Diet & Nutrition News and Research

Latest Diet & Nutrition News and Research

Research uncovers key role of the brain's blood flow dynamics in Alzheimer’s disease

Over seven million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and the heartbreaking day-to-day battle with the effects of cognitive decline.

25 Aug 2025

Mediterranean diet with lifestyle changes lowers diabetes risk by 31%

A Mediterranean-style diet, in combination with reduced caloric intake, moderate physical activity, and professional support for weight loss, may cut the risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) by 31%, according to a new study co-authored by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

25 Aug 2025

Can diet alone slow brain aging? Scientists say evidence is still too weak

Researchers reviewing evidence in the Annual Review of Nutrition find that healthy dietary patterns may support brain aging, but caution that scientific enthusiasm currently outpaces solid proof. Multidomain strategies combining diet with exercise, cognitive training, and vascular health show greater promise.

25 Aug 2025

Autism study shows vitamin D and iron deficiencies affect up to 40% of children

Researchers in Singapore found that 30–40% of children with autism spectrum disorder have vitamin D or iron deficiencies, regardless of eating habits. Age and ethnicity increased vitamin D risk, while picky eating was not a reliable predictor.

25 Aug 2025

Fat location, not BMI, drives heart ageing risk in men and women

Researchers using UK Biobank imaging data found that where fat is stored in the body, not just how much, determines cardiovascular ageing. Visceral, liver, and muscle fat accelerate ageing, while gynoid fat protects women before menopause.

25 Aug 2025

Food choices may depend more on blood sugar than body weight

Maybe you shouldn't always listen to your gut. Researchers at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC recently studied flavor-nutrient learning - how people come to prefer certain food based on how it makes them feel.

25 Aug 2025

Mediterranean-style diet may reduce dementia risk in individuals with high genetic risk

A new study led by investigators from Mass General Brigham, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard suggests that a Mediterranean-style diet may help reduce dementia risk.

25 Aug 2025

As measles exploded, officials in Texas looked to CDC scientists. Under Trump, no one answered.

As measles surged in Texas early this year, the Trump administration's actions sowed fear and confusion among CDC scientists that kept them from performing the agency's most critical function — emergency response — when it mattered most, an investigation from KFF Health News shows.

25 Aug 2025

The challenges of shift work on diet, sleep, and well-being

Healthcare shift workers face dietary and sleep challenges, leading to burnout and health issues. Effective interventions are crucial for their well-being.

25 Aug 2025

Sugary drinks increase hair loss risk, scientists warn

A systematic review of 17 studies involving 61,332 participants reveals that vitamin D, iron, and certain foods and supplements play critical roles in hair health. Conversely, sugary drinks, alcohol, and excess vitamin A may worsen hair loss and hair quality.

25 Aug 2025

Most Americans drink less juice than guidelines allow, study finds

A new study of NHANES 2017–2023 data shows that most Americans drink far less 100% fruit juice than the Dietary Guidelines allow. Juice consumption was linked to better diet quality, higher nutrient intake, and did not displace whole fruit.

24 Aug 2025

New 3D bioprinting method can customize protein-based emulsion gels for dysphagia diets

In rapidly aging societies like Japan, the simple act of swallowing meals can be challenging for many. This condition, known as dysphagia, affects millions of people worldwide and can significantly deteriorate a person's quality of life.

22 Aug 2025

Excessive amounts of visceral fat tied to faster heart aging

Excessive amounts of visceral fat - the hidden fat surrounding organs - is linked with faster aging of the heart, a new study has found.

22 Aug 2025

Study finds no increased risk of death associated with higher intake of animal protein

Eating animal-sourced protein foods is not linked to a higher risk of death and may even offer protective benefits against cancer-related mortality, new research finds.

22 Aug 2025

Yogurt intake and hot spring bathing together improve gut health

Researchers at Kyushu University have demonstrated that yogurt intake increases the diversity of gut microbiota and alters its composition.

22 Aug 2025

Hypothalamic neurons help maintain blood sugar during daily activities

The brain controls the release of glucose in a wide range of stressful circumstances, including fasting and low blood sugar levels.

21 Aug 2025

Edible microbeads trap fat to support weight loss

Weight-loss interventions, including gastric bypass surgery and drugs that prevent dietary fat absorption, can be invasive or have negative side effects.

21 Aug 2025

KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': Happy 60th, Medicare and Medicaid!

On July 30, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed landmark legislation creating Medicare and Medicaid. Sixty years later, the programs represent a fifth of the federal budget and provide coverage to nearly 1 in 4 Americans.

21 Aug 2025

Seattle’s Fresh Bucks program boosts food security and diet but benefits fade when funding ends

A lottery-based cohort study of Seattle’s Fresh Bucks program found that providing a $40 monthly fruit and vegetable benefit improved food security by 5.5 percentage points and increased daily produce consumption by 7.5 percentage points, while disenrollment reversed these gains. These findings highlight the potential of healthy food benefit programs to reduce nutrition-related disparities in low-income populations.

21 Aug 2025

Gut bacteria and insomnia influence each other in small but significant ways, study shows

Scientists used Mendelian randomisation to explore the two-way relationship between gut microbiota and insomnia, analyzing GWAS data from over 386,000 individuals and two major microbiome cohorts. The study found only limited taxa surviving strict correction, suggesting small but causal links that highlight the gut–brain axis in sleep health.

21 Aug 2025