Elephants are friends until there isn’t enough food Elephants are great cooperators until there isn’t enough food, suggests a study published in PLOS Biology. The researchers, led by Li-Li Li at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, gave the elephants food challenges to see whether or not they worked together. When there were enough trays of food, … Continue reading You may have missed…
Tag: nutrition
“Hidden” sugars on our supermarket shelves
Australians are buying large amounts of “hidden” added sugars in their supermarket groceries, according to a new study. The research, led by the George Institute for Global Health, found that over half of the food and drink bought in supermarkets contains added sugar, but it’s not clearly labelled as such. “We used supermarket survey data … Continue reading “Hidden” sugars on our supermarket shelves
When is milk chocolate good for you?
It’s always gratifying to hear that our guilty pleasures can have health benefits – like dark chocolate being good for your heart, or coffee preventing chronic liver disease, or wine keeping your teeth healthy – but what about milk chocolate? Though it’s higher in fat, sugar and calories than dark chocolate, milk chocolate’s effect on … Continue reading When is milk chocolate good for you?
Should doctors prescribe fruit and vegetables?
We all know that fruit and vegetables are good for us, but are they so good that medical programs should prescribe them? A new study by Australian researchers suggests they should. A review carried out by the George Institute for Global Health, NSW, and Friedman School of Nutrition Science & Policy at Tufts University, US, … Continue reading Should doctors prescribe fruit and vegetables?
A sugar tax is good for all
A study has found that, a year after the introduction of a sugar tax, people were still purchasing the same amount of soft drink but consuming 10% less sugar. The UK introduced the Soft Drinks Industry Levy (SDIL) on soft-drink manufacturers in April 2018. Drinks with more than 8g sugar per 100mL are taxed at £0.24/L … Continue reading A sugar tax is good for all
You may have missed…
A round up of the stories that may have snuck past you in this week’s edition of science digest… Sharks aren’t so scary Sharks have a very frightening role in our cultural history, but Australians don’t find them as frightening as jellyfish or drowning, according to new research from the University of South Australia. The … Continue reading You may have missed…
Popcorn’s not the real problem here
What you eat at the movies may be less of an issue than what you watch others eat. A new study reveals that nearly three-quarters of the most influential US movies over the past quarter of a century would be unhealthy enough to fail legal nutrition advertising standards in the UK for food, and 90% … Continue reading Popcorn’s not the real problem here
Poor nutrition blamed for child height gap
Poor nutrition in school years has helped create a height gap of as much as 20 centimetres between children in different parts of the world, according to a new study. Researchers led by Imperial College London (ICL) analysed data on 65 million children, aged five to 19, in 193 countries, and found enormous differences in … Continue reading Poor nutrition blamed for child height gap
Super pea could reduce diabetes risk
Don’t turn your nose up at wrinkled peas: they could be a life saver. A new study has found that a natural mutation in smooth green peas that causes them to become rather shrivelled looking could help control blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. Researchers in the UK say these … Continue reading Super pea could reduce diabetes risk
Maybe we’re hardwired for calorific foods
High-calorie foods were vital for providing energy to our hunter-gatherer ancestors, potentially even fuelling modern human brain development. Although the world was vastly different then, a new study published in the journal Science Advances demonstrates how an inherent survival-driven preference for these foods may still be hardwired into our brains. In an eloquently designed experiment, … Continue reading Maybe we’re hardwired for calorific foods
Gen Z isn’t swallowing lab-grown meat
Technologies like smartphones and virtual reality have been eagerly embraced by the younger generation, known as Gen Z. However, according to a new study, they draw the line at cultured meat. The research from the University of Sydney and Curtin University, WA, reveals that while Gen Zers are worried about animal welfare and the environment, … Continue reading Gen Z isn’t swallowing lab-grown meat
More healthy reasons to eat Brussels sprouts
The once maligned Brussels sprouts have been making a bit of a comeback in recent years with fancy recipes to tempt even the staunchest haters. Now there could be more reason to embrace these mini greens and their cruciferous cousins. An observational study with nearly 700 older women, published in the British Journal of Nutrition, … Continue reading More healthy reasons to eat Brussels sprouts