Health

Don’t sleep on the cancer prevention benefits of a healthy breakfast. Whether it’s oatmeal, whole-wheat toast, berries in Greek yogurt or other healthy combinations—starting the morning with simple, whole foods is a great way to help lower the risk of cancer while also energizing your day and boosting your overall health.

One in 10 children ages 7 to 9 is living with obesity in Europe. In England, childhood obesity rises from around 10% of children in Reception to around 22% by Year 6. While we know there are many complex and inter-connected biological, social and environmental causes of childhood obesity, a good start is to tackle it with what we know works: Better diets are linked to better health.

Dietary supplements must be better regulated to protect public health, says the American College of Physicians (ACP). In a new paper, “Modernizing the Regulatory Framework for Dietary Supplements: A Position Paper from the American College of Physicians” published today in Annals of Internal Medicine, ACP issues recommendations to strengthen and modernize the manufacturing and marketing of dietary supplements.

Despite decades of scientific evidence linking the Mediterranean diet to lower rates of heart disease, diabetes, obesity and other chronic illnesses, the eating pattern is steadily disappearing in the very countries where it originated. Nutritional choices among populations in countries such as Greece, Spain and southern Italy are moving away from their traditional dietary habits even as the Mediterranean diet gains popularity around the world, according to a new review by researcher Domenico Praticò, M.D., a professor in the Department of Neural Sciences at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University.

A metabolic byproduct formed when gut bacteria break down dietary fiber appears to protect against dangerous fungal infections common in immunocompromised patients, a study led by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers shows. The findings, published in Cell Host & Microbe, could lead to new therapies to shield this vulnerable population from Candida albicans, a leading human fungal pathogen.

Natural plant compounds known as polyphenols, found in berries, tea, cocoa, coffee and extra-virgin olive oil, may positively influence biological processes linked to Alzheimer’s disease and other disorders characterized by the gradual loss of nerve cells, according to a review by researchers at Semmelweis University. The analysis, published in Nutrients, suggests that these bioactive compounds may contribute to healthy brain aging.

Xanthan gum is found almost everywhere. This food additive has thickening, stabilizing and gelling properties and is one of the food industry’s most widely used additives for adjusting the consistency of ice cream, yogurt, cakes, sauces and gluten-free pasta. It is also used to prepare beverages for people with dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing.

Researchers writing in Frontiers in Science propose using simple tests to track metabolic health in noncommunicable diseases, which cause three in four deaths worldwide.

Evidence that beetroot juice can improve athletic performance has long been inconsistent. While some studies reported benefits, others found little or no effect. Now, a new study combining results from 33 studies provides the clearest evidence yet that it can enhance exercise performance.

Eating an avocado every day may decrease heart disease risk in adults with obesity, according to a recent study led by researchers in the Penn State Department of Nutritional Sciences and published in the Journal of Clinical Lipidology.