Consuming Pecans as a Snack Improves Lipids/Lipoproteins and Diet Quality Compared to Usual Diet in Adults at Increased Risk for Cardiometabolic Diseases: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Background: The vascular and cardiometabolic effects of pecans are relatively under-studied. Objectives: The aim was to examine how substitution of usual snack foods with 57 g/day of pecans affects vascular health, risk factors for cardiometabolic diseases and diet quality, compared to continuing usual intake in individuals at risk for cardiometabolic diseases. Methods: A 12-week single-blinded, […]
Planetary Health Diet Index and risk of total and cause-specific mortality in three prospective cohorts
Background: In 2019, the EAT-Lancet Commission proposed a healthy dietary pattern that, along with reductions in food waste and improved agricultural practices, could feed the increasing global population sustainably. We developed a Planetary Health Diet Index (PHDI) to quantify adherence to the EAT-Lancet reference diet. Objectives: We aimed to assess associations between PHDI and total […]
Effect of Peanut Paste-based Ready-to-use School Meals With and Without Milk on Fluid Cognition in Northern Ghana: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Background: Few studies have investigated the role of school feeding in low- and middle-income countries as a means of improving childhood cognition. Peanut/milk ready-to-use food (PM-RUF) or cowpea offers an affordable, scalable option that might improve cognition. Objectives: To determine whether micronutrient-fortified PM-RUF or peanut/cowpea ready-to-use food (PC-RUF) would improve fluid cognition as assessed by […]
Comparing the effects of consuming almonds or biscuits on body weight in habitual snackers: A one-year randomized controlled trial
Purpose: Almonds are nutrient-rich, providing a healthier alternative to many snack foods. Studies report health benefits with regular almond consumption without adverse weight gain. However, most interventions have been relatively short or have included additional dietary advice. Taking a pragmatic approach, we compared consumption of almonds versus biscuits on body weight and other health outcomes […]
Sustainable food systems and nutrition in the 21st century: a report from the 22nd annual Harvard Nutrition Obesity Symposium
Food systems are at the center of a brewing storm consisting of a rapidly changing climate, rising hunger and malnutrition, and significant social inequities. At the same time, there are vast opportunities to ensure that food systems produce healthy and safe food in equitable ways that promote environmental sustainability, especially if the world can come […]
The effect of a high-polyphenol Mediterranean diet (GREEN-MED) combined with physical activity on age-related brain atrophy: the DIRECT PLUS randomized controlled trial.
Background: The effect of diet on age-related brain atrophy is largely unproven. Objective: To explore the effect of a Mediterranean diet higher in polyphenols and lower in red/processed meat (Green-MED diet) on age-related brain atrophy. Methods: This 18-month clinical trial longitudinally measured brain structure volumes by magnetic-resonance-imaging using hippocampal-occupancy (HOC) and lateral-ventricle-volume (LVV) expansion scores as neurodegeneration markers. […]