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Here's the latest research on processed red meat, cancer, sleep, GLP-1s, and more.
- Does processed red meat harm your brain?
- Can vitamin D improve COPD or asthma?
- Do GLP-1 drugs increase the risk of thyroid cancer?
- Does being cold boost your appetite?
- Should you eat carbs last?
- Does mouth taping help sleep apnea?
- Foods linked to colorectal cancer risk
- Can semaglutide help people with alcohol use disorder?
Does processed red meat harm your brain?
Can processed red meats like sausage, ham, and bacon harm your brain?
Scientists followed 133,771 health professionals for roughly 30 to 40 years. Those who consumed the most processed red meat (they averaged at least ¼ serving a day) had a 13 percent higher risk of dementia than those who ate the least (less than ¹⁄10 serving a day). And when 17,458 of the participants took six memory tests, those who ate the most processed red meat showed an additional 0.82 years of cognitive aging compared to those who ate the least.
What to do
This kind of study can’t prove that processed red meats cause dementia because something else about people who eat them may explain their link with cognitive decline. But processed meats also cause cancer, says the International Agency for Research on Cancer. ‘Nuf said.
Can vitamin D improve COPD or asthma?
Does vitamin D prevent breathing difficulties in people with COPD or asthma?
Researchers randomly assigned 3,632 people aged 50 or older (men) or 55 or older (women) with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and/or asthma to take vitamin D (2,000 IU) or a placebo every day.
After five years, the vitamin D takers were no less likely to have COPD or asthma flare-ups than the placebo takers.
What to do
Got COPD or asthma? Don’t expect extra vitamin D to reduce flare-ups.
Do GLP-1 drugs increase the risk of thyroid cancer?
GLP-1 drugs like semaglutide and tirzepatide (sold as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound) carry a warning about thyroid tumors based on animal studies. But the risk to humans is unclear.
Researchers compared thyroid cancer risk in 98,147 people with type 2 diabetes who were using GLP-1 drugs to the risk in 2,488,303 people using dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors like sitagliptin (Januvia) and linagliptin (Tradjenta). (Some of the authors had previous research funded by Novo Nordisk, which makes semaglutide.)
After roughly two to three years, the GLP-1 drug takers had no higher risk of thyroid cancer than those who took the other diabetes drugs.
What to do
This study is too short to be definitive, but it’s good news for GLP-1 takers. Ask your doctor about the drugs’ risks and benefits for you.
Does being cold boost your appetite?
Do you eat more when you’re cold?
Researchers had 47 adults with excess weight aged 18 to 55 spend 24 hours in an enclosed chamber at room temperature (74°F) and another 24 hours in the cold (66°F). On both days, they had unlimited access to free food from vending machines.
On average, the participants ate roughly 400 more calories on the cold day, even though they burned no extra calories that day.
What to do
Stay tuned. This study suggests that cold may boost appetite, but it’s too early to say.
Should you eat carbs last?
Eating carbs at the end of a meal may keep a lid on blood sugar if you have type 2 diabetes.
Researchers provided three meals a day to 20 people taking metformin for their diabetes. For six days, they were told to eat high-fiber vegetables and protein first and carbs last. And for six more days, they were told to reverse the order.
Their peak post-meal blood sugar levels were 44 percent lower when they ate the carbs last.
What to do
Got type 2 diabetes? Try eating carbs last.
Does mouth taping help sleep apnea?
Got sleep apnea? Tape your mouth closed, say thousands of TikTok posts. Not so fast.
Researchers studied 54 people with apnea who had high, moderate, or near-zero levels of breathing through their mouth.
Mouth closure had no impact on the 10 people with near-zero mouth breathing, and it improved airflow in the 32 people with moderate levels. But closure worsened airflow in the 12 people with high levels of mouth breathing.
Many had an obstruction in the soft palate at the back of the throat, which is likely what forced them to breathe through their mouth while asleep.
What to do
Mouth taping may make your sleep apnea better, worse, or no different. Check with your doctor.
Foods linked to colorectal cancer risk
Which foods are linked to a higher—or lower—risk of colorectal cancer?
Researchers followed 542,778 women for 16 years. Each 20 grams of alcohol a day (about 1½ servings) was linked to a 15 percent higher risk, and each ounce of red or processed meat was linked to an 8 percent higher risk.
In contrast, dairy milk and yogurt were linked to a lower risk. Those links were largely driven by calcium, said the scientists. Every 300 milligrams of calcium a day was linked to a 17 percent lower risk.
What to do
This study can’t prove what causes or prevents colorectal cancer, because something else about people who eat those foods may explain the links.
However, the International Agency for Research on Cancer has concluded that alcohol and processed meats cause colorectal cancer, so it’s worth limiting both.
And aim for the recommended intakes of calcium, which are designed to protect your bones. That’s 1,000 mg a day, rising to 1,200 mg a day at age 50 for women and at age 70 for men.
Can semaglutide help people with alcohol use disorder?
Can semaglutide (sold as Ozempic for diabetes and Wegovy for obesity) help people with alcohol use disorder (AUD)?
Researchers examined hospitalization records on 227,868 people with AUD over roughly nine years. Among the 4,321 semaglutide takers, the risk of being hospitalized for alcohol-related problems was 36 percent lower while they were taking the drug (for obesity or diabetes) than when they weren’t.
What to do
This study can’t prove that semaglutide prevents AUD hospitalizations because something else about those who take the drug may explain their lower risk. But clinical trials testing semaglutide or tirzepatide versus a placebo can determine whether the drugs help people with AUD. Stay tuned.
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