Latest / Morning Medical with Dr. Chow / Ultra-Processed Foods, New Dietary Guidelines, and Trends in Flu Vaccination Rates

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Ultra-Processed Foods, New Dietary Guidelines, and Trends in Flu Vaccination Rates · Morning Medical with Dr. Chow

• 0:00
  Hello and welcome to another episode of Morning Medical with Dr.
• 0:03
  Chow.
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  I'm your host, Dr.
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  Chi-Ming Chow, here to bring you the latest in medical and health news from around the globe.
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  Today, we're diving into a fascinating study that explores the impact of ultra-processed
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  foods on our bodies.
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  A recent study from the University of California, San Francisco, has brought to light
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  some concerning findings about ultra-processed foods and their impact on our health.
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  Researchers studied the magnetic resonance imaging scans of the thighs of 666 participants
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  from the National Institutes of Health's Osteoarthritis Initiative.
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  They discovered that individuals with diets high in ultra-processed foods, such as
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  mass-produced breads, cereals, prepackaged meals, and sweetened drinks, tended to have
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  more fat in their thigh muscles.
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  This increase in intramuscular fat, particularly in the thighs, is significant
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  because it can elevate the risk of developing osteoarthritis in the knee.
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  Osteoarthritis is a major health concern as it is the leading contributor to
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  non-cancer-related healthcare costs worldwide, especially in the United States.
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  The researchers noted that although these individuals had not yet developed
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  osteoarthritis, the correlation between high consumption of ultra-processed foods and
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  increased thigh fat was evident.
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  Dr.
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  Zehra Akkaya, the study's author and a former Fulbright Scholar in the department of
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  radiology and biomedical imaging at the University of California, San Francisco,
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  explained that these findings were consistent regardless of the participants' dietary energy
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  content, body mass index, sociodemographic factors, or physical activity levels.
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  This suggests that even regular exercise might not offset the effects of a diet high in
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  ultra-processed foods on muscle fat.
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  The study participants were, on average, 60 years old and had a body mass index of 27,
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  which categorizes them as overweight.
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  Approximately 40 percent of their diet over the past year consisted of ultra-processed foods.
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  This study is relatively small, but it is the first to use magnetic resonance imaging to
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  examine the relationship between skeletal muscle quality and diet.
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  Previous research has also indicated the health risks associated with ultra-processed foods,
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  linking them to cognitive impairment, strokes, and depression.
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  Ultra-processed foods are often ready-to-eat and are created through high-pressure shaping
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  or chemical alterations to enhance their appearance or shelf life.
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  These foods are typically low in fiber, protein, and vitamins, yet high in sugar, fat,
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  and salt.
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  They often contain artificial colors and additives.
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  Examples include snacks like potato chips, industrial breads, candies, sugary drinks,
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  instant noodles, frozen pizzas, and processed meats such as hot dogs and bologna.
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  The study highlights the need for reducing the consumption of ultra-processed foods as a
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  strategy to combat obesity, which is closely linked to osteoarthritis and other health
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  issues.
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  Dr.
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  Akkaya emphasized that lifestyle modifications could play a significant role in managing and
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  potentially preventing these conditions.
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  Today, we're shifting gears from ultra-processed foods to a more humble
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  ingredient that's gaining recognition in the world of nutrition – beans, along with their
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  legume cousins.
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  This staple, often celebrated in Southern cuisine, is stepping into the limelight as a
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  key component of a healthy diet.
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  According to a newly released report from the 2025 United States Dietary Advisory Committee,
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  beans, peas, and lentils are being recommended as the starting point for the protein section
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  of MyPlate, the United States government's food guide.
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  This is a significant shift, as the committee suggests moving meat, even lean meat, to the
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  end of the protein list.
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  The committee's findings emphasize that swapping animal sources of saturated fat for
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  plant-based options like beans not only reduces saturated fat intake but also increases fiber
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  intake.
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  This shift is particularly important because, unlike meat, beans and legumes are rich in
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  fiber, a nutrient essential for digestive health and overall well-being.
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  Legumes, which include a variety of beans and peas such as black-eyed peas, lentils,
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  chickpeas, edamame, and peanuts, have long been valued for their nutritional benefits.
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  They're packed with protein, vitamins, complex carbohydrates, and fiber, making them an
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  inexpensive and nutritious food choice.
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  Each type of legume offers its own unique nutritional profile.
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  For instance, adzuki beans, also known as red mung beans, are high in fiber, while fava beans
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  are rich in the antioxidant lutein.
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  Black and dark red kidney beans are excellent sources of potassium, and chickpeas are loaded
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  with magnesium.
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  Beyond their health benefits, beans and legumes also have a positive impact on the environment.
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  Dr.
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  David Katz, a specialist in preventive and lifestyle medicine, notes that replacing beef
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  with beans in the diet can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to
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  climate change mitigation.
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  The advisory committee also recommended reducing the consumption of red and processed
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  meats, salt, saturated fat, sugar-sweetened foods and drinks, and refined grains.
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  Instead, they advocate for a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, whole
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  grains, fish, vegetable oils high in unsaturated fat, and other plant-based foods.
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  Interestingly, the committee suggested de-emphasizing fat-free or low-fat dairy foods,
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  highlighting a new focus on health equity in nutrition.
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  This adjustment considers the dietary needs of diverse racial and cultural groups, many of
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  whom are lactose-intolerant.
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  While the committee addressed the role of ultra-processed foods in obesity, they found
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  limited evidence to make definitive recommendations.
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  However, they anticipate that future research will shed more light on this issue, potentially
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  influencing the guidelines in the coming years.
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  The advisory report sets the stage for the 2025-2030 United States Dietary Guidelines,
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  which will be finalized and published by the end of 2025.
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  These guidelines could address ultra-processed foods more directly, depending on further data
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  and public input.
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  Flu vaccination rates among children in the United States have fallen to concerningly low
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  levels, according to the latest data from the United States Centers for Disease Control and
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  Prevention.
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  As of November 30th, only thirty-seven percent of children have received their flu shots, a
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  significant drop from the forty-three percent recorded at the same time last year.
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  Dr.
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  Marc Siegel, a well-known advocate for vaccinations, emphasizes that vaccines are
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  crucial community health tools, particularly for school-age children.
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  Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, flu vaccination rates had been on the rise, but they have not
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  rebounded to their previous levels since.
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  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends annual flu vaccinations for everyone
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  six months and older, with only rare exceptions.
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  This is especially important for high-risk groups such as adults over sixty-five, children
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  under two, pregnant women, and individuals with weakened immune systems.
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  Dr.
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  Jacob Glanville, the Chief Executive Officer of Centivax, a biotechnology company based in San
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  Francisco, has expressed concern over these decreasing vaccination rates.
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  He stresses the need for improved communication from the scientific and medical communities to
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  the public about the benefits and safety of vaccines.
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  Dr.
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  Glanville calls for government authorities to support sound vaccine policies, highlighting
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  the critical role vaccines play in protecting society, particularly its most vulnerable
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  members, such as children and the elderly.
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  For children who are afraid of needles, the FluMist nasal spray is available as an
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  alternative for flu vaccination for those aged two and older.
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  Summer Kerley, the Group Vice President of Pharmacy Growth and Clinical Programs for
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  Rite-Aid in North Carolina, notes that many parents find this option helpful in ensuring
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  their children are vaccinated without the stress of needles.
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  In addition to vaccinations, bolstering the immune system is also important.
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  Stocking your medicine cabinet with essential items such as vitamins C, D3, and zinc can
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  enhance immune response and overall function.
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  These supplements are recommended as part of a comprehensive approach to maintaining health
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  during the flu season.
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  As we enter the respiratory illness season, respiratory syncytial virus, commonly known as
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  RSV, is on the rise in Canada.
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  This virus, which primarily affects the lower respiratory tract, is highly contagious and
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  poses a significant threat to infants and young children.
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  According to the latest data from Health Canada, infants under one year old are the most
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  affected by RSV infections.
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  RSV generally causes mild cold-like symptoms, but it can lead to serious complications such
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  as bronchiolitis and pneumonia, particularly in infants.
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  These conditions may require hospitalization and, in severe cases, can even be
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  life-threatening.
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  Dr.
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  Darine El-Chaar, a maternal-fetal medicine physician at the Ottawa Hospital, highlights
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  that children under five years of age are most vulnerable to severe RSV infections due to
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  their underdeveloped immune systems.
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  Fortunately, recent advancements have introduced new tools to combat RSV.
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  Nirsevimab, a protective antibody, offers hope for preventing RSV in infants.
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  Approved by Health Canada in April 2023, nirsevimab is a long-acting monoclonal antibody
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  that provides a single-dose solution for newborns and infants up to 24 months old.
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  This antibody works by blocking the virus from entering cells, offering significantly more
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  neutralizing activity than its predecessor, palivizumab.
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  Nirsevimab starts working immediately and offers protection throughout the RSV season,
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  which lasts up to eight to ten months.
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  This is particularly beneficial during the first few months of life when infants are most
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  at risk.
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  However, access to nirsevimab varies across Canada, with some provinces like Quebec and
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  Ontario offering it through provincially funded programs, while others are still relying on
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  older treatments like palivizumab.
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  In addition to nirsevimab, another preventive measure is the Abrysvo vaccine, approved for
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  use in pregnant individuals.
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  This vaccine, administered during the third trimester, allows for the transfer of
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  protective antibodies from the mother to the fetus, offering infants passive immunity
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  against RSV for up to six months after birth.
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  Despite these advancements, the availability of RSV protection remains uneven across the
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  country.
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  Some provinces are unable to provide nirsevimab this season due to supply constraints or
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  funding issues.
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  For instance, British Columbia and Saskatchewan are still relying on palivizumab, while Alberta
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  is working to secure nirsevimab but has faced challenges in obtaining a reliable supply.
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  As more provinces begin to implement strategies for using nirsevimab, experts like Dr.
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  El-Chaar are hopeful that these efforts will lead to a decline in RSV cases.
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  With increased access and uptake of these treatments, we could see a reduction in RSV
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  infections, potentially easing the burden on healthcare systems and protecting our youngest
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  and most vulnerable populations.
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  In our final segment today, we're turning our attention to a significant and sensitive
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  topic—assisted dying in Canada.
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  According to recent data, medically-assisted dying, also known as voluntary euthanasia,
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  accounted for 4.7 percent of all deaths in Canada in 2023.
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  This is part of a broader trend since euthanasia was legalized in the country back in
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  2016.
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  The fifth annual report released by Health Canada highlights that approximately 15,300
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  individuals underwent assisted dying last year.
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  The median age of those who opted for this was over 77 years, with a vast majority—around 96
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  percent—having a death that was deemed "reasonably foreseeable" due to severe medical
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  conditions like cancer.
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  Interestingly, a small minority of cases involved individuals who were not terminally
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  ill but chose assisted death due to chronic and debilitating illnesses that severely impacted
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  their quality of life.
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  Canada joins a few other countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Spain, and Austria, in
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  having legalized assisted dying in the past decade.
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  In Canada, the process requires consenting adults to request medical assistance in dying
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  from a healthcare provider, with two independent healthcare providers needing to
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  confirm the patient's eligibility.
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  This ensures that the decision is made with careful consideration and oversight.
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  The data revealed that more than 320,000 people died in Canada in 2023, with 15,300 of those
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  deaths being medically assisted.
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  While the rate of assisted dying increased by nearly 16 percent in 2023, this was a notable
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  decrease from the average increase of 31 percent in previous years.
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  However, the reasons for this slowdown are not yet clear.
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  For the first time, the report also explored racial and ethnic data, showing that around 96
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  percent of those who chose euthanasia identified as white, despite white people
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  making up about 70 percent of Canada's population.
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  This disparity raises questions that are yet to be fully understood.
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  Quebec continues to have the highest usage rate of euthanasia, accounting for nearly 37 percent
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  of all such deaths, despite only holding 22 percent of Canada's population.
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  This prompted the Quebec government to launch a study into why its euthanasia rate is so high.
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  While Canada is seeing a growth in assisted dying cases, it still lags behind the
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  Netherlands, where euthanasia accounts for around 5 percent of total deaths.
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  As other countries like the United Kingdom consider similar legislation, Canada is often
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  mentioned as a cautionary example due to perceived gaps in safeguards.
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  Initially, Canada's law allowed assisted dying only for those whose death was "reasonably
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  foreseeable," but in 2021, the law expanded to include those with chronic, debilitating
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  conditions even if they were not terminal.
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  Plans to further expand access to include individuals with mental illnesses have been
• 15:55
  delayed multiple times due to concerns about the healthcare system's capacity to handle such
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  changes.
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  Despite the controversy, Health Canada defends the procedure, citing strict eligibility
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  criteria set by the criminal code.
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  However, critics, such as the Christian think tank Cardus, argue that the rapid growth of the
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  euthanasia program in Canada is alarming.
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  Recent reports from Ontario have shed light on some controversial cases, where individuals
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  were granted assisted dying under circumstances that were not directly related to terminal
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  illness.
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  These cases have sparked public debate and concern over the application of the law.
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  As we conclude today's episode, it's clear that the topic of assisted dying is complex and
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  continues to evolve.
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  It brings forth ethical, legal, and societal questions that require ongoing dialogue and
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  consideration.
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  We'll keep you updated on this and other important health topics in future episodes.
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  Thank you for tuning into Morning Medical with Dr.
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  Chow.
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  Until next time, take care and stay informed.