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Children as young as four eat more when bored

A new study at Aston University shows that children aged four and above consume 79% more calories when they are bored compared to a neutral mood. Children who were emotionally fed often ate five times more kilocalories when feeling bored.

SourceAston University·JournalFood Quality and Preference·TypeObservational study·DateOct 24, 2023

What phytoplankton physiology has to do with global climate

A study reveals that variable C:N:P ratios of phytoplankton are essential for regulating dissolved oceanic nutrient ratios, while also influencing atmospheric CO2 levels on geological time scales. The findings challenge the commonly hypothesized strong link between phytoplankton and seawater nutrient ratios.

SourceHelmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel (GEOMAR)·JournalScience Advances·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 13, 2023

Being a vegetarian may be—partly—in your genes

A genome-wide association study reveals 34 genes potentially involved in choosing a vegetarian diet, including those related to lipid metabolism and brain function. The findings suggest that genetics play a role in the ability to subsist on a vegetarian diet.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeObservational study·DateOct 4, 2023

Living in a disadvantaged neighborhood affects food choices, weight gain and the microstructure of the brain

Research from UCLA's David Geffen School of Medicine found that living in a disadvantaged neighborhood can disrupt brain information processing involved in reward, emotion regulation, and cognition due to poor diet and lack of physical activity. The study analyzed the microstructure of the brain cortex and found associations between ne...

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalCommunications Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateSep 15, 2023

Growing evidence supporting the protein leverage hypothesis

The protein leverage hypothesis proposes that a decrease in protein intake due to modern diets drives increased energy consumption. Research supports this idea, showing how protein appetite interacts with processed foods and life stage changes to increase the risk of obesity.

SourceUniversity of Sydney·JournalPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·DateSep 3, 2023

Ketone supplements worsen performance in trained endurance athletes, researchers find

A new study published in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism found that ketone supplements impaired performance in well-trained endurance cyclists. The researchers recruited experienced athletes who cycled for five or more hours per week, simulating race conditions before conducting a 20-minute time trial.

SourceMcMaster University·JournalInternational Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 21, 2023

Breath test can monitor metabolism at home - study

Researchers at Anglia Ruskin University found that a portable breath test can detect changes in metabolism in response to diet. The study used the Lumen device to monitor metabolic fuel use at home and showed that it could detect acute changes in carbohydrate use, but was not sensitive on a day-to-day basis.

SourceAnglia Ruskin University·JournalJournal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition·DateApr 26, 2023

Post-bariatric surgery exercise modulates brain regions associated with regulation of food intake

Exercise training after bariatric surgery alters brain networks associated with food intake and energy regulation. The study found that exercise increased connectivity between the hypothalamus and sensory areas, while decreasing links to the default mode network and salience network.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalInternational Journal of Obesity·DateMar 23, 2023

Variety of healthy eating patterns linked with lower risk of premature death

A Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health study found that participants following at least one of four healthy eating patterns had a lower risk of premature death and reduced mortality from cardiovascular disease, cancer, and respiratory disease. The study's findings are consistent with the current Dietary Guidelines for America.

SourceHarvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health·JournalJAMA Internal Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateJan 9, 2023

Tracking down satiety mechanisms in the stomach

Researchers at Leibniz-Institut für Lebensmittel-Systembiologie an der TU München discovered that casein digestion produces peptides with a satiating effect, stimulating gastric acid secretion via bitter receptors. This mechanism may help regulate food intake and maintain a healthy body weight.

SourceLeibniz-Institut für Lebensmittel-Systembiologie an der TU München·JournalJournal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 11, 2022

New findings on dietary phosphorus intake

A two-part study by the International Food Additives Council found that Americans' daily natural phosphorus intake increased by 12% between 1988-1994 and 2015-2016. High phosphorus intake was associated with increased bone mineral content, reduced high blood pressure risk, and lower HDL cholesterol levels.

SourceKellen Company·JournalNutrients·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 16, 2022

Cravings for fatty foods traced to gut-brain connection

A study published in Nature found that fat entering the intestines triggers a signal that drives mice to consume fatty foods. The gut sends signals to the brain via the vagus nerve, with two types of cells responding to different nutrients. Blocking these signals prevents mice from developing an appetite for fat.

SourceColumbia University·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 7, 2022

Chinese Medical Journal review discusses an interesting weight-loss surgery procedure

A narrative review of endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) highlights its potential as a minimally invasive weight loss procedure. The review concludes that ESG induces significant weight loss and improves obesity-related conditions, with the technique's success attributed to delayed gastric emptying. Researchers support the use of ESG...

SourceCactus Communications·JournalChinese Medical Journal·TypeLiterature review·DateJun 23, 2022

Chimps, dreams, and videotape

Researchers at Kyoto University have discovered chimpanzees experiencing nocturnal erections, a phenomenon previously only observed in humans. Eight out of twelve male chimps demonstrated this behavior, with half also masturbating and consuming ejaculate, suggesting potential health benefits.

SourceKyoto University·JournalBehaviour·TypeObservational study·DateMay 12, 2022

Eating prunes may help protect against bone loss in older women

Prunes have been found to help prevent or delay bone loss in postmenopausal women by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress. This is due to their potential to alter the gut microbiome, which can lead to lower levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and markers of oxidative damage.

SourcePenn State·JournalAdvances in Nutrition·TypeMeta-analysis·DateFeb 9, 2022

Flavonoids may reduce mortality risk for people with Parkinson’s Disease

A recent study found that people with Parkinson's Disease who consume more flavonoids have a lower mortality risk than those who don't. The researchers discovered that higher flavonoid intake is associated with improved survival rates in both men and women, particularly when it comes to anthocyanin-rich foods like berries and red wine.

SourcePenn State·JournalNeurology·TypeObservational study·DateJan 26, 2022

Is more better? Amounts and frequency of milk replacer fed to calves under heat stress

Researchers found that increasing energy intake by feeding more milk replacer supports greater growth during summer. However, feeding frequency had no effect on growth during summer but improved growth during winter. The study suggests optimizing feeding strategies to maximize calf growth and welfare in hot environments.

SourceElsevier·JournalJournal of Dairy Science·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 11, 2022

Better public health messaging is needed to improve vitamin D intake and status within the black community, says a new study

Researchers found that over 37% of African Caribbean individuals in the UK Biobank had vitamin D deficiency, with insufficient levels prevalent among more than 95% of the black community population. Public health messaging is needed to promote vitamin D supplementation and intake of food rich in vitamin D.

SourceUniversity of Surrey·JournalNutrients·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 1, 2021

How eating less in early life could help with reproduction later on

Researchers found that females who consumed less food for their entire lives lived longer but didn't reproduce as well as better-fed counterparts. However, those who switched to unlimited food after early life restriction started mating and reproducing more, producing three times more offspring than restricted diet flies.

SourceUniversity of East Anglia·JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 23, 2021

Adding herbs and spices to meals may help lower blood pressure

A study found that consuming high amounts of herbs and spices daily can lead to significant reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The researchers discovered that adding just 1.3 teaspoons of herbs and spices a day to an average American diet resulted in lower blood pressure after four weeks.

SourcePenn State·JournalAmerican Journal of Clinical Nutrition·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateNov 8, 2021

Filling half of kids' plates with fruits and veggies helps increase consumption

Adding more fruit and veggie side dishes resulted in a 24% increase in veggies and 33% more fruit, while substituting produce for other foods led to a 41% boost in veggies and 38% more fruit. The study suggests ways parents and caregivers can encourage healthy eating by experimenting with different fruits and vegetables.

SourcePenn State·JournalAmerican Journal of Clinical Nutrition·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateOct 18, 2021

Vitamin D supplement may enhance dairy cows’ immune health

Researchers found that vitamin D supplementation with calcidiol increased the expression of genes related to cell adhesion and migration, pathogen recognition, and pathogen killing in dairy cows. This suggests a possible link between vitamin D and enhanced immune function, particularly during early lactation.

SourceElsevier·JournalJournal of Dairy Science·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 14, 2021

Bat guts become less healthy through diet of 'fast food' from banana plantations

Research reveals that nectar-feeding bats foraging in intensively managed banana plantations have less diverse gut microbes compared to those feeding in natural forest habitats or organic plantations. This association between habitat alteration and sustainable agriculture on bat gut microbiota is a significant finding.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Ecology and Evolution·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 23, 2021

Body clock off-schedule? Prebiotics may help

A new study suggests that prebiotics can help realign sleep-wake cycles and core body temperature after chronic disruption of rhythms, hosting health-promoting microbes and a different metabolome. Researchers hope to develop customized prebiotic mixtures for individuals with frequent circadian disruptions.

SourceUniversity of Colorado at Boulder·JournalBrain Behavior and Immunity·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 14, 2021