Research on food, its safety, and its effects. Covers nutrition advice and industry ties, meal timing, flavor chemistry, and plant-based diets.
A new study reveals that people with avoidant attachment styles are less likely to share food or form intimate relationships due to trust concerns. In contrast, those with secure attachment styles exhibit greater willingness to share food and engage in prosocial behavior.
Researchers found a moderate association between consuming tofu high in isoflavones and a lower risk of heart disease. The study primarily showed favorable effects on young women before menopause or postmenopausal women not taking hormones, with a 18% lower risk compared to those eating tofu less than once a week.
A plant-based diet can reduce cardiovascular risk, but consuming less-healthful foods like sweets and refined grains may negate these benefits. Focusing on specific, healthful plant-based food groups is crucial for reaping heart health benefits.
Researchers at Princeton University have created a framework to understand and compare cities' food systems and their effects on climate change, water use, and land use. The study highlights the impacts of differences in meat consumption between Indian and U.S. cities, as well as differences in food processing.
Researchers at UMass Amherst developed a lower-sodium turkey breast that was preferred by consumers in a blind sensory test. The study found that using a blend of sodium salts with a larger molecular structure slowed down the overall sodium diffusion rate, providing enough saltiness without compromising juiciness and texture.
A study published in The American Journal of Psychiatry found that individuals with anorexia nervosa have altered brain circuitry that impairs the motivation to eat, leading to severe weight loss. The research suggests a powerful biology contributes to restricted eating behavior and offers new potential treatments.
A new project aims to bring together academic, clinical, and community partners to improve access to healthy local foods for Latinos in rural communities. The UC Riverside School of Medicine will lead the two-year engagement project, which includes a cookbook and training of health educators to promote MyPlate recipes.
Researchers found that participants who consumed a meal while playing a computer game ate significantly less than those who ate without distractions. The study also showed that the effect of distraction on food consumption can persist even after the initial distracted eating experience.
A recent study found that sugar content is the most important factor in deciding on healthy food options, overriding fat and salt. The research used the traffic light labelling system and showed that participants preferred products with lower sugar content, even if they had higher levels of other nutrients.
New research shows that seagulls are more likely to peck at food that has been handled by humans. This suggests they use human actions when deciding what to eat. The study, published in Royal Society Open Science, also found that gulls' preference for food is not just based on the sight of food.
A participatory study in Bilbao reveals that the urban environment influences eating behavior, with socioeconomic differences affecting food choices. The study identified six themes, including unhealthy eating behaviors, cultural diversity, and limited involvement of citizens and authorities in improving neighborhoods.
Researchers found that switching to a rich diet after eating a restricted diet can decrease life expectancy and have negative effects on health. The study challenged the existing evolutionary theory, suggesting that dietary restriction triggers a survival strategy in humans and animals.
A new study found that blue tits and great tits learn to avoid toxic foods by watching others' reactions, potentially increasing their survival rate. The birds can decrease the likelihood of bad experiences by observing others' behavior.
A new study found that both parental examples and encouragement play a significant role in teaching children to eat vegetables. The researchers suggest serving cooked vegetables as a main course or side dish can promote healthy eating habits, while dinner is the most important meal for teaching kids to eat greens.
A new study suggests that our ancestors' gut microbiomes were critical for their survival in new environments, allowing them to digest and detoxify local food sources. The findings also imply that social sharing of microbes might have led to local adaptations, influencing human migration and settlement.
A team of archaeologists and Traditional Owners identified 10 plant foods, including fruits, nuts, roots, and palm stem, preserved as charcoal at the Madjedbebe archaeological site. The discovery provides insights into the complex lifestyle of the earliest Australian Aboriginal people.
A University of Kent study found that cultivated foods offer chimpanzees in West Africa more energetic benefits than wild foods. The research suggests that nutritionally dense crops provide primates with essential nutrients for survival.
A new study from Columbia University Irving Medical Center found that women who sleep poorly tend to overeat and consume lower-quality diets. Women with poorer sleep quality consumed more added sugars, calories, and unhealthy fats, while those with insomnia symptoms ate more food by weight.
A new study published by Dartmouth's Geisel School of Medicine found a strong link between fast food consumption and weight gain in pre-school age children. The research followed over 500 children for one year and showed that eating fast food independently contributes to excess weight gain at this young age.
Dr. Neal Barnard shares how common conditions like infertility, weight gain, and menopausal symptoms are fueled by hormone imbalances linked to food choices. He offers practical tips and recipes to balance hormones and improve overall health.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that consumers may be wasting more than twice as much food as commonly believed, and that affluent consumers waste more food. The researchers used a human metabolism model to quantify the relationship between food waste and consumer affluence.
Increasing grocery store density in certain areas can drastically decrease food waste, with optimal balance found at moderate store numbers. Studies show that modest increases in store density lead to substantial reductions in waste and lower grocery expenses for households.
Researchers found that invasive rusty crayfish are successful colonizers due to their adaptable diet, which includes both plant and animal matter. The study's findings support the notion that rusty crayfish are opportunistic omnivores.
A new study from Aston University found that social media users are influenced by their friends' eating habits. The research suggests that those who believe their friends consume junk food are more likely to overeat themselves. In contrast, those who think their friends eat healthy diets tend to consume more portions of fruit and veg.
When provided with a reliable shrimp dinner, cuttlefish eat fewer crabs during the day, showcasing selective foraging behavior. They adapt quickly to changes in their environment by leveraging past experiences and adjusting their strategy accordingly.
A study by the University of Nottingham found that sharing information on sustainable features increases consumers' positive emotional connection to food. The researchers tested Bambara Groundnut-based products and discovered that participants rated them higher when told about climate change and sustainability issues.
A new University of Alberta study shows that parents who accommodate their child's snack request tend to make better food choices for themselves. The research found that caregivers who listened to their children's preferences ate fewer unhealthy snacks and more healthy ones.
A magnetoencephalography study found that acute stress suppresses appetite by altering neural activity in the frontal pole, which is involved in thinking and planning. The findings suggest that expectations of future actions can interfere with appetite regulation, leading to increased sympathetic nerve activity and decreased alpha band...
A new study led by Anglia Ruskin University found exercise addiction is nearly four times more common amongst people with an eating disorder. The research highlights the importance of monitoring exercise levels in individuals with eating disorders, as excessive exercise can lead to serious medical conditions.
According to Penn State researchers, US households waste an estimated 31.9% of the food they acquire, with an aggregate value of $240 billion per year. This inefficiency has significant implications for health, food security, and climate change.
A recent study found that corals in warmer waters host more heat-tolerant symbiotic microalgae, which aid in surviving heat waves. However, this comes at a cost of lower nutrition for the coral when temperatures cool down.
A new study from Washington University in St. Louis suggests that early human ancestors could have eaten hard plant foods like nuts and seeds without causing damage to their teeth. The researchers used experiments on modern tooth enamel to demonstrate that even the hardest plant tissues barely influence microwear textures.
Researchers found a neuron in mice that can suppress appetite without causing nausea, potentially leading to new treatment options for obesity. The study discovered that activating this CALCR neuron increases food intake and contributes to obesity, while deactivating it decreases food intake and body weight.
A study found that people perceive biscuits with different textures as healthy or unhealthy, influencing tastiness and purchasing likelihood. The research suggests using non-healthy looking textures to overcome the perception that healthy is not tasty.
A new University of Guelph study finds that BPS can hinder heart function, especially in females, with effects occurring within minutes of exposure. The study's findings raise concerns about the safety of BPS as a replacement for BPA and suggest banning it from consumer products.
Researchers identified three states in a spaghetti strand's evolution: sagging, settling, and curling. The model accurately replicates the behavior of a noodle, potentially valuable for the food production industry and food science community.
A recent study found that 73% of meat eaters consider veganism ethical, while 70% believe it's good for the environment. However, many respondents (60%) find veganism impractical due to taste, price, and convenience concerns. Attitudes towards vegetarianism are more positive across most counts.
A review article published by George Washington University researcher Leigh A. Frame found a strong correlation between processed food consumption and the rising obesity epidemic in the US. The study suggests that limiting ultra-processed foods and increasing whole grain, fruit, and vegetable intake can help combat weight gain.
Children aged 10-12 were nearly three times more likely to make healthy eating decisions after watching a TV cooking program featuring healthy food. The study found that children who watched the healthy program were far more likely to choose a healthy snack option, an apple or cucumber.
A new expert review confirms that diet significantly influences mental health and wellbeing. While some areas like ketogenic diets for epilepsy and Mediterranean diets show mental health benefits, many foods or supplements have inconclusive evidence.
A study published in Current Biology found a link between dopamine, the brain's pleasure center, and the biological clock, which regulates daily rhythms. Mice fed high-calorie diets became obese due to disrupted feeding schedules, highlighting the importance of timing in eating and weight management.
Archaeologists discovered charred remains of starchy plant parts from Border Cave, South Africa, providing direct evidence for collecting and cooking carbohydrate-rich rhizomes. The findings suggest that Middle Stone Age humans relied on these plants as a staple food source.
Researchers discovered that early modern humans cooked starchy plants, including Hypoxis rhizomes, in the Border Cave in South Africa. The discovery suggests that these ancient humans shared food and used wooden digging sticks to extract the plants.
Research at Cornell University found that food restrictions predict loneliness among children and adults, causing increased feelings of exclusion. Participants experienced 'food worries' and fretted about their dietary choices, leading to a degree of loneliness comparable to that reported by unmarried or low-income adults.
A diet low in fat and high in egg whites has been shown to positively affect serum testosterone levels, contrary to previous assumptions about the impact of healthy fats. The study's findings suggest that consuming albumen - the protein in egg whites - can increase testosterone levels by four-fold relative to fasting.
Researchers identified families with high carbon footprints as consuming more sweets, alcohol, and restaurant food. These food choices contribute significantly to their higher carbon footprint, with meat consumption explaining less than 10% of the difference.
Researchers found that Japanese households with higher carbon footprints tend to consume more confectionary and alcohol, while also eating more vegetables and fish. The study suggests that targeting these food groups could be a more effective way to reduce carbon footprints than focusing on meat consumption.
A recent study from the University of Illinois discovered that human-grade dog foods are not only highly palatable but also more digestible than initially estimated. The researchers tested six commercial dog foods made with minimally processed human-edible ingredients, finding high protein quality and low stool volume in dogs.
A recent study published in Appetite found that people who pay more attention to media coverage about Trump's diet are more likely to view fast food as a socially acceptable meal option. This increased attention is also associated with a greater likelihood of eating fast food in the near future, regardless of party affiliation.
The global food system has led to an intersection of undernutrition and overweight in low- and middle-income countries. More than a third of these countries face the double burden of high levels of both, primarily due to changes in food systems and increasing availability of ultra-processed foods.
A growing double burden of malnutrition affects individuals, families, communities, and countries in low- and middle-income countries. High-quality diets are crucial to prevent all forms of malnutrition, while changes in food systems drive the emerging global epidemics of type 2 diabetes and other non-communicable diseases.
A new study found that people tend to prefer high-calorie foods when they sense a scarcity of time, as opposed to when time is shown moving upwards. Researchers discovered this pattern through experiments in which participants were asked to complete tasks while a timer counted down or up.
Researchers discovered a single female pangolin has higher levels of chitinase, an enzyme breaking down insect protein, than other animals. This suggests pangolins have specialized dietary needs and require specific foods when raised in captivity.
A study from the University at Buffalo found an association between poor diets high in red and processed meat, fried food, refined grains, and high-fat dairy, which increase the risk of developing late-stage age-related macular degeneration. The study suggests that limiting intake of these foods may help preserve vision over time.
A team of researchers has identified a specific brain circuit linked to food impulsivity, which could lead to the development of therapeutics for overeating. The study found that activating this circuit, involving melanin-concentrating hormone, increases impulsive behavior around food without affecting motivation or enjoyment.
Researchers discovered a connection between gastric bypass surgery and the release of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), a hormone regulating appetite. The study found that mHMGCS, an enzyme triggering ketone body formation in the small intestine, inhibits GLP-1 release.
New studies reveal a link between natural foodborne toxins and vaccine resistance, as well as increased risk of cancers, cardiovascular and neurological illnesses. Aflatoxin and lead contamination pose significant threats to public health worldwide.
A new study found that corals are more likely to eat microplastics when fed other food sources, but not when given microplastics alone. The research suggests that some coral species may adapt to life with microplastics, while others may be negatively impacted by chronic exposure.
A recent study published in Nutrition Today found that infant and toddler foods in pouches tend to have higher sugar content and fewer single-vegetable products compared to jarred or tray-packaged options. This highlights the need for caregivers to be aware of the nutritional profiles of these popular convenience foods.
A Yale University analysis found that online grocery delivery systems cover 90% of food deserts, increasing access to nutritious food for low-income communities. The study suggests that online shopping can reduce obesity and improve health outcomes by providing essential nutrients and promoting better eating habits.