Health

URBANA, Ill. – Experiences of racial discrimination are a common source of stress for African Americans, and research shows discrimination can have a damaging impact on the physical and emotional health of African American individuals.  

URBANA, Ill. — At least 90% of head and neck cancer patients develop symptoms that affect their ability or desire to eat, because of either the tumor itself or the surgery or radiation used to treat it. These problems, called nutrition impact symptoms, have wide-ranging negative effects on patients’ physical and mental health and quality of life.

URBANA, Ill. – When coffee beans are processed and roasted the husk and silverskin of the bean are removed and unused, and often are left behind in fields by coffee producers.

Food science and human nutrition researchers at the University of Illinois are interested in the potential of inflammation-fighting compounds found in the silverskin and husk of coffee beans, not only for their benefits in alleviating chronic disease, but also in adding value to would-be “waste” products from the coffee processing industry.

URBANA, Ill. – Food insecurity is linked to higher disease rates but not much is known about the reasons for this. A new study of more than 10,000 Canadian households shows that this connection may be at least partially attributed to lack of access to prescription medication. 

Opioid-based therapies can be used to treat chronic pain that affects 30% to 40% of the population in the U.S. and Europe. These therapies aim at balancing pain management without causing an addiction risk.

URBANA, Ill. – Food insecurity is emerging as a serious health care issue in the United States. One in eight Americans is food insecure, which may lead to a range of serious health conditions. A new study looks at the relation between food insecurity and health care expenditures across the country. 

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Scientists may have discovered more reasons to love chocolate. A new study by researchers at the University of Illinois suggests that three of the phenolic compounds in cocoa bean shells have powerful effects on the fat and immune cells in mice, potentially reversing the chronic inflammation and insulin resistance associated with obesity. Read more.

URBANA, Ill. — For some athletes, intense workouts can send them running to the bathroom rather than the finish line – if they’re able to exercise at all, that is. A recent study by researchers at the University of Illinois suggests that many of these athletes may have undiagnosed irritable bowel syndrome. Read more.

URBANA, Ill. – Interest in nutrition and diet choices that could prevent the development of cancer is not new. With recent diet trends, the question of carbohydrate nutrition and cancer risk has been of special interest.

While there is evidence of nutrition’s role in decreasing risk of developing certain kinds of cancers, research in the area of what cancer patients should eat in the period after diagnosis to improve their prognosis is limited, especially in regards to carbohydrate nutrition.