Health & Diet News & Features

November 25, 2024 — As the H5N1 virus infects more people nationwide, here’s what you need to know.

November 13, 2024 — People whose choice of alcoholic beverage is exclusively beer tend to have particularly poor diets. They also are more likely to be less physically active, smoke cigarettes, and have low incomes, according to a new study.

Learn about BMI, waist circumference, and other measurements to check on body composition.

October 3, 2024 — One in eight dieting Americans use intermittent fasting – but much of the supporting research has been in mice, and recent reports link fasting to health risks. So is it good, bad, or something in between?

September 19, 2024 — The benefits were especially pronounced in women and in Black people, according to results of a new study.

September 17, 2024 — People ingest tiny, chemical-containing bits of things that touch the food and drink we consume every day. There are a vast number of sources of these chemicals, ranging from plastic bags and bottles, to take-out containers and shrink wrap, to manufacturing and cooking equipment.

September 11, 2024 — You may have been warned that ultra-processed foods can wreak havoc on your health. But not all ultra-processed foods are created equal. Here's what to know.

September 3, 2024 — A new study reveals that while plant-based fats found in grains, oils, fruits, and veggies decrease the risk of death, animal-based fats in meat, dairy, and eggs increase them.

August 21, 2024 — Eating a hamburger or a few pieces of bacon daily may increase the risk of developing diabetes by up to 15%. The type of meat consumed, and whether it is processed, can significantly impact the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes over approximately 10 years, according to a new study.

August 14, 2024 — People over age 60 who drink regularly are at an increased risk of early death, particularly from cancer or issues related to the heart and blood vessels, new research suggests.

August 8, 2024 — Many patients are not getting the nutritional counseling after a heart attack that could saves their lives.

August 8, 2024 — There’s more evidence that the artificial sweetener erythritol is linked to a higher risk of blood clots, which can lead to problems with your heart and blood vessels, like heart attacks or strokes.

August 2, 2024 — When it comes to diet and nutrition plans, you’ve probably heard it all before: the keto diet, Atkins, paleo, the Mediterranean diet, intermittent fasting. Around every corner, there seems to be a different solution for your wellness woes. But following a vegan (or plant-based) diet could be the key to slowing your body’s aging process on a molecular level.

July 25, 2024 — As nutrition researchers publish more studies about processed food and health issues, the takeaway seems clear: Processed food isn’t great for you, and the more processed it is, the worse it seems to be for you. At the same time, not all processed food is harmful, and scientists are still trying to understand the specific aspects to avoid.

July 25, 2024 — Do people who drink alcohol in moderation have a greater risk of early death than people who abstain? For years, a drink or two a day appeared to be linked to health benefits. But recently, scientists pointed out flaws in some of the studies that led to those conclusions, and public health warnings have escalated recently that there may be no safe level of alcohol consumption.

July 24, 2024 — The eating habits you embrace in your 40s can significantly influence how you feel in your 70s and beyond – both physically and mentally.

June 28, 2024 — Steak and eggs in the morning, salmon at noon, and turkey burgers in the evening might sound like a typical menu for a fitness enthusiast. But for a growing group of women embracing the carnivore diet, these meals are part of a strategic approach to building lean muscle through targeted nutrition and rigorous training.

June 10, 2024 — People who most closely followed the diet had a 25% reduced risk of early death, and were less likely to die of heart problems, cancer, respiratory diseases, or neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s.

June 7, 2024 — Xylitol is naturally found in small amounts in fruit and vegetables, and it’s been used more as a sugar substitute over the past decade in processed foods, toothpaste, chewing gum, and other products.

June 5, 2024 — The distinct ways sugar-sweetened beverages affect your body may explain their strong association with weight gain, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

June 3, 2024 — When researchers sought to understand how the diet may have affected women’s bodies to prolong their lives, they found fewer signs of problems in the women’s blood and other body fluids that are hallmarks of diabetes and heart problems.

Tired of struggling with belly fat? Know the science of losing belly fat with actionable steps.

May 28, 2024 — Ultra-processed foods are associated with higher risk of early death, especially ready-to-eat meat and seafood.

May 9, 2024 — Federal regulators recently put more limits on worker exposures to a chemical called methylene chloride, and there are calls for more actions that would regulate coffee products that are decaffeinated using the chemical.

April 16, 2024 — Almost everyone who's watching their calories knows to bypass those family-size bags of snacks, with experts long warning us we’re likely to eat more than we planned. Now, new research suggests that the size of a snack matters. Bottom line: To eat less, pick the smallest-size snacks.

April 12, 2024 — Emulsifiers don’t necessarily equal junk food. Such substances can be found in many foods that are often considered healthy, such as some low-fat Greek yogurts, trail mix bars, or oat milk.

April 11, 2024 — Consumer Reports is calling on the U.S. government to remove Lunchables meal kits from school cafeterias that are subsidized by federal funds after testing by the advocacy group found concerning levels of sodium and heavy metals like lead.

April 9, 2024 — Swapping salt for salt substitute products in food may help protect people from early death and, particularly, from dying of heart problems like heart attack or stroke, according to researchers in Australia.

April 8, 2024 — Innovative work from Duke University could change how scientists conduct nutritional research and how clinicians assess their patients' diets.

April 2, 2024 — Costco is entering the growing marketplace for medical weight loss, joining the likes of WeightWatchers and Noom amid booming interest in the new class of drugs known as GLP-1s.

March 20, 2024 — Government chemical testing of fresh produce showed that up to 95% of some of the most commonly purchased fruit and vegetables in the U.S. had detectable levels of pesticides, a new report claims.

March 1, 2024 — You may be familiar with the basic steps: Slow down, notice what you’re eating, and enjoy your food. But mindful eating can be more nuanced, and if done with intention over time, it can change your relationship with food and benefit your health, experts say.

February 29, 2024 — According to the research study, there were direct associations between a higher intake of ultra-processed foods and a greater risk of dying early, deaths from heart disease, common mental disorder outcomes, overweight or obesity, and Type 2 diabetes.

February 26, 2024 — As a snack, tree nuts pack a punch with added heart benefit.

February 16, 2024 — Turns out the pot of gold at the end of the (food) rainbow is health.

February 12, 2024 — People who followed the Atlantic diet eating pattern significantly reduced their waistlines and improved their cholesterol levels, a new study shows.

February 7, 2024 — Among the scientific community, there remains a real discrepancy about what "low carb" means and who would really benefit from these types of diets.

A new study shows taxes on sugary beverages like soda can lessen consumption and improve public health.

If you’re wondering, "How much should I weigh?" or can’t seem to reach your ideal weight, here's help. You can be healthy and happy by eating well and exercising often, even if you aren’t at your "perfect" weight.

January 26, 2024 — If fats and sugars sometimes seem irresistible, you’re not alone. A new study published in Cell Metabolism reveals why.

January 17, 2024 — When it comes to alcohol consumption, moderation is everything.

January 17, 2024 — Limiting the amount of 100% fruit juice that children drink could be a way to help combat childhood obesity, particularly among young children, new research suggests.

January 9, 2024 — Each liter of water in a plastic bottle may contain more than 100,000 microscopic pieces of plastic, new research shows. The important finding suggests that the amount of plastic consumed by many people simply through drinking a bottle of water is 10 times greater than thought before.

January 3, 2024 — The Mediterranean diet, with an emphasis on overall diet quality rather than a single food group or nutrient, swept the categories for best diet of 2024.

December 28, 2023 — A study published today found that people who added salt to their food, even just sometimes, faced a higher risk of getting chronic kidney disease.

December 20, 2023 — Figuring out why ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are linked to more chronic health conditions like heart disease and obesity remains an important puzzle for nutrition experts to figure out. When they do, the worst offenders could be taxed or regulated by the government while other UPFs that people enjoy could be reformulated to make them less of a long-term threat to health.

December 13, 2023 — In a new study, researchers at the University of Southern California set out to learn how vegan labeling influenced consumers, finding that the word may turn some people off from trying vegan products.

Food is more than nutrition. It often reflects culture, ethnicity, and even religion. Consulting with an expert from a diverse background can improve health outcomes.

In reality, most people don't gain a lot between Thanksgiving and New Year's. But just an extra pound gained every year during the holidays adds up over time.