Could Ultra-processed Foods Be the New ‘Silent’ Killer?

Hundreds of novel ingredients never encountered by human physiology are now found in nearly 60 percent of the average adult’s diet and nearly 70 percent of children’s diets in the U.S. An emerging health hazard is the unprecedented consumption of these ultra-processed foods in the standard American diet. This may be the new “silent” killer, as was unrecognized high blood pressure in previous decades.

Podcast: Experts in Health: How to make nutritious meals on a budget – advice from a Performance Chef

Varun Shivdasani, Performance Chef at Loughborough University’s Elite Athlete Centre, discusses how he prepares nutritious meals on a budget, the importance of making cooking a family-friendly activity, and the future of precision nutrition.

Time Stamps:
00:00 – 03:53 – Introduction to guest, the topic and background
03:54 – 05:56 – An average week as a performance chef
05:57 – 10:09 – Performance and nutrition
10:10 – 11:52 – Setting the menu
11:53 – 16:53 – Do you need a large budget for a balanced meal?
16:54 – 26:29 – Tips for eating well
26:30 – 30:56 – Precision nutrition
30:57 – 34:05 – What’s next in the world of food prep?
34:07 – 36.54 – Outro

Chula’s Faculty of Allied Health Sciences Promotes “46 Recipes to Train Swallowing” in Elderly and Troubled Patients

A lecturer from the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University in collaboration with the Thai Dietetic Association, has developed 46 nutritious recipes for swallowing training in the elderly, and patients with difficulty swallowing based on recommendations of The International Dysphagia Diet Standardization (IDDSI).

You Are What Your Food Influencer Is Eating: UNLV Social Media Experts Team on Mukbang Study

Ever find yourself inexplicably sucked into (another!) video of social media influencer downing a massive feast of 100 different kinds of shrimp? You can’t scroll past. And before you know it, you’re craving crustaceans, making reservations at that new seafood restaurant, and searching for recipes.  We’ve got one word for you: mukbang.

Wintertime blues? Health expert offers tips to combat seasonal affective disorder

Millions are affected by seasonal affective disorder (SAD) every year. The annual pattern of winter depression and melancholy suggests a strong link between your mood and the amount of light you get during the day, says Lina Begdache, assistant professor…

DNA Decodes the Dining Preferences of the Shell-Shucking Whitespotted Eagle Ray

With mighty jaws and plate-like teeth, the globally endangered whitespotted eagle ray can pretty much crunch on anything. Yet, little information is available on critical components of their life history in the U.S., such as their diet.

Scientists Name Top Five Foods Rich in Prebiotics

There is growing evidence that consuming prebiotics — certain types of fiber often found in plants that stimulate beneficial bacteria in your gut — can help to maintain a healthy gut microbiome. In a new study, scientists estimated the prebiotic content of thousands of food types by using preexisting literature to find out which foods offer the highest prebiotic content.

Not eating enough of these six healthy foods is associated with higher cardiovascular disease and deaths globally

This study found that not eating enough of six key foods in combination is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in adults. Researchers derived a diet score from PHRI’s ongoing, large-scale global Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiological (PURE) study, then replicated that in five independent studies to measure health outcomes in different world regions and in people with and without prior CVD.

Meeting Preview: Hot Topics at NUTRITION 2023

Reporters and bloggers are invited to join top nutrition experts for a dynamic program at NUTRITION 2023. The annual flagship meeting of the American Society for Nutrition runs July 22-25 at the Sheraton Boston and features research announcements, expert discussions, and more.

Brain-Belly Connection: Gut Health May Influence Likelihood of Developing Alzheimer’s

UNLV study pinpoints 10 bacterial groups associated with Alzheimer’s disease, provides new insights into the relationship between gut makeup and dementia.

How diet quality affects the gut microbiota to promote health

We know that eating a healthy diet affects body weight, cholesterol levels, and heart health. A new study from the University of Illinois focuses on another component: the role of diet in supporting a healthy gastrointestinal microbiota. The researchers conclude that following the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) promotes a gut microbiota composition that may support overall health.

Higher diet quality can combat cardiovascular disease: McMaster-led study

The study tracked 26,539 people from 33 countries in Asia, Europe, Australia North and South America with both CAD and PAD. Of the patients tracked, 24,119 had CAD and 7,163 had PAD, with some having both. Participants’ average age was 68 years old and 78 per cent were men.
Over the 30 months that participants were monitored, a total of 1,391 adverse events occurred, of which 1,262 were CVD-related and 140 were PAD-related, with some people having both.
Researchers found the incidence of CVD and PAD events was highest in patients with a poor diet, measured by the Alternate Healthy Eating Index (AHEI) metric, with zero being the worst diet score and 70 being the best.

A Registered Dietitian’s Reaction to the New FDA Proposed Rule on Salt

According to the American Heart Association, roughly 90% of Americans are overdoing it on salt, consuming over twice the daily recommended amount. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced recently it was proposing a rule to allow the use of salt…

U.S. birds’ Eastern, Western behavior patterns are polar opposites

Avian functional diversity patterns in the Western U.S., where species and functional richness are both highest during the breeding season, are the polar opposite of what is seen in the East, where functional diversity is lowest when species richness is high, according to new research.

Hoelscher appointed to serve on national committee to advise the development of the U.S. Dietary Guidelines

Deanna Hoelscher, PhD, John P. McGovern Professor in Health Promotion and campus dean of UTHealth Houston School of Public Health in Austin, has been appointed to the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. The Committee will be tasked with reviewing the current body of science on key nutrition topics and developing a scientific report that includes its independent assessment of the evidence and recommendations for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Food and Drug Administration as they develop the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (the Guidelines).

Blood-based metabolic signature outperforms standard method for predicting diet, disease risk

Researchers have found a method using molecular profiling and machine learning to develop blood-based dietary signatures that more accurately predict both diet and the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. They say the metabolic snapshot could allow those studying food science to better understand the implications of diet and nutrition on health.