Caffeinated Energy Drinks May Raise Teens’ Diabetes Risk. Highly caffeinated “energy shots” appear to trigger short-term insulin resistance in teens. In a recent study, researchers observed that teens who drank a highly caffeinated energy shot experienced a 25% increase in both blood sugar and insulin levels that was not observed when they consumed a decaffeinated…

Omega-3 Fatty Acids May Benefit Bipolar Disorder. Individuals with bipolar disorder tend to have lower plasma levels of certain omega-3 fatty acids. Because omega-3 fatty acids play a vital role in brain cell communication and are a major player in immune and inflammatory systems, researchers speculate that consuming more omega-3 fatty acid-rich foods may benefit…

Restaurants that list calorie counts on their menus offer more lower-calorie choices than those that don’t provide such information. An analysis of menus from one hundred of the largest chain restaurants in the United States found those with voluntary calorie labeling averaged 140 fewer calories per selection. Co-author Dr. Julia Wolfson writes, “The biggest impact…

This essential mineral offer benefits to your heart, muscles, kidneys, and nervous system. The University of Maryland Medical Center says the potential benefits of potassium include improved bone health, lower blood pressure, and reduced stroke and heart attack risk. Potassium can be found in food such as potatoes, bananas, nuts, citrus, and avocados. University of…

Researchers from Georgia State University suggest that a diet low in soluble fiber may be a key contributor in weight gain. The study found that mice fed a diet lacking soluble fiber experienced poor gut health and gained weight. Soluble fiber absorbs water in the gut, forming a gel-like substance that can help lower cholesterol,…

Fast-food restaurants that offer free toys in their television ads strongly influence children and families when it comes to meal choices. The study, which included 100 children and their parents, revealed the more kids watched TV channels that advertised children’s fast-food meals, the more likely their families visited those restaurants. Study author Dr. Jennifer Emond…

According to a new study, those who follow a Mediterranean-style diet have higher levels of health-promoting short-chain fatty acids in their gut. The Mediterranean diet is known to be high in fiber-rich fruits, vegetables, and legumes, compared with the standard Western diet that includes higher consumption of meat and dairy. The fermentation of fiber from…

According to a new report, vitamin D supplementation can significantly increase muscle strength and reduce the loss of body muscle mass in women years after menopause. Researchers found older women who received vitamin D supplements experienced a significant increase (+25.3%) in muscle strength, while those receiving a placebo lost an average of 6.8% of their…

Researchers found that when individuals replaced 5% of their saturated fat calories with healthier polyunsaturated fats, such as those found in nuts, their risk for coronary heart disease decreased by 25%. Replacing 5% of their saturated fat calories with monounsaturated fats, such as olive oil, cut their risk by 15%, and substituting 5% of saturated…

A high-protein diet might benefit people with type 2 diabetes, but it may depend on whether or not they possess a particular gene related to vitamin D metabolism. In a new study, individuals with a particular gene variant that boosts blood levels of vitamin D experienced greater reductions in insulin levels and improved insulin sensitivity…