https://medicalxpress.com/nutrition-healthy-eating-news/ en-us Latest health news and information about Nutrition & Healthy Eating A culturally tailored meal program rooted in traditional Diné foods significantly reduced hospitalizations and emergency department visits among heart failure patients in rural Navajo Nation, according to a new randomized clinical trial published in JAMA Internal Medicine. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-traditional-food-heart-failure-hospital.html Mon, 27 Jul 2026 11:00:18 EDT news704104799 The ability to perform everyday activities free of debilitating symptoms profoundly affects quality of life as we age. In a new study, older adults who took a daily multivitamin had significantly better measures of functional health after three years than those who took a placebo. According to researchers, the findings suggest a daily multivitamin can help older people maintain day-to-day functioning by helping preserve cognitive abilities, and it may also benefit blood circulation and physical stamina. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-daily-multivitamin-older-adults-functional.html Mon, 27 Jul 2026 10:30:04 EDT news704117882 Nearly one-quarter of teens reported using mobile food delivery services during school hours, and almost half said they use them after school, according to a national survey of more than 1,000 U.S. adolescents. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-teens-mobile-food-delivery-school.html Mon, 27 Jul 2026 09:30:02 EDT news704117101 An audit of toddler foods sold at 21 grocery stores in Texas revealed that 4 out of 5 products were ultra-processed and 49% of all products failed to meet at least one nutrient standard established by the World Health Organization (WHO) Nutrition and Promotion Profile Model (NPPM) for commercial foods intended for children ages 6–36 months. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-toddler-foods-grocery-shelves-ultra.html Mon, 27 Jul 2026 07:00:01 EDT news704346301 Noncommunicable diseases—heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer—are no longer just a rich-country problem. Across Africa, they are becoming the leading cause of death, driven in part by a simple and overlooked culprit: what people drink. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-tax-sugary-egypt-disease-us18.html Sun, 26 Jul 2026 17:00:04 EDT news703773462 Results from a small clinical trial suggest it may be possible to reduce the risk of dementia by eating during fewer hours of the day. The pilot study, which involved a weight-loss program for older women with overweight or obesity, showed modest cognitive improvements among those who limited their daily eating window instead of just reducing their calorie intake. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-restricted-retain-cognitive-function-older.html Sun, 26 Jul 2026 09:30:01 EDT news704100961 Thanks to advances in AI, popular calorie-tracking apps can now use a photo of a meal to estimate the nutritional content of what you're eating. Although these apps are convenient, a new study found that four photo-based apps underestimated the calorie and fat content of meals by about a third. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-photo-based-calorie-tracking-apps.html Sat, 25 Jul 2026 16:30:02 EDT news704101953 Jet lag threatens to turn even a dream vacation into a slog. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-jetting-summer-vacation-minimize-jet.html Sat, 25 Jul 2026 13:20:01 EDT news704204048 A new study of teens about 18 years old who tended to skip breakfast showed that consuming breakfast increased their overall intake of important nutrients such as fiber, iron, zinc and choline. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-teens-day-breakfast.html Sat, 25 Jul 2026 11:30:06 EDT news704101741 Prebiotic sodas have become more popular in recent years, with a wave of new products promising gut health benefits and low-calorie enjoyment. According to a new analysis, however, many of these beverages contain relatively little prebiotic fiber and more sugar than marketing claims might imply. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-prebiotic-sodas-typically-sugar-fiber.html Sat, 25 Jul 2026 11:30:03 EDT news704101940 A 20-year study of more than 65,000 postmenopausal women found that higher adherence to the Planetary Health Diet was associated with a lower risk of overall cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, stroke and heart failure. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-planetary-health-diet-linked-heart.html Sat, 25 Jul 2026 11:30:02 EDT news704101861 In 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued Phase I voluntary sodium reduction targets to encourage manufacturers to lower the amount of sodium in packaged food products by 2024. The targets appear to have had minimal impact, according to a study comparing the sodium content of new products introduced before and after the guidance was issued. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-fda-issued-sodium-yield-apparent.html Sat, 25 Jul 2026 09:20:01 EDT news704103660 A Cleveland Clinic-led study shows a connection between elevated blood levels of TMAO (trimethylamine N-oxide)—a byproduct of gut bacteria digestion of nutrients found in red meat and other animal products—and a higher risk of atrial fibrillation. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-red-meat-gut-byproduct-higher.html Fri, 24 Jul 2026 12:00:01 EDT news704107995 Engineers at the University of California San Diego created a smart ring that simultaneously and continuously monitors up to four different chemical biomarkers from finger sweat. The biomarkers the smart ring can monitor in sweat are glucose, ketones, vitamin C, uric acid, lactate and alcohol. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-wearable-tracks-glucose-ketone-biomarkers.html Fri, 24 Jul 2026 10:20:04 EDT news704104922 Many of us have grown up with the mantra that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. But whether it's snatching an extra half hour of sleep or focusing on getting the kids out of the house, there are various reasons why assembling a healthy breakfast might slip down your list of priorities—especially on a weekday. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-worse-unhealthy-food-morning-day.html Fri, 24 Jul 2026 09:40:03 EDT news704101382 Depression is among the most common psychiatric disorders, estimated to affect between 280 million and 332 million people worldwide. This disorder is characterized by persistent sadness and hopelessness, low energy, a loss of interest in everyday activities and sometimes changes in appetite or sleep. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-aspirin-reverses-diet-driven-depression.html Thu, 23 Jul 2026 13:20:01 EDT news704029939 As the Commonwealth Games approach, athletes chasing every extra edge on the track, court or in the pool might not find it in training, but on their dinner plates. In a study published in Sports Medicine—Open, University of Wollongong (UOW) researchers analyzed the diets and omega-3 blood levels of professional athletes, finding that almost three-quarters could benefit from increasing their intake of these healthy fats. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-omega-intake-boost-recovery-term.html Thu, 23 Jul 2026 10:00:09 EDT news704016482 Pizza, pastries and parfaits are staples in many school cafeterias. But new research from the University of Mississippi and the University of Southern Mississippi suggests some of students' favorite meals may contain more sodium and sugar than schools will be allowed to serve under updated federal nutrition standards. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-cafeteria-menu-makeover-students-sugar.html Wed, 22 Jul 2026 15:20:13 EDT news703943380 Consuming common foods such as corn chips and popcorn may put pregnant women at risk of exposure to mycotoxins—harmful substances produced by mold—according to Rutgers researchers. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-estrogen-mold-toxins-linked-corn.html Tue, 21 Jul 2026 18:20:08 EDT news703870922 A new study suggests what's flushed down the drain can offer a real-time snapshot of what communities are eating. Researchers at Duke University School of Medicine and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill analyzed tiny fragments of plant and animal DNA from wastewater samples from 19 North Carolina communities representing 2.1 million people to reveal how economics, immigration and geography influence what's on our plates. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-beer-beans-seafood-wastewater-exposes.html Tue, 21 Jul 2026 17:40:01 EDT news703864262 While everyone may benefit from a healthy diet, those with higher levels of Alzheimer's-related blood biomarkers may be more likely to benefit from a MIND diet intervention, according to a new study from the MIND trial. The biomarkers found in participants' blood measure two specific proteins central to Alzheimer's disease: beta-amyloid (or amyloid-β40) and phosphorylated tau (or p-tau181). https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-alzheimer-blood-markers-reveal-benefits.html Tue, 21 Jul 2026 12:40:09 EDT news703854001 A study by researchers at U.S. health insurance and medical services provider Kaiser Permanente, the Food is Medicine Institute at the Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University, and The George Institute for Global Health found that medically tailored grocery deliveries improved blood sugar control among adults living with type 2 diabetes who have public health insurance, compared with usual care. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-home-medically-tailored-groceries-diabetes.html Tue, 21 Jul 2026 05:00:06 EDT news703748676 New research presented at the International Congress on Obesity (ICO2026), hosted by the World Obesity Federation (WOF) in Mexico City, Mexico, July 15–17, shows how various sectors representing the ultra-processed food (UPF) industry use tactics to deny the health risks associated with these products, including attempting to reframe their particular UPFs as healthier and somehow different from others. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-ultra-food-firms-hoodwink-products.html Mon, 20 Jul 2026 23:20:01 EDT news703759433 Most of us would like to hang around on the planet for as long as possible, and thankfully, lifespans in many countries are increasing. Scientists are also developing a new field known as longevity medicine, which aims to help people stay healthier for longer as they age. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-healthy-aging-born.html Mon, 20 Jul 2026 11:40:02 EDT news703763143 Collagen is a protein found in skin, hair, nails, tendons, cartilage and bones. Our bodies naturally produce collagen using the foods we eat. But in recent years, collagen peptides have gained popularity as a supplement to support joint, hair, skin and gut health. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-collagen-peptides-bone-health-female.html Mon, 20 Jul 2026 11:20:01 EDT news703755662 Many of us have grown up hearing the mantra that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, yet children's cereals fall short of that standard. That is the takeaway of new research analyzing child-targeted cereals in Canada. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-children-cereals-breakfast-fun-nutrition.html Mon, 20 Jul 2026 09:40:06 EDT news703749062 Previous studies have found that caffeine is the world's most popular stimulant and psychoactive substance, and coffee is the most common way people consume caffeine. The latest research supports the conclusion that, for most adults, consuming up to 400 mg of caffeine a day (or up to five 8-ounce cups of caffeinated coffee per day) is safe and appears to be linked to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease for some individuals. However, higher doses of caffeine, such as levels found in energy drinks including energy shots, may cause cardiovascular harm, according to a new American Heart Association scientific statement, "Caffeine and Cardiovascular Disease," published today in the journal Circulation. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-coffee-heart-health-cups-caffeinated.html Mon, 20 Jul 2026 05:00:01 EDT news703505779 New research has found that eating habits that align most closely with a woman's existing routine show promise for losing postpartum baby weight, especially for mothers earlier in the postpartum period. The study identified key factors affecting eating timing and perceived barriers to various chrononutrition approaches, with the ability to share a family evening meal emerging as particularly important. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-chrononutrition-viable-approach-postpartum-weight.html Mon, 20 Jul 2026 00:00:04 EDT news703491577 New research presented at this year's International Congress on Obesity (ICO2026), hosted by the World Obesity Federation (WOF) in Mexico City, Mexico (July 15–17), reveals that few of the world's 21 largest food retailers are taking significant voluntary action to create healthier food environments for children and families. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-aussie-supermarkets-healthier-diet.html Fri, 17 Jul 2026 21:40:02 EDT news703500918 New research published in The American Journal of Preventive Medicine and presented at this year's International Congress on Obesity (ICO 2026), hosted by the World Obesity Federation (WOF) in Mexico City, Mexico (July 15–17), suggests that 23%-38% of all cardiovascular deaths and 23%-37% of all cases of cardiovascular disease (coronary heart disease and stroke) are attributable to ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-heart-deaths-disease-due-ultraprocessed.html Thu, 16 Jul 2026 11:20:11 EDT news703407563