Food News and Research

RSS

Study finds widespread microplastics in children and suggests diet may shape exposure

Researchers detected 19 types of microplastics in the urine of 10-year-old children, with particles present in over 91% of samples and a median concentration of 250 particles per milliliter. Greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with shifts in specific microplastic polymers, suggesting dietary patterns may influence exposure pathways.

3 Mar 2026

How are GLP-1 drugs reshaping treatment for obesity, diabetes, and heart disease?

A comprehensive Lancet review synthesizes evidence from major clinical trials showing that GLP-1 receptor agonists and next-generation incretin therapies deliver substantial weight loss while reducing cardiovascular and kidney risks. Emerging dual, triple, and oral agents may further expand treatment options and improve outcomes across obesity, type 2 diabetes, and related metabolic diseases.

3 Mar 2026

Brain reward responses shift based on expectations about sweeteners

Elena Mainetto, from Radboud University, Margaret Westwater, from the University of Oxford, and colleagues at the University of Cambridge explored whether they could change how much people enjoy beverages containing sugar or artificial sweeteners by manipulating previous expectations about the drinks.

2 Mar 2026

Blocking growth hormone receptor may improve treatment response in lung cancer

Researchers at Ohio University have discovered what may be a new way to fight lung cancer that is resistant to other treatments.

2 Mar 2026

Experts identify safest and most effective diets for IBS management

This review in Nutrients evaluates the scientific evidence, clinical effectiveness, and safety of major dietary strategies for irritable bowel syndrome, including traditional advice, low-FODMAP, gluten-free, Mediterranean, and starch- and sucrose-reduced diets. It concludes that while the low-FODMAP diet has the strongest short-term evidence, no single approach fits all patients, and dietitian-led personalization is essential.

2 Mar 2026

Medicaid is paying for more dental care. GOP cuts threaten to reverse the trend.

Star Quinn moved to Kingsport, Tennessee, in 2023, the same year the state began covering dental costs for about 600,000 low-income adults enrolled in Medicaid.

2 Mar 2026

Ultraprocessed foods are engineered like cigarettes

The parallels between ultraprocessed foods and tobacco raise concerns about addiction and health risks, urging policymakers to implement effective regulations.

2 Mar 2026

Decoding the brain’s love for tempting snacks

Research from the University of East Anglia (UEA) may finally explain why we still reach for the biscuit tin, even when we're full.

1 Mar 2026

Machine learning predicts who will decline faster in Alzheimer’s disease using routine clinic data

Researchers developed and validated ElasticNet machine learning models that predict 12-month MMSE and BADL outcomes in Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment using routinely collected clinical data. The cognitive model demonstrated external validation in ADNI, showing that individualized progression forecasting is feasible without biomarkers or neuroimaging.

1 Mar 2026

NIH grant funds evaluation of expanded Medicare Advantage benefits

Today, more than half of older Americans receive their Medicare coverage through private Medicare Advantage plans. In 2020, that program made a sweeping policy shift, allowing those plans to offer supplemental benefits beyond traditional medical care, including groceries, meal deliveries, utilities, transportation, pest control, and air filters.

27 Feb 2026

Colorful japonica rice varieties show unique health-promoting lipids

Rice feeds more than half of the world's population, yet we still only partly understand the nutrients it contains.

27 Feb 2026

Greater food variety at buffets may lead to overeating

At Super Bowl parties, weddings, Independence Day cookouts and Thanksgiving dinners, people celebrate with large spreads of food.

27 Feb 2026

Polystyrene nanoplastics influence Salmonella survival and antibiotic resistance

Plastic products are ubiquitous in our food supply chain, shedding microplastics into every part of the human ecosystem.

27 Feb 2026

He needs an expensive drug. A copay card helped — until it didn’t.

Over the course of 2025, Jayant Mishra of Mission Viejo, California, progressively developed scaly, itchy red patches on his skin. Then came the pain and swelling in the joints of his hands, making it difficult to do his work at a bank.

27 Feb 2026

Can peanut butter improve mobility after 65?

Research indicates that peanut butter can enhance muscle power in older adults, but its impact on overall physical function and gait speed is limited.

27 Feb 2026

Global study reveals rising disparities in early-onset gastric cancer

Gastric cancer remains the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Although its overall incidence has declined, early-onset cases-diagnosed before age 50-display unique biological and clinical patterns.

26 Feb 2026

Study highlights systemic forces sustaining tuberculosis transmission

Despite major advances in diagnostics and treatment, tuberculosis (TB) remains the world's deadliest infectious disease.

26 Feb 2026

Innovative laser procedure offers new hope for recurrent brain tumors

High-grade astrocytoma, which includes glioblastoma, is a fast-growing, aggressive brain cancer that often returns after the tumor is removed, making it difficult to treat. Patients

26 Feb 2026

Middle-aged men most vulnerable to aging effects of new PFAS

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) – 'forever chemicals' in common parlance – are a class of thousands of synthetic chemicals often used in non-stick coatings, water-resistant fabrics, fire-fighting foams, food packages, cleaning products, and plastics.

26 Feb 2026

‘Kind of morbid’: Health premiums threaten their nest egg. A terminal diagnosis may spare it.

Early on, Jean Franklin got some career advice she followed religiously: "Pay yourself first." So she did, socking away hundreds of thousands of dollars in retirement savings by the time she became a stay-at-home mom at age 41.

26 Feb 2026