Cooking News and Research

RSS

How do everyday spices help protect the heart?

A Nutrition Reviews supplement article reviewed controlled studies showing that culinary spice and herb blends may improve selected cardiometabolic risk markers, including post-meal triglycerides, insulin responses, inflammation, endothelial function, and 24-hour blood pressure. The review also highlighted exploratory evidence that spices and herbs may influence immune-cell activity, circulating phytochemical metabolites, and gut bacterial composition, while emphasizing the need for longer and more diverse studies.

27 May 2026

Global health progress reversing in several critical areas, WHO warns

While there have been meaningful improvements in global health over the past decade, with millions benefiting from better prevention, treatment and access to essential services, persistent and emerging challenges mean that the world remains off track to achieve any of the health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

13 May 2026

Urges for cardiologists to screen patients for UPF intake

The European Society of Cardiology identifies ultra-processed foods as a key cardiovascular risk, urging a shift in dietary guidelines for better heart health.

11 May 2026

Five diet patterns shaping health in older Americans

Research identifies distinct dietary patterns in older adults, revealing how nutrition impacts health outcomes and food security among this vulnerable group.

4 May 2026

Breastfeeding’s link to teen cognition emerges after researchers account for family background

A national study of 5,436 Chinese youths found that longer breastfeeding was not linked to cognition before adjustment, but was associated with modestly better math and word-recognition scores after socioeconomic factors were considered. The findings suggest that family socioeconomic patterns can mask breastfeeding-cognition associations, especially in settings where longer breastfeeding is more common among lower-SES households.

27 Apr 2026

Long-term exposure to air pollution (PM2.5) raises risk of developing cancer by 11 % and of dying from cancer by 12 %

The Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), with support from the Clean Air Fund, has released a global report, Clean air in cancer control: An overview of the evidence, presenting data on the scale of cancer risk and mortality from polluted air.

21 Apr 2026

Ultra-processed diets may harm muscle health

Ultra-processed food diets may impair muscle health, with MRI findings showing increased fat infiltration in individuals at risk for knee osteoarthritis.

17 Apr 2026

Can processed meats fit into a healthy diet?

This perspective-style review argues that processed meats remain valuable sources of high-quality protein, essential amino acids, and bioavailable micronutrients despite concerns about sodium, fat, and chronic disease links. It also contends that much of the evidence tying processed meat to adverse health outcomes is observational and potentially confounded, while emphasizing the role of processing in safety, shelf life, and food security.

15 Apr 2026

New embodied AI system teaches users complex movements via muscles

A new system from Yun Ho, Romain Nith, and Pedro Lopes combines AI and electrical muscle stimulation to physically guide users through unfamiliar tasks—marking a leap toward general-purpose, context-aware embodied assistance.

10 Apr 2026

Rising climate pollution may double air quality alerts in the US

Research reveals climate-driven pollution will surge, increasing air quality alerts and highlighting the need for protective actions, especially for seniors.

2 Apr 2026

New research links cooking methods to better nutrient absorption

Researchers at the University of Seville's Food Colour and Quality Laboratory have studied the effects of different cooking methods used for tomatoes and carrots (in the oven, microwave or air fryer, amongst others) on the amount of carotenoids that are potentially available for absorption by the body following the digestion of these foods.

27 Mar 2026

Home cooking may help prevent dementia in seniors

Preparing a home cooked meal at least once a week may cut older people's risk of dementia by 30%, suggests research published online in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health.

24 Mar 2026

Firmer potatoes lower post-meal blood sugar spikes

Minimally cooked potatoes may reduce blood sugar spikes, but benefits are short-lived and specific to certain populations, as shown in recent research.

23 Mar 2026

Study links smokable drug use to heightened incidence of severe burns

A new analysis in Oregon reveals a heightened incidence of severe burns requiring hospital-level care as illicit drug use has shifted nationwide from injection to smoking.

16 Mar 2026

Using microwave frying to create heart-healthy production methods

Fried foods are popular with consumers, but their high fat content can contribute to health challenges like obesity and hypertension. If the food industry can offer lower-fat options of similar quality, people can more easily make health-conscious food choices.

5 Mar 2026

Ultra-processed foods linked to behavioral issues in preschoolers

A team led by researchers at the University of Toronto has found an association between ultra-processed foods in early childhood, and behavioral and emotional development.

3 Mar 2026

Neem compound gedunin shows promise against pancreatic cancer

Ramadevi Subramani Reddy, Ph.D., remembers the neem tree from her childhood in India - a plant her grandmother used to treat everything from fevers to infections.

26 Feb 2026

Infographics engage unmotivated young adults in healthy eating

Young adults who are not motivated to eat healthily can still be engaged with the right type of communication, according to new research from the European Food Information Council (EUFIC).

24 Feb 2026

Should drug companies be advertising to consumers?

Tamar Abrams had a lousy couple of years in 2022 and '23. Both her parents died; a relationship ended; she retired from communications consulting.

20 Feb 2026

Why lung cancer in never smokers is rising and how targeted detection could reduce deaths

Lung cancer in never smokers is an increasingly recognized global health issue with distinct biological drivers, environmental risk factors, and genetic susceptibilities. Improved risk modelling, targeted screening strategies, and preventive approaches are needed to enable earlier detection and reduce mortality in this growing patient group.

15 Feb 2026