Health & Diet News, Features & Updates

January 26, 2026 — Even if you’re a seasoned food label reader, you’re probably making at least one of these mistakes.

January 9, 2026 — New Dietary Guidelines for Americans were released this week. A lot of the advice we’ve been hearing for years.

Learn about Embody, a new whole-person health, weight loss, and weight management resource launched by WebMD.

December 23, 2025 — The FDA has approved the oral pill form of Wegovy (semaglutide), to be used along with a low-calorie diet and increased physical activity, to help adults with obesity, or those who are overweight with weight-related medical conditions, lose weight and keep it off.

December 22, 2025 — You know you can't resist. But do you know why? Understanding the science behind your seasonal food cravings lets you enjoy without going overboard.

October 31, 2025 — High blood levels of lead can be harmful, and recent headlines suggest the heavy metal has gotten ingo our food supply. Knowledge is your best defense – here's what the science and the experts say.

September 17, 2025 — Researchers have identified five distinct patterns of overeating that can sabotage weight loss efforts, even among the most diligent dieters. Recognizing them may be key to maintaining a healthy weight.

July 16, 2025 — Protein does indeed help build and preserve muscle, but understanding what it really does in your body helps explain why so many people swear by it.

June 6, 2025 — Researchers found the artificial sweetener called neotame in popular e-cigarette brands. But what exactly is it – and why haven't you heard of it before?

June 3, 2025 — If one thing’s for sure, it’s that there’s always another coffee study, and we can’t help but click. But why are we so hooked, and is there any real consensus on whether coffee is good for us?

June 2, 2025 — Keto backers praise its health benefits, but keto diets go against decades of research linking high-fat intake to heart risks. With low-carb lifestyles booming, who’s right?

May 14, 2025 — Every time you visit the grocery store, your brain is absorbing countless food-packaging cues. Those cues influence your choices more than you think.

April 28, 2025 — A new global study suggests that a diet high in things like soda, packaged snacks, and frozen meals – products that have been highly processed and often contain additives – could shave years off your life.

April 28, 2025 — Artificial food dyes are in the government's crosshairs, with plans to ban all eight of them by the end of 2026. Here's what that means for you and your health.

March 25, 2025 — After recent scary headlines about the things we eat, ranging from Girl Scout Cookies and sugar-free slushies to protein powder and spices, we asked experts how worried you should be about reports of toxins lurking in your food.

February 10, 2025 — There’s new evidence that juice cleanses can have negative health consequences — particularly due to a lack of an important kind of fiber.

January 15, 2025 — A long controversial red food dye called FD&C Red No. 3 will finally be banned by the FDA.

January 14, 2025 — Packaged foods may soon be required to have disease-related nutritional information printed on the front.

January 10, 2025 — Over-the-counter protein powders have levels of lead and heavy metals like cadmium that exceed government food safety regulations, according to a report issued by the Clean Label Project, a consumer safety nonprofit.

January 8, 2025 — A morning cup of joe appears to be good for the heart, but it might be time to reconsider the afternoon coffee run.

January 6, 2025 — The Mediterranean diet has once again claimed the top spot in the annual Best Diets rankings from U.S. News & World Report, excelling in 12 of 21 categories.

December 10, 2024 — A new study review says increasing water intake could aid weight loss, help prevent kidney stones, and more. Here’s what to know.

November 25, 2024 — As the H5N1 virus infects more people nationwide, here’s what you need to know.

November 13, 2024 — People whose choice of alcoholic beverage is exclusively beer tend to have particularly poor diets. They also are more likely to be less physically active, smoke cigarettes, and have low incomes, according to a new study.

Learn about BMI, waist circumference, and other measurements to check on body composition.

October 3, 2024 — One in eight dieting Americans use intermittent fasting – but much of the supporting research has been in mice, and recent reports link fasting to health risks. So is it good, bad, or something in between?

September 19, 2024 — The benefits were especially pronounced in women and in Black people, according to results of a new study.

September 17, 2024 — People ingest tiny, chemical-containing bits of things that touch the food and drink we consume every day. There are a vast number of sources of these chemicals, ranging from plastic bags and bottles, to take-out containers and shrink wrap, to manufacturing and cooking equipment.

September 11, 2024 — You may have been warned that ultra-processed foods can wreak havoc on your health. But not all ultra-processed foods are created equal. Here's what to know.

September 3, 2024 — A new study reveals that while plant-based fats found in grains, oils, fruits, and veggies decrease the risk of death, animal-based fats in meat, dairy, and eggs increase them.

August 21, 2024 — Eating a hamburger or a few pieces of bacon daily may increase the risk of developing diabetes by up to 15%. The type of meat consumed, and whether it is processed, can significantly impact the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes over approximately 10 years, according to a new study.

August 14, 2024 — People over age 60 who drink regularly are at an increased risk of early death, particularly from cancer or issues related to the heart and blood vessels, new research suggests.

August 8, 2024 — Many patients are not getting the nutritional counseling after a heart attack that could saves their lives.

August 8, 2024 — There’s more evidence that the artificial sweetener erythritol is linked to a higher risk of blood clots, which can lead to problems with your heart and blood vessels, like heart attacks or strokes.

August 2, 2024 — When it comes to diet and nutrition plans, you’ve probably heard it all before: the keto diet, Atkins, paleo, the Mediterranean diet, intermittent fasting. Around every corner, there seems to be a different solution for your wellness woes. But following a vegan (or plant-based) diet could be the key to slowing your body’s aging process on a molecular level.

July 25, 2024 — As nutrition researchers publish more studies about processed food and health issues, the takeaway seems clear: Processed food isn’t great for you, and the more processed it is, the worse it seems to be for you. At the same time, not all processed food is harmful, and scientists are still trying to understand the specific aspects to avoid.

July 25, 2024 — Do people who drink alcohol in moderation have a greater risk of early death than people who abstain? For years, a drink or two a day appeared to be linked to health benefits. But recently, scientists pointed out flaws in some of the studies that led to those conclusions, and public health warnings have escalated recently that there may be no safe level of alcohol consumption.

July 24, 2024 — The eating habits you embrace in your 40s can significantly influence how you feel in your 70s and beyond – both physically and mentally.

June 28, 2024 — Steak and eggs in the morning, salmon at noon, and turkey burgers in the evening might sound like a typical menu for a fitness enthusiast. But for a growing group of women embracing the carnivore diet, these meals are part of a strategic approach to building lean muscle through targeted nutrition and rigorous training.

June 10, 2024 — People who most closely followed the diet had a 25% reduced risk of early death, and were less likely to die of heart problems, cancer, respiratory diseases, or neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s.

June 7, 2024 — Xylitol is naturally found in small amounts in fruit and vegetables, and it’s been used more as a sugar substitute over the past decade in processed foods, toothpaste, chewing gum, and other products.

June 5, 2024 — The distinct ways sugar-sweetened beverages affect your body may explain their strong association with weight gain, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

June 3, 2024 — When researchers sought to understand how the diet may have affected women’s bodies to prolong their lives, they found fewer signs of problems in the women’s blood and other body fluids that are hallmarks of diabetes and heart problems.

Tired of struggling with belly fat? Know the science of losing belly fat with actionable steps.

May 28, 2024 — Ultra-processed foods are associated with higher risk of early death, especially ready-to-eat meat and seafood.

May 9, 2024 — Federal regulators recently put more limits on worker exposures to a chemical called methylene chloride, and there are calls for more actions that would regulate coffee products that are decaffeinated using the chemical.

April 16, 2024 — Almost everyone who's watching their calories knows to bypass those family-size bags of snacks, with experts long warning us we’re likely to eat more than we planned. Now, new research suggests that the size of a snack matters. Bottom line: To eat less, pick the smallest-size snacks.

April 12, 2024 — Emulsifiers don’t necessarily equal junk food. Such substances can be found in many foods that are often considered healthy, such as some low-fat Greek yogurts, trail mix bars, or oat milk.

April 11, 2024 — Consumer Reports is calling on the U.S. government to remove Lunchables meal kits from school cafeterias that are subsidized by federal funds after testing by the advocacy group found concerning levels of sodium and heavy metals like lead.