Many chocolate products contain toxic heavy metals: new study

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This is a bitter pill to swallow. Many cocoa products in the US contain concerning levels of toxic heavy metals, a new study from George Washington University warns. Many cocoa products in the US contain worrisome levels of lead and cadmium, a new study from George Washington University warns. Picture Partners – stock.adobe.com Researchers analyzed 72 cocoa-based foods — including dark chocolate, often praised as a heart-healthy treat — over eight years. They found that 43% of the products contained an amount of lead that tops recommendations, while 35% exceeded cadmium limits. Surprisingly, organic-labeled products had higher levels of lead and cadmium than non-organic products, the researchers said. Contamination can come from soil or occur during manufacturing. A single serving of these cocoa items may not pose significant health risks, but several servings might. Leigh Frame, director of integrative medicine at GW, led the testing of 72 cocoa-based products. The George Washingto...

Dangers of taking Ozempic to get 'beach body ready' revealed


‘Tis the season for emergency room visits after inappropriately using Ozempic to lose weight for the summer.

“Drugs including Ozempic and Wegovy should only be used by people prescribed them for obesity or diabetes,” Stephen Powis — the national medical director of NHS England, the country’s publicly funded healthcare system — urged last week at a conference in Manchester.

“I’m worried about reports that people are misusing them — they are not intended as a quick fix for people trying to get ‘beach body ready,’” added Powis, per The Times of London.


Don't use Ozempic or Wegovy to get "beach body ready," Stephen Powis — the national medical director of NHS England, the country's publicly funded healthcare system — implored at a conference in Manchester last week.
Don’t use Ozempic or Wegovy to get “beach body ready,” Stephen Powis — the national medical director of NHS England, the country’s publicly funded healthcare system — implored at a conference in Manchester last week. Natalia – stock.adobe.com

Semaglutide — sold under the brand names Ozempic and Wegovy — mimics GLP-1, the hormone the body naturally produces after eating. Users feel fuller for longer.

4% of US adults admitted in a July 2023 survey to using a prescription drug to lose weight, while one in 10 confessed they had stopped taking this type of medication.


"Drugs including Ozempic and Wegovy should only be used by people prescribed them for obesity or diabetes," Powis said.
“Drugs including Ozempic and Wegovy should only be used by people prescribed them for obesity or diabetes,” Powis said. Mr. Skin/peopleimages.com – stock.adobe.com

One doctor warned that “young, beautiful girls” are landing in UK emergency rooms “almost every shift” after lying about their weight while buying Ozempic online.

Most of these retailers do not require an in-person examination, noted medical experts, who cautioned about the dangerous potential side effects of illegitimately obtaining Ozempic.

“Sadly we are seeing serious, life-threatening complications including inflammation of the pancreas gland and alterations in blood salt levels in these patients, who were not aware of the risk they were taking,” said Dr. Vicky Price, a consultant in acute medicine and president-elect of the Society for Acute Medicine.

“There is a need for urgent regulation and control of access for weight-loss drugs online to avoid more patients becoming unwell,” Price continued.

In one case, a girl who was “not at all” overweight, yet was able to purchase Wegovy online, arrived in the emergency room.

She was “feeling unwell, like she was going to pass out and couldn’t stand up. She was really struggling to eat,” one doctor described.

She was treated for starvation ketoacidosis, a potentially life-threatening condition where the body breaks down muscle to use as fuel after running out of fat.



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