleep time had more problems with memory and thinking. They would sometimes sleep more and sometimes sleep less. This was more important than just sleeping too little. So, having a regular sleep pattern matters a lot.

Jeffrey Iliff, a professor, conducted a study. He explained, "Sleep problems can increase the risk of Alzheimer's.""

This research is really helpful. It tells us we should not only try to get enough sleep but also keep our sleep time steady. Good sleep is as important as healthy eating and exercising for our health, especially as we get older.

The study isn’t perfect because it mostly used what people said about their sleep, which might not always be accurate. Future studies could use sleep trackers for better information.

In short, if you want to keep your brain healthy as you age, try to get enough sleep and keep your sleep schedule the same. It can make a big difference!

Source: psypost.org

✢ 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.