Good morning. In today’s edition:

• Experts Say We've Become Dependent on Ultra-processed Foods. How Did We Get Here?

• My Weight Loss Snack

• A Recent Study Has Uncovered a Strong Connection Between ADHD and Hoarding Disorder

• Cutting a Teaspoon of Salt is Comparable to Taking Blood Pressure Medication

…and lots more. Have a great day!

FOOD & NUTRITION

Experts Say We've Become Dependent on Ultra-processed Foods. How Did We Get Here?

Australians are eating more packaged foods like frozen pizzas, sugary cereals, and soda. These foods are quick to make and cheap, but they're not the healthiest choice.

Why do we eat so much of this stuff? It all started a long time ago. In the early 1900s, companies began adding things to food to make them last longer. But some of these things were bad for our health. During World War II, the need for food that could last a long time and be easy to carry increased. This led to more canned and packaged foods.

After the war, food companies had to convince people that packaged food was as good as homemade food. Fast food restaurants, like McDonald's, and microwaves made this easier.

Recently, scientists created a system to tell us how processed a food is. The most processed ones, like chips, are called "ultra-processed." They can't be made at home and are often not so good for us.

But why do we still eat them? One big reason is they're cheaper. Professor Amanda Lee says in Australia, families spend a lot of their food money on these types of food. Changing this habit is hard, especially when money is tight.

But there's hope. New technologies are helping make healthier packaged foods. This could mean better food choices for everyone, even in remote areas where fresh food is hard to get. So, even though packaged foods are popular, we can still make healthier choices.

Source: abc.net.au

WEIGHT LOSS

My Weight Loss Snack

If you're over 45 and looking to lose weight, picking the right snacks is important. Here's a quick guide to help you choose.

Peanut Butter: A Good Pick Peanut butter is a great snack for losing weight. It has only a little sugar, just one gram per serving. Just check the label to make sure there's no added sugar.

Fruit: Be Careful Fruits like apples and berries are healthy but can slow down weight loss because they're sweet. It's better to eat them after you've reached your weight goal.

Hummus: Zero Sugar Hummus is another good snack. It doesn't have any sugar, so it's a healthy choice.

Protein Bars and Yogurt: Watch the Sugar Even though protein bars and yogurt might seem healthy, they can have a lot of sugar. Plain yogurt can have up to 20 grams of sugar per cup.

Cheese: A Better Option Cheese is a smart snack choice because the way it's made reduces the sugar.

Best Snack Pairings Instead of bread or crackers, try celery with your peanut butter or carrots with your hummus. Vegetables are a better option.

Avoid Bloating Foods If certain foods, even healthy ones, make you bloated, they might stop you from losing weight. Pay attention to how your body feels and change your diet if needed.

Remember, choosing the right snacks can make a big difference in your weight loss journey.

Source: Dr. Eric Berg DC

HEALTH

A Recent Study Has Uncovered a Strong Connection Between ADHD and Hoarding Disorder

Do you know about ADHD and hoarding disorder? A new study shows that adults with ADHD are more likely to have hoarding problems than those with OCD or no mental health issues.

Hoarding disorder means having trouble throwing away things and keeping too much stuff at home. It's different from OCD and has been its own mental health issue since 2013.

In the study, led by Dr. Giacomo Grassi from Italy, 157 adults were looked at. There were 57 with ADHD, 50 with OCD, and 50 without these conditions. The team used special tests to check for different symptoms.

They found that about 32% of adults with ADHD also had hoarding problems. This was a lot more than in those with OCD (8%) or without any disorder (4%). Even when looking at specific hoarding habits like not being able to throw away things and having too much clutter, ADHD folks still had more problems.

The study also found that ADHD people with hoarding issues had worse ADHD symptoms and were more impulsive. This was true whether they were taking medicine or not.

However, the study had a small number of people, so more research is needed to understand these findings better.

So, what's the big message? If you or someone you know has ADHD, it's important to know about the risk of hoarding. This can help in getting the right help and treatment. Doctors should keep an eye out for hoarding problems in people with ADHD.

Source: psypost.org

Cutting a Teaspoon of Salt is Comparable to Taking Blood Pressure Medication

Did you know that eating less salt can be as helpful as blood pressure medicine? A new study says so.

Our bodies need some salt to work right. It helps our muscles and nerves. But too much salt can lead to high blood pressure, which is bad for our heart and can cause strokes.

Researchers found that if you eat one teaspoon less of salt every day, your blood pressure can go down a lot. This is just like what happens when people take medicine for high blood pressure.

When we eat too much salt, our bodies hold more water. This makes more blood in our veins and raises our blood pressure. Over time, this can hurt our heart and other organs.

In the study, people who ate one teaspoon less salt each day had lower blood pressure in a week. This was true even for those on blood pressure medicine.

A teaspoon of salt has about 2,300 mg of sodium. Most people eat around 3,400 mg of sodium daily. Cutting a teaspoon of salt means eating a lot less sodium than usual.

Eating less salt might sound hard, but it's a big step for your health. It's an easy way to take care of your heart and blood vessels.

Source: npr.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.