Diet & Nutrition

If you feel your morning coffee puts a spring in your step, science has your back. In the first large-scale real-world study of its kind, researchers found that caffeine can significantly improve mood under certain conditions – especially in the morning.

For the first time, researchers have shown how staying hydrated influences how our bodies react, hormonally, to stress, keeping cortisol in check and in turn lowering the risk of serious health conditions including heart disease, obesity and diabetes.

A new study has added strong evidence that red meat consumption is a trigger for inflammatory bowel disease, and inflammation, demonstrating just how it alters gut bacteria and immune activity, resulting in widespread tissue damage in the colon.

A massive study of more than 200,000 US adults has revealed that not all potatoes are created equal – as different forms dramatically shift your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. But there's also some good news for lovers of the often-maligned spud.

After reviewing a series of studies involving hundreds of thousands of participants, a team of researchers found three eating plans that significantly reduced the development of type 2 diabetes. All are relatively easy to follow.

In a landmark 14-year study, researchers found that artificially sweetened drinks raise the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by more than a third, higher than those with sugar. It challenges the perception that diet drinks are healthier options.

Thousands of people who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome swear off a range of food categories to improve their symptoms. One of these categories is gluten, although a new small study shows it might not be the villain many think it is.

A groundbreaking study has revealed that white sugar doesn’t just feed bacteria in the gut – it rewires them. Consuming sugar can trigger physical flips in bacterial DNA, setting off a chain reaction that alters immune responses and gut health.

A world-first clinical trial has revealed that eggs can lower LDL cholesterol, with overall diet saturated fat is taken into account. It rewrites the narrative on dietary cholesterol and offers a science-backed redemption arc to a nutritional villain.

From St John’s wort to vitamin D, the range of over-the-counter supplements for mental health wellbeing continues to grow. Now, scientists have looked at 64 products reviewed in hundreds of studies to shed light on how useful they are for depression.

Synching your daily calories with your own circadian rhythm can improve glucose metabolism, protecting against type 2 diabetes and obesity. A new study uncovers the relationship between metabolic health and our personal, inherent biological clock.

A new study reveals that Americans are confused about what “processed food” actually means, and which types pose health risks. Researchers found major gaps between public perception and science, highlighting the need for more comprehensive education.

In a comprehensive new study looking at 39,763 different foods and drinks from the biggest 25 companies in the country, scientists discovered that almost 20% rely on synthetic food dyes to attract consumers. Now, the fight is on to ban them for good.

Alternating between a calorie-restricted plan and one high in fat and sugar, resulting in weight gain, is not just down to psychology and behavior. This kind of weight-loss-gain cycle – yo-yo dieting – has a surprising biological driver: The gut.

For the first time, scientists have unraveled how high levels of fructose flip a genetic switch that primes your immune system to overreact to things it would normally ignore. In this "trigger happy" state, the immune system becomes the enemy within.