Health & Diet News

September 19, 2024 — The benefits were especially pronounced in women and in Black people, according to results of a new study.

September 17, 2024 — People ingest tiny, chemical-containing bits of things that touch the food and drink we consume every day. There are a vast number of sources of these chemicals, ranging from plastic bags and bottles, to take-out containers and shrink wrap, to manufacturing and cooking equipment.

September 11, 2024 — You may have been warned that ultra-processed foods can wreak havoc on your health. But not all ultra-processed foods are created equal. Here's what to know.

September 3, 2024 — A new study reveals that while plant-based fats found in grains, oils, fruits, and veggies decrease the risk of death, animal-based fats in meat, dairy, and eggs increase them.

August 21, 2024 — Eating a hamburger or a few pieces of bacon daily may increase the risk of developing diabetes by up to 15%. The type of meat consumed, and whether it is processed, can significantly impact the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes over approximately 10 years, according to a new study.

August 14, 2024 — People over age 60 who drink regularly are at an increased risk of early death, particularly from cancer or issues related to the heart and blood vessels, new research suggests.

August 8, 2024 — Many patients are not getting the nutritional counseling after a heart attack that could saves their lives.

August 8, 2024 — There’s more evidence that the artificial sweetener erythritol is linked to a higher risk of blood clots, which can lead to problems with your heart and blood vessels, like heart attacks or strokes.

August 2, 2024 — When it comes to diet and nutrition plans, you’ve probably heard it all before: the keto diet, Atkins, paleo, the Mediterranean diet, intermittent fasting. Around every corner, there seems to be a different solution for your wellness woes. But following a vegan (or plant-based) diet could be the key to slowing your body’s aging process on a molecular level.

July 25, 2024 — As nutrition researchers publish more studies about processed food and health issues, the takeaway seems clear: Processed food isn’t great for you, and the more processed it is, the worse it seems to be for you. At the same time, not all processed food is harmful, and scientists are still trying to understand the specific aspects to avoid.

July 25, 2024 — Do people who drink alcohol in moderation have a greater risk of early death than people who abstain? For years, a drink or two a day appeared to be linked to health benefits. But recently, scientists pointed out flaws in some of the studies that led to those conclusions, and public health warnings have escalated recently that there may be no safe level of alcohol consumption.

July 24, 2024 — The eating habits you embrace in your 40s can significantly influence how you feel in your 70s and beyond – both physically and mentally.

June 28, 2024 — Steak and eggs in the morning, salmon at noon, and turkey burgers in the evening might sound like a typical menu for a fitness enthusiast. But for a growing group of women embracing the carnivore diet, these meals are part of a strategic approach to building lean muscle through targeted nutrition and rigorous training.

June 10, 2024 — People who most closely followed the diet had a 25% reduced risk of early death, and were less likely to die of heart problems, cancer, respiratory diseases, or neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s.

June 7, 2024 — Xylitol is naturally found in small amounts in fruit and vegetables, and it’s been used more as a sugar substitute over the past decade in processed foods, toothpaste, chewing gum, and other products.

June 5, 2024 — The distinct ways sugar-sweetened beverages affect your body may explain their strong association with weight gain, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

June 3, 2024 — When researchers sought to understand how the diet may have affected women’s bodies to prolong their lives, they found fewer signs of problems in the women’s blood and other body fluids that are hallmarks of diabetes and heart problems.

May 28, 2024 — Ultra-processed foods are associated with higher risk of early death, especially ready-to-eat meat and seafood.

May 9, 2024 — Federal regulators recently put more limits on worker exposures to a chemical called methylene chloride, and there are calls for more actions that would regulate coffee products that are decaffeinated using the chemical.

April 16, 2024 — Almost everyone who's watching their calories knows to bypass those family-size bags of snacks, with experts long warning us we’re likely to eat more than we planned. Now, new research suggests that the size of a snack matters. Bottom line: To eat less, pick the smallest-size snacks.

April 12, 2024 — Emulsifiers don’t necessarily equal junk food. Such substances can be found in many foods that are often considered healthy, such as some low-fat Greek yogurts, trail mix bars, or oat milk.

April 11, 2024 — Consumer Reports is calling on the U.S. government to remove Lunchables meal kits from school cafeterias that are subsidized by federal funds after testing by the advocacy group found concerning levels of sodium and heavy metals like lead.

April 9, 2024 — Swapping salt for salt substitute products in food may help protect people from early death and, particularly, from dying of heart problems like heart attack or stroke, according to researchers in Australia.

April 8, 2024 — Innovative work from Duke University could change how scientists conduct nutritional research and how clinicians assess their patients' diets.

April 2, 2024 — Costco is entering the growing marketplace for medical weight loss, joining the likes of WeightWatchers and Noom amid booming interest in the new class of drugs known as GLP-1s.

March 20, 2024 — Government chemical testing of fresh produce showed that up to 95% of some of the most commonly purchased fruit and vegetables in the U.S. had detectable levels of pesticides, a new report claims.

March 1, 2024 — You may be familiar with the basic steps: Slow down, notice what you’re eating, and enjoy your food. But mindful eating can be more nuanced, and if done with intention over time, it can change your relationship with food and benefit your health, experts say.

February 29, 2024 — According to the research study, there were direct associations between a higher intake of ultra-processed foods and a greater risk of dying early, deaths from heart disease, common mental disorder outcomes, overweight or obesity, and Type 2 diabetes.

February 26, 2024 — As a snack, tree nuts pack a punch with added heart benefit.

February 16, 2024 — Turns out the pot of gold at the end of the (food) rainbow is health.

February 12, 2024 — People who followed the Atlantic diet eating pattern significantly reduced their waistlines and improved their cholesterol levels, a new study shows.

February 7, 2024 — Among the scientific community, there remains a real discrepancy about what "low carb" means and who would really benefit from these types of diets.

January 26, 2024 — If fats and sugars sometimes seem irresistible, you’re not alone. A new study published in Cell Metabolism reveals why.

January 17, 2024 — When it comes to alcohol consumption, moderation is everything.

January 17, 2024 — Limiting the amount of 100% fruit juice that children drink could be a way to help combat childhood obesity, particularly among young children, new research suggests.

January 9, 2024 — Each liter of water in a plastic bottle may contain more than 100,000 microscopic pieces of plastic, new research shows. The important finding suggests that the amount of plastic consumed by many people simply through drinking a bottle of water is 10 times greater than thought before.

January 3, 2024 — The Mediterranean diet, with an emphasis on overall diet quality rather than a single food group or nutrient, swept the categories for best diet of 2024.

December 28, 2023 — A study published today found that people who added salt to their food, even just sometimes, faced a higher risk of getting chronic kidney disease.

December 20, 2023 — Figuring out why ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are linked to more chronic health conditions like heart disease and obesity remains an important puzzle for nutrition experts to figure out. When they do, the worst offenders could be taxed or regulated by the government while other UPFs that people enjoy could be reformulated to make them less of a long-term threat to health.

December 13, 2023 — In a new study, researchers at the University of Southern California set out to learn how vegan labeling influenced consumers, finding that the word may turn some people off from trying vegan products.

November 21, 2023 — The “food as medicine” movement says doctors should use food “prescriptions” as medical treatment. There’s now real money behind this approach, and larger investments are expected as research shows that food as medicine can save money. Here’s what to know.

November 20, 2023 — Nutrition and diabetes experts offer tips for dealing with holiday meals this season if you are watching your weight, or are living with diabetes, obesity, or other health conditions.

November 16, 2023 — The research estimated that replacing a single serving of processed meat each day with whole grains, nuts, or beans was associated with a 23% to 36% lower risk of cardiovascular problems such as stroke and heart attack.

November 13, 2023 — The Mediterranean Diet isn't really a "diet," as the word is commonly used. It's more of a way of life. A delicious way of life.

October 30, 2023 — Advocates for phasing out Red Dye No. 3 and other harmful additives hope these state-based developments will spur the FDA to finally take similar action and respond to a petition requesting the ban of Red Dye No. 3.

October 26, 2023 — Consumer Reports is calling on the makers of dark chocolate products to limit levels of heavy metals, after what the watchdog group called “concerning” test results.

October 20, 2023 — Ultra-processed foods are energy-dense and ready-to-eat food items including things like processed breakfast meats, packaged snacks, and ice cream as well as artificially sweetened drinks.

October 5, 2023 — Researchers have discovered a set of genes associated with people who stuck to a vegetarian diet for at least a year.

September 28, 2023 — Eating an extra 100 grams a day of starch from vegetables like corn, green peas, or potatoes was linked to 3.3 pounds more weight gain over 4 years.