Diet & Nutrition News and Research

Latest Diet & Nutrition News and Research

Menu reshuffle can improve diet and cut emissions without new recipes

Optimizing weekly menus at a UK university led to significant health and sustainability gains, reducing saturated fat and carbon footprint without new recipes.

13 Aug 2025

Researchers find CFI deficiency alarmingly high in old order Amish

Researchers from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and the Clinic for Special Children found that complement factor I (CFI) deficiency, an ultra-rare genetic disorder that can cause debilitating neuroinflammation, is more than 4500 times more likely to be found in individuals of Old Order Amish ancestry than the rest of the global population.

13 Aug 2025

Study finds two-way link between gut bacteria and insomnia

There seem to be reciprocal links between certain groups of gut bacteria and the risk of insomnia, suggests a Mendelian randomization study, published in the open access journal General Psychiatry.

12 Aug 2025

Lifestyle interventions key to closing life expectancy gap in mental illness

Mental health services must urgently increase investment in lifestyle interventions to improve care and help close the 15-year life expectancy gap faced by people with mental illness, a new Lancet Psychiatry Commission report warns.

12 Aug 2025

Nudibranchs (sea slugs) emerge as a promising source of cancer drugs

Researchers reviewed the antitumor potential of bioactive compounds from nudibranchs, marine mollusks that acquire or synthesize potent chemical defenses. These compounds, often sourced from their diet, show promising cancer-fighting activity through mechanisms like DNA damage, oxidative stress, and apoptosis.

12 Aug 2025

Polyphenols and exercise show promise in fighting gliomas

A new review in Food Science & Nutrition highlights how combining dietary polyphenols with structured exercise can enhance brain function, regulate epigenetics, and support glioma management. The authors outline mechanisms, patient-centered strategies, and research gaps for turning this synergy into clinical practice.

12 Aug 2025

High-potassium diets show consistent mental health benefits

Higher intakes of certain dietary minerals are linked to lower depression risk, with potassium showing consistent benefits in both U.S. and Korean adults. Patterns differ by country, sex, and age, highlighting the role of cultural diets and nutrient bioavailability in mental health.

12 Aug 2025

Michigan Public Health awarded $1.8 million to address gaps in maternal and child health workforce

The University of Michigan School of Public Health has been selected as one of 13 Centers of Excellence in Maternal and Child Health Education, Science, and Practice by the Health Resources and Services Administration's Maternal and Child Health Bureau.

12 Aug 2025

Gut bacteria can digest common food thickeners

It turns out those cellulose-based thickening agents found in common foods can be digested.

12 Aug 2025

Conditional cash transfer programs linked to reduction in AIDS cases and deaths among Brazilian women

The world's largest conditional cash transfer programme, the Bolsa Família Programme (BFP), is associated with a substantial reduction in AIDS cases and deaths, especially among brown and black women with lower income and limited education.

12 Aug 2025

Plant-based protein blends can match whey for muscle recovery

Recent research reveals effective plant-based protein blends for muscle recovery, highlighting the need for higher doses to match whey's benefits.

12 Aug 2025

Dollar stores emerge as key food source for low-income and rural households

Using dollar stores for food purchases may be a common practice for Americans looking to free up funds for the rest of their grocery list, researchers from Tufts University School of Medicine, the Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University, and the USDA-Economic Research Service report on August 11 in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

12 Aug 2025

Cutting HFSS ultra-processed foods may save lives, says AHA report

The American Heart Association’s new science advisory links high consumption of ultra-processed foods to increased cardiometabolic risks and mortality, urging targeted reduction of HFSS UPFs. The report also calls for policy reforms, equity-focused strategies, and further research into mechanisms beyond nutrient content.

11 Aug 2025

Scientists set out to map the world’s traditional food environments and their health impacts

Researchers have developed a protocol for a scoping review to map global evidence on the food environments of traditional peoples and communities (TPCs), such as Indigenous groups and quilombolas, to identify knowledge gaps and guide policy.

11 Aug 2025

Brain’s energy control map offers blueprint for next-gen weight loss therapies

Scientists map how the brain integrates hormonal and neural signals from the body to control appetite, energy use, and reward pathways, revealing targets for next-generation anti-obesity drugs. This review highlights the interplay between neuroendocrine circuits, neuroplasticity, and pharmacotherapy for durable, non-aversive weight loss.

11 Aug 2025