Unique Mexican black and pinto bean varieties are high in healthy compounds
URBANA, Ill. – Common beans are important food sources with high nutritional content. Bean seeds also contain phenolic compounds, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that promote health.
Study: How mother and infant sleep patterns interact during the first two years of life
URBANA, Ill. — New mothers can expect sleep deprivation in the first few years of baby’s life. But too little sleep can take a toll on the health of both mother and child.
Lean body mass, age linked with alcohol elimination rates in women
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The rate at which women eliminate alcohol from their bloodstream is largely predicted by their lean body mass, although age plays a role, too, scientists found in a new study. Women with obesity – and those who are older – clear alcohol from their systems 52% faster than women of healthy weights and those who are younger, the study found.
Lean body mass is defined in the study – published in the journal Alcohol Clinical and Experimental Research – as one’s total body weight minus fat.
Extension’s Abriendo Caminos program helps Hispanic families prevent childhood obesity
URBANA, Ill. — University of Illinois Extension, in collaboration with other institutions and partners, has published a research article on the benefits of Abriendo Caminos, a family-based intervention program that aims to reduce obesity among Hispanic children.
SARS-CoV-2 seasonal behavior traced back to genetics and global change
URBANA, Ill. — As the northern hemisphere heads into summer, we may be in for a COVID-19 reprieve.
How diet quality affects the gut microbiota to promote health
URBANA, Ill. – We know that eating a healthy diet affects body weight, cholesterol levels, and heart health. A new study from the University of Illinois focuses on another component: the role of diet in supporting a healthy gastrointestinal microbiota. The researchers conclude that following the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) promotes a gut microbiota composition that may support overall health.
Studies discuss how to get the benefits of fiber without side effects
URBANA, Ill. – Fiber-rich food is important for gastrointestinal health, but most Americans don’t get enough in their typical diet. While fiber supplements can help, they can also cause unpleasant side effects such as excessive bloating and gas.
Two new papers from the University of Illinois make it easier for food manufacturers to amplify fiber in foods and beverages for health benefit without digestive discomfort.
Healthy diet after head, neck cancer diagnosis may boost survival
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head or neck were 93% less likely to die of any cause during the first three years after diagnosis if they ate a healthy diet high in nutrients found to deter chronic disease, researchers found in a recent study.