Feature Channels: Nutrition

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Lunches served in the National School Lunch Program have higher nutritional quality than lunches brought from home, according to the largest comparison study conducted to date. Published in the November 2016 issue of the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the study, conducted by researchers at UC's Nutrition Policy Institute, involved nearly 4,000 elementary school students in Southern California.

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A screening test for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)—a serious condition that may have lifelong health consequences—is recommended for all obese children aged nine to eleven years, according to clinical practice guidelines developed by the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (NASPGHAN) and published in the Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition (JPGN). Official journal of the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition and the NASPGHAN, the JPGN is published by Wolters Kluwer.

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One year ago ProMedica opened a full-service grocery market in an area of Toledo that was labeled a food desert due to the lack of grocery stores and healthy food providers. Today leaders from ProMedica announced plans to expand its services beyond the grocery market to offer a variety of community programs including cooking and nutrition classes, health screenings, financial counseling and job training. According to philanthropist and business community leader Russell Ebeid, ProMedica is "writing a new chapter in the way healthcare systems collaborate with neighborhoods and communities to improve health."

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Babies born with low levels of vitamin D may be more likely to develop multiple sclerosis (MS) later in life than babies with higher levels of vitamin D, according to a study published in the November 30, 2016, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

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In the face of many myths, the Academy for Eating Disorders (AED) released “Nine Truths About Eating Disorders” in order to clarify public understanding. Produced in collaboration with Dr. Cynthia Bulik, PhD, FAED, who serves as distinguished Professor of Eating Disorders in the School of Medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Here's what they sound like across the globe!

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Columbia University has awarded the 2016 Naomi Berrie Award for Outstanding Achievement in Diabetes Research to Peter Arner, MD, PhD, a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Medicine at the Karolinska Institute, whose studies on the turnover of fat tissue in the human body has revealed processes that contribute to obesity and diabetes.

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Scientists from the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI), Florida Atlantic University and Bowling Green State University may have finally found a reason for the 'food coma' phenomenon.

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Studying how gut bacteria affect behavior in zebrafish could lead to a better understanding of how probiotics may affect the central nervous system in humans.

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Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) researchers have identified previously unknown neural circuitry that plays a role in promoting satiety, the feeling of having had enough to eat. The discovery revises the current models for homeostatic control – the mechanisms by which the brain maintains the body’s status quo – of feeding behavior. Published online today in Nature Neuroscience, the findings offer new insight into the regulation of hunger and satiety and could help researchers find solutions to the ongoing obesity epidemic.

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Vitamin D supplementation improved symptoms of autism in a recent trial.

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Take Charge of Your Diabetes covers most aspects of diabetes self-care, and is offered by UF/IFAS Extension county faculty in collaboration with local health professionals who specialize in diabetes management. Participants attend nine weekly sessions and at least two follow-up meetings to encourage their continued adherence to best practices for good blood glucose control and to check their progress.

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Queen’s University Belfast’s Institute for Global Food Security will play a key role in a new leading partnership which will tackle the global challenge of feeding the world’s growing population, as well as enabling the University to access up to €400 million in funding.

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One in 6 parents say their teen has tried a gluten free, vegan, paleo or vegetarian diet. For some families, the restrictions can cause indigestion.

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While the word “thanks” is included in our country’s favorite holiday’s name, we all know the real star of the day is the food. Institute of Food Technologists Member Kantha Shelke, PhD, CFS, deconstructs the turkey-day menu in a series of IFT Food Facts videos that show how science is involved in the look, taste, and texture of our favorite holiday foods.

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A recent study published in the Journal of Food Science found that extracts and isolated compounds from avocado seeds can potentially be used as a natural additive incorporated into ready-to-eat foods to control microbes that cause Listeria, a foodborne bacterial illness that can be very serious for pregnant women and people with impaired immune systems.

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Turkey is a major symbol of an American celebration and our giving for the bounties we are fortunate to enjoy. Dr. Judith Rodriguez, registered dietitian & chair of the Department of Nutrition & Dietetics at the University of North Florida, discusses myths and facts about turkey.

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Americans consume 350 slices of pizza every second, and 15 percent deem it their top comfort food. In the November issue of Food Technology Magazine associate editor Melanie Zanoza Bartelme outlines eight American pizza trends, preferences and consumption habits

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A new study revealed a surprising relationship between two molecules – one that works to store fat and another that promotes fat burning for energy. The team found that the molecules complement each other to maintain a healthy level of fat in the liver.

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A Cornell University program is reimagining kale – its color, shape and even flavor – in a bid to breed the naturally biodiverse vegetable for consumer satisfaction.

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‘Tis the season of an abundance of food and drink. While celebrating should be joyful, for some women it can trigger eating disorder symptoms. Michigan State University Foundation Professor Kelly Klump has found that holiday temptations can add another layer of stress to an already complicated biological process. It is well known women undergo monthly hormonal changes in estrogen and progesterone due to the menstrual cycle.

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When microbes inside the digestive system don’t get the natural fiber that they rely on for food, they begin to munch on the natural layer of mucus that lines the gut, eroding it to the point where dangerous invading bacteria can infect the colon wall, new research in mice shows.

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UAB registered dietitian Ashley Delk says to put away the stretchy pants and eat smart this holiday season.

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With the holidays approaching, you want the turkey and stuffing – or whatever you’re preparing – to be safe to eat, and consume again as leftovers.

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In mouse experiments, researchers have shown how aging and excess dietary fat create signals that lead to heart failure after a heart attack. Clarifying the mechanism of this harmful pathway is important because nearly 5 million people in the United States suffer heart failure as an age-related disease following heart attacks.

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Abstracts related to this year’s conference theme: Honor the Past, Embrace the Present, Define the Future are also encouraged.

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With the holidays right around the corner, families are planning meals and trips to spend time with loved ones. With the food and travel, it is easy for exercise schedules to become disrupted. Steve Ball, associate professor of nutrition and exercise physiology at the University of Missouri, says that to prevent holiday weight gain, people need to focus on consistency and set realistic goals for exercise.

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Forgoing a reliance on motivation, families adopt healthy behaviors—eating better and exercising more—by following a new approach that focuses on the redesign of family daily routines.

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Beans are a versatile, inexpensive staple that can boost essential nutrients in a diet, especially for people in low-resource areas where food options are limited. To get the most out of these legumes, new research suggests choosing fast-cooking dry beans could be the way to go. A study in ACS’ Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found that fast-cooking beans retained more protein, iron and other minerals than “slower” dry beans.

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Bacteria in your intestines may play an important role in determining if you will develop blinding wet Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD).

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Calorie-laden meals, decadent treats, and festive drinks inundate people from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day, inviting the fiery sensation of heartburn and bitter taste of reflux as unwelcome guests to the holiday festivities.

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'A plumper baby is not necessarily a healthier baby'

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Living in a food desert – an urban area where it is difficult to buy affordable or good-quality fresh food – means you’re at increased risk to have asthma. Children who were studied who did not have access to fresh fruits and vegetables had higher rates of asthma than children who did have access.

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The holiday season is officially in full gear and with it comes the tempting Thanksgiving-to-New-Year’s food fest. During the holiday season, good eating habits spiral out of control and exercise plans are thrown out the window resulting in undesired weight gain.

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Have you ever reached the end of a holiday buffet with a plate filled with more food than you intended? The holiday season is primetime for overeating, said Nan Jensen, family and consumer sciences agent with University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension Pinellas County. Jensen has these tips for avoiding common holiday health pitfalls.

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On the other hand, those who know plenty about global warming are cautious about the science that says humans cause the phenomenon, a new University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences study shows. Furthermore, the study showed some people still make what researchers call “illusionary correlations,” such as “genetically modified foods cause autism.”

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An epidemiological analysis of data from 1,685 adult Americans finds that regular consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, but not diet soda, is associated with increased risk of prediabetes and increased insulin resistance.

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Research suggests feedback loop between greater executive function and healthy behavior

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Television cooking shows are an important resource for home cooks, but if these shows fail to model recommended food safety measures, it may lead to poor practices among consumers. Therefore, researchers from the University of Massachusetts Amherst devised a study to assess food safety on television food shows and determine whether they present positive or negative models for viewers.

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The latest research and features on obesity in the Obesity News Source.

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Even after a year on a gluten-free diet, nearly 20 percent of children with celiac disease continue to have intestinal abnormalities (enteropathy) on repeat biopsies, reports a study in the Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, official journal of the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition and the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition. The journal is published by Wolters Kluwer.

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The microbiome and our health are intricately connected and research in the areas of the microbiome and probiotics is advancing at a rapid rate

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According to University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences experts, sharing food around the dinner table also helps us feel more connected, make healthier choices and save money along the way. UF/IFAS Extension is encouraging families, friends and coworkers to experience the benefits of “dining in” by share a meal together on Dec. 3 for National Dine In Day.

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Emulsifiers, which are added to most processed foods to aid texture and extend shelf life, can alter intestinal bacteria in a manner that promotes intestinal inflammation and colorectal cancer, according to a new study.

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First clinical study of its kind finds no benefit for women who eat their placenta as a source of needed iron after giving birth.

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Previous studies show that as little as one week of overeating can impair glycemic control and insulin sensitivity. Just in time for holiday feasting, a new study by University of Michigan researchers finds that exercise can protect fat tissue from changes in inflammation levels and fat metabolism caused by a brief period of eating too many calories. Research will be presented at the Integrative Biology of Exercise meeting in Phoenix.