Behind the Headlines

Hungry shoppers may choose unhealthier foods

Tuesday May 7 2013

"Hungry shoppers 'buy more calories'," BBC News reports in a story based on a very small short-term and somewhat artificial study. The study examined the effects of people skipping meals due to everything from busy lifestyles to…

Does fish in Mediterranean diet combat memory loss?

Tuesday Apr 30 2013

The health benefits of a Mediterranean-style diet have hit the headlines, with The Daily Telegraph reporting we should, 'Eat oily fish to prevent memory loss,' while the Mail Online focuses on how oily fish can keep the memory 'sharp'...

Sugary soft drinks linked to raised risk of diabetes

Thursday Apr 25 2013

'One soft drink a day increases Type 2 diabetes risk by a fifth,' The Independent warns, reporting on a European study that has examined the relationship between type 2 diabetes and sugary drinks. The study…

Celebrity chefs can’t be blamed for obesity rates

Wednesday Apr 24 2013

"TV chefs 'adding to obesity crisis by encouraging us to eat fatty dishes'," reports the Metro, with similar stories blaming celebrity chefs for our bulging waistlines in much of the media…

Beetroot's effect on blood pressure is uncertain

Tuesday Apr 16 2013

"Beetroot 'can lower blood pressure'," BBC News confidently reports. But the truth about whether beetroot can really lower your blood pressure is a little more unclear than the headlines suggest. The news comes from…

Hard times in Cuba linked to better national health

Wednesday Apr 10 2013

"The Cuban diet – eat less, exercise more – and preventable deaths are halved," is the advice in The Independent. This is not a new Latin diet and dance fad, but news based on research into how Cuba’s rollercoaster economic history...

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Red meat chemical link to heart disease

Monday Apr 8 2013

'A nutrient abundant in red meat… could raise the risk of heart disease,' the Mail Online website warns. Researchers have found that the chemical L-carnitine, found in red meat, is broken down by bacteria into a waste product that damages blood vessels…

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Can potassium in bananas cut your stroke risk?

Friday Apr 5 2013

'More bananas and fewer crisps can help ward off strokes', the Daily Mail reports, saying that a study has found that people with high potassium intake have a 24% reduced risk of stroke...

Do organic labels make us think food is healthy?

Wednesday Apr 3 2013

'Putting an organic label on ordinary foods can trick shoppers into believing that they are healthier, taste better and have fewer calories', says the Daily Mail. This news was based on...

Does eating fish really extend your life?

Tuesday Apr 2 2013

"Eating fish in old age 'can extend life'," The Daily Telegraph proclaims, among several mainstream papers covering the story. But before you head out to buy some...