In this study, researchers reviewed the dietary habits of 4,357 adults five years apart and found that participants who increased their fruit and vegetable intake during this time were more likely to lose weight than those whose produce intake remained the same or declined. Public Health, March 2018

In a new study, researchers followed 107 overweight participants who ate either a low-calorie vegetarian diet that included dairy and eggs or a low-calorie Mediterranean diet for three months. At the end of the study, the research team observed that participants on either diet each lost about three pounds (1.36 kg) of body fat and…

An analysis of health data regarding over 9,000 adults found that the longer an individual was overweight or obese, the more likely they were to test positive for a protein called troponin that is released when heart muscle has been damaged, such as occurs with a heart attack. Study lead author Dr. Chiadi Ndumele adds,…

Metabolic syndrome is closely linked to obesity and is described as a cluster of conditions that includes increased blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist, and abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels, which increases a person’s risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. In a new animal study, researchers found that enriching…

Following a low-carb diet while pregnant may increase the risk of serious birth defects. In a new study, researchers found the pregnant women who reduced or eliminated carbs were 30% more likely to have babies with neural tube defects, such as spina bifida or anencephaly than women who didn’t restrict their carbs while pregnant. Study…

Past studies have shown that the children of mothers who eat a high-fat diet while pregnant have an elevated risk for obesity or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). In a new animal study, researchers have discovered that a compound called pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) found in kiwi, celery, and papaya can prevent the progression of NAFLD…

Drinking hot tea appears to raise the risk of esophageal cancer among men and women who also drink alcohol or smoke. A study involving more than 450,000 people found that individuals who regularly imbibed very hot tea in addition to a glass of alcohol each day are five times more likely to develop esophageal cancer…

A systematic review and meta-analysis of past studies examining associations between adherence to a Mediterranean-style diet and the development of frailty revealed that people who consumed a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and nuts were less than half as likely to become frail over a four-decade period than seniors who consumed a more…

The Mediterranean diet is characterized by the consumption of vegetables, fruit, fish, lean meats, nuts, whole grains, and olive oil. An analysis of data that involved 733 men with prostate cancer and 1,229 healthy men revealed that those who most closely followed the Mediterranean diet had a lower risk for being diagnosed with prostate cancer…

Adults who consume at least seven servings of fruits and vegetables per day are less likely to be overweight or obese than men and women who eat six or fewer servings of produce each day. Obesity Science & Practice, December 2017