9 Tips to Survive the Summer BBQ

In the United States, the 4th of July holiday is all about family, friends, fireworks and food. Lot’s of food. Indeed, nothing says summer holidays like a good old-fashioned BBQ. Here are some tips for how to grill safely and eat healthy this summer.

Healthy grilling

USDA Replaces School Junk Food with “Smart Snacks”

Federal officials finalized new regulations on snacks sold in U.S. schools this week, requiring lower limits on the amount of fat, calories, sugar and salt [1]. The USDA’s “Smart Snacks in School” nutrition standards balances science-based nutrition guidelines with practical and flexible solutions to promote healthier eating during the school day.

School vending machines

Increased Red Meat Consumption Linked to Higher Diabetes Risk

According to a new long-term observational study from researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health and the National University of Singapore, increasing the number of servings of red meat over time increases the risk of getting type 2 diabetes, while cutting back reduces the danger. The study is published in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Red meat

Eating More Fiber May Lower Risk of Stroke

According to a new British study, eating more fiber-rich foods appears to lower stroke risk [1]. The research is published in the American Heart Association journal Stroke.

High-fiber foods

NIH Human Microbiome Project Defines Normal Bacterial Makeup of the Body

Microbes inhabit just about every part of the human body, living on the skin, in the gut, and up the nose. Sometimes they cause sickness, but most of the time, microorganisms live in harmony with their human hosts, providing vital functions essential for human survival. For the first time, a consortium of researchers organized by the National Institutes of Health has mapped the normal microbial makeup of healthy humans, producing numerous insights and even a few surprises.

Human microbiome