Food & Nutrition

Advertising of tobacco products on TV and radio has been verboten since 1971 to reduce the appeal of such products — especially to kids. That, of course, was long before the age of the internet, and a new study finds that online tobacco marketing is linked to an increased risk that adolescents will start using these products.
Whether it involves closing your eyes, drinking a hot beverage by the mug or basking in the warmth of dry heat, these activities are among a handful of easy ways to improve your health in the coming year (as well as those to come). 
This isn't really about fat cats — the real ones or the rich ones. Rather, it's about the results of being overweight or obese. According to the CDC, there are 13 types of cancer linked to obesity. And as one might expect, as the prevalence of obesity increases so does the prevalence of these cancers.
For the general population and its $6-to-8 billion supplement habit, we're learning that Vitamin D and Calcium supplements do not prevent hip fractures.
Most dog owners know that chocolate is harmful to dogs. That said, a study shows Christmas is the most dangerous day of the year for them. And more bad news: dog treats may be making your little companion overweight.     
Wasting food, a precious resource, is bad. Does French regulation make for less waste? Or could there be an equally simple free-market solution?  
We cannot digest fiber, but some researchers believe fiber helps lower our blood pressure while maintaining cardiovascular health. It turns out that the fiber is being digested by the bacteria of our gut – and that process may play a role in controlling blood pressure.    
Jellyfish have a diverse range of eating interests and locations, much like us. They are also fearsome predators. Interesting, right? Here are a few things about them that you might not have known.      
Even though the service is free, a recent survey showed that 3 in 4 British citizens use the internet to self-diagnose and treat themselves, rather than schedule a doctors' visit using the UK's National Health Service. Imagine if more people used it.
It's an ongoing debate: Can breakfast help deter obesity? Some research has found no connection. But a recent study of Spanish adults suggests that breakfast-eaters have a lower risk of developing abdominal obesity, the most dangerous kind.  
It would almost be hilarious if it weren't so scary. The CDC warned of the possibility that raw milk from the Udder dairy might be contaminated with Brucella bacteria. These bugs can cause miscarriage in pregnant women and illness in everyone. And all this for the unproven and unlikely benefits of raw milk!
Researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health concluded that consumption of peanuts and tree nuts – especially walnuts – is associated with reduced risks of cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease. That conclusion isn't surprising since a number of the same authors reached it several years ago.