The Microbeads That Fight Fat

…and other items from this week’s health news:

Move over, microplastics

Researchers (Dr. Yue Wu et al.) have developed edible microbeads made from green tea polyphenols, vitamin E and seaweed that form chemical bonds with fat droplets, are protected from stomach acid by the seaweed coating, then expand and bind fats in the gut, so that they can then be excreted without being absorbed—much like resistant starches do with cholesterol.

Dr. Wu and her team say the beads are nearly flavorless, can be made into small boba-like balls for drinks and desserts, and have no known side effects. All ingredients are FDA-approved, food-grade, and production can be scaled up easily.

The earliest clinical trials were with rats, and now a human clinical trial is underway:

Read in full: Edible microbeads trap fat to support weight loss

Related: The Food Additive You Do Want

You know what’s really ironic?

Hemoglobin!

You probably know that hemoglobin carries oxygen in red blood cells, but it’s also found in astrocytes (brain helper cells) where it acts as an antioxidant by breaking down hydrogen peroxide (which yes, is present in the brain).

This is big news, because most antioxidant drugs that have been trialled for this, failed because they couldn’t cross the blood–brain barrier, were unstable, and/or harmed healthy cells. In contrast, astrocytic hemoglobin works like a “pseudoperoxidase,” neutralizing H₂O₂ into harmless water, protecting neurons from oxidative damage.

You may be thinking: that’s great, but what can we do about it? The researchers created a small water-soluble molecule (with the snappy name: KDS12025) that crosses the blood–brain barrier, binds to hemoglobin, and boosts its H₂O₂-degrading ability nearly 100-fold without affecting oxygen transport:

Read in full: Hemoglobin emerges as a natural antioxidant defense in the brain

Related: Avoiding Anemia (More Than Just “Get More Iron”)

Low water, high stress

Hydration is important, but what a lot of people don’t know is that adults who drink less than 1.5 liters of water daily show over 50% higher cortisol response to stress compared with those meeting water intake recommendations.

Which is a lot!

Why this happens: dehydration triggers vasopressin release, which conserves water via the kidneys but also stimulates cortisol release in the brain’s stress center.

In particular, the researchers recommend that staying hydrated before stressful events, for which they give the examples of deadlines or public speaking, can help your body manage stress more effectively. Just, maybe visit the bathroom before you go on stage!

Read in full: Low daily fluid intake linked to higher stress hormone response in adults

Related: 8 Signs Of High Cortisol & How To Reverse “Cortisol Face”

Take care!