Diet & Nutrition News and Research

Latest Diet & Nutrition News and Research

Mothers, children in northern Mali most affected by food insecurity due to conflict, drought

"Tens of thousands of people uprooted or trapped by conflict in northern Mali are going without enough food, leading to a spike in cases of children suffering from malnutrition, medical aid groups say," AlertNet reports.

29 Jun 2012

U.N. High Level Task Force on Global Food Security to shift focus to 'Zero Hunger Challenge' initiative

"In the wake of the U.N. Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's High Level Task Force on Global Food Security will be reoriented to focus on a new initiative as part of its efforts to ensure a coherent U.N. system approach to the issue of food and nutrition security," the U.N. News Centre reports.

29 Jun 2012

Gluten-free diet may not be a good choice for everyone

One of the latest trends in the food market and among celebrities is going gluten-free. Snack giant Frito-Lay has announced it will introduce new gluten-free labels and products, and Miley Cyrus has credited her recent weight loss to a gluten-free diet.

29 Jun 2012

Study explains why memory improves on a high-DHA diet

We've all heard that eating fish is good for our brains and memory. But what is it about DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid found in fish, that makes our memory sharper? Medical researchers at the University of Alberta discovered a possible explanation and just published their findings in the peer-reviewed journal Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism.

29 Jun 2012

Medifast to open first Rochester Weight Loss Center in July 2012

Medifast, the fast-growing weight loss system in Minnesota, is pleased to announce the opening of its first Rochester, MN Weight Loss Center in July 2012. The newest Medifast Weight Control Center will be conveniently located at 2048 Superior Dr NW, Suite 300 Rochester, MN 55901

29 Jun 2012

Researchers create first animal model for RA

Researchers at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine have created the first animal model that spontaneously develops rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and is predisposed towards atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries.

29 Jun 2012

Atkins diet ‘dangerous to heart health’

Women who follow an Atkins-style diet have a significantly increased risk for cardiovascular disease, experts warn.

28 Jun 2012

Substituting short vehicle journeys for walks reduces death rates

A new study confirms that doing short journeys on foot rather than taking the car or motorbike would avoid the death of 108 men and 79 women a year in Catalonia alone. This would imply annual savings of more than 200 million euros.

28 Jun 2012

Miriam Hospital receives NIH renewal grant to support growth of Lifespan/Tufts/Brown CFAR

The Miriam Hospital has received an $8.5 million, five-year renewal grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support the continued growth of the Lifespan/Tufts/Brown Center for AIDS Research (CFAR).

28 Jun 2012

European Commission needs comprehensive strategy to address malnutrition, report says

"The European Commission needs to develop a proper and integrated strategy on nutrition backed by a significant increase in funding, according to a report" on the E.U. and nutrition development policy that is supported by international organizations, companies and non-governmental organizations, the Guardian reports.

28 Jun 2012

Acute pancreatitis may be staved off by diet rich in vegetables

A diet rich in vegetables could help stave off the development of the serious condition acute pancreatitis, suggests a large study published online in the journal Gut.

28 Jun 2012

Dietary fiber can improve gastrointestinal health

A University of Illinois study shows that dietary fiber promotes a shift in the gut toward different types of beneficial bacteria. And the microbes that live in the gut, scientists now believe, can support a healthy gastrointestinal tract as well as affect our susceptibility to conditions as varied as type 2 diabetes, obesity, inflammatory bowel disease, colon cancer, and autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis.

28 Jun 2012

CAPABLE program can help countless older adults avoid nursing home stays

Nursing homes do not have to be inevitable destinations for frail older adults. Many—even those with long-term health problems—can remain at home and be independent. All it takes is a little help to change "disability" to "capability".

28 Jun 2012

Intensive early treatment slows down progression of type 2 diabetes

Intensive early treatment of type 2 diabetes slows down progression of the disease by preserving the body's insulin-producing capacity, a UT Southwestern study has shown.

28 Jun 2012

Arena receives FDA approval for Belviq to treat obesity

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Belviq (lorcaserin hydrochloride), as an addition to a reduced-calorie diet and exercise, for chronic weight management.

28 Jun 2012

Menopausal women may experience fewer hot flashes following physical activity

Menopausal women who exercise may experience fewer hot flashes in the 24 hours following physical activity, according to health researchers.

28 Jun 2012

OCC members praise FDA approval of new obesity drug – Belviq

Today, members of the Obesity Care Continuum (OCC) applauded the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) approval of a new obesity drug – Belviq (lorcaserin HCl). Belviq is the first obesity drug to be approved in the past 13 years.

28 Jun 2012

EU agenda focusses on lifesyle changes towards healthy diets and improved physical activity

A common Strategic Research Agenda of 22 countries in Europe focusses on lifesyle changes towards healthy diets and improved physical activity. Biomarker research, nutrigenomics, perzonalized food supplies and the prevention of chronic lifestyle related diseases are key-fields of the Joint Programming Inititative " A Healthy Diet for a Healthy Life."

27 Jun 2012

DHA and curcumin help maintain neurological function after degenerative damage

UCLA researchers discovered that a diet enriched with a popular omega-3 fatty acid and an ingredient in curry spice preserved walking ability in rats with spinal-cord injury. Published June 26 in the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine, the findings suggest that these dietary supplements help repair nerve cells and maintain neurological function after degenerative damage to the neck.

27 Jun 2012

Diet enriched with curcumin and DHA can promote neuroprotection in chronic SCI

Researchers from the Department of Neurosurgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine and the Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology at UCLA have found that a diet enriched with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an omega-3 fatty acid, and curcumin, a component of the Indian spice turmeric, can protect the injured spinal cord and minimize the clinical and biochemical effects of spinal cord myelopathy in rats.

27 Jun 2012