- 2022 will see a plethora of nutrition studies coming out, with some surprising discoveries.
- Insider picked seven of the year’s most interesting discoveries.
- Butter may not be as unhealthy as we thought, and a study found red wine drinkers had less fat.
Scientists will publish countless diet and nutrition studies in 2022, revealing a surprising relationship between what we eat and drink and our health.
Butter may not be as unhealthy as we thought, red wine drinkers have less stomach fat than alcohol drinkers, and there are even more reasons to eat bread.
Here are 7 things I learned about diet and health in 2022.
1. A wide range of protein intake may reduce the risk of high blood pressure
Eating more protein-rich foods such as beans, seafood, whole grains and lean meats may help lower the risk of high blood pressure, according to a study published in March in the journal Hypertension. .
Gabby Landsverk of Insider reported that researchers compared diet and blood pressure in 12,117 Chinese adults at a median follow-up of six years.
Those who consumed four or more protein sources were 66% less likely to have high blood pressure than those who consumed only one or two.
2. Butter and full-fat dairy may be healthier than previously thought
Foods like butter have long been considered unhealthy because of their high saturated fat content, which is linked to heart health problems, but a study published in Scientific Reports in August found that It has been suggested that certain types of saturated fat may improve health.
A study by public health researcher and veterinary epidemiologist Stephanie Ben-Watson found that moderate intake of a saturated fat called C15:0, found in butter and full-fat dairy products, actually reduced disease risk. , health and well-being may be improved.
Years of research on naval dolphins have found similarities between the risks of age-related diseases in animals and humans, leading to the discovery of C15:0, Landsverk reported.
3. The fiber in whole grain bread may be better than fruits and vegetables in reducing heart disease risk
Fiber is an important part of a balanced diet and is found in a wide variety of foods.
But a March study suggests that fiber in whole grains may be better for your heart than fruits and vegetables.
A study of 4,125 adults, presented at JAMA Network Open in March, found that sources of fiber such as dark bread, bran, and cereals (such as oats) may help reduce inflammation and the risk of heart disease. .
4. A Mediterranean-style diet may reduce the risk of pre-eclampsia during pregnancy, especially for blacks
Pre-eclampsia is a serious pregnancy complication with long-term effects on heart health, characterized by severe high blood pressure and organ damage.
However, according to a study published in April in the journal of the American Heart Association, a Mediterranean-style diet may reduce risk, especially in black people.
The Mediterranean diet prioritizes fresh fruits, vegetables, olive oil, grains, fish, nuts and beans.
5. Eating two servings of fish a week increases skin cancer risk
Fish have long been known to have many health benefits, including lowering cholesterol and balancing blood sugar levels, but a study published in June in Cancer Causes and Control found that A link was also found between eating twice a week and an increased risk of skin cancer.
As Landsverk reported, fish such as tuna may contain toxic mercury, arsenic, and other chemicals linked to cancer.
However, it may still be part of a healthy diet and further research is needed.
6. People who drink red wine have less stomach fat than people who drink alcohol or beer
Red wine drinkers have less stomach fat than beer, white wine or liquor drinkers, suggests a study published in February in the journal Obesity Science and Practice.
Researchers found that red wine drinkers had less visceral fat. Visceral fat envelops the abdominal organs and is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome.
But the health risks from drinking alcohol still outweigh the potential benefits, registered dietitian Rhiannon Lambert told Insider.
7. Vegetarian women are more likely to have hip fractures than meat-eating women
Vegetarian women are more likely than meat eaters to suffer hip fractures as they age, according to a study published in BMC Medicine in August.
Researchers examined data collected over 22 years from more than 26,000 women between the ages of 35 and 69 and found that vegetarians were more likely to have hip fractures than regular meat eaters. found to be a factor of one higher.
Possible reasons include such women, on average, having low BMI or being undernourished, researchers said.
