A recent study conducted by researchers at Hokkaido University and the University of Sydney has unveiled the health benefits of sorghum. “The team identified unique lipids that were known to have anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory properties” named fatty acid esters of hydroxy fatty acids (FAHFAs) and characterized the diverse lipid profiles among six sorghum cultivars. ThisContinue reading “Sorghum, a sustainable grain, may have anti-diabetes and anti-inflammatory properties: New research”
Category Archives: Consumer Behavior
Exploring consumers’ willingness to adopt climate-friendly diets: A collection of research studies
An informative editorial was published in the journal Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems on August 16, 2024. The editorial, written by Isabel Simoes Miguel, from Portugal, summarizes a collection of studies published as part of the research topic, “Exploring Consumers’ Willingness to Adopt Climate-Friendly Diets.” “The urgency to mitigate climate change has propelled dietary shiftsContinue reading “Exploring consumers’ willingness to adopt climate-friendly diets: A collection of research studies”
Per- And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS): What they are, where they are found, and how to limit exposure
Per – and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large group of synthetic chemicals characterized by a chain of carbon atoms bound to fluorine atoms through a process called fluorination.1 PFAS are a class of thousands of chemicals known or suspected to be endocrine-disrupting chemicals. According to the Endocrine Society and the International Pollutants Elimination NetworkContinue reading “Per- And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS): What they are, where they are found, and how to limit exposure”
EAT-Lancet Planetary Health Diet lowers risk of premature death and environmental impact: New research
Persons who “eat a healthy, sustainable diet may substantially lower their risk of premature death in addition to their environmental impact, according to a new study led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. It is the first large study to directly evaluate the impacts of adherence to recommendations in the landmark 2019 EAT-Lancet report.”Continue reading “EAT-Lancet Planetary Health Diet lowers risk of premature death and environmental impact: New research”
Edible insects can contribute to sustainable food systems and global food security
Given the numerous positive attributes of edible insects, including a low environmental footprint, high food conversion ratio, rapid growth and nutritional values, a new review published in the journal Scientific Reports (2024) argues that consuming edible insects can play a vital role in promoting a more sustainable food system. Omuse et al. 2024 compiled andContinue reading “Edible insects can contribute to sustainable food systems and global food security”
Global warming is coming for your shopping cart: New research
A team of economists dig into a relatively under-studied area: Climate inflation. Climate change is already increasing food prices and overall inflation, and these effects are likely to accelerate in the future, according to a new study published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment. “The findings add heft to a growing collection of researchContinue reading “Global warming is coming for your shopping cart: New research”
Ultra-processed foods linked to early death, obesity, diabetes, and mental disorders: Largest study to date finds
Eating ultra-processed foods raises the risk of developing or dying from dozens of adverse health conditions, according to a new “umbrella review” of 45 meta-analyses. The authors found consistent evidence linking higher intakes of ultra-processed foods with over 70% of the 45 different health outcomes assessed. The umbrella review, a high-level evidence summary, included 45 distinct pooledContinue reading “Ultra-processed foods linked to early death, obesity, diabetes, and mental disorders: Largest study to date finds”
World Obesity Atlas 2024: No area of the world is unaffected by the consequences of obesity
March 4, 2024 is World Obesity Day. This year’s Obesity Atlas, published by the World Obesity Federation, reveals that “No area of the world is unaffected by the consequences of Obesity,” and that: “Rising rates of obesity rates across the world reveal massive gaps in healthcare and nutrition, with poorest populations most adversely affected.” TheContinue reading “World Obesity Atlas 2024: No area of the world is unaffected by the consequences of obesity”
Towards a more holistic understanding of sustainable diets: An ecological public health approach
According to a recent scoping review titled, “Global dietary patterns are not sustainable” published in the journal Nutrition Reviews, a more holistic understanding of the concept ‘sustainable diets’ is needed. There is broad consensus that consumers must be encouraged to shift toward sustainable diets, defined by Burlingame and Dermini (2010) as: “diets with low environmentalContinue reading “Towards a more holistic understanding of sustainable diets: An ecological public health approach”
Foodwise: A kid’s guide on fighting food waste and saving the planet
“In a world faced with the imminent threat of climate change, two passionate women, Lucy Bell and Lucy Leonardi, have joined forces to do their bit to tackle the enormous challenge of food waste, which contributes to climate change in a big way.” “Their collaborative effort has resulted in the creation of a remarkable book,Continue reading “Foodwise: A kid’s guide on fighting food waste and saving the planet”