It isn’t surprising that people are confused about nutrition when the media presents different findings as gladiatorial battles: vegetarian versus carnivore, high-fat versus low-fat diets and, more recently, low-carb diets versus high-carb. But, when you dig down into the data, many of these studies are reporting surprisingly similar things – and this is the case with the latest studies reporting on carbohydrates and health.
A pregnant woman’s high blood sugar level is linked to a significantly greater long-term risk of obesity in her child - even more than a decade later, a new study reports. The higher the woman’s blood sugar, the greater the risk of her child being obese.
Evidence of malnutrition can be seen broadly around the world, with the World Health Organization reporting 1.9 billion adults who are overweight or obese and 462 million adults who are underweight.
The younger generation is especially affected by high-calorie, low-nutrition foods. High levels of sugar, fat and salt put children at increased risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease, not to mention tooth extraction. Perhaps more worryingly, habits formed in childhood seem to stick for life.
The brain’s immune cells gobble up synapses in the hippocampi of rodents fed high-fat or high-sugar diets.
We all know eating “healthy” food is good for our physical health and can decrease our risk of developing diabetes, cancer, obesity and heart disease. What is not as well known is that eating healthy food is also good for our mental health and can decrease our risk of depression and anxiety.
This study measured the relationship between Vitamin D and clinical symptoms in people experiencing a first episode of psychosis. Researchers found that 80% of individuals in the study had suboptimal levels of the vitamin. Moreover, a higher baseline level of vitamin D was associated with lower symptom scores in follow-up tests.
For the first time researchers have taken samples from inside people’s guts to find out how much probiotics change the composition of microbes and the chemical compounds they produce. And they found that the effect of probiotics depends on the bacteria that are already present in the gut.
Some aspects of the Mediterranean diet may promote better sleep; alternatively, poor sleep may cause people to eat less healthy foods. The study's authors note that the direction of the association remains to be elucidated.
A recent study found that children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) had the highest frequency of rapid weight gain during the first six months of life, which may put them at increased risk for childhood obesity.
More than a quarter (1.4 billion) of the world's adult population were insufficiently active in 2016, putting them at greater risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, dementia, and some cancers, according to the first study to estimate global physical activity trends over time.
The mental aspect of sport is a crucial yet overlooked aspect of athletic performance, according to a performance nutritionist, who believes nutrition tweaks can aid in making match-winning decisions.
Belgian researchers propose a chocolate ‘mood pyramid’ to assess which of chocolate’s constituent compounds may affect the mood of chocolate eaters.
If you get your health news from certain online sources, might be led to believe a certain group of vegetables called “nightshade vegetables” are bad for you. The theory goes that veg such as tomatoes, capsicums, chilli peppers, eggplant and potatoes contain toxins designed to stop us from eating them, which are damaging to our health. The evidence, however, is flimsy at best.
Hidden hunger is a growing problem for today’s rapidly aging population – the result of micronutrient deficiencies among the elderly. A study outlining the extent of global omega-3 deficiency highlights the need for a change in public health policy to reduce the prevalence of hidden hunger.
The sale of energy drinks could be banned in England to anybody under 18, amid fears they are damaging children's health, the prime minister has said.
New research has shown that a lack of protein in a father's diet affects sperm quality which can have a direct impact on the long-term health of their offspring.
Sucralose, a widely used artificial sweetener sold under the trade name Splenda, is metabolized in the gut, producing at least two fat-soluble compounds, according to a recent study using rats. The finding differs from the studies used to garner regulatory approval for sucralose, which reported that the substance was not broken down in the body. The new study also found that sucralose itself was found in fatty tissues of the body.
If you drink alcohol, it’s likely you’re familiar with some of the effects of a hangover. Headaches, nausea and fatigue are just some of the unpleasant but common experiences of the morning after the night before. But have you ever wondered how a hangover may influence your thoughts and behaviour?
Women may need a more nutrient-rich diet to support a positive emotional well-being, according to new research.