Food and Behaviour Research

Donate Log In

Food Affects Behaviour: 20+ Years of FAB Research – What next? - BOOK HERE

News

Latest News List

Search News...


10 September 2018 - The Scientist - Microglia Cause Cognitive Decline in Obese Mice

The brain’s immune cells gobble up synapses in the hippocampi of rodents fed high-fat or high-sugar diets.


9 September 2018 - The Conversation - Five types of food to increase your psychological well-being

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.


6 September - Mad in America - Study Finds First-Episode Psychosis Patients Fare Better with Vitamin D

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.


6 September 2018 - The Conversation - Probiotics: a first look at what’s going on in the gut

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.


Study uncovers link between better sleep quality and a healthy diet

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.


6 September 2018 - Science Daily - Rapid weight gain during infancy possible risk factor for later obesity in kids with autism

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.


5 September 2018 - MedicalXpress - Globally, 1.4 billion adults at risk of disease from not doing enough physical activity

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.


4 September 2018 - Nutraingredients - Nutrition the ‘extra man’ in the sporting quest for a mental cutting edge

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.


Cocoa for cognition: Study proposes how to assess what exactly in chocolate may give brains a boost

Belgian researchers propose a chocolate ‘mood pyramid’ to assess which of chocolate’s constituent compounds may affect the mood of chocolate eaters.


3 September 2018 - The Conversation - Health Check: what are nightshade vegetables and are they bad for you?

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.


3 September 2017 - DSM - Bringing hidden hunger to light with new research

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.


30 August 2018 - BBC News - Government proposes energy drinks ban for children

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.


29 August 2018 - MedicalXpress - Father's diet could affect the long-term health of his offspring

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.


28 August 2018 - MedicalXpress - Study finds sucralose produces previously unidentified metabolites

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.


28 August 2018 - The Conversation - The hidden costs of a hangover

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?


27 August 2018 - Science Daily - Diet has bigger impact on emotional well-being in women than in men

Women may need a more nutrient-rich diet to support a positive emotional well-being, according to new research.


24 August 2018 - MedicalXpress - The influence of genetics on nutritional requirements

A better understanding of individual nutritional requirements will allow scientists to make more personalized nutritional recommendations, which is precisely the aim of nutrigenetics. Even though we do not know all the factors responsible for interindividual variability yet, genetics already seems to be one of the most decisive.


Parents, don't panic - your picky eater is in good health

Research findings using data from the University of Bristol's Children of the 90s study should reassure parents that their fussy toddlers can grow up with a healthy height and weight. In fact, being more relaxed around eating will help your child be less choosy.


22 August 2018 - MedicalXpress - Lifestyle factors linked to brain health of young adults

Researchers from the University of Oxford, in collaboration with researchers from Canada and the Universities of Bristol and London, have used advanced magnetic resonance imaging to investigate whether factors such as blood pressure, fitness, smoking and alcohol intake during young adult life are associated with changes in the blood vessels inside the brain.


22 August 2018 - Science Daily - Found: A destructive mechanism that blocks the brain from knowing when to stop eating

Researchers have uncovered a destructive mechanism at the molecular level that causes a well-known phenomenon associated with obesity: leptin resistance. They found that mice fed a high-fat diet produce an enzyme named MMP-2 that clips receptors for the hormone leptin from the surface of neuronal cells in the hypothalamus. This blocks leptin from binding to its receptors. This in turn keeps the neurons from signaling that your stomach is full and you should stop eating.