Social influence can prompt healthier eating choices

Researchers have found that exposure to social-based messages promoting healthy eating can increase consumption of fruit and vegetables and reduce consumption of high-calorie snacks. It has been known for some time that people adapt their behavior to what they think is socially expected for that situation and food choices are no exception. If we are told that other people in our social group eat lots of fruit and vegetables then we may try to do the same.

Study finds guidance improves food safety practices at school, community gardens

School and community gardens have become increasingly popular in recent years, but the people managing and working in these gardens are often unfamiliar with food safety practices that reduce the…

Our food choices are influenced by social norms, study suggests

Social cues affect choices we make on a daily basis, from how we dress to what kind of car we drive. But now, research published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics suggests that what other people eat influences our own food choices.

Fish Consumption Linked To Lower Diabetes And Cardiovascular Risk

People who regularly eat fish as their primary source of animal protein have lower blood-glucose concentrations and a reduced risk of developing diabetes type 2 and cardiovascular disease, compared to other people, researchers from the University of Valencia reported in the journal Nutrición Hospitalaria…

Eating Disorders Often Reduce Lifespan

Individuals with an eating disorder, such as anorexia or bulimia have a significantly higher risk of dying prematurely, compared to other people, UK researchers reported in Archives of General Psychiatry. Somebody with anorexia has a 5.8-times greater risk of dying early, compared to healthy individuals with no eating disorders. Bulimia doubles the risk of premature death…

Omega 3 Rich Foods Protect Seniors From Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)

Seniors whose diets are rich in omega 3 fatty acids have a significantly lower risk of developing AMD (age-related macular degeneration) compared to other people of the same age, scientists revealed in the journal Ophthalmology. Good sources of Omega 3s are cold water oily fish, such as sardines, anchovies, mackerel, herring and salmon, as well as several types of shellfish. Sheila K…