To encourage children to eat more fruits and vegetables, the Department of Agriculture recommends the following: create smoothies with fat-free or low-fat yogurt with fruit pieces and crushed ice; make fun kabobs resembling caterpillars by assembling chunks of melon, apple, orange, and pear on skewers; add tomato sauce, low-fat cheese, cut-up vegetables, or fruit to…

The results of a new study involving 171 mother-child pairs suggest that taking a daily 600mg DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) supplement during pregnancy may help protect kids from high blood pressure in childhood. The findings may lead to changes in the amount of DHA found in prenatal supplements, as current levels are usually much lower. JAMA…

According to a new study, severely obese patients who consumed olive oil at least once per week had lower platelet activation, which reduces the propensity of blood to clot, lowering the risk for heart attack or stroke. American Heart Association, March 2019

For years, we have been told that breakfast is the most important meal of the day to help maintain a healthy weight, but a new paper suggests otherwise. Investigators looked at thirteen randomized controlled trials and found that people who ate breakfast ended up eating about 260 additional calories per day, while those who skipped…

In this study, researchers observed that participants who consumed a vegetarian meal experienced an increase in beneficial gastrointestinal hormones involved in the regulation of glucose metabolism, insulin secretion, energy homeostasis, satiety, and weight management. Study author Dr. Hana Kahleova adds, “The fact that simple meal choices can increase the secretion of these healthy hormones has…

Data from two clinical trials suggests that for babies withdeficient vitamin D levels, improving their vitamin D status (via supplementation in these studies) resulted in areduced risk for asthma symptoms in early childhood. Current Opinion in Allergy and Clinical, January 2019

Seeing pictures of food with calorie information appears to change the way the brain responds to food. In this study, researchers recruited 42 undergraduate students to view food images with and without calorie information and then asked them to rate their desire to eat the food while in a functional magnetic resonance imaging scanner (fMRI).…

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) occurs when excess fat builds up in the liver cells from causes other than excessive alcohol consumption. A new study found that consuming an omega-3 fatty acid supplement was effective at reducing liver fat in NAFLD patients. Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care, December 2018

Among a sample of over 15,000 adults taking part in the NutriNet-Santé Study, those who scored high on assessments that measure impulsivity were significantly more likely to consume a poor quality diet, snack, and have an eating disorder. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, December 2018

An analysis of data from past studies indicates that increased omega-3 fatty acid intake during pregnancy (from supplementation and/or diet) may reduce the risk for preterm birth. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, November 2018