Corn Oil Lowers Cholesterol. A new study claims that corn oil significantly lowers cholesterol more than extra virgin olive oil. In the study, participants consumed four tablespoons of corn oil or extra virgin olive oil in addition to their normal diet. The results revealed that total cholesterol decreased by 8.2% in the group that consumed…

Healthy Diet & Nutrition Critical for Mental Health. A new collaborative study adds to a growing body of evidence showing a relationship between both diet quality and potential nutritional deficiencies and mental health. Studies have shown that many nutrients have a clear influence on brain health including omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins (particularly folate and…

Green Tea Ingredient May Help Kill Oral Cancer Cells. Scientists have found that a compound in green tea called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) may trigger a cycle that kills oral cancer cells while leaving other cells alone, though the precise mechanism is unknown. Because this process appears to happen without causing any damage to the surrounding healthy…

Kids Get Too Much Caffeine from Energy Drinks. A new Danish study claims that 20% of children between the ages of ten and fourteen who regularly consume energy drinks ingest too much caffeine based on the caffeine content of the energy drinks alone. Furthermore, when caffeine intake from other sources such as soda and chocolate…

 Recess May Promote Healthy Eating in Schools. Schools may want to consider adding a recess before lunch to help improve students eating habits. Investigators found that students ate 54% more fruit and vegetable servings when recess was held before lunchtime than after lunchtime. The research team also noted a 45% increase in the number of…

Binge Drinking Affects the Immune System. Binge drinking can significantly disrupt the immune systems of young and otherwise healthy adults. In a recent study, investigators measured the immune responses of participants before they consumed any alcohol and at both two and five hours following peak intoxication. When alcohol was present in the blood samples, the…

Eat Your Fruits and Veggies! A 24-year study including 9,112 Japanese men and women found that those who ate the most servings of fruits and vegetables each day had a 24% lower risk for total cardiovascular disease, a 20% lower risk for stroke, and a 43% lower risk for coronary heart disease when compared with…

Folic Acid Vital Before and During Pregnancy to Reduce Risk of Small Gestational Age. Women who take folic acid prior to conception appear to be less likely to have babies that are small for their gestational age, which can cause an array of health complications. Folic acid is a B vitamin that is already highly…

Calorie Counts Will Be Mandatory for Chain Restaurants. The Food and Drug Administration has announced that new rules under the Affordable Care Act that will require many restaurant chains to post calorie counts on their menu if they have more than 20 locations. While listing calorie counts on menus won’t solve the obesity epidemic, it…

Popular Heartburn Drugs May Upset Your Gut Flora. According to a new study, heartburn medications such as Prilosec and Nexium may disrupt the population of an individual’s gut bacteria, potentially increasing his or her risk for infections and other problems for up to one month after they cease using such drugs. Among longtime users, these…