Diet & Nutrition News and Research

Latest Diet & Nutrition News and Research

Psilocybin reduces anxiety, improves mood with advanced-stage cancer: Study

In the first human study of its kind to be published in more than 35 years, researchers found psilocybin, an hallucinogen which occurs naturally in "magic mushrooms," can safely improve the moods of patients with advanced-stage cancer and anxiety, according to an article published online today in the Archives of General Psychiatry.

7 Sep 2010

DSM Pharma launches InnoSyn route scouting services for pharmaceutical customers

DSM Pharma Chemicals, a business unit of DSM Pharmaceutical Products, today announced the launch of InnoSyn™ route scouting services. In response to the increasing interest of pharmaceutical customers to outsource the development of robust low-cost manufacturing routes, DSM is offering focused and flexible stand alone route scouting services.

7 Sep 2010

An overview on low-carbohydrate diets

Headlines make news, but don't read too much into current headlines about a recent study titled "Low-Carbohydrate Diets and All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality," published in the September 7, 2010, issue of Annals of Internal Medicine. Although the headlines may say the study suggests that long-term adherence to a low-carb diet based heavily on animal protein may reduce lifespan, Dr. Funga, who was the lead author of the study, says that her research "is not representative of popular low-carb eating plans

7 Sep 2010

RWJF unites civil rights organizations to reverse childhood obesity

A $2 million initiative of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) is bringing together five civil rights organizations with the prominence and strength to help reverse childhood obesity, especially in African-American and Latino communities where the epidemic continues to hit hardest.

7 Sep 2010

Consumers misinterpret low carbohydrate claims to have health benefits: Study

Food manufacturers advertise a variety of foods on grocery store shelves by using nutrient claims on the front of packaging. A study in the September/October issue of the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior evaluates how consumers are interpreting certain carbohydrate-related content claims and the effects of claims on consumer perceptions of food products. Findings from this study reveal that consumers misinterpret low carbohydrate claims to have health benefits and weight loss qualities beyond their nutrition facts.

7 Sep 2010

Babies weaned on junk food: Study

According to a recent study in Perth, Australia, babies here are being fed high calorie junk foods like biscuits, cakes, hot chips and ice cream before they turn one. This practice affects their eating habits for life say researchers. The report appeared in the Australian Journal of Nutrition and Dietetics. The study was undertaken by the Telethon Institute of Child Health Research, University of Western Australia and Curtin University and South Australia's Flinders University.

7 Sep 2010

Sleep deprived kids at risk of obesity: Study

Children under five who do not get adequate sleep at night are at increased risk for later childhood obesity says a new study. The researchers found that daytime naps are not enough to compensate for sleep loss at nights in terms of preventing obesity. The study is published in the September issue of the journal Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.

7 Sep 2010

Four week old children being fed a poor diet of biscuits, ice-cream and soft drinks

Children as young as four weeks old are being fed a poor diet of biscuits, ice-cream and soft drinks, according to new Australian research.

6 Sep 2010

Iron supplements reduce risk of iron deficiency and anemia in children with marginally low birth weights

Giving iron supplements to children with marginally low birth weights (2000-2500 grams) dramatically reduces the risk of developing iron deficiency and anemia. This is shown by Umeå researcher Magnus Domellöf and associates in the coming edition of the pediatric scientific journal Pediatrics.

6 Sep 2010

Unpredictable food poisoning

While we are often exposed to bacteria in our food which could cause food poisoning, we don't always become ill - why should this be so?

6 Sep 2010

Plaque-causing bacteria increases risk of heart attack

Plaque-causing bacteria can jailbreak from the mouth into the bloodstream and increase your risk of heart attack says a scientist at the Society for General Microbiology's autumn meeting in Nottingham.

6 Sep 2010

PennHIP radiographic method may hold potential to evaluate human susceptibility to hip dysplasia

A study comparing a University of Pennsylvania method for evaluating a dog's susceptibility to hip dysplasia to the traditional American method has shown that 80 percent of dogs judged to be normal by the traditional method are actually at risk for developing osteoarthritis and hip dysplasia, according to the Penn method.

4 Sep 2010

Almost half of all Americans use prescription drugs each month

Nearly half of all Americans used at least one prescription drug per month in 2008, according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Bloomberg reports. That's a 10 percent increase over the preceding decade. Over that time, yearly spending by Americans on drugs doubled to $234 billion. "The two biggest-sellers last year were Pfizer Inc.'s Lipitor for high cholesterol and Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.'s clot-buster, Plavix.

4 Sep 2010

Majority of Americans still unable to lose weight, researchers say

Only about one in every six Americans who have ever been overweight or obese loses weight and maintains that loss, according to Penn State College of Medicine researchers.

4 Sep 2010

Consumption of vended foods develop poor diet quality in children: Research

School children who consume foods purchased in vending machines are more likely to develop poor diet quality and that may be associated with being overweight, obese or at risk for chronic health problems such as diabetes and coronary artery disease, according to research from the University of Michigan Medical School.

3 Sep 2010

Cyanotech announces results of 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders

Cyanotech Corporation, a world leader in microalgae-based, high-value nutrition and health products, today announced the results of its 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, held September 1, 2010, in Waikoloa, HI.

3 Sep 2010

Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare offers free prostate cancer screenings

Recognizing that early detection can save lives, the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare is offering free prostate cancer screenings from 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 11.

3 Sep 2010

ADA publishes updated position paper on food insecurity in the U.S.

The American Dietetic Association has published an updated position paper on food insecurity in the United States, calling for funding for food and nutrition assistance programs, increased nutrition education and efforts to promote economic self-sufficiency for all households and individuals.

3 Sep 2010

MU helps communities turn healthy ideas into sustainable changes through Healthy Lifestyle Initiative

As the nation becomes more aware of health issues related to nutrition and lifestyle choices, communities are struggling to find ways to make healthy living easier. The University of Missouri is helping communities turn healthy ideas into sustainable changes through the Healthy Lifestyle Initiative. The initiative, underway at 13 sites in 12 Missouri counties, is aimed at changing environments to increase the availability of affordable, locally produced foods and access to safe physical activities.

3 Sep 2010

International experts gather to address pressing threats to food security

From catastrophic floods in Pakistan that have left millions homeless and hungry to the aftermath of Haiti's devastating earthquake, relief efforts are under way in many parts of the world where disasters have brought food crises along with destruction. In Africa's Sahel region, severe drought has been followed by floods that are now threatening the food security of millions of people among the world's poorest. More than half of Niger's population - some 7 million people - as well as millions more in neighbouring Chad, Mali and Mauritania face hunger and malnutrition.

3 Sep 2010