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The Mediterranean diet has a modern problem, and it isn't just about food

A narrative review published in Applied Sciences examined how urbanisation, time constraints, food costs, and changing lifestyles have contributed to declining adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Drawing on 116 references, the authors identified workplace and school interventions, nutrition education, physical activity, and Mediterranean-inspired convenience foods as potential strategies for adapting this dietary pattern to modern life.

5 Nov 2026

Exercise may improve mood and memory, and researchers say doctors should prescribe it

In a Viewpoint, researchers examined evidence that exercise can reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, support cognition, and may help lower the risk of cognitive decline, although evidence for dementia prevention remains largely observational. The authors argue that exercise should be prescribed as a structured component of brain-health care, with individualized recommendations that account for medical conditions, safety, and barriers to participation.

4 Nov 2026

New medical framework redefines women’s heart health starting at puberty

The American Heart Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine released landmark publications that redefine women's heart health, starting at puberty.

27 Oct 2026

Medical societies release landmark framework redefining women's heart health

Today, the American Heart Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine released a landmark publication that redefines heart health in girls and women.

26 Oct 2026

What you did last week may be the strongest clue to how much you'll exercise this week

Researchers analyzing exercise records from 5.17 million Strava users across 65 countries found that recent exercise history was the strongest predictor of whether individuals would meet a weekly physical activity threshold during the COVID-19 pandemic. Physical activity patterns varied considerably across regions, with greater disruption in many middle-income countries and better adherence associated with greater access to outdoor exercise facilities.

18 Oct 2026

Mitochondrial protein SLC25A34 links body clock, cold and diet to brown fat metabolism

Brown fat burns fuel to make heat, and this activity is controlled by the body clock: dropping during sleep and rising before waking. But a cold morning or a skipped meal makes demands the clock never planned for.

1 Oct 2026

ACLM position statement links lifestyle medicine to planetary health

The American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) has released a new position statement asserting that lifestyle medicine offers a practical, evidence-based framework to address both the chronic disease epidemic and the growing environmental challenges affecting health worldwide.

29 Sep 2026

Exercise may reshape your gut microbiome to support recovery

Research reveals how exercise alters gut microbes, influencing recovery and proposing 'intestinal rehabilitation' for those with limited exercise capacity.

29 Sep 2026

Can’t stop thinking about food? You’re far from alone

Investigating 'food noise', this study reveals its association with diet quality and mental health, emphasizing demographic influences and eating behaviors.

29 Sep 2026

Cutting ultra-processed foods and exercising slashes diabetes risk

Eating a diet low in ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and exercising can cut the risk of type 2 diabetes, even in those with a strong genetic disposition to the condition, new research being presented at the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Milan, Italy (Sept 28 – Oct 2) suggests.

27 Sep 2026

Beetroot juice may make swimming feel easier without making swimmers faster

A systematic review and meta-analysis of 12 studies, with nine contributing data from 120 swimmers, found no significant improvement in swimming time-trial performance or post-exercise blood lactate with beetroot juice or dietary nitrate supplementation. Supplementation produced a small reduction in perceived exertion, but the effect varied across studies, and the certainty of evidence for swimming performance was low.

24 Sep 2026

More physical activity linked to lower type 2 diabetes risk in adults

Reading for pleasure linked to better mental health and greater empathy

Reading for pleasure – from tucking into a Jane Austen classic to devouring a Heartstopper graphic novel – is linked to better mental health, greater empathy and a lower risk of dementia, say researchers.

15 Sep 2026

Finnish study finds working from home increases sedentary behavior

According to a Finnish study, people sleep slightly longer when they work from home. However, they also sit more and are less physically active than on days when they work in the office.

11 Sep 2026

Strength training shows no added arrhythmia risk in people with arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy

People living with arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM), a heritable heart condition that can significantly increase risks for sudden cardiac death, are advised to avoid high-intensity aerobic exercise.

10 Sep 2026

Experts call for gradual independence before children reach adolescence

As thousands of children start secondary school, experts have called for children to be given more opportunities for independence before they hit adolescence.

10 Sep 2026

Ten minutes of slow running boosts brain function and mood

A growing body of evidence shows that exercise improves mood and cognitive function. However, much of this evidence comes from cycling, which allows researchers to precisely control exercise intensity in the laboratory.

9 Sep 2026

Progesterone levels linked to brain patterns underlying mood changes

The influence of the hormone progesterone on mood is well known. Now researchers from the University of Barcelona have shown how higher levels of progesterone during the menstrual cycle are linked to less distinct patterns of activity in areas of the brain involved in controlling emotions.

2 Sep 2026

Stay sharp after menopause: How aerobic exercise can improve key thinking skills

Regular aerobic exercise – the kind that gets your heart pumping – can improve important thinking skills called executive functions, and the benefits appear especially strong for women after menopause, according to Rutgers researchers.

2 Sep 2026