Good morning, and welcome to The Epoch Times Health Brief for Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. I’m Bill Thomas. We have some very compelling stories to share with you right now as we begin a brand new year together. I’m glad you’re here, and here’s what’s going on.
A very popular drug used to treat Type 2 diabetes may lead to issues involving your vision. A new study shows that eating certain foods could be beneficial for pain management, and a widespread condition related to blood sugar levels has been linked to more than 30 different diseases.
Also, new research points to a startling connection between cold weather and deaths here in the United States, and a new study says those plant-based meat alternatives might not be as healthy for you as you once thought, and we’ll tell you more.
Ozempic Users Face Double Risk of Rare Vision Loss
A new study from Denmark shows that Ozempic, which is also known as semaglutide, increases a user’s chance of developing non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), which is what doctors also describe as a “stroke of the optic nerve.”These findings suggest that using the drug more than doubles a person’s risk of developing that serious eye condition, which is characterized by sudden vision loss in one eye due to inadequate blood flow to the optic nerve. Additionally, this condition is the most common cause of sudden vision loss in people older than 50.
Researchers examined data from more than 400,000 Danish patients who were diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes to investigate the link between Ozempic use and an increased risk of this debilitating eye condition, and they determined that the use of the drug can lead to severe and permanent loss of vision.​
So you know, NAION symptoms include sudden, painless vision loss, typically in one eye; blurred vision; loss of color in your vision; and a dark shadow or blind spot in your field of view.
One doctor who took part in the study pointed out that there has been a notable increase in the number of people who have been diagnosed with NAION ever since Ozempic was introduced in Denmark six years ago.
By the way, a couple of similar studies have also found a link between Ozempic use and this eye condition, including one in the United States. Additionally, a different Danish researcher told The Epoch Times that these studies will likely trigger “quite a few” new regulatory and research actions.
However, despite these findings, he also warned against immediately stopping the use of Ozempic. He said the condition is a “serious but very rare side effect,” which is neither more serious nor more common than the rare side effects of many other medicines we continue to use.
Additionally, the drug’s manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, told The Epoch Times that after an internal safety assessment, their opinion is that the benefit-risk profile of semaglutide remains unchanged. They also said that while the studies showed roughly a doubling of relative risk, the absolute risk and absolute number of people affected remains very low.
Diet Can Decrease or Increase Pain
The research found that a healthy diet was one way to reduce pain, especially in women, and indicates that a person suffering from chronic pain may benefit from learning what foods to eat and which ones to avoid.The study defined a healthy diet as eating more from five specific food groups, including fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy, and lean meats. These foods are similar to the Mediterranean diet, which other research has also linked to decreased pain, and that diet includes fatty fish, dairy, and some poultry.
The study also found that eating what’s considered to be an unhealthy or lower-quality diet was linked to increased pain. That particular diet is one which is described as being low in fruits and vegetables but high in calories, added sugar, saturated fat, and salt.
One researcher involved with the study told The Epoch Times that eating nutrient-rich whole foods provides a person with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, which can aid in protecting their cells from damage while boosting immune function.
She said these combined effects help reduce chronic inflammation, which has been linked to tissue damage, nervous system excitability, and persistent pain.
Another researcher said that it’s “common knowledge” that eating well is good for both your health and well-being; however, knowing that simple changes to your diet could offset chronic pain could be life-changing.
Insulin Resistance Linked to Increased Risk of 31 Diseases
Researchers analyzed data from more than half a million people between the ages of 40 and 69, and they found that a condition called insulin resistance is associated with 31 different diseases, including gout, sciatica, and Parkinson’s; even worse, in women, insulin resistance is linked to a higher risk of early death.In case you didn’t know, glucose is the primary energy source for every cell in the body, and insulin functions as a key that unlocks the cell membrane, allowing glucose to enter. When cells become less responsive to insulin, this process is disrupted, leading to a condition known as insulin resistance, which, over time, can eventually lead to the development of Type 2 diabetes.
Several significant factors contributing to the development of insulin resistance include excessive calorie intake, lack of physical activity, and being overweight or obese.
Additionally, a different study found that people with elevated insulin resistance are at a higher risk of developing a number of various diseases over time, including cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, chronic kidney disease, and even certain types of cancer.
An infectious disease expert from Taiwan says that although the condition is quite common, many people are unaware that they even have this condition. He says that some of the symptoms include frequent urination, intense hunger, cravings for sweets after meals, fatigue and drowsiness after eating, and dark, velvety patches of skin.
He also says that by the time blood sugar levels are significantly elevated, your health may have already begun to deteriorate—and that in order to reverse insulin resistance, detecting the condition in its early stages is absolutely crucial.
Fortunately, when detected early, insulin resistance can often be reversed through a number of simple lifestyle changes, including eating a balanced diet, quitting smoking, abstaining from alcohol, some moderate exercise, and getting enough sleep.
Cold Weather Deaths Double in US
The research was recently published on the website of the Journal of the American Medical Association, and it used data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to analyze death certificates. It concluded that Americans are dying from cold weather at more than twice the rate they did two decades ago.The study noted that from 1999 to 2022, more than 40,000 deaths were recorded, with cold temperatures being either an underlying or a contributing cause of death. It went on to highlight a long-term trend indicating an increase in the rate of deaths related to colder temperatures, which more than doubled per capita annually by the end of the 23-year period.
The investigation found that these deaths were highest among people aged 75 years and older, who are more susceptible to the cold weather due to their limited ability to regulate their body temperature and a greater prevalence of chronic health conditions.
However, the study also revealed that the fastest rate of increase in fatalities due to cold weather was seen in the middle-aged group. Additionally, men were more likely to die from these temperature-related causes than women.
One of the study’s authors told The Epoch Times the findings are “striking” because these deaths are preventable and that it’s possible that deaths due to cold weather may continue to increase over time.
He pointed to higher rates of social isolation, unsheltered homelessness, an aging population, and even climate change associated with more extreme winter weather events as potential contributing factors.
Are Plant-Based Meat Alternatives Healthy?
The findings, which were published in a journal called Food Frontiers, indicated that PBMAs do not pose clear health complications, but the research did raise concerns that merit additional study.The analysis examined data from several thousand vegetarians and found that plant-based meat alternatives were associated with increased depression, inflammation, and higher blood pressure, as well as lower levels of a substance linked to “good” cholesterol.
The researchers also noted some possible factors in PBMAs that may underlie those negative health effects, including a higher amount of processed ingredients, additives, and preservatives.
As you know, plant-based meat alternatives are considered ultra-processed foods, which are generally known to have higher amounts of sodium, added sugar, and saturated fat than non- or low-processed foods.
However, the PBMAs were also shown to have several positive effects on a person’s health, including a decreased risk of irritable bowel syndrome, obesity, and even diabetes.
We should point out that not all health professionals agree regarding the health risks of PBMAs; some experts advise complete avoidance, while others believe they are fine when consumed in moderation.
One nutritionist told The Epoch Times that people use PBMAs because they provide quick, easy meals, and he suggested that home-cooked, plant-based meals are a better option for their health.
And now, it looks like our time is just about up for today, so we'll call it a wrap for this edition of the Epoch Times Health Brief.
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And don’t forget the Health Brief Motto: We’re portable, affordable, and always on-demand.
And finally, as we do each and every week on this program, we wrap everything up with a very notable quote, and this one comes to us from Winston Churchill, who said:
“Healthy citizens are the greatest asset any country can have.”
Churchill was a British statesman and writer who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom for many years.
For all of us here at the Epoch Times Health Brief, I’m Bill Thomas.
The Epoch Times Health Brief program was written today by David Ross.
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For now, let’s all continue to watch out for one another and have an absolutely superb day. Bye for now.
