Todays Newsbites

Smoking is a leading preventable cause of cancer deaths in the United States. Analysis of health and earnings data found that, among U.S adults ages 25 to 79 years, cancer deaths caused by cigarette smoking accounted for 2.2 million person-years of life lost and approximately $21 billion in lost lifetime earnings. The analysis did not […]

A review of existing research found that dietary patterns containing the recommenced amount of vitamin C from foods was associated with health benefits. Daily dietary intake of 50 to 100 milligrams (mg) of vitamin C from foods was associated with a number of positive health outcomes, including lower risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer of the […]

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently proposed new draft guidelines for food manufacturers who want to label their products as “healthy.” This term was last defined in the 1990s. According to the FDA, “our current definition permits manufacturers to use the claim ‘healthy’ on some foods that, based on the most up-to-date nutrition […]

Virtually every tissue in the body has receptors for vitamin D. This fact led to the hypothesis that maintaining adequate vitamin D levels might be helpful for multiple health conditions. Screening to check blood levels of vitamin D has become common and an estimated one third of U.S. adults 60 years of age or older […]

If you are constipated, dietary fiber and fluid intake may help. For those who suffer from chronic constipation, fiber supplements may be necessary. A review of 16 randomized controlled trials concluded that supplementation with psyllium fiber improves constipation. Overall, 66 percent of participants responded to fiber treatment. The fiber increased stool frequency and consistency, but […]

A recent study by Tufts researchers and colleagues looked at the dietary habits of nearly 4,000 participants aged 65 and older and measured the level of specific metabolites in their blood. Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) events—like heart attacks and strokes—were recorded over 12.5 years follow-up. After adjusting for sociodemographic factors, lifestyle, and dietary factors, higher […]

Low-Carb Mediterranean Diet Works as Well as Ketogenic Diet for Diabetes Control  In a controlled trial comparing a well-formulated ketogenic diet with a low-carbohydrate Mediterranean-style dietary pattern for 12 weeks, both diets helped people with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes control blood sugar levels and lose weight. Both diets were low in refined grains and […]

There is No Proof Dietary Supplements Help Prevent CVD or Cancer The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has released recommendations discouraging the use of vitamin and/or mineral supplements for the prevention of cardiovascular disease or cancer. The USPSTF concluded that: The balance of benefits and harms cannot be determined for any vitamin or mineral […]

Diet May Impact Antimicrobial Resistance Antibiotics have saved millions of lives, but resistance to these drugs in on the rise. Antimicrobial resistance is considered likely to be a major cause of death worldwide in the coming decades. Humans can carry antibiotic resistance in our microbiome (the bacteria and other organisms that live in and on […]

If you love your sugar-sweetened sodas, teas, coffees, or fruit drinks, a recent analysis found replacing sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) with low- and no-calorie sweetened beverages (LNCSBs) was associated with some health benefits for adults with excess body fat who are at risk for type 2 diabetes. In the 17 randomized controlled trials reviewed, substituting LNCSBs […]