https://medicalxpress.com/nutrition-healthy-eating-news/ en-us Latest health news and information about Nutrition & Healthy Eating Worldwide, women carry the greatest burden of malnutrition. More than two-thirds of women of childbearing age don't get enough of at least one micronutrient. These are the vitamins and minerals, such as iron, that the body needs in small amounts to stay healthy. A shortage is often called "hidden hunger" because a woman can eat enough to feel full yet still not get enough essential nutrients. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-women-money-decisions.html Sat, 27 Jun 2026 11:00:04 EDT news701523240 Eating your greens could be the secret to breathing easier, with a new study from Edith Cowan University (ECU) revealing that people who eat more vitamin K1-rich foods such as leafy green vegetables may lower their risk of chronic lung disease. The paper is published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-green-power-spinach-kale-chronic.html Fri, 26 Jun 2026 10:20:08 EDT news701687402 Brain changes that can eventually lead to dementia may begin many years before anyone notices symptoms such as memory problems, missed appointments or difficulty finding words. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-healthy-diet-difference-people-higher.html Fri, 26 Jun 2026 09:00:05 EDT news701674442 A first-of-its-kind study of supermarket products has found that in total, the plant-based items sampled contained twice as many food additives as the animal-based equivalents. Overall, the plant-based products contained more additives, more ingredients and more E-numbers than their animal-based counterparts. A team from the Institute for Optimum Nutrition in London led the research, published in Food Additives & Contaminants: Part A. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-based-alternatives-additives-animal-products.html Wed, 24 Jun 2026 19:10:02 EDT news701451481 University of Louisville researchers have discovered how a naturally occurring microbial compound may help protect the gut and support future treatment strategies for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-scientists-gut-power-fruits-nuts.html Wed, 24 Jun 2026 19:00:04 EDT news701538421 New research sheds light on why red meat may worsen inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)—and how other protein sources could help protect the gut. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-animal-protein-beef-pea-diets.html Wed, 24 Jun 2026 15:00:05 EDT news701511071 Dietary supplements are an excellent way to fill gaps in our nutritional requirements. From vitamins and macronutrients to gut-health probiotics, dietary supplements have helped people address deficiencies. In recent years, however, the goal of consuming supplements has gone from addressing what's lacking to improving or maintaining overall health. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-supplements-americans-shifting-multivitamins-health.html Wed, 24 Jun 2026 12:40:05 EDT news701516510 When temperatures soar, many people find their appetite suddenly plummets. The idea of eating a hot meal becomes the last thing on our minds when the heat becomes too much to bear. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-hot-hungry-appetite-summer.html Tue, 23 Jun 2026 19:20:08 EDT news701440420 A new international clinical intervention study published in Clinical Nutrition reveals the molecular and transcriptomic mechanisms through which a dietary intervention may beneficially influence gene expression. The study, led by Prof. Iris Shai and Dr. Hila Zelicha Peer from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, in collaboration with researchers from Leipzig University, the Leipzig Center of Metabolism (LieCeM) and Harvard University, provides new evidence that specific plant-derived nutrients may function as an "epigenetic pencil"—shaping cellular health through nutrition. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-scientists-biological-pencil-health-nutrition.html Tue, 23 Jun 2026 17:20:03 EDT news701439859 If your social media feed has suddenly filled with content about ultra-processed foods (UPFs), you're far from alone. Since the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services tasked federal agencies last year with developing UPF guidelines, the buzz has been hard to miss. Yet, despite widespread attention to the topic, federal guidelines have not yet materialized, and Americans are unsure how to make healthy choices for their families. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-americans-hungry-policies-ultra-foods.html Tue, 23 Jun 2026 15:09:03 EDT news701446114 In a randomized controlled trial, researchers tested whether a plant-based, whole-food, complementary-protein meal consumed immediately after a bout of weight training would stimulate a stronger muscle-building response than a nutritionally matched shake made with free amino acids. The study found no differences between the two, even though each contained 20 grams of protein. Both options yielded much lower muscle-protein synthesis than a post-workout meal of 20 grams of lean pork. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-food-meal-boost-workout-muscle.html Tue, 23 Jun 2026 15:00:01 EDT news701437861 For years, many people have taken calcium and vitamin D supplements to help keep their bones strong as they age. Walk into any pharmacy or supermarket and you'll find shelves full of products promising to support bone health, prevent fractures and reduce the risk of falls. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-vitamin-d-calcium-supplements-bone.html Tue, 23 Jun 2026 13:20:05 EDT news701433722 A plant- and fish-based, low-protein diet paired with small amounts of an amino acid commonly found in eggs, meat and dairy increased healthy lifespan and decreased frailty and fat mass in mice, according to a new USC study published in the journal Cell Metabolism. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-mediterranean-diet-added-methionine-healthy.html Tue, 23 Jun 2026 13:00:08 EDT news701434682 The benefits of dietary fiber extend beyond digestive health, as dietary fiber-derived metabolites produced by gut microbiota can influence immune function. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are secondary metabolites produced by the gut microbiota through the fermentation of dietary fibers. Notably, soluble dietary fibers such as inulin and pectin can be metabolized by gut bacteria into SCFAs, including butyrate. They act as important signaling molecules that reduce inflammation and balance the immune system. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-butyrate-dendritic-cell-surface-markers.html Mon, 22 Jun 2026 18:40:08 EDT news701366821 Diets rich in sugars and fats are associated with metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance, chronic inflammation and diabetes. During development, these imbalances can have a particularly significant impact, as the body must coordinate growth, maturation and hormone production. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-drosophila-reveals-immune-adjusts-response.html Mon, 22 Jun 2026 18:40:06 EDT news701367782 We've all made that mistake. A quick trip to the supermarket on an empty stomach ends with a trolley full of fatty, sugary treats that seemed impossible to resist at the time. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-craving-dinner-mind-food.html Mon, 22 Jun 2026 11:20:04 EDT news701342102 Drinking fruit juice and sugar-sweetened beverages from childhood through adulthood may be linked to an increased risk of developing high blood pressure as an adult, according to new research published today in the American Heart Association's flagship journal Circulation. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-juice-soda-childhood-high-blood.html Mon, 22 Jun 2026 05:00:01 EDT news701089261 You probably know fruit and vegetables are good for you, and most of us don't eat enough of them. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-frozen-fruit-canned-veg-cheap.html Sat, 20 Jun 2026 20:30:01 EDT news700740504 Prehabilitation can help the elderly recover better and suffer fewer complications from spinal fusion surgery, a new study says. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-prehab-boost-seniors-recuperation-spinal.html Fri, 19 Jun 2026 16:40:04 EDT news701082662 Menopause is associated with a number of adverse health effects, some of which can be mitigated by an array of modifiable health behaviors (MHBs), including diet, exercise and sleep duration. A new study sought to determine whether menopause and hormone therapy status had any association with MHBs. Initial results suggest that a link exists. Results of the study are published today in Menopause. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-menopausal-women-hormones-healthier-lifestyles.html Thu, 18 Jun 2026 11:40:09 EDT news700999261 Kombucha has become part of the wider boom in gut-friendly foods and drinks. But a major heart health charity is urging consumers to look more carefully at what these products actually contain. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-kombucha-paradox-effects-uncertain-benefits.html Wed, 17 Jun 2026 16:40:08 EDT news700920601 A new perspective paper published in Frontiers in Nutrition argues that current public health recommendations for physical activity and protein intake are designed to prevent deficiency rather than maximize long-term health, independence and quality of life. The paper explores first-principles questions: How much protein should you have? What exercises should you be doing? What does the latest science tell us? https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-gym-bros-kind-protein.html Wed, 17 Jun 2026 16:00:03 EDT news700923241 Liver cancer is one of the fastest-rising causes of cancer-related deaths in the UK and the third-leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-liver-cancer-deaths-rapidly-tackling.html Wed, 17 Jun 2026 14:40:03 EDT news700920302 Yo-yo dieters who struggle to lose weight and keep it off may achieve better results by following an intermittent fasting diet, rather than traditional calorie counting. An Adelaide University study focusing on the psychological aspects of both intermittent fasting and calorie restriction compared the effects the diets had on eating behaviors, mood, sleep and quality of life. The research is published in the journal Clinical Nutrition. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-diet-intermittent-fasting-weight-loss.html Wed, 17 Jun 2026 09:40:03 EDT news700906801 Pediatricians should participate in and advocate for efforts to support school-based high-quality nutrition education programs, according to an American Academy of Pediatrics policy statement published in Pediatrics. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-aap-pediatricians-school-based-high.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 21:40:03 EDT news700818388 A new article published in Globalization and Health warns that the rapid rise of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs in high-income countries could have unintended consequences for food environments in low- and middle-income countries. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-weight-loss-drugs-reshape-food.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 18:00:05 EDT news700847582 University of Queensland researchers have examined taste and smell genes to help determine whether specific foods cause or are linked to disease. People who like the taste and smell of onions are more likely to have lower blood pressure and risk of type 2 diabetes, they have found. The findings are published in the journal BMC Medicine. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-genes-diet-disease.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 17:20:08 EDT news700846921 Chronic stress, the prolonged exposure to psychological and/or physical strain, is known to be a risk factor for depression, anxiety and some other psychiatric disorders. Past studies suggest that chronic stress disrupts the integrity of myelin, a fatty insulating layer that surrounds nerve fibers and helps electrical signals travel efficiently between brain cells. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-intermittent-fasting-shield-brain-chronic.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 13:40:03 EDT news700832011 A major Australian clinical trial has found that timing when you eat can be just as effective as traditional dietitian-led advice in trying to lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-simple-window-rival-dietitian-advice.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 09:20:05 EDT news700818493 A clinical trial supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that adults with prediabetes assigned to a lifestyle intervention had a significantly lower risk of developing multiple chronic health conditions (known as multimorbidity) over time than those assigned to a placebo. This study, which followed participants for more than two decades, also found that participants assigned to receive metformin did not experience a statistically significant reduction in multimorbidity risk. The findings, published in JAMA, highlight the lasting benefits of lifestyle programs that may lower the risk of developing chronic conditions. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-adults-prediabetes-lifestyle-intervention-multiple.html Mon, 15 Jun 2026 17:10:01 EDT news700760942