Blogs/News

Researchers found that middle- to older-aged adults who ate at least three servings of whole grains daily had smaller increases in waist size, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels over time compared to those who ate less than one-half serving per day.   In their study, researchers at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University examined how whole- and refined-grain intake over time impacted five risk factors of heart disease: Waist size, blood pressure, blood sugar, triglyceride, and HDL ("good") cholesterol.   Using data from the Framingham Heart Study Offspring Cohort, which began in...

  Have you noticed that more and more foods and beverages being launched are mango-flavored? The fruit is more popular than ever as millions find its taste and texture to be highly appealing, and sweet-tooth satisfying.   Besides its fiber content that helps support the GI tract, specifically motility, mangoes have been shown to support vascular health.   Two new studies funded by the National Mango Board and presented as posters during the American Society for Nutrition’s Annual Conference (Nutrition 2023) show mangos may play a role in risk reductions for vascular issues while helping to improve antioxidant levels among...

  Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) are known to help support healthy heart function, as well as brain function. And the research continues to show more benefits of these essential fatty acids to cognitive performance, an aspect of health that often is impaired by stress. According to a new study, healthy participants whose red blood cells contained higher concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids were found to have better brain structure and cognitive function in middle age -- a time when people also begin to look to take care of their heart health. Having at least some omega-3s in...

  It’s not the caffeine that promotes a long life, according to a new study. Drinking two to three cups of coffee a day is associated with a longer lifespan and lower risk of cardiovascular disease compared with avoiding coffee. And -- these findings applied to decaffeinated varieties. "In this large, observational study, ground, instant and decaffeinated coffee were associated with equivalent reductions in the incidence of cardiovascular disease and death from cardiovascular disease or any cause," said study author Professor Peter Kistler. "The results suggest that mild to moderate intake of ground, instant and decaffeinated coffee should be considered...

  Approximately 42 percent of the U.S. adult population is obese, a state that contributes to the onset of chronic diseases, including diabetes, cancer, and other conditions. In the battle against obesity, ceasing to eat after dinner may help. Up until now, few studies have comprehensively investigated the simultaneous effects of late eating (or midnight snacking) on the three main factors in body weight regulation and thus obesity risk: regulation of calorie intake, the number of calories you burn, and molecular changes in fat tissue. "We wanted to test the mechanisms that may explain why late eating increases obesity risk,"...