Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, such as the Mediterranean-style diet, may significantly reduce your risk for developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In this study, researchers analyzed data on over 5,000 people, aged 55 and older, and found that those who closely followed a Mediterranean style diet had a 41% lower risk for…

A new animal study suggests that the breast glands have a “microbiome” that’s influenced by diet—just like the gut! In the study, researchers found that monkeys fed a Mediterranean-style diet had a different mix of bacteria in their breast tissue than those fed a Western-style diet. Specifically, the researchers observed a ten-fold increase in lactobacillus…

An analysis of national health survey data from 2007 to 2014 showed that more than one-fifth of kids between the age of 8 and 17 lacked access to nutritious foods. Furthermore, among boys and girls with poor nutrition, over 14% had high blood pressure, compared to only 11.6% among those with better access to nutritious…

According to a new study, taking fish oil supplements during pregnancy can lead to healthier growth in the first six years of a child’s life. In the study, researchers monitored 736 women who took either fish oil or olive oil supplements in the third trimester of their pregnancy until one week after giving birth. They…

An examination of data regarding 246 heart failure patients found that 44% of patients with deficiencies in seven or more micronutrients—the most common being calcium, magnesium, zinc, and vitamins C, D, and E—were hospitalized or died within the next year, compared with only 25% of patients who had fewer or no nutrient deficiencies. Journal of…

After monitoring the health of 55,000 adults for 15 years, researchers report that participants with the highest wholegrain intake had a lower risk for developing type 2 diabetes (34% for men and 22% for women) than those with the lowest wholegrain intake. Journal of Nutrition, September 2018

In this study, researchers found that consuming camu camu—a fruit native to the Amazon— improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity and reduced blood endotoxins and metabolic inflammation in mice that were fed a high-sugar, high-fat diet. The findings suggest that camu camu phytochemicals may play a role in the fight against obesity and metabolic disease,…

Common medications taken during pregnancy to prevent epileptic seizures can increase the risk of language delays in children, but a new study that included data from over 100,000 participants suggests that taking a folic acid supplement can cut that risk by up to 66%. Researcher Dr. Elisabeth Synnove Nilsen Husebye writes, “These results are important…

Caffeine is often found in weight-loss aids, claiming to curb appetite and speed up metabolism, but new research suggests otherwise. In a study involving 50 healthy adults, researchers observed that participants ate 70 fewer calories in the morning after drinking a small amount of caffeine equivalent to 4 ounces of coffee; however, the participants tended…

Expectant mothers may want to consume more fish to help avoid delivering too early. In a new study, researchers monitored over 700 pregnancies and found that the women who had the lowest omega-3 fatty acid serum levels during their first and second trimester were ten times more likely to have a preterm delivery than those…