One in eight Americans over 50 show signs of food addiction: Much higher percentages of possible addiction to processed food seen among older adults who are overweight or experiencing poor mental health or isolation
Whether you call them comfort foods, highly processed foods, junk foods, empty calories or just some of Americans’ favorite foods and drinks, a sizable percentage of older Americans have an unhealthy relationship with them, according to a new poll. In fact, about 13% of people aged 50 to 80 showed signs of addiction to such […]
Study explores effects of dietary choline deficiency on neurologic and system-wide health: Reaching adequate dietary choline intake is critical to offset organ pathologies and may help protect the brain against Alzheimer’s disease
Choline, an essential nutrient produced in small amounts in the liver and found in foods including eggs, broccoli, beans, meat and poultry, is a vital ingredient for human health. A new study explores deficiency in dietary choline adversely affects the body and may be a missing piece in the puzzle of Alzheimer’s disease. It’s estimated […]
Understanding the ‘eating just one potato chip is impossible’ gene: Scientists reveal genetic mechanism associated with high-calorie food-fueled obesity
High-calorie foods — high in fat, oil, and sugar — can taste good but often cause overeating, leading to obesity and major health problems. But what stimulates the brain to cause overeating? Recently, it has become clear that a gene called CREB-Regulated Transcription Coactivator 1 (CRTC1) is associated with obesity in humans. When CRTC1 is […]
Low nutritional quality in many vegetarian meat substitutes
The availability of foods based on plant proteins to substitute for meat has increased dramatically as more people choose a plant-based diet. At the same time, there are many challenges regarding the nutritional value of these products. A study from Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden now shows that many of the meat substitutes sold […]
Shaking less salt on your food at the table could reduce heart disease risk: Researchers found a link between a lower frequency of dietary salt and a reduced CVD risk
Adding additional salt to foods at a lower frequency is associated with a reduced risk of heart disease, heart failure and ischemic heart disease, according to a new study published today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Even among those following a DASH-style diet, behavioral interventions to lessen salt consumption could further […]
Antioxidant flavonols linked to slower memory decline: Fruits, vegetables, tea may be helpful
People who eat or drink more foods with antioxidant flavonols, which are found in several fruits and vegetables as well as tea and wine, may have a slower rate of memory decline, according to a study published in the November 22, 2022, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. […]
Diets rich in refined fiber may increase liver cancer risk in some individuals
Many people commonly consume fiber-enriched foods to promote weight loss and prevent chronic diseases such as diabetes and cancer. However, in some individuals — particularly those with a silent vascular deformity — consumption of highly refined fiber may increase the risk of liver cancer, new research from The University of Toledo has found. The discovery, […]
Cravings for fatty foods traced to gut-brain connection: Mouse research reveals fat sensors in the intestines that stimulate the brain and drive food desires
A dieter wrestling with cravings for fatty foods might be tempted to blame their tongue: the delicious taste of butter or ice cream is hard to resist. But new research investigating the source of our appetites has uncovered an entirely new connection between the gut and the brain that drives our desire for fat. At […]
‘Gateway’ foods like candy, pastries and frozen treats may lead to unhealthy teen eating: New study about teen eating habits, led by a 16-year-old scientist, found ultra-processed foods may trigger additional unhealthy food choices
Certain ultra-processed foods, such as candy, pastries and frozen desserts, may be “gateway” foods for adolescents, leading them to eat higher quantities of other unhealthy foods, according to new research presented at the American Heart Association’s Hypertension Scientific Sessions 2022, Sept. 7-10, 2022 in San Diego. The meeting is the premier scientific exchange focused on […]
Ultra-Processed Foods Linked to Colorectal Cancer Risk, CV Death
Regular consumption of ultra-processed foods was associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer, all-cause mortality, and cardiovascular mortality, according to findings from two studies published in The BMJ. In the first paper, which analyzed three prospective U.S. cohort studies, men in the highest quintile of consumption had a 29% higher risk of developing colorectal […]