Try This - 4 Big Shares for Your Week

This week I’ve got some important shares for all of us health enthusiasts. 

High level:

1. The bad habit that drives weight gain

2. Why we all need to stay on top of dental cleanings

3. Why more women and nonsmokers are getting lung cancer

4. First-of-its-kind research on why we need to take “forever chemicals” more seriously 

Let’s get into it. 

Number 1: Less Sleep Drives Inflammation, Weight Gain, and Disease

A new randomized crossover sleep trial study suggests that even a modest reduction in sleep can mess with your metabolism. 

Researchers enrolled 95 healthy adults in a trial in which each participant completed six weeks of their normal sleep schedule and six weeks of sleeping about 80 minutes less per night. Because everyone served as their own control, the researchers could more confidently isolate the effects of sleep loss.

Here’s what happened: During the six weeks of restricted sleep, participants gained about one pound on average, became 17–30 minutes more sedentary each day, and showed signs of worsening insulin resistance. 

Researchers also found increases in inflammatory markers linked to cardiovascular disease.

One of the strengths of this study is its design. Unlike observational studies that can only show associations, this randomized crossover trial directly tested how reducing sleep affected the same individuals over time. 

The biggest limitation is that it lasted only six weeks, so we don't know how these changes might evolve over months or years, but my hypothesis is that the effects of sleep loss would be detrimental long-term. 

You don't have to pull all-nighters for sleep to impact your health. Losing just over an hour of sleep each night is enough to make you more insulin-resistant and drive inflammation and weight gain.

Once in a blue moon, sleep loss is not a big deal. But if you can control it, try to get your full recommended zzz’s.

Number 2: Don’t Skip on Oral Health if You’re Interested in Longevity

For years, I've had experts on my podcast talk about how oral health is connected to the rest of the body. It's why I was excited to see a recent Wall Street Journal review highlighting how researchers at major medical institutions are taking this connection more seriously. (This article is behind a paywall, just FYI.)

One study featured in the article caught my attention. Researchers found that people who received periodontal therapy (a deep cleaning that treats gum disease) within the previous six months had about 30 percent lower odds of developing hospital-acquired pneumonia compared to those who didn't receive treatment.

Why? If someone becomes seriously ill, has trouble swallowing, or spends extended time in bed, those bacteria in their gums can be inhaled into the lungs, increasing the risk of pneumonia.

This was an observational study, so it can't prove that treating gum disease directly prevented pneumonia. But it adds to a growing body of evidence linking poor oral health to conditions like cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline, and other chronic illnesses.

Here’s a pro tip for those of you who are taking care of your parents or encouraging them to be healthy: It's worth paying a little extra to have a functional dentist assess their oral health and put together a game plan to fix any lingering issues. My friend Mark Burhenne, DDS, has a nice directory on his website where you can find functional and biological dentists. 

Number 3: The Dangers of High-Heat Cooking and Cooking Without Ventilation

It's estimated that 10–20 percent of all lung cancers occur in people who are nonsmokers, and what’s even crazier is that the majority (60–70 percent) of those people are women.

One of the leading theories is that long-term exposure to poor air quality from high-heat cooking with no ventilation is a major contributor.

In my recent podcast with Dom Francks from Lightwork Home Health, we talked about one of the top things that destroys indoor home air quality: cooking without proper ventilation.

That's why I was excited to re-share this post by Dr. Priyam Bordoloi on X, as well as the reply from a Mr. Eboh, which breaks down the geeky science. You can read it above. 

Here’s what I’m taking away from this: We’re not going to stop cooking, but one way to combat this is to use proper ventilation while cooking. Open the windows, turn on the exhaust fan, and use your at-home air filters. 

Sometimes simple things can make a huge difference. 

Number 4: Forever Chemicals Linked to Gut Inflammation in Children

I’ve heard some people wonder if the concern around PFAS, aka “forever chemicals,” is overblown. A new first-of-its-kind study suggests it isn't.

Researchers followed more than 100 mother-child pairs from pregnancy through childhood and found that higher exposure to PFAS during pregnancy and early life was associated with greater intestinal inflammation years later. 

The researchers measured a marker called fecal calprotectin, which is commonly used to detect inflammation in the gut.

Elevated levels don't mean a child has inflammatory bowel disease, but they are associated with a higher risk of conditions like Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis and have also been linked to an increased risk of colorectal cancer over time.

One of the strengths of this study is that it followed children over 11 years and looked at real-world exposure to a mixture of PFAS rather than a single chemical (an approach that better reflects how we're actually exposed). 

The biggest limitation is that it was observational and relatively small, but it’s still worth paying attention to based on the length and quality of the research.

While we wait for stronger policies to reduce exposure, practical steps like filtering your drinking water and minimizing your use of plastics can be potentially protective, especially for pregnant women and families with young children. 

That’s it for this week. 

See you next week for more shares. 

Much love,
Dhru Purohit

The information in this newsletter is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice; please consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any health-related decisions.