Fitness & Nutrition

Food writer Mark Bittman speaking at TED.

How Has the American Diet Changed Over Time?

3:45pm November 17, 2016

by NPR/TED Staff

Food writer Mark Bittman says long before Pop Tarts, Americans ate simple food that was grown closer to home. He says we need to get back to that time by eating locally, seasonally, and sustainably.

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Yes, getting exercise and eating right can significantly cut your risk of developing heart disease, a study finds, even if you inherited genes that predispose you to the illness.

DNA Is Not Destiny When It Comes To Heart Risk

4:01pm November 13, 2016

by Richard Harris

People with unlucky genes but good health habits were half as likely to develop heart disease as those who had an unhealthful lifestyle and genes that increased their heart risk, a study found.

Peanuts and straight peanut butter are a choking hazard for infants, doctors say, but a bit of watered-down puree of peanut butter, starting at around 6-months-old, can help prevent peanut allergies.

Hey, Baby, Meet Peanuts: How And When To Safely Introduce The Food

4:37pm November 11, 2016

by Patti Neighmond

Giving infants peanut puree as one of their first solid foods can help prevent peanut allergies, research has shown. To do that safely, start early — and only after checking with your doctor.

Bottles of Fanta are displayed in a food truck's cooler in San Francisco, Calif. The city is one of three in California, and four in the U.S., that passed taxes on sodas and other sugary drinks in Tuesday's election.

Souring On Sweet? Voters In 4 Cities Pass Soda Tax Measures

7:04pm November 09, 2016

by Allison Aubrey

Three cities in California, as well as Boulder, Colo., adopted taxes on sugary drinks, a move aimed at combating obesity.

Athletes have been using high-intensity interval training for decades, and it's now being adopted by more casual exercisers.

Is High-Intensity Interval Training The Fast Track To Health?

2:29pm November 08, 2016

by Katherine Hobson

Interval training is a hot thing. Alternating bouts of relatively intense exercise with recovery can provide some benefits of longer workouts in less time. But you still have to put in the work.

Millions of people use Wikipedia for medical advice, but what they find there isn't always accurate.

Should I Trust Wikipedia With My Health?

11:16am November 08, 2016

Some doctors lambaste Wikipedia for errors in its medical pages. But there are many physicians, science teachers and researchers working overtime to make the crowdsourced health content better.

Ever wonder how many different dyes are used to color Skittles?

Science
Arts

Still Have Leftover Halloween Candy? Use It For Science!

7:00am November 08, 2016

No need to risk sugar shock, folks. We've got a whole bunch of experiments you can do with leftover candy that are possibly more fun than eating it.

Two people at a food pantry in Portland, Maine, choose items from a display of produce. Several food banks around the country have been trying something new to get people to choose healthier foods. And it's working.

Health & Safety

Food Pantries Try Nutritional Nudging To Encourage Good Food Choices

6:50pm November 07, 2016

by Courtney Collins

Simply shuffling the shelves may be a powerful way to help those living in poverty choose healthier options, a nationwide study of food banks suggests.

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People at the Oceti Sakowin Camp enjoy a meal inside a tent that serves as a dining hall. Oceti Sakowin is the largest of several camps housing demonstrators against the Dakota Access Pipeline.

A Navajo Chef Gives A Glimpse Inside The Makeshift Kitchens At Standing Rock

8:32am November 05, 2016

by Maria Godoy

Protesters in the months-long standoff at the Indian reservation live in camps with makeshift kitchens. Chef Brian Yazzie was just there, feeding activists in a way that honors indigenous traditions.

One factor in children's summer weight gain may be the prevalence of screens, which can steal time from outdoor fun.

Children Gain Weight Faster Over Summer Break Than In School

2:44pm November 02, 2016

by Katherine Hobson

Many anti-obesity programs focus on children's diet and behavior during the school year. This study is the latest of many to find that they gain weight faster over summer vacation.