April 2025
Spring Update: Record Pollen Count
The Atlanta area experienced record high pollen counts on Saturday, March 28th, with levels measuring 60% higher than the previous record. Many clients have reported increased symptom severity corresponding with this significant rise.
If you missed it or just need a refresher, I recommend reviewing the practical strategies outlined in last month's "How to Survive Allergy Season" article.
New Contraceptive Option: Miudella Copper IUD
The FDA just approved Miudella, the first new non-hormonal copper intrauterine device (IUD) in the US in over four decades. This innovative contraceptive features several design improvements over existing options:
Compact size with less than half the copper content of traditional copper IUDs
Narrower, rounded applicator for potentially more comfortable insertion
Flexible frame designed to conform to individual uterine anatomy
Clinical trials demonstrated promising results, with 29% fewer patients discontinuing use due to bleeding or pain compared to the existing copper IUD Paraguard during the first year of use.
Miudella is expected to become available in late 2025.
The Power of Positive Expectations in Treatment Outcomes
A notable study published in JAMA Psychiatry compared the effectiveness of psilocybin to escitalopram (Lexapro) for depression treatment. The research revealed an important pattern: patients' pre-treatment expectations significantly influenced their outcomes.
Participants with lower initial expectations for escitalopram reported substantially better results from psilocybin treatment. Conversely, those who began with higher expectations for escitalopram experienced similar benefits from both medications.
This highlights the meaningful role that optimism and positive expectations can play in treatment effectiveness—a phenomenon supported by decades of research on the therapeutic relationship and placebo effect.
Dr. Neuman says: "If you'd like medication for depression, it can help to get jazzed up about it."
Dietary Fats and Health: New Evidence on Butter vs. Plant Oils
I've heard from some folks that plant-based oils like seed oils may be bad. There is a new study that helps settle the debate.
Recent research published in JAMA Internal Medicine provides valuable clarification on the ongoing debate about different dietary fats. This large-scale study of 221,054 adults offers compelling evidence regarding butter and plant-based oil consumption.
The data showed that individuals with the highest butter consumption had a 15% increased risk of all-cause mortality. In contrast, those consuming the most canola, soybean, and olive oils demonstrated a 16% lower risk of death from all causes. The study further indicated that higher plant oil intake was associated with reduced cancer and cardiovascular mortality, while butter consumption correlated with increased cancer mortality.
These findings align with longstanding nutritional guidelines recommending moderate consumption of plant-based oils as part of a balanced diet.
