As Dry January has some people putting down the bottle for the first month of the year, the health benefits of eliminating alcohol are in the spotlight.

But TV personality Kelly Ripa, host of ABC’s “Live with Kelly and Mark,” revealed that giving up alcohol had an unexpected effect on her.

On Wednesday’s episode, when Andy Cohen co-hosted alongside Ripa, he brought up that he is “in the middle of dry January.”

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“Usually, a little weight loss comes my way after,” he commented. “That’s not really happening yet.”

Ripa responded that when she quit drinking in 2017, she expected there to be a “windfall of weight loss.”

“Because everybody’s like, ‘Well you are going to get too skinny … you can’t afford to lose it,’” she said. “I gained 12 pounds!”

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“I don’t understand this ‘magical weight loss’ that people [imply],” she continued. “I think I just took to eating the sugars … because apparently, alcohol is like a lot of sugar.”

In 2020, Ripa revealed to People Magazine that she and her friends decided to try a sober month back in 2017, and that she “liked the way [she] felt.”

Kelly Ripa attends Variety’s 2023 Power of Women event at The Grill on April 4, 2023, in New York City. (Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)

“Not that I was a heavy drinker — I wasn’t someone who got drunk — but even like two glasses of wine at a girl’s night out dinner, I would feel it the next morning,” she said.

“I just didn’t really feel the need or desire to go back to it,” Ripa went on. “It wasn’t really a choice or a thought, it was just, ‘Yeah, I guess I don’t drink anymore.’”

Alcohol’s impact on weight

Dr. Kathleen Jordan, Midi Health chief medical officer and women’s health and weight management specialist, shared some health benefits of eliminating or limiting alcohol, including reduced cancer risk and weight loss.

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“Less drinking eliminates the hundreds of calories in the drinks themselves (anywhere from 160 to 400 or more calories per drink) and less drinking is often accompanied by less late-night snacking,” the California-based doctor told Fox News Digital.

“Less alcohol also helps your body get a good night’s sleep, while bad sleep is associated with weight gain. Alcohol interferes with the ability to reach a deep sleep, which then contributes to daytime fatigue and sluggishness – and ultimately to weight gain.”

Limiting or eliminating alcohol can have a variety of health impacts, dependent on the individual, one doctor noted. (iStock)

But limiting alcohol might not pose these benefits for everyone, Jordan noted.

If low or moderate drinkers experience weight gain after eliminating alcohol, the expert said that’s most likely due to substituting drinking with snacking or sugary mocktails.

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Jordan recommended replacing alcohol with different variations of water instead, including bubbly, flat or garnished water, which will satiate “nervous eating” and the habit of drinking.

Dry January also occurs when the climate is cold and dark, with most Americans tending to spend more time indoors. 

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To support the benefits of not drinking and prevent weight gain, Jordan advised keeping up with physical activity even during the winter months.

The Mediterranean diet has continuously shown benefits for overall health.

Researchers at the Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans recently discovered that the diet is linked to improved memory through balanced bacteria in the gut.

In the study, which was published in the journal Gut Microbe Reports, rats were fed a Mediterranean-style diet over a 14-week period. This included foods rich in olive oil, fish and fiber.

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Compared to those who ate a Western diet high in saturated fat, the rats that consumed the Mediterranean diet showed increases in four types of beneficial gut bacteria and decreases in five other types.

The rats were then tasked with maneuvering a series of mazes that tested their memory.

Those that were on the Mediterranean diet exhibited improved performance in the maze challenges.

“This study reinforces how the foods we choose can profoundly impact our gut microbiome and, in turn, our cognitive performance.”

The researchers deduced that individuals who follow the Mediterranean diet develop different gut bacteria patterns compared to those following a “typical Western diet,” and that those gut changes were associated with learning and memory.

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“Our results suggest that there may be a relationship between diet-modulated microbiota, peripheral immune function and cognitive function,” the research concluded. 

“Additional studies are needed to determine the causality between diet-modulated gut microbiota, immune function and cognitive function, and to explore additional brain mechanisms.”

Gut microbiome developed by certain dietary choices can improve cognitive function, the study suggested. (iStock)

The Mediterranean diet group also demonstrated improved cognitive flexibility and working memory – and maintained lower levels of “bad” cholesterol.

Cory Mygrant, a California-based registered dietitian nutritionist at WellTheory, was not involved in the study but shared her reactions.

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“As a dietitian, I’m thrilled to see more evidence highlighting the Mediterranean diet’s incredible power, not just for heart health but also for brain health,” she told Fox News Digital.

“This study reinforces how the foods we choose can profoundly impact our gut microbiome and, in turn, our cognitive performance.”

The Mediterranean diet group demonstrated improved cognitive flexibility and working memory, and maintained lower levels of “bad” cholesterol. (iStock)

Gut health is considered “foundational to overall well-being,” Mygrant noted, as it influences “everything from immunity to mental health.”

“The Mediterranean diet is a fantastic option for supporting this vital system,” she continued. “Rich in vibrant, flavorful foods, it can easily be woven into daily life with simple adjustments.”

“The Mediterranean diet has been associated with a 50% lower risk of cognitive decline and dementia.”

In an interview with Fox News Digital, study co-author Demetrius Maraganore, MD, a neurology professor at Tulane University, emphasized the difference in cognitive function and gut microbial compositions between the Mediterranean and Western diets.

The Western diet’s reduced gut bacterial diversity and over-growth of bacterial species is similar to what is observed in Alzheimer’s patients, he told Fox News Digital.

The researchers aim to develop novel therapies to prevent and treat Alzheimer’s disease by harnessing nutrition and gut microbiome. (iStock)

The expert noted that adhering to the Mediterranean diet may improve scholastic and work performance.

“The Mediterranean diet has been associated with a 50% lower risk of cognitive decline and dementia, and promotes higher global intelligence, memory function and executive function across the lifespan,” he stated.

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Tips for going Mediterranean

To begin adopting a more Mediterranean-style diet, Mygrant suggested the following simple steps:

1. Swap butter for olive oil
2. Add an extra serving of veggies to meals
3. Experiment with plant-based proteins, like lentils or chickpeas
4. Enjoy fish a couple of times a week
5. Snack on nuts or fresh fruits instead of ultra-processed foods

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“It’s about celebrating real, whole foods while keeping things flexible and enjoyable,” she said.

Mygrant acknowledged that accessing fresh produce and Mediterranean staples can be challenging for some, but noted that the diet does not have to be “all or nothing.”

A dietitian recommended adding more fish and vegetables to a daily diet, as well as nuts, fresh fruits and olive oil. (iStock)

“You can start by making small, affordable swaps — like using canned fish, frozen vegetables and whole grains — and gradually increase the focus on more plant-based foods,” he suggested.

“The goal is to make nourishing choices more accessible, no matter your circumstances, while prioritizing the connection between food and well-being.”

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In future research, the Tulane team aims to develop novel therapies to prevent and treat Alzheimer’s disease by harnessing nutrition and gut microbiome changes, according to Maraganore.

As Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia — affecting an estimated 6.7 million Americans — it’s not surprising that people who experience memory loss may suspect AD.

In fact, there is another common cognitive disorder with very similar symptoms, called limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy — or LATE for short — that is often misdiagnosed as Alzheimer’s.

A recent report published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association highlights the need to develop “objective criteria” for diagnosing and staging all types of dementia, including LATE.

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How is LATE different from Alzheimer’s?

LATE is a prevalent condition in late life and can contribute to memory loss and cognitive decline, according to report co-author Rebecca M. Edelmayer, Ph.D., Alzheimer’s Association vice president of scientific engagement in Chicago.

“LATE is defined by changes in the TDP-43 protein in brain tissue and frequently co-exists with Alzheimer’s disease changes, such as buildup of beta amyloid plaques and tau tangles,” she told Fox News Digital.

The newly proposed criteria aim to help clinicians better differentiate LATE from Alzheimer’s, ultimately leading to more precise diagnoses and improved treatment strategies, Edelmayer noted.

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LATE tends to have a slower rate of decline than Alzheimer’s, according to lead author David Wolk, professor of neurology at the University of Pennsylvania.

The condition occurs in tandem with Alzheimer’s disease in about one-third of patients, the doctor estimated, and it seems to accelerate the course of disease.  

More than 25% of people over 80 have this form of dementia.

More than 25% of people over 80 have this common but little-known form of dementia. (iStock)

“Despite the commonality of the condition, most clinicians and patients have never heard of LATE and don’t consider this when memory loss is present,” Wolk noted.

“Knowing whether it is present with Alzheimer’s disease also impacts prognosis and may impact the efficacy of treatments.”

“Most clinicians and patients have never heard of LATE and don’t consider this when memory loss is present.”

Before the criteria presented in the new report, there was not consensus on how to diagnose this condition.

“It was only defined at autopsy after death,” Wolk said. 

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“These criteria provide a way for doctors to diagnose the disease, which is an important step both in clinical practice and ultimately research to better treat the condition.”

While there is a diagnostic test to definitively measure Alzheimer’s disease, no such test exists for LATE, Wolk pointed out.

While there is a diagnostic test to definitively measure Alzheimer’s disease, no such test exists for LATE. (iStock)

“The criteria provide levels of likelihood of diagnosis, but cannot be definitive,” he told Fox News Digital. “Also, the criteria need to be validated in practice.”

In the near future, Edelmayer noted, advances in biological markers will help clinicians differentiate all the various types of dementia. 

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“Until those tools are available, clinical criteria for diagnosis — like the one we just published — can be used to support a more personalized medicine approach to treatment, care and enrollment into clinical studies,” she told Fox News Digital.

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“In addition, these new recommendations create a roadmap that identifies opportunities for further research, and the challenges that still remain for accurately diagnosing individuals with LATE.”

Several human cases of avian flu (H5N1) have been reported around the U.S., and the virus has also proven to be fatal to felines.

Dozens of cats have reportedly contracted the virus since the start of the current outbreak in March 2024.

While bird flu has some people worried about eating certain human foods, what does this mean for the safety of your pet’s food?

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Jim Keen, DVM, director of vet sciences at the Center for a Humane Economy in Maryland, noted that infected cats have shown respiratory and neurological symptoms.

Felines are “extremely susceptible” to the current strain that has been circulating in waterfowl and domestic poultry, he told Fox News Digital.

Domestic cats can be exposed to and infected by bird flu through contact with infected wild birds or poultry, alive or dead, according to experts. Contact with infected dairy cattle and their milk can also cause infection.

“Outdoor cats, feral cats and wild cats may kill and eat wild birds that are sick with bird flu,” Keen added.

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Cats can also be infected with bird flu by eating raw poultry or unpasteurized dairy products, like raw cat food or raw milk.

Although there have not been reports of dogs being infected with bird flu in the U.S., according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there have been fatal cases in other countries – but canines usually exhibit mild symptoms and low mortality compared to cats. 

Industry standards

While the FDA is currently investigating contamination of raw cat food, Keen reassured that commercial cat food that does not contain raw poultry products “should be safe.”

The FDA released an advisory on Jan. 17 stating the need for cat and dog food manufacturers – who are regulated by the FDA and use uncooked or unpasteurized ingredients from poultry or cattle – to “reanalyze their food safety plans” to include bird flu as a “known or reasonably foreseeable hazard.”

The FDA has notified cat and dog food manufacturers to reanalyze their food safety plans amid the bird flu outbreak. (iStock)

“The FDA is tracking cases of H5N1 in domestic and wild cats in California, Colorado, Oregon and Washington State that are associated with eating contaminated food products,” the notice read.

Fox News Digital reached out to the FDA for comment.

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Dr. Andrea Y. Tu, chief of veterinary behavior medicine at Heart of Chelsea Veterinary Group in New York, shared with Fox News Digital that there has been a lack of regulations regarding raw foods, which have grown in popularity among pet owners.

Veterinarians recommend cooking raw pet food to 165 degrees to kill off viruses. (iStock)

In most cases, pet food that is freeze-dried or raw has not been heated to a hot enough temperature (165 degrees) for the virus to be killed off, meaning these diets “are not safe,” Tu cautioned.

“The medical community … does not recommend raw foods,” she said. “And especially now with the risk of the highly pathogenic avian influenza, we do have evidence showing this is not safe.”

Keeping your pets safe

The risk of mortality in domestic cats infected with bird flu can be as high as 67%, according to Tu.

Pet owners should consider taking a few cautionary measures to ensure the animals’ safety.

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For cats especially, experts recommend keeping them indoors to prevent access to infected birds, especially in regions where cases have been confirmed.

Experts recommend keeping cats indoors to prevent contact with infected birds.  (iStock)

“This virus has been reported in house mice as well,” Tu said. “Cats are going to hunt, so trying to keep them away from undocumented sources of food is probably my top recommendation.”

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Both Keen and Tu advised against feeding pets raw milk, raw cream or raw pet food.

“If you are cooking your own food at home for your pets, make sure it is heated up to a temperature of 165 degrees,” Tu reiterated.

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If you suspect that your pet has contracted bird flu, contact your veterinarian.