Peas News and Research

RSS

Why pulses could play a bigger role in healthy and sustainable diets

A narrative review finds that pulses may support gut and metabolic health through their fiber, protein, phytochemicals, and interactions with the gut microbiota, while offering a lower environmental footprint than many animal protein sources. Human evidence is strongest for selected cardiometabolic outcomes, while many microbiome and fermentation-related benefits remain supported mainly by animal and laboratory studies.

9 Aug 2026

Selective eating in autism linked to inflammatory gut bacteria

Eating habits shape gut bacteria in children with autism, with potential dietary interventions offering hope for improving gut health and inflammation.

13 May 2026

Legumes and soy foods may help reduce hypertension risk

A higher dietary intake of soy and legumes is linked to a lower risk of high blood pressure, finds a pooled data analysis of the available evidence, published in the open access journal BMJ Nutrition Prevention & Health.

8 May 2026

Fibroblast subtype found to be essential for coordinating immune cells within lymph nodes

The research group of Prof. Sanjiv Luther at the Department of Immunobiology of the University of Lausanne has discovered that a fibroblast subtype is essential for coordinating certain immune cells within lymph nodes.

25 Apr 2026

How swapping unhealthy foods can significantly reduce your heart risk

More than half of adults and about 60% of children in the U.S. have unhealthy diets, which can contribute to higher rates of health factors such as high blood pressure and obesity, and lead directly to poor health outcomes including deaths from cardiovascular disease and other chronic conditions, according to the American Heart Association.

31 Mar 2026

Adding lean pork to a plant-forward diet supports healthy aging biomarkers

A randomized crossover feeding trial in adults aged 65 years or older found that plant-forward diets incorporating either minimally processed lean pork or lentils produced similar short-term improvements in cardiometabolic and neuroactive biomarkers. Both diets supported metabolic health and functional stability, with no overall adverse biomarker effects attributable to including minimally processed red meat within a Dietary Guidelines–aligned pattern.

19 Jan 2026

School canteen meals fall short on nutrition and sustainability

An EHU study reveals that the food served to children in canteens exceeds fat, protein and sodium recommendations.

16 Dec 2025

Study reveals metabolic benefits of reducing ultra-processed foods in older adults

A controlled feeding study out of South Dakota State University shows that older adults who ate fewer ultra-processed foods naturally consumed fewer calories, lost weight and abdominal fat, and showed improvements in insulin, nutrient-sensing hormones, and inflammation.

24 Nov 2025

Eating habits tied to Parkinson’s risk: sweets and processed meats raise odds, fruit lowers them

In a large Italian case-control study, researchers identified data-driven dietary patterns linked to Parkinson’s disease risk. Diets rich in sweets, red and cured meats were associated with higher odds of PD, while fruit, especially citrus, was protective.

29 Oct 2025

Replacing red meat with legumes improves heart health and supports weight management

A University of Helsinki study found that partially replacing red and processed meat with pea- and faba bean–based foods resulted in reduced total and 'bad' LDL cholesterol levels in men, along with weight loss.

19 Sep 2025

Who eats the most pulses in America, and why it matters for health

Analyzing pulse intake trends in the U.S., this study highlights sociodemographic influences and suggests strategies to enhance consumption for better health.

27 Aug 2025

New study expands the list of foods causing anaphylaxis

The European Regulation list on mandatory labelling of foods includes 14 allergenic foods. Research published in Clinical & Experimental Allergy has identified eight additional foods frequently involved in food-induced anaphylaxis.

21 Aug 2025

Common plant virus shows powerful potential as cancer immunotherapy

A virus that typically infects black-eyed peas is showing great promise as a low-cost, potent cancer immunotherapy-and researchers are uncovering why.

28 Jul 2025

Digging into the past: What ancient proteins say about real medieval meals

Researchers used stable isotope and proteomic analyses on medieval European skeletons to uncover the details of ancient diets. The findings revealed a heavy reliance on C3 plants, terrestrial animal proteins, legumes, and freshwater fish, demonstrating the power of combining methods for paleodietary reconstruction.

24 Jul 2025

Vegan diet lowers dietary acid load and promotes weight loss

Compared with a Mediterranean diet, dietary acid load decreased significantly on a low-fat vegan diet and was associated with weight loss, according to a randomized cross-over trial conducted by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and published in Frontiers in Nutrition.

27 Jun 2025

Limited self sufficiency threatens global access to healthy and sustainable diets

Growing emphasis on self-reliance and trade barriers could impair the ability of people to consume healthy and sustainable diets around the world.

18 May 2025

Low vitamin K intake may adversely affect cognition as people get older

As scientists seek to unravel the intricate potential connections between nutrition and the aging brain, a new study from researchers at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (HNRCA) at Tufts University is shedding light on how insufficient consumption of vitamin K may adversely affect cognition as people get older.

11 Apr 2025

Could a little spice in your diet prevent gestational diabetes?

Eating chili once a month during pregnancy is linked to a significantly lower risk of gestational diabetes, while dried beans and bean soup showed no clear association.

17 Mar 2025

Study reveals poor diet quality among pregnant and postpartum individuals

New research from the University of Massachusetts Amherst finds a pervasive low-quality diet among pregnant and postpartum individuals, reflecting "an urgent need for widespread improvement."

19 Dec 2024

Stanford researchers unveil the key role of extrachromosomal DNA in cancer

A trio of research papers from Stanford Medicine researchers and their international collaborators transforms scientists' understanding of how small DNA circles - until recently dismissed as inconsequential - are major drivers of many types of human cancers.

6 Nov 2024