Nutrition Science

Eating well is becoming more and more of a science, with new research showing us which foods may lower our risk of disease, and which are increasingly pointed to as the culprits behind ill health. Researchers are looking to better understand how nutrients work in our bodies, with studies that analyze at the diets of people with heart disease, cancer, and other diseases, along with research aimed at helping people to lose weight, or maintain weight loss. From all this research, new advice constantly emerges for people who are dieting, or want to eat more healthfully. With news, features and reference pages, we will provide science-supported tips for improving your nutrition.

Related Topics: Food, Agriculture, Carbohydrates

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Can a Person Survive Eating Only Beef?

By Rafi Letzter

High cholesterol, cancer and a shorter life span would all be very real risks.

Should You Eat Red Meat?

By Scott Lear

Over the past few years, studies have indicated eating red is bad for your health, but a new study seems to reverse that. So what should you do?

<em>Lactobacillus bacteria</em>, seen in this colored scanning electron micrograph, are part of the flora of the human gut.

The Same Exact Foods Affect Each Person's Gut Bacteria Differently

By Stephanie Pappas

Diet can influence the gut microbiome, but the same food can have the opposite effect on different people.

White Meat Can Raise Cholesterol As Much As Red Meat, New Study Shows

By Laura Geggel

White meat, such as chicken, may raise blood cholesterol levels as much as red meat does, a new, small study details.

Here's How Many US Cancer Cases Are Tied to Unhealthy Diets

By Rachael Rettner

More than 80,000 cancer cases diagnosed each year in the U.S. may be tied to an unhealthy diet, according to a new study.

Ultraprocessed Foods Really Do Lead to Weight Gain, Small Study Finds

By Rachael Rettner

Filling your plate with ultraprocessed foods really does appear to lead people to eat more and gain weight.

No, 'Negative-Calorie' Foods Aren't a Real Thing, Study Says

By Rachael Rettner

The study is one of the first to scientifically test the idea of negative-calorie foods, or foods that theoretically require more calories to digest than they contain.

A bottle of supplements next to fruits and vegetables.

Vitamins from Food — Not Supplements — Linked with Longer Life

By Rachael Rettner

Certain vitamins and minerals are linked with a lower risk of early death, but only if the nutrients come from food, not supplements.

An image of a bunch of whole grains including bread and wheat stalks.

How Whole Grains Could Help Your Liver

By Yasemin Saplakoglu

Eating a diet rich in whole grains might reduce the risk of developing liver cancer

A CT scan showing a tumor in the lower abdominal cavity.

How Your 'Lifestyle Score' Affects Your Risk of Colorectal Cancer

By Yasemin Saplakoglu

Unhealthy habits can increase a person's risk of colorectal cancer

How an Injection of Tiny Beads into Stomach Arteries Might Help with Weight Loss

By Rachael Rettner

The treatment, called "bariatric embolization," led to weight loss in a small study.

Doctors Often Miss Colorectal Cancer in Younger Adults, New Study Suggests

By Yasemin Saplakoglu

In recent years, there's been an alarming rise in colorectal cancer cases among young adults

This Weight Loss Strategy Takes Just 15 Minutes a Day

By Rachael Rettner

A new study suggests that monitoring your diet may not be as much work as you think.

A High-Fat Diet May Be Bad for Your Gut Bacteria

By Rachael Rettner

Eating too much fat may be bad for your gut bacteria, a new study from China suggests.

Ice cream tubs in the frozen food aisle.

Eating 'Ultraprocessed' Foods Linked with Early Death

By Rachael Rettner

So-called "ultraprocessed" foods — which are high in salt, sugar and other additives — are linked with an increased risk of early death, a new study finds.