The 5 dietary news you need to know

Everyday a new fad diet hits the media, a new fitness trend develops, or a new super food become the popular craze, but just how aware are you of the latest scientific finds when it comes to dietary health?

Believe it or not, there are some cool findings out there in regards to food and how it affects (or could affect!) the human body. To help bring you up-to-speed on these latest and greatest findings, Saludify has put together the top 5 most recent dietary headlines you may have missed.

SEE ALSO: Top diet trends for the new year

The top 5 dietary news topics

1. Tequila may one day help diabetics: According to research presented at the 247th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS), a sweetener created from the plant used to make tequila could lower blood glucose levels for individuals with type 2 diabetes. Agavins, a natural form of sugar found in the agave plant, are non-digestible and can act as a dietary fiber, so they would not raise blood glucose if they were used as a sweetener. What’s more, researchers indicate agavins help boost the levels of insulin made in addition to reducing glucose levels.
2. Protein later in life could be as bad as smoking: Research published in the journal Cell Metabolism suggests limiting both animal and plant protein later in life could add years to a person’s longevity. In the research, protein consumption in middle-aged individuals was linked to cancer, diabetes and death–at about the same rate as that of smoking. Ultimately, diets low in protein and high in carbohydrates were linked to the longest lifespans.


Plants grown in bright sunlight can be more nutritious. (Shutterstock)

3. Space vegetables may be healthier: Medical News Today reported that leafy vegetables grown during spaceflight appeared to be more nutritious after being exposed to the bright pulses of light while in orbit. The plants were particularly dense with a nutrient known as zeaxanthin, which is known to promote eye health. Zeaxanthin is created as a safety mechanism when a plant is exposed to too much light, but it also happens to be instrumental when it comes to visual health in humans.
4. Prepackaged foods could be killing you: While the toxins in plastic have been well known for their toxicity, research published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health found chemicals present in almost any form of packaging carry the potential to leak into foods. These substances are typically synthetic materials, like lining in cereal boxes or the seals on jars and cans.
5. Saturated fat might not affect heart health at all: Data published in the Annals of Internal Medicine challenges the common belief that saturated fat is a huge”no-no” when it comes to a healthy diet. According to the research, there was no supportive evidence found in more than 70 separate studies to support guidelines limiting saturated fat.

SEE ALSO: What are healthy fats and how much is too much

While these dietary news topics aren’t the only important scientific discoveries of late, they are an example of how nutrition awareness and discovery are advancing every day.