The ever-controversial animal rights group, PETA, have launched a new billboard in Jacksonville, Florida, which encourage obese people to give up meat and eat their way thin as vegetarians...

The reported health benefits of garlic have long ranged from being good for cardiovascular health, colds; flu and the immune system in general. New studies have found that raw, crushed garlic can have very positive effects on heart health, but is not so effective at helping us get back on our feet after suffering the common cold...

It is hardly surprising that in recession-hit Britain, more and more people are turning towards budget food brands to save money and a consumer affairs report has confirmed that low-cost items can be just as nutritious as their more expensive, nicely-packaged counterparts...

Organic food has once again been criticised for not living up to the health expectations and benefits it claims. The UK's Food Standards Agency (FSA) commissioned the world's largest study to-date on the benefits of organic food based on its nutrient content, in comparison with “conventionally”...

Nanotechnology is receiving extensive press for its innovative approach to food and the ways in which we can alter the physical attributes of food for our health, for taste and for safety reasons. The possibilities are seemingly endless when altering material at the nanometre level and food manufacturers...

Losing weight can be an expensive business at times, as swapping cheap chips for organic tofu comes at a price. However, lots of healthy food can be incredibly cheap, as locally grown vegetables and fruit are often cheap options.
One of the major changes in peoples' diets during this financial crisis has been that they stay at home...

Iron deficiency in the developing world, especially among women and children, is a serious problem which could be overcome, scientists believe, through a new breakthrough in rice technology.
Naturally, rice has a seed coat which is rich in iron, yet in hotter climates

The melted chocolate bar in the bottom of your handbag is going to make you fat anyway, so why bother eating it? Swiss Chocolatier Barry Callebaut may have found the solution to both these problems – a melt-resistant, low-calorie chocolate bar which...

There has been a renewed buzz around the calorie restriction (CR) diet lately as people adopt it not only for weight loss but for its purported anti-ageing benefits. After 20 years of study conducted on rhesus monkeys, scientists have found...

Become a “flexitarian” and flout the rules, say those people who have taken up the habit of eating less meat but who won't commit fully to a vegetarian lifestyle. Flexitarianism is enjoying a high, as diners revel in a new breed of top-class vegetarian restaurants and enjoy a quality of cooking usually reserved for carnivores...

Functional foods are in high demand right now, as we are all looking for that magic potion which will give us more antioxidants, vitamins, probiotics and all the rest. One of the world's leading functional food marketing experts has put together a book on the psychology behind the consumer's choice and what...

Canadian research team have found evidence to support the idea that being mildly overweight may help with longevity. The study, which followed the mortality of 11,326 adults in Canada over a period of 12 years, found that overweight...

Those Locavores have it so easy nowadays! In the States, Locavores – people who eat only locally-produced food – can now pick up their iPhone and ask it what produce is in season locally and what...

The Rainbow Grocery store in San Francisco, California has been up and running since the 1970's and has been working under a radical cooperative business model since its inception...

Teas are one Asiatic treasure that has been cherished for centuries now by the Western world, but we are only just realising the benefits that certain teas can have on our health and wellbeing. Green tea is especially potent and studies show that its power to reduce the risk of developing cancer, heart disease and other maladies is not to be ignored...

According to the LA Lakers basketball star Lamar Odom, candy is a great refueller for before a game and helps him to play better. Odom's problem, though, may be that he doesn't restrict his sweet intake to just before a game, instead he gobbles sweets all day long!...

New research from a UK university. has found that we can all save ourselves some valuable time in the kitchen by not chopping the vegetables – well, carrots at least. Apparently, carrots that are cooked whole rather than diced retain more of their nutritional value after cooking and can better protect us from a...

Although Starbucks is revered as a coffee heaven for that early morning fix on the way to work, customers have been of the opinion that their food offerings leave a lot to be desired...

In the years following the second world war, the Spanish population turned to a crop named vetch, or vicia, to sustain themselves. This plant is a type of legume and can be used to make porridge, bread, flour and cereal...

If you find that there's far too much information regarding how to lead healthy lifestyle around today...

The World Cancer Research Fund has this week made a report to help people maintain a healthy diet while still saving their cash...

Ghent, a city of around 233,000 in North East Belgium, has pledged to go vegetarian every Thursday...

Scientists from the University of Copenhagen have come up with a new, healthy way of battling diabetes...

The Codex Alimentarius (“food code” in Latin) is a collection of internationally recognised standards and guidelines related to food and food safety...

In the States, two senators have put forward a bill to get rid of junk food from school vending machines...

Ever wondered why you're able to remember the most unhealthy meals?...

The European Commission yesterday released new traffic light guidelines...

For those opting for a vegan or even just a vegetarian diet, getting the right nutrient balance...

This Spring, Barack and Michelle Obama have begun work planting the first White House vegetable garden since the second world war...

According to latest research from Cardiff University, our taste memories stay with us and influence greatly the types of foods...

One of the most interesting aspects in the development of new technology is the way companies are trying to link...

The Primal Diet is one of the latest fad diets doing the rounds in Hollywood and has a knack of producing results...

The benefits of both black and green tea are numerous and to add another to the mounting stack, it has been found that green tea...

An ''anti-crisis'' diet has been introduced by one of Russia's principal doctors to calm the nerves of Russians who don't...

We previously reported on nanotechnology which is set to revolutionise the food we eat, by hiding fats, making healthy things taste better...

You might think that a vegetarian who eats meat might be confused, or cheating, but since the early 1990's an official term...

A reported 2.5 million people in Europe suffer from peanut allergies, which can be deadly once anaphylaxis...

For all the bad press that eggs have been given in the past few years, due to fears over mounting cholesterol levels...

A study from the Unites States recently found that women taking a multivitamin may just be throwing their money away, especially...

Unhealthy eating habits among children is the result of spending hours in front of the television, warn scientists in a study...

In a survey carried out by the UK's Trading Standards authority and the consumer lobbyist group Consensus Action on Salt...

This week, a study by Newcastle University in the UK reported that although many are attempting to lead healthier lifestyles, the magazines...

What's the new cure-all wonderdrug of the 21^st Century? Well, it's not a drug. The so-called ''sunshine vitamin'', vitamin D...

Adults in their twenties are constantly on the go and according to a recent study conducted by the University of Minnesota, they are less likely to eat a balanced diet or have time to devote to eating during the day...

This holiday season, the British Medical Journal saw fit to blow apart a few myths surrounding our health, which provides surprising reading...

According to the powers that be at Coca-Cola, "Great Taste Has Its Benefits." Lucky for us, we can now swig back Diet Coke with a clear conscience that we'll be getting some good vits as well as a caffeine fix, thanks to Coca-Cola's latest drink, Diet Coke Plus...

Scientists in Denmark have found that dark chocolate, as well as supposedly being heart-healthy, can also fill you up for longer, according to a study published this week...

Soon we will be able to buy the world's healthiest wine, according to its inventor, Australian doctor Philip Norrie. Norrie has discovered a way of augmenting the antioxidant power of the humble grape...

Your Christmas tipple – provided it is wine – may be the key to boosting your omega-3 fatty acid count. This European study examined the dietary habits of participants in three areas...

According to a survey conducted in November by the British Heart Foundation, the majority of young people in the UK are unaware of the risks associated with eating too much junk food...

Calcium supplementation has long been recommended to women who are at greater risk of developing osteoporosis and brittle bone disease than men. Now, a recent study conducted by the University of Auckland in New Zealand suggests that..

Supplements are currently in question over their effectiveness and their ability to prevent disease and boost vitality, however new research provides proof that supplementing vitamins into the diet can be beneficial for your health..

Diet books are famous for giving miracle qualities to certain foods, including the Cabbage Soup Diet, the Grapefruit diet and many other fad diets. This time, the Japanese have come up with the Morning Banana Diet..

For all those women who dread the coming nine months of pregnancy without even an occasional glass of wine to help them through, there may be some light relief! Researchers have found that light drinking, in the form of one to two..

As the winter draws near, many of us reach for the safety of our vitamin collection to ward off colds and flu, but research has found that supplements are actually less effective than taking other preventative measures..

Just as we thought we had enough supplements to last a lifetime, along comes advice claiming that another one is essential to our health and the prevention of disease. This time it's the turn of vitamin B12, which scientists are claiming plays a major role in the prevention of diseases that affect the older generation, such as Alzheimer's disease, dementia, frailty, depression and osteoporosis. B12 also protects the nervous..

Staving off hunger pangs is a tricky business and one that dieters often find the most traumatising parts of a strict diet, but now there may be a perfect formula for warding off hunger. Researchers at the University of California have found that..

Many people understand the health risks of being overweight or obese as these conditions have been linked to cardiovascular disease, stroke and a host of other illnesses. However, it might be said that less attention is paid to the fact that being underweight is actually more dangerous than..

According to recent research, one of the most important factors in a child's educational development is what they eat up until the age of three. A study conducted by the Institute of Education at London University and the University of Bristol found that if children were fed a diet of junk food when they were three..

There are often success stories that come out of the woodwork to help publicise new diets, but one story regarding the Zone Diet masterminded by Dr Barry Sears is truly inspirational.

Zone Diet moderate amounts
The Diet itself is described more as a "way of life" rather than a fad diet and its core principle is that the body needs to calm hormonal imbalance by eating moderate amounts of all foods, in order to sustain weight..

It has been found by a group of scientists in Brazil that the amount of calories we take in before bed can affect the number of times we awake in the night. The findings include late-night snacking and it is advised that fewer calories before bed can help with sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is characterised by heavy..

If the only drinks to cause aggressive behaviour were alcoholic ones, then the issue of containing the aggression may be easier. However, research in the United States suggests that energy drinks should be red-flagged as possible aggressants, causing consumers to experience abnormal heart..

Taking a multivitamin daily is often encouraged as a good way to replace the vitamins and minerals that we lose out on in our hectic lives. Now it has been found that vitamins are able to do more than just support our immune..

Today, westerners are so aware of the damage caused by high cholesterol levels. We know that we should lower our cholesterol levels for better heart health by eating less red meat, losing weight, giving up smoking and the rest. However, there is actually "good" cholesterol called high-density lipoprotein (HDL), the levels of which we should actively increase for a healthy heart. Fancy that!

Scrub those arteries
The cholesterol that's marked as "bad" is low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and is what sticks to the walls of our arteries, constricting blood flow and resulting in high blood pressure and even more seriously, heart failure. HDL is said to clean the arteries of LDL, pushing it towards the liver to be processed rather than leaving it to gather. To this end, doctors believe that the an HDL level of..

Tea has been around for centuries and is the second most-consumed beverage in the world, after water, with literally thousands of varieties in existance. Nowadays we seem to be finding more reasons to drink tea every day, whether it be black, white, green, herbal, Chinese or any other type. The anti-oxidising and cleansing abilities of the tea leaf make for a healthy choice, so say the scientists, but what else is tea good for?
 
Here are 10 facts that you might not have previously known about tea.

1. The origins of tea:
Legend has it that tea originated well over 5000 years ago in ancient China. The innovative and science-curious emporer Shen Nung insisted that for hygeine purposes, all water in the palace must be boiled. When he was out visiting his kingdom one day, him and his men stopped to boil water to drink and it was said that..

When we think of getting older, one fear that perhaps comes to mind is that we don't want to end up frail with less muscle mass to hold us up. For sure, becoming prone to falling and accidents doesn't sound like a fun future. New research conducted in Boston, United States, suggests that intake of potassium by way of fruit and vegetables can help those aged 65 and over retain their muscle mass.

Three years of Nutrition research
Bess Dawson-Hughes from the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Ageing at Tufts University studied the effects of plant-derived potassium on the muscle mass of nearly 400 elderly volunteers. Throughout a three year of the study, Dawson-Hughes collected..

Hot cocoa is usually associated with warm nights by the fire or as a aprés-ski drink to warm your shivery hands. But now cocoa has been found to be significantly beneficial for those prone to cardiovascular disease – diabetics in particular. People with type-1 or type-2 diabetes are at high-risk of suffering from heart disease and stroke due to the fact that their blood vessels are more constricted. This makes it harder to pump blood around the body, and those with diabetes often have poor circulation.

Flavanols for cardiovascular health
Professor Malte Kelm from the University Hospital in Aachen, Germany recently researched the link between high flavanol intake (in cocoa) and improved cardiovascular health among a group of diabetic people. Flavanols ar a powerful antioxidant that can be found in cocoa, chocolate, red wine, tea and..

Diabetes apparently accounts for 6% of all deaths worldwide, which is a large and growing figure for something that we have effectively created for ourselves. Type-2 diabetes which is also known as adult-onset diabetes, is primarily caused by poor lifestyle habits such as a high fat and sugar diet and a lack of exercise.

Healthy diet, a life saver
Now research has found that improvements in diet and exercise can help cut your risk of adult-onset diabetes, but only when followed over a period of many years.

Researchers in China studied 577 adults who were at high risk of contracting diabetes. Throughout a period of 20 years, the participants were either put on a..

Following up on our previous posts on research into the effects of E-numbers on children, this week there has been progress towards an additive-free future for soft-drinks giant Coca-Cola.

The US company which rakes in $14bn per annum apparently removed the additive sodium benzoate (E211) from its Diet Coke range in January of this year and consumers can be assured that stocks available after August will contain no trace of the preservative.

Benzoate causing DNA damage
In addition to the results from Southampton University's study into the effects of six artificial additives, further damning evidence was published back in 1999 by Professor Peter Piper from Sheffield University, which has only just been brought..

For a while now, the buzz around salt and its detrimental effects on our health have been well documented and now new research has found that a reduction in dietary salt can have an immediate impact on high blood pressure levels, or hypertension.

Why reduce salt ?
Dr Javad Kojuri and Dr Rahim Rahimi from the Shiraz University in Iran studied the effects of salt intake on 60 individuals with a degree of hypertension: the group consisted of both males and females with an average age of 49. The researchers tested the participants' blood pressure and the levels of sodium in their urine before and after putting them on a "no added salt" diet for 6 weeks.

After the 6 weeks, all participants had reduced..

When someone finds out they're in need of hospital care, some of us will shrivel in fear from the horror stories we hear regarding others contracting deadly viruses while in the hospital. One particular "superbug" that scares is MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), which is a bacterial infection that is resistant to antibiotics and is very difficult to treat in humans.

A stand against the MRSA virus
Thankfully, a wonder-drug in the form of naturally occuring manuka honey, thought to be one of the world's "superfoods" may help ward off the dangers of MRSA and other infections commonly contracted in hospital environments, such as E-coli, gastritis and ulcers.

Manuka honey is native to New Zealand and is sourced from the..

Considering how many excellent reasons there are to become vegetarian, it's quite astounding how many of us still include meat as part of our everyday diet, and how up-and-coming economies are adopting the Western taste for meat.

World Vegetarian Week has just finished (19th-26th May), so what better time to reflect on the health and environmental benefits of becoming a vegetarian.

At the end of April, PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) published its Top 10 Reasons Not to Eat Meat. As well as their claim that each vegetarian save on average 95 animals per year from being killed, they outline key benefits regarding meat's effect on our health and the environment.

Thinner, healthier and more at peace..