Saturated Fats News and Research

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Study finds a clear link between ultraprocessed food and heart disease risk

A prospective analysis of 6,531 adults in the multiethnic MESA cohort found that higher ultraprocessed food intake was associated with a graded increase in incident ASCVD risk, with each additional daily serving linked to about a 5% higher risk. The association was stronger in Black participants, while no significant interaction was seen by sex or income.

18 Mar 2026

Swapping red meat for plant-based meat rapidly lowers a key heart risk metabolite, trial finds

A randomized crossover trial found that replacing red meat patties with processed plant-based meat alternatives for six days significantly lowered circulating trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), a gut-derived metabolite linked to cardiovascular risk. The plant-based phase also produced modest reductions in cholesterol markers but slightly increased weight and NT-proBNP, possibly due to higher sodium intake.

12 Mar 2026

High-fat diets cause more damage to metabolic health than carbohydrates

In recent years, many media reports and social media influencers have emphasized the dangers of eating too many carbohydrates.

10 Feb 2026

Mediterranean diet may protect women against all stroke types

Following a Mediterranean diet is associated with a lower risk of all types of stroke among women, according to a study published on February 4, 2026, in Neurology Open Access, an official journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

4 Feb 2026

Can dietary supplements support nutrition security as climate change disrupts food systems?

Environmental change is reshaping food availability, nutrient quality, and health risks, exposing major gaps in how nutrition science addresses climate-related stressors. This perspective argues that dietary supplements may have a context-dependent role but require rigorous, interdisciplinary research before informing public health action.

19 Jan 2026

What the Health? from KFF Health News: New Year, same health fight

Congress returned from its holiday break to the same question it faced in December: whether to extend covid-era premium subsidies for health plans sold under the Affordable Care Act.

8 Jan 2026

Higher intake of food preservatives linked to increased risk of type 2 diabetes

Higher consumption of food preservatives, widely used in industrially processed foods and beverages to extend their shelf life, has been linked to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.

7 Jan 2026

What happens to your body when you eat takeaway food too often?

This study of 8,556 US adults shows that frequent takeaway food consumption is associated with a higher energy-adjusted Dietary Inflammatory Index and adverse cardiometabolic markers. The findings suggest that reducing takeaway intake and lowering dietary inflammatory potential may improve long-term cardiometabolic health.

11 Dec 2025

National study maps where food additives come from in children’s and adults’ diets

By analysing nationally representative diet data, researchers show that food additives rarely occur alone, with children and teenagers experiencing the highest exposure to complex additive mixtures largely driven by ultra-processed foods.

9 Dec 2025

Diet swap alters breast milk composition within six days

Swapping beef for a plant-based meat substitute changed breast milk composition in just six days - even when the rest of the diet was made up of whole, unprocessed foods - according to a first-of-its-kind study from researchers at The University of Texas at Austin.

21 Nov 2025

Oral GLP-1 pill shows strong weight loss and blood sugar benefits in adults with diabetes

A new oral GLP-1 medication can help adults with obesity and Type 2 diabetes lose more weight and improve their blood sugar levels compared to a placebo, according to findings from the ATTAIN-2 trial led by a UTHealth Houston researcher.

20 Nov 2025

Lean beef fits safely into a Mediterranean diet without raising heart disease risk

Eating moderate amounts of lean beef as part of a Mediterranean diet does not increase an emerging risk factor for cardiovascular disease, according to a new study by an interdisciplinary research team at Penn State.

19 Nov 2025

Red meat raises inflammation marker CRP in clinical trials

The review analyzes red meat's effects on inflammatory biomarkers, revealing significant associations with CRP in specific adult subgroups and dietary contexts.

17 Nov 2025

Which plant-based diet is healthiest and most sustainable

Vegan and vegetarian diets deliver nutrient adequacy on par with Mediterranean diets, while lowering carbon footprints and promoting environmental health.

13 Nov 2025

Mediterranean diet linked to dramatically lower odds of endometriosis

A new case–control study found that women with stronger adherence to the Mediterranean diet had dramatically lower odds of endometriosis. Diets rich in fruits, vegetables, fish, and legumes were protective, while higher intakes of meat, dairy, and refined whole grains were linked to increased risk.

22 Oct 2025

How food choices and cooking methods drive brain inflammation and disease

Researchers reviewing evidence in NeuroSci show how dietary AGEs and their interaction with RAGE drive oxidative stress, inflammation, and neurodegeneration. They highlight how cooking methods and diet choices could lower AGE burden and protect brain health, while calling for rigorous clinical trials.

24 Sep 2025

Ultra-processed foods affect sperm quality and metabolism even without extra calories

A controlled crossover trial in Cell Metabolism found that ultra-processed foods increase weight, fat mass, LDL:HDL cholesterol, and alter reproductive hormones in men, with some effects independent of calorie load. These diets also showed trends toward reduced sperm motility, shifts in pollutants, and transient inflammatory responses, highlighting risks beyond excess calories.

31 Aug 2025

The challenges of shift work on diet, sleep, and well-being

Healthcare shift workers face dietary and sleep challenges, leading to burnout and health issues. Effective interventions are crucial for their well-being.

25 Aug 2025

Omega-3 rich diet linked to lower risk of childhood myopia

A diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids, found predominantly in fish oils, may help ward off the development of short sightedness (myopia) in children, while a high intake of saturated fats, found in foods such as butter, palm oil, and red meat, may boost the risk of the condition, finds research published online in the British Journal of Ophthalmology.

20 Aug 2025

Menu reshuffle can improve diet and cut emissions without new recipes

Optimizing weekly menus at a UK university led to significant health and sustainability gains, reducing saturated fat and carbon footprint without new recipes.

13 Aug 2025