Your Child May Be Consuming Too Many Vitamins & Minerals. The Environmental Working Group believes that fortifying foods with vitamins and minerals is placing children in danger. The report summarizes how millions of American children under eight years of age are getting too much vitamin A, zinc, and niacin from fortified food products and supplements.…

Fruits & Veggies May Not Help Weight Loss. Adding more servings of fruits and vegetables is often recommended for individuals trying to lose weight, but according to researchers, doing so may not help them shed excess pounds. A review of seven studies found that increasing fruit and vegetable intake without reducing total calories consumed appears…

Gluten-Free Diet Helps Celiac Patients with “Brain Fog”. Poor memory, difficulty thinking clearly, difficulty finding the right word, and poor concentration — often referred to as “Brain fog” — are often experienced by celiac disease patients. A new study suggests that adopting a gluten-free diet seems to improve these symptoms as the intestines heal. Gluten…

Does Variety in Diet Hamper Microbial Diversity in the Gut? Contrary to expectations, fish with more diverse diets have a less diverse population of gut microbes. If this holds true for humans, it could mean that the variety of foods individuals eat can impact their gut microbe diversity. Ecology Letters, May 2014

Green Tea Component Disrupts Cancer Cell Metabolism. Researchers have discovered how an active component of green tea called epigallocatechen gallate (EGCG) disrupts the metabolism of pancreatic cancer cells. They found that ECGC suppresses the expression of lactate dehydrogenase A, a critical enzyme in cancer cell metabolism. This finding adds to numerous previous studies that have…

 Mediterranean Diet May Prevent Childhood Obesity. A new report finds that children who closely follow a diet rich in fish, nuts, grains, fruits, and vegetables are 15% less likely to be overweight or obese in comparison with their peers who do not. European Congress on Obesity, May 2014

Do You Eat White Bread? According to new research, when white bread is a staple of an individual’s diet, they are 40% more likely to become overweight or obese compared with those who eat whole grain bread. The researchers conclude, “Consumption of white bread [of] two portions per day or more showed a significant direct…

 Vitamin E May Prevent Brain Damage from Stroke. Tocotreinol, a little-known type of vitamin E, may prevent or reduce brain damage during stroke. Researchers claim that tocotreinol increases the diameter of existing arteries in response to oxygen demand. It is this process that may prevent brain damage by offering a “collateral” blood supply. Study leader…

 A Gluten-Free Diet During Pregnancy May Protect Offspring Against Type 1 Diabetes. An animal study in Denmark has found that expectant rodents experienced a change in intestinal bacteria when fed a gluten-free diet. This change in intestinal bacteria appears to offer a protective effect against development of type 1 diabetes for both mother and offspring.…

Vitamin A and the Fight Against Breast Cancer. Laboratory tests indicate that retinoic acid, a derivative of vitamin A, may someday act as a weapon in the fight against breast cancer. Researchers exposed pre-cancerous breast cells to retinoic acid and observed the cells transform back into normal, healthy cells. However, cells that had already become…