All articles tagged with #junk food
Researchers studying 230 Barbary macaques in Gibraltar found those with more access to tourists’ calorie-dense snacks eat dirt about 12 times a week, suggesting geophagy buffers the digestive impact of high-calorie, low-fiber junk food and may aid gut bacteria; the behavior is more common in seasons with more tourists and is absent in groups with no tourist access.
Researchers documented soil-eating (geophagy) in Barbary macaques around Gibraltar, noting more soil consumption in groups that eat more human snacks like chocolate and ice cream. The behavior may help buffer stomach upset and potentially microbiome disruption from junk food, could be socially learned, and varied by group with some having no access to human food. More research is needed to understand the gut-related benefits.
A UK-wide ban on advertising high-fat, salt, and sugar (HFSS) foods on TV before 21:00 and online is set to take effect, aiming to reduce childhood obesity by limiting exposure to unhealthy food marketing. The ban covers products like soft drinks, sweets, pizzas, and some cereals, with exceptions for healthier options. Food manufacturers are encouraged to develop healthier products, and the government expects this measure to prevent around 20,000 cases of childhood obesity annually.
Research from Virginia Tech highlights that ultra-processed meats and sugary beverages significantly increase the risk of cognitive impairments, including dementia, in older adults. The study emphasizes the importance of moderating consumption of these foods and suggests cooking classes as a practical intervention to improve diet quality and protect brain health.
A study shows that just four days of consuming a high-fat junk food diet can rapidly disrupt memory-related neurons in the brain's hippocampus, increasing the risk of cognitive impairment. The damage is linked to disrupted glucose use and hyperactivity of specific neurons, but can be reversed through dietary changes or fasting, highlighting the importance of nutrition in brain health and potential early interventions to prevent dementia.
A study published in Neuron reveals that consuming a high-fat junk food diet rapidly disrupts memory circuits in the brain by overactivating specific hippocampal neurons, potentially increasing the risk of cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases; interventions like fasting or dietary modifications may help restore brain function.
For the first time, more children and adolescents worldwide are obese than undernourished, driven by the marketing and availability of ultra-processed foods, with UNICEF warning of a global health crisis and urging governments to implement stricter regulations and policies.
For the first time, more children worldwide are obese than underweight, driven by increased consumption of ultra-processed junk food, with significant health and economic implications, prompting calls for stronger government regulation and healthier food environments.
A recent study shows that just five days of consuming high-calorie, ultra-processed foods can impair brain insulin response and increase liver fat, with effects lasting even after returning to a normal diet, potentially impacting memory, decision-making, and long-term metabolic health.
A new NIH study introduces a blood and urine test that uses molecular fingerprints to accurately measure ultra-processed food consumption, offering a more objective alternative to traditional dietary surveys and enabling better understanding of diet-related health risks.
This week's top health news covers the potential dental side effects of Ozempic, a common vitamin that may slow biological aging, and new blood tests capable of detecting ultraprocessed foods in the body.
A study by the University of South Florida Health and Tampa General Hospital Cancer Institute suggests that ultra-processed foods may contribute to the growth of cancerous colon tumors by increasing inflammation through an imbalance of lipids. The research highlights the potential of using natural products rich in omega-3 fatty acids as a treatment to promote healing and reduce inflammation, rather than relying on synthetic drugs. The study underscores the importance of reducing processed food consumption to improve health outcomes.
The UK government plans to implement a new advertising ban on certain 'junk food' products, including sugary porridge, crumpets, and breakfast cereals, to combat rising childhood obesity rates. The ban, effective from October 2025, will restrict TV and online ads for foods high in sugar, fat, or salt before 9 PM. While some, like cook Thomasina Miers, support the move as a bold step towards healthier diets, others criticize it for potentially impacting businesses and question its effectiveness. The legislation aims to reduce calorie intake among children and shift healthcare focus from treatment to prevention.
Research led by USC indicates that consuming a high-fat, sugary diet during adolescence can lead to persistent memory impairments, despite later dietary improvements, with long-term effects on brain function and memory. Rats fed a high-fat, high-sugar diet during their adolescence experienced memory impairment, and the study suggests that these effects may last into adulthood. The research highlights the significant impact of junk food diets on memory function and the potential long-term consequences, emphasizing the importance of healthy eating habits during adolescence for brain development.
A study in Singapore has revealed a potential link between junk food consumption and cancer risk, suggesting that a compound called methylglyoxal, produced when the body breaks down sugary and fatty foods, can temporarily inhibit the cancer-protecting function of the BRCA2 gene. This finding challenges the long-held "two-hit" paradigm and may help explain the rising prevalence of cancers, particularly in young, seemingly healthy individuals. The study also highlights the potential impact of diet on cancer risk, particularly colorectal cancer, and suggests that repeated exposure to methylglyoxal, commonly found in processed foods and red meat, could increase the risk of cancer development, especially in individuals with inherited faulty copies of the BRCA2 gene.