Section

Nutrition

Expert advice on healthy eating habits, balanced diets, and the science behind nutrition.

Split image showing healthy foods and a representation of a developing teenage brain, highlighting the impact of diet on cognition.

Adolescent Diets: Impact on Teenage Brains and Cognition

In 2020, American children and adolescents scored a dismal 54 out of 100 on the Healthy Eating Index, far below the healthy minimum of 80.

Ryan Patel· Jun 5· 3 min
A colorful array of fresh fruits and vegetables arranged to represent a strong, healthy immune system, with a subtle glowing shield effect.

What Are Micronutrients and Why Do They Matter for Your Immune System?

Vitamin A deficiency remains a leading cause of preventable blindness in children worldwide, simultaneously increasing their risk of severe illness and death from common infections, according to the W

Ryan Patel· Jun 4· 4 min
A person looking concerned in a supermarket aisle filled with colorful, artificial ultra-processed food packages, holding a piece of fresh fruit.

What Is Ultra-Processed Food and Its Health Impact?

In the United States and the United Kingdom, over 50% of daily caloric intake comes from ultra-processed foods (UPFs), a category linked to increased risks of heart disease, stroke, and early mortalit

Ryan Patel· Jun 3· 4 min
A balanced selection of healthy foods including fruits, vegetables, lean meats, fish, nuts, and seeds, symbolizing macronutrients.

What Are Macronutrients: Carbs, Proteins, and Fats Explained

From 1999 to 2018, the average energy intake from carbohydrates among US adults dropped by 4%, while protein intake slightly rose.

Ryan Patel· May 29· 4 min
A bountiful display of fresh, colorful fruits and vegetables, symbolizing the concept of superfoods and their nutritional value.

What Are 'Superfoods' and Are They Worth the Hype?

In 2012, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) retracted its Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) database.

Ryan Patel· May 27· 4 min
Person preparing a healthy, fiber-rich meal with fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains in a sunlit kitchen.

What is Fibermaxxing and How Can You Safely Boost Your Fiber Intake?

Despite fiber's well-documented role in preventing chronic diseases, current intakes fall short in many populations worldwide, fueling a 'fibermaxxing' trend that often overlooks critical safety guide

Ryan Patel· May 19· 4 min
A cancer patient and a nutritionist in a bright kitchen, preparing healthy food together, symbolizing the 'food as medicine' approach to cancer care.

What is Food as Medicine for Cancer Patients?

Despite growing patient interest, less than 20% of US oncology centers offer integrated, evidence-based 'food as medicine' programs, according to a 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology survey.

Ryan Patel· May 16· 4 min
A vibrant senior person enjoying a mentally stimulating activity, surrounded by colorful fruits and vegetables, symbolizing good brain health and cognitive function.

What Are Essential Nutrients For Brain Health and Cognitive Function?

A specific dietary pattern, known as the MIND diet, has been shown to slow the decline in global cognitive function with a statistically significant beta of 0.

Ryan Patel· May 15· 4 min
Split image comparing steaming and microwaving vegetables, highlighting fresh produce and modern kitchen settings to illustrate cooking method impacts on nutrition.

How Do Cooking Methods Affect Food Nutrition?

Microwaving vegetables can preserve over 90% of their initial ascorbic acid content.

Ryan Patel· May 13· 4 min
Visual comparison of prebiotic-supported gut health versus the less certain landscape of probiotic effectiveness, emphasizing scientific evidence.

Prebiotics: Proven Gut Health; Probiotics: Navigating the Evidence

A recent review of 22 randomized controlled trials found that prebiotic supplementation consistently increased beneficial gut bacteria and improved clinical outcomes, offering a clearer path to gut he

Ryan Patel· May 11· 4 min
A bountiful display of fresh vegan foods on a kitchen counter, with a hand preparing supplements, representing healthy vegan diet planning.

Vegan Diet: Nutritional Truths, Benefits, and Smart Planning

Studies confirm that following a vegan diet can reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and heart disease, even as concerns about nutrient deficiencies persist, according to pub

Ryan Patel· May 11· 4 min
Artisanal sourdough bread loaf on a wooden cutting board, with a slice cut, butter, and rosemary, suggesting healthy eating.

What are the health benefits of eating sourdough bread daily?

Eating sourdough bread can reduce your blood glucose increment by 0.

Ryan Patel· May 7· 3 min
An athlete in motion with superimposed genetic code and metabolic pathways, symbolizing personalized nutrition for peak performance.

What is Personalized Nutrition for Athletes Using Genetic Data?

A recent meta-analysis identified 104 specific metabolites, including elevated pregnenolone and reduced glutathione, directly associated with high endurance sports, suggesting a biological blueprint f

Ryan Patel· May 6· 3 min
Diverse women of various ages sharing healthy meals and learning about nutrition in a sunlit, modern kitchen.

How to Choose Personalized Nutrition for Women Across Their Lifespan

Drinking your morning coffee with an iron-rich breakfast could actively prevent your body from absorbing a vital nutrient, even if you're striving for health.

Ryan Patel· May 5· 3 min
Scientists in a high-tech lab analyzing DNA and food for personalized nutrition plans, with holographic displays showing dietary recommendations.

What Is the Science Behind Personalized Nutrition?

Individualized nutrition for patients has demonstrated improved survival rates compared to conventional approaches, according to pmc.

Ryan Patel· May 5· 3 min
Diverse people sharing a healthy meal, symbolizing the positive impact of food fortification on global health and well-being.

What is food fortification and why does it matter for global health?

Globally, 16.4% of the world’s population experiences inadequate zinc intake without large-scale food fortification (LSFF) programs, according to Nature . This widespread deficiency fuels a range of p

Ryan Patel· May 4· 3 min
A family eating a meal composed entirely of brightly colored, artificial ultra-processed foods, highlighting the health risks associated with such diets.

What Are Ultra-Processed Foods and Their Health Risks?

People who eat around nine servings a day of ultraprocessed foods face about a 67% higher risk of heart attacks, according to the Wall Street Journal .

Ryan Patel· May 3· 3 min
Cyclist reaching for a jar of honey during a race, symbolizing natural energy and performance enhancement.

What are the nutritional benefits of honey for athletic performance?

Competitive cyclists consuming honey before and during races significantly increased their power and speed, matching commercial dextrose gels.

Ryan Patel· May 3· 3 min
A person contemplating different FDA-approved sugar substitutes on a kitchen counter, surrounded by healthy food options, symbolizing informed dietary choices.

What are the FDA-approved sugar substitutes and their health risks?

Participants in the San Antonio Heart Study who drank more than 21 diet drinks per week were twice as likely to become overweight or obese as people who did not consume diet soda, according to Mayo Cl

Ryan Patel· May 2· 4 min
A diverse group of people happily harvesting and holding baskets of nutrient-rich biofortified crops in a sunny field, representing improved global nutrition.

What is Biofortification and Why Does It Matter for Nutrition?

In 2023 alone, an estimated 177 to 293 million people consumed four key biofortified crops.

Ryan Patel· Apr 30· 3 min
A bright and inviting kitchen scene showcasing an assortment of whole grains, with someone preparing a healthy meal, representing the benefits of whole grain nutrition.

What are whole grains and why do they matter for your health?

In a striking dietary trend, over 90% of bread purchases across all demographic subgroups contain refined grain ingredients, according to PMC .

Ryan Patel· Apr 28· 3 min
Close-up view of glowing gut bacteria in a petri dish, representing the impact of intermittent fasting on the gut microbiome for metabolic health.

How Intermittent Fasting Reshapes Your Gut Microbiome for Metabolic Health

In a surprising turn, the gut microbiomes of Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) patients undergoing intermittent fasting began to resemble those of non-diabetic individuals immediately after the fasting period, ac

Ryan Patel· Apr 26· 4 min
A split image contrasting a healthy plate of food with complex, unclear scientific research data, illustrating the challenges in dietary science.

Healthy Diets: What They Are, Why They Matter, & Research Issues

Poor diet quality and physical inactivity contributed to approximately 16.

Chloe Bennett· Apr 23· 4 min
Assortment of fresh, colorful vegetables like broccoli, bell peppers, and carrots arranged artfully, with a hint of steam suggesting a cooking process.

How Cooking Methods Affect Vitamin C Retention

The amount of vitamin C retained in vegetables after cooking can swing wildly, from a complete loss to over 90% preservation, depending entirely on the method.

Ryan Patel· Apr 22· 4 min
People in a grocery store carefully reading nutrition labels on food products, making informed choices for healthier eating.

Making Sense of Food Labels for Healthier Eating

Despite decades of nutrition labeling efforts, over a third of the US population still grapples with obesity, costing the nation $209.

Ryan Patel· Apr 21· 4 min
A colorful assortment of fresh fruits and vegetables on a wooden table, symbolizing healthy food choices and their impact on blood sugar.

What Is the Glycemic Index and How Does It Affect Your Blood Sugar?

The latest glycemic index tables now rank over 4000 foods, a 61% increase in available data since 2008, offering unprecedented detail on how specific foods impact blood sugar.

Ryan Patel· Apr 19· 4 min
A variety of cooking oils, including olive, canola, and sunflower, arranged artfully on a kitchen counter with fresh herbs.

What Are Seed Oils? Understanding Nutritional Profiles and Dietary Recommendations

Common cooking oils like soybean and canola contain up to 57.

Ryan Patel· Apr 18· 4 min
A person happily reviewing personalized diet information on a tablet amidst a colorful display of fresh fruits and vegetables, symbolizing healthy eating.

How Bio-Individuality in Nutrition Helps You Find Your Personalized Diet

In a recent study, participants following a personalized diet plan were more than four times more likely to report better sleep quality and energy levels.

Ryan Patel· Apr 15· 4 min
Close-up of a muscular athlete's back showing muscle definition after a strenuous workout, symbolizing the importance of protein for recovery.

What's the Optimal Protein Dose for Muscle Recovery?

While the general dietary recommendation for protein is 0.

Lauren Fisk· Apr 15· 4 min
Split image comparing raw vegetables with cooked vegetables, illustrating the impact of cooking methods on nutrient bioavailability and food nutrition.

How Do Cooking Methods Affect Food Nutrition and Bioavailability?

The bioavailability of the vitamin A precursor carotenoids α-carotene and β-carotene in cooked tomatoes increased by an astonishing 26 to 38 times and 46 to 71 times, respectively, compared with those

Ryan Patel· Apr 14· 4 min