A large, prospective cohort study carried out in Japanese seniors has found that consumption of green tea is significantly associated with a lower risk of developing functional disability (problems with daily activities, such as bathing or dressing).

Green tea extract has been found to lead to improvements in blood pressure, blood sugar levels, cholesterol and markers of inflammation in obese people with high blood pressure.

Having a high diversity of bacterial species in the gut may protect babies against developing allergies, according to a comprehensive study of intestinal microflora in allergic and healthy infants, conducted in Sweden.

A large epidemiological study carried out in Japan has concluded that green tea consumption is associated with reduced mortality from all diseases.

New research conducted at Newcastle University suggests that regular consumption of green tea may protect the brain against developing Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia, as well as cancer.

Drinking several cups of tea daily can cut your risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) by more than a third, according to Dutch researchers.

A study of nearly 14,000 Japanese elders (65+) found that green tea consumption was associated with a reduced risk of functional disability over the three-year study period, even after adjustment for other possibly confounding lifestyle factors.

A 10-year study comparing organic tomatoes with conventionally grown ones suggests that they may be healthier, confirming pro-organic opinion. Levels of the antioxidant flavonoids quercetin and kaempferol, which have been linked to reduced rates of cardiovascular disease, cancer and dementia, increased significantly over time in samples from organic treatments, whereas they did not vary with conventional fertiliser treatments. The researchers explain the difference as being due to nitrogen availability. Flavonoids are produced by the plants as a defence against nutrient deficiency. Inorganic nitrogen in conventional fertiliser is easily available and the lower levels of flavonoids in conventionally managed plants are therefore probably due to overfertilisation. (Ten-year comparison of the influence of organic and conventional crop management practices on the content of flavonoids in tomatoes. J Agric Food Chem. 2007 Jul 25;55(15):6154-9).

A meta-analysis from Hong Kong has provided strong evidence that the fungus Yun Zhi (Coriolus versicolor) can increase survival rates in cancer patients, particularly those suffering from carcinoma of the breast, stomach and colon.

Fatty foods can make people less vulnerable to sadness, even if they are unaware of the fat content in the food they are eating.

A UK study has shown that vegetarians are a third less likely to suffer from diverticular disease than meat eaters.

An extreme eight-week diet can reverse type 2 diabetes in recently diagnosed patients, say British researchers.

The cooking method used to prepare broccoli can make a significant difference to its cancer-fighting abilities.

A British team has examined whether adhering to the Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI) can help reverse metabolic syndrome (a cluster of risk factors for heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes).

A study from Columbia has linked vitamin D deficiency with childhood obesity.

Daily consumption of dried apple has been shown to help weight loss and improve levels of cholesterol and inflammatory markers in post-menopausal women.

The antibacterial effects of honey have long been recognised in traditional medicine.

Drinking several cups of tea daily can cut your risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) by more than a third, according to Dutch researchers.

A systematic review by British authors has concluded that eating a diet rich in green leafy vegetables may lower the risk of developing type-2 diabetes.

Postmenopausal women who take fish oil supplements may reduce their breast cancer risk, suggests an American study.

A new systematic review refutes the association between dietary saturated fat intake and increased risk of developing coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, and cardiovascular disease (CVD).

A study from Sweden shows that butter leads to considerably less elevation of blood fats after a meal, compared with olive oil and canola-flaxseed oil.

Individuals at high risk of psychosis appear less likely to develop psychotic disorders following a 12-week course of fish oil capsules containing high amounts of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs).

Chinese nutritional theory has always held that beetroot has Blood-nourishing properties.

A US team has identified the molecular mechanism that enables cranberry juice to fight off urinary tract infections.

Drinking blueberry juice has a measurable effect on learning and world list recall in older adults.

Essential oils from six different herbs have been demonstrated to reduce the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2, the rate-limiting enzyme in prostaglandin biosynthesis), which plays a key role in inflammation.

Apple juice has a positive effect on the mood states of people who suffer from Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Bitter melon (Ku Gua, Momordica charantia), a vegetable commonly used in Chinese cooking and medicine, shows promise as an anti-breast cancer agent.

Irish scientists have discovered that curcumin, a component of turmeric which is a common curry ingredient, can kill oesophageal cancer cells in vitro.

By following a low-carbohydrate Mediterranean diet, newly diagnosed diabetics may be able to postpone their need for medication.

A diet rich in the phenolic components of virgin olive oil can suppress the expression of genes involved in inflammation, which may explain the reduced risk of cardiovascular disease seen in people who follow a Mediterranean diet.

Italian researchers have found that in men with type two diabetes, stricter adherence to a Mediterranean diet is associated with a lower prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED).

Spanish researchers have determined that a diet rich in polyphenols and polyunsaturated fatty acids (termed the LMN diet) stimulates neurogenesis – the production and differentiation of the brain’s stem cells into various types of new neurones.

The addition of flaxseed oil to the diet could reduce the risk of osteoporosis in post-menopausal and diabetic women.

UK researchers have discovered a link between processed foods and depression.

People who follow a Mediterranean diet (rich in monounsaturated fats, vegetables, fruits, nuts, whole grains and fish) have a reduced risk of developing depression, according to Spanish research.

A diet high in fat and sugar has a double-whammy effect on the waistline, because it switches on genes that cause fat to be stored, according to new research.

The Chinese belief that meal timing is important to health is being backed up by Western science.

A study comparing the bone health of vegan Buddhist nuns with non-vegetarian women has found that their bone density was identical.

A systematic review of the evidence for links between dietary factors and coronary heart disease shows that strong evidence supports the association of intake of vegetables and nuts and a Mediterranean diet as protective factors, while intake of trans-fatty acids and foods with high glycaemic index are identified as harmful factors.

A large Greek prospective cohort study (23,349 participants) has investigated the relative importance of the individual components of the Mediterranean diet.

An American research team has demonstrated that intellectual work leads to a substantial increase in calorie intake.

Older people who follow a Mediterranean diet are less likely to develop mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and less likely to progress from MCI to Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Over 40% of bowel and breast cancer cases in the UK would be prevented by healthy diet, physical activity and weight maintenance, according to a landmark report that sets out recommendations for policies to reduce the global number of cancer cases.

Very low-carbohydrate diets, consisting of foods with the lowest-possible glycemic index rating, lead to greater improvement in blood sugar control.

Danish scientists have shown that dark chocolate is far more filling than milk chocolate, lessening subsequent cravings for sweet, salty and fatty foods.

Daily consumption of fizzy diet drinks is associated with significantly greater risks for metabolic syndrome (MetSyn) and type-2 diabetes, according to an observational study carried out in the USA.

Adherence to a Mediterranean diet can provide protection against major chronic diseases including heart disease, cancer, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, according to a new systematic review and meta-analysis by Italian investigators.

A Swedish cohort study of 4921 infants has found that introducing fish into the children’s diet before nine months of age decreased their likelihood of developing eczema by 24%.

Dark chocolate contains high concentrations of flavonoids and may have anti-inflammatory properties.

A diet rich in antioxidant compounds from berries and grapes has been shown to reverse cognitive decline and improve memory in laboratory animals of advanced age.

Eating broccoli could reverse diabetes-induced damage to coronary blood vessels, according to a British research team.

A combination of eating until full and eating quickly may increase the risk for becoming overweight by three-fold.

Regular consumption of coffee (and possibly black tea) is associated with a lower risk for type 2 diabetes according to the results of a cohort study involving 36,908 Singaporean Chinese men and women.

Higher coffee consumption is associated with lower liver cancer risk.

Eating soya-based food may lower sperm count and play a role in male infertility, especially in obese men, according to Harvard researchers.

A large clinical study carried out in China, on patients who had suffered a heart attack, found that an extract of Chinese red yeast rice (hong qu mi) significantly reduced the rate of a second heart attack.

A cohort study from the UK has found that higher plasma vitamin C levels are associated with a decreased risk for type 2 diabetes.

Eating a gluten-free vegan diet could protect rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients against heart attacks and stroke.

Drinking large quantities of coffee or tea every day appears to protect male smokers against stroke.

A Mediterranean diet provides significant protection against type 2 diabetes.

Adherence to the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet is associated with a lower risk of coronary heart disease and stroke among middle-aged women.

Tests in a device that simulates the human digestive system have concluded that almonds can act as an effective prebiotic,

Modest wine consumption, defined as one glass a day, may decrease your chances of developing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

A case-control study of 558 lung cancer cases has found that lung cancer is inversely associated with the consumption of antioxidant plant flavonoids among tobacco smokers, but not among non-smokers.

Western diets rich in protein, cereal grains and other acid-producing foods lead to the development of metabolic acidosis with age, triggering muscle wastage.

A review of recent research strongly supports the link between eating oatmeal and lowering cholesterol levels.

Consumption of sugar sweetened soft drinks and fructose is strongly associated with an increased risk of gout in men.

Some cooking methods can preserve, and even boost, the nutrient content of vegetables.

Honey is more effective at soothing children’s night-time coughs than over-the-counter antitussive medication.

Data from a very large US health study are providing convincing information on the links between various diet and lifestyle factors and a variety of diseases.

Eating a Mediterranean diet reduces the risk of death from all causes, including cardiovascular disease and cancer. Researchers assessed conformity with the Mediterranean diet in 380,296 of the participants of the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study, with no history of chronic disease.

Vitamin D deficiency is already known to be associated with osteoporosis, now two new studies suggest that it may also be associated with heart disease and poorer prognosis for some cancers.

Eating regular meals is better for health than eating one large meal a day.

Being overweight increases the risk of developing many forms of cancer.

Intake of apples and fish by women during pregnancy may reduce the risk of their children developing atopic conditions, according to the results of a longitudinal cohort study of nearly 2000 Dutch children.

Another mother and child study, this time from the Spanish island of Menorca, supports a potential protective effect of ‘fruity’ vegetables and fish intake during childhood on wheeze and atopy respectively.

Too much caffeine during pregnancy may double the risk of miscarriage.

New research suggests that Mormons' habit of fasting for one day a month may benefit their hearts.

Following a ‘fertility diet’ may favourably influence fertility in otherwise healthy women.

A brain-imaging study of genetically obese rats has added to existing evidence that dopamine, the neurotransmitter associated with reward, pleasure, movement and motivation, plays a role in obesity.

Research into the impact of diet on diabetes is showing that a variety of nutritional interventions can help prevent or ameliorate both forms of the disease, confirming the theories of traditional Chinese medicine.

Caloric restriction has previously been shown to extend lifespan in animal models.

A recent article by Canadian authors highlights associations between dietary choices and risk of dementia.

People who eat more refined carbohydrates have a higher risk for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the retinal disease that is the leading cause of blindness.

Coffee drinking seems to increase the risk of requiring antihypertensive drug treatment.