Nutrition

Dr. David Kessler, former FDA Commissioner and public health leader, explores how these drugs override the brain’s reward-driven eating habits but have notable side effects. These include developing eating disorders, muscle loss, and intestinal obstruction.

Fifty-eight percent of Americans take dietary supplements with the intention of improving their health, fitness level, or immunity but there is limited evidence to actually support their benefits. Read this article to learn more about why supplements should not be used as a substitute for a healthy diet and lifestyle. While there are a few exceptions (such as evidence that folic acid prevents birth defects), there is little research to prove that most nutritional supplements from this $30 billion industry do anything to improve health for an already-healthy person. In fact, some supplement use can do more harm than good, especially when high doses are taken.

Food is a big part of everyone’s carbon footprint, and it’s important to understand the impact of our personal food consumption. Individual food choices can emit as many greenhouse gases as personal electricity use. Plant-based diets generally...

A GMO, or genetically modified organism, is an organism whose DNA has been altered for specific improvement such as longer shelf life, disease resistance, or enhanced nutrition—which can benefit both farmers and consumers. While humans have used...

A groundbreaking business called Ovipost is attempting to revolutionize cricket farming for a more sustainable food system. The entrepreneurs are using automation to streamline the management of cricket egg laying and counting, with the goal of reducing production costs and making insect farming economically feasible. As it stands now, the cost of producing crickets can not be compared with the low cost of raising industrial chickens. Read this article to learn more about the emerging industry of insect agriculture, as well as its potential for nutritional and environmental benefits.

In recent years, many critics have voiced their concerns about the food industry and how ultra-processed foods affect our health. Despite our awareness of these issues, processed foods are still incredibly hard to remove from our diet. In this podcast by The Guardian, Dr. Chris van Tulleken explains how “junk food” is created to get us hooked, how it negatively affects us, and what we can do to improve our eating habits.

While aging affects every system in the body, there are important steps adults can take to make sure they age as well as possible. For instance: The skeletal system’s bones shrink in size and density as people age, but weight-bearing exercises can help slow this bone loss. And while changes in the cardiovascular system can cause stiffening of arteries, making sure to get enough sleep can give them time to repair. This article not only explains what to expect as you age, but also provides tips for promoting health.

The Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) Program collects, analyzes, and disseminates data on population, health, HIV, and nutrition. The site compiles data through more than 400 surveys in over 90 countries around the world. Explore demographic...

Nutrition labels list daily values based on a 2,000-calorie diet, but how did this become the gold standard of calorie intake? The FDA used food consumption surveys to determine that men consume 2,000 to 3,000 calories, women consume 1,600 to 2,200 calories, and children consume 1,800 to 2,500 calories per day. To allow consumers to compare food products easily, the FDA chose 2,000 calories as the basis for nutritional labels, which show the amounts of fat, sodium, vitamins, and minerals in relation to recommended daily intake. Read this article to learn why this number is controversial.

Sugar is likely found in more foods and beverages than you think, which could be silently and negatively affecting your health. While it's easy to spot sugars in soft drinks, candy, and ice cream, its varied names (like evaporated cane juice, for example) can make it difficult to identify on food labels. The USDA doesn't currently have a daily recommendation for sugar, but the World Health Organization advises limiting sugar to 25 grams a day. Watch this four-minute video to learn more about where sugar is hiding and how it can affect your body.