https://medicalxpress.com/nutrition-healthy-eating-news/ en-us Latest health news and information about Nutrition & Healthy Eating Analysis of microbes in the gut can reveal whether a person faces an elevated risk of Parkinson's disease, before they have developed any symptoms, suggests a new study led by University College London (UCL) researchers. The scientists found that people with Parkinson's disease have a distinctive makeup of gut microbes, as do healthy individuals who are genetically at risk of Parkinson's disease, they report in the new Nature Medicine study. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-gut-microbiome-parkinson-disease.html Mon, 20 Apr 2026 11:00:07 EDT news695651341 A new report, published in Nature Metabolism, is shedding light on the distinct and underappreciated role of fructose in driving disease, separate from its role as a simple source of calories. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-fructose-emerges-key-driver-metabolic.html Fri, 17 Apr 2026 05:00:03 EDT news695568601 A new study examines the role of palmitic acid and oleic acid—among the main fatty acids in the diet—in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus, a chronic condition associated with high morbidity and mortality worldwide. The research, published in Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism, is led by teams from the CIBER Area for Diabetes and Associated Metabolic Diseases (CIBERDEM) at the University of Barcelona. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-quality-quantity-fat-diet-affects.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 15:20:10 EDT news695481661 Adolescents who consume more ultra-processed foods (UPFs) have significantly higher odds of being overweight or obese, according to a new systematic review and meta-analysis published in the open-access journal PLOS One by Mekuriaw Nibret Aweke of the University of Gondar, Ethiopia, and colleagues. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-ultra-food-intake-sharply-higher.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 14:00:11 EDT news695466061 Our industrialized, modern lifestyles may be increasing how much estrogen (the female sex hormone) gets recycled in our bodies, according to a study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. And it appears to be down to the increased abundance and diversity of specific bacteria in our gut. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-modern-lifestyles-affecting-bodies-recycle.html Tue, 14 Apr 2026 11:40:01 EDT news695384340 Researchers found that a diet high in ultra-processed foods is associated with higher amounts of fat stored inside thigh muscles, regardless of calorie or fat intake, physical activity or sociodemographic factors in a population at risk for knee osteoarthritis. Results of the study were published in Radiology. Higher amounts of intramuscular fat in the thigh could potentially increase the risk for knee osteoarthritis. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-people-consume-ultra-foods-worse.html Tue, 14 Apr 2026 10:00:01 EDT news695293502 A clinical trial led by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers demonstrates that providing healthy food directly to patients recovering from heart failure is feasible and well accepted—and could improve quality of life—helping build a foundation for larger studies exploring food as a component of medical care. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-food-delivery-heart-failure-patients.html Sun, 12 Apr 2026 16:00:02 EDT news694876385 Your morning cup of coffee may be more than just a pick-me-up. It may also be a simple boost for your mental well-being. In a recent study, researchers from Fudan University, China, wanted to find out whether the amount of coffee a person drinks each day and the type they choose have any bearing on their risk of developing stress and mood disorders over time. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-coffee-sweet-mental-health.html Sat, 11 Apr 2026 11:00:01 EDT news695033124 A majority of people with advanced cancers endure cachexia, a muscle-, fat-, and organ-wasting condition that is currently incurable and can be life-threatening. Detecting and intervening early can slow progression, but poor understanding of how cachexia first arises in the body makes it difficult for doctors to identify the warning signs of impending wasting other than an overall loss of appetite (anorexia). https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-protein-early-herald-cancer-cachexia.html Fri, 10 Apr 2026 11:40:04 EDT news695033108 Health organizations are starting to raise concerns about the potential long-term impacts of artificial sweeteners, which taste sweet but—unlike sugar—contain no calories, suggesting they could interfere with energy metabolism and increase the eventual risk of diabetes or cardiovascular disease. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-negative-effects-artificial-sweeteners-generation.html Fri, 10 Apr 2026 00:00:01 EDT news694973521 Eating a higher quality plant-based diet is associated with a lower risk of Alzheimer's disease and other related dementias compared to eating a lower quality plant-based diet, according to a study published in Neurology. While the study shows an association based on observations, it does not prove that a higher-quality plant-based diet causes a lower risk of dementia. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-healthier-based-diet-alzheimer-dementias.html Wed, 08 Apr 2026 16:00:06 EDT news694856341 A first-of-its-kind study led by the Medical University of South Carolina raises questions about the value of fish oil supplements for people with repetitive mild traumatic brain injuries. In work published in Cell Reports, researchers say the supplements, often seen as neuroprotective, may actually impair the healing process after brain injury. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-widespread-belief-fish-oil-effects.html Tue, 07 Apr 2026 19:20:05 EDT news694798501 Taxes on sugary drinks had no effect on beverage calorie purchases from fast-food chain restaurants in the U.S., according to a new study by Brian Elbel and Pasquale Rummo from NYU Grossman School of Medicine and colleagues published in the open-access journal PLOS Medicine. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-sugary-taxes-effective-fast-food.html Thu, 02 Apr 2026 14:00:05 EDT news694281361 Salt has been used as a seasoning and food preservative for thousands of years, but having too much of it can lead to various diseases, including high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, and kidney disease. Salt overconsumption is also known to accelerate cognitive decline. To avoid an increased likelihood of developing such diseases due to salt overconsumption, the WHO recommends adults consume no more than five grams of salt per day. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-older-men-saltshakers-women-salt.html Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:00:01 EDT news694192921 Color coding on food product labels is becoming more common. How does it influence consumers and their dietary choices? Recent research by scientists from SWPS University, the University of Wisconsin, and the University of Massachusetts indicates that color coding is much more effective than simple nutritional tables, and it is all due to the way the brain responds to benefit and risk signals. A paper on this topic is published in Current Psychology. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-product-health.html Tue, 31 Mar 2026 17:20:03 EDT news694188841