Diet & Nutrition News and Research

Latest Diet & Nutrition News and Research

School dinners may help picky eaters expand their diet

Having school dinners rather than packed lunches could encourage picky eating 13-year-olds to eat a wider variety of foods, according to a new University of Bristol-led study.

14 May 2025

Eating only wild foods reshapes your gut microbiome in just weeks, study shows

A new study shows that an eight-week wild-food-only diet in a modern adult leads to dramatic, partially lasting changes in the gut microbiome’s composition and function. While no “ancestral” microbes reappeared, the shift increased fiber-degrading species and reduced dairy-associated bacteria, highlighting the powerful role of diet.

14 May 2025

AI model offers early warning for acute malnutrition in Kenya

A multidisciplinary team of researchers from the USC School of Advanced Computing and the Keck School of Medicine, working alongside experts from the Microsoft AI for Good Lab, Amref Health Africa, and Kenya's Ministry of Health, has developed an artificial intelligence (AI) model that can predict acute child malnutrition in Kenya up to six months in advance.

14 May 2025

Can diet ease IBS? A low-FODMAP plan cut symptoms but raised nutrient concerns

A 10-week low-FODMAP diet significantly reduced symptom severity in Saudi adults with IBS, with most shifting from severe to moderate symptoms. However, the restrictive diet also led to declines in several essential nutrients, highlighting the need for professional guidance.

14 May 2025

Portfolio diet delays heart risk and lowers cholesterol in young adults

A University of Toronto study found that higher adherence to the plant-based Portfolio Diet was associated with lower LDL cholesterol and improved cardiovascular risk markers in young adults. Modeling suggests the diet may delay cardiovascular risk onset by up to 13 years.

14 May 2025

Lipid accumulation levels reveal hidden osteoporosis risk

Researchers investigate the use of lipid accumulation products as a predictor of osteoporosis.

14 May 2025

Taurine identified as a key regulator of myeloid cancers

A new scientific study identified taurine, which is made naturally in the body and consumed through some foods, as a key regulator of myeloid cancers such as leukemia, according to a paper published in the journal Nature.

14 May 2025

Animal research reveals metabolic differences between tirzepatide and semaglutide

New animal research being presented at this year's European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Malaga, Spain (11-14 May), reveals distinct metabolic adjustments to tirzepatide and semaglutide treatment, with tirzepatide temporarily increasing energy expenditure and semaglutide initially reducing energy expenditure.

14 May 2025

New device offers real time breastfeeding data for parents and clinicians

While breastfeeding has many benefits for a mother and her baby, it has one major drawback: It's incredibly difficult to know how much milk the baby is consuming.

14 May 2025

Skin microbiome plays active role in sun protection and immune balance

The skin microbiome plays an important role in health and disease. Researchers have now substantiated that certain skin bacteria can protect us from the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation specifically by metabolizing cis-urocanic acid using an enzyme called urocanase.

13 May 2025

Obesity study highlights gap in perceptions between patients and physicians

A survey of adults living with obesity and their physicians across seven countries reveals a high disconnect between their perceptions about the causes of obesity and treatment goals.

13 May 2025

Just a few plant-based swaps a week could make a difference to your heart

Replacing small weekly amounts of red or processed meat with plant-based foods was linked to modest reductions in cardiovascular disease risk in a large Finnish cohort study. The benefits varied by gender and food type, with the most consistent improvements seen when processed meat was replaced with vegetables.

13 May 2025

Hormone FGF21 reverses fatty liver disease by signaling the brain

A pioneering research study published today in Cell Metabolism details how the hormone FGF21 (fibroblast growth factor 21) can reverse the effects of fatty liver disease in mice. The hormone works primarily by signaling the brain to improve liver function.

13 May 2025

Lean pork proven to enhance plant-forward diets for older adults

A newly published clinical feeding study out of South Dakota State University suggests that lean pork can play a central role in plant-forward dietary patterns for aging adults, offering high-quality protein, broad acceptability and alignment with current dietary guidance.

13 May 2025

BSO drug mimics anti-obesity effects of difficult sulfur amino acid restricted diet

A new research paper was published in Aging (Aging-US) Volume 17, Issue 4, on April 7, 2025, titled "Pharmacological recapitulation of the lean phenotype induced by the lifespan-extending sulfur amino acid-restricted diet."

13 May 2025

Gaza faces growing hunger crisis amid ongoing aid blockade

The risk of famine in Gaza is increasing with the deliberate withholding of humanitarian aid, including food, in the ongoing blockade.

13 May 2025

Flavan-3-ols in tea and chocolate can lower blood pressure

We might have another reason to enjoy our daily cup of tea or small piece of dark chocolate, as a new study from the University of Surrey has found that naturally occurring compounds called flavan-3-ols - found in cocoa, tea, apples and grapes - may improve blood pressure and the health of our blood vessels.

13 May 2025