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Toddlers’ diets are high in ultra-processed foods, study shows

New research has revealed that UK toddlers get nearly half (47 per cent) of their calories from ultra-processed foods (UPFs).

This figure increases to 59 per cent by the age of seven, researchers from UCL have discovered.

The study, published in the European Journal of Nutrition, looked at data from 2,591 children born in the UK in 2007 and 2008 whose parents recorded what their children ate and drank over three days.

The most common UPFs consumed by the toddlers – who were 21 months when their parents recorded their diets – were flavoured yoghurts and wholegrain breakfast cereals, products typically seen as healthy. By the age of seven, the most common UPFs were sweet cereals, white bread and puddings.

The children were divided into five groups according to their UPF intake. The researchers found that toddlers in the lowest UPF group consumed 28 per cent of their calories from UPFs, while for toddlers in the highest of the five groups this was 69 per cent.

The toddlers who consumed the most UPFs were 9.4 times more likely to be in the highest UPF-consuming group at age seven compared to toddlers who consumed the lowest proportion of UPFs.

The researchers are calling for policies to redress the balance of children’s diets towards a lower proportion of UPFs. This includes restricting the promotion of unhealthy foods marketed towards children, adding warning labels to products (e.g. those that are high in sugar), and subsidising fresh and minimally processed food.

Exercise may reduce asthma risk in babies

Women who exercise at least three times a week during pregnancy can almost halve the risk of their child developing asthma, a new study has shown.

Researchers from the University of Eastern Finland analysed data from nearly 1,000 mothers and children as part of a study where they were followed from pregnancy until the child was seven years old.

Doctoral Researcher Emma-Reetta Musakka said: “Our findings strongly suggest that maternal exercise during pregnancy has an independent positive effect on the foetus and on the later health of the child. We don’t yet know why maternal exercise manifests as a reduced risk of asthma in the child, but one possibility is that it supports foetal lung maturation.”

Dr Pirkka Kirjavainen, the lead researcher of the study, added: “The findings are very promising in terms of asthma prevention. It is highly encouraging to see that by engaging in reasonable amounts of exercise, mothers can significantly influence not only their own health, but also the health of their child.” The findings were recently published in MED.

Time to tackle waste

Households across the UK are wasting over one billion items every year that could be recycled, according to new findings from WRAP. The organisation, which runs the Recycle Now campaign, revealed that millions of recyclable bottles, sprays and toilet roll tubes are facing incineration or landfill. The worst offenders include 845 million cleaning product bottles, 526 million aerosols, 7.4 million yoghurt pots, and 6 million aftershave and perfume bottles. TV Presenter and Invictus games athlete JJ Chalmers is the Recycle Week Ambassador. He said: “We can all play our part in tackling climate change. Recycling at home is a simple way to get involved and make a big difference. We need to move from a take-make-dispose model to a make, reuse, reuse, reuse approach.”

Fizzy drinks and coffee consumption linked to higher stroke risk

People who frequently drink fizzy drinks, fruit juice or coffee have an increased risk of stroke, a new study has found. The researchers, from the University of Galway and McMaster University in Canada, carried out two analyses of data from a large international study of the risk factors for stroke. The study, called INTERSTROKE, involved almost 27,000 people from 27 countries.

The researchers found that fizzy drinks, including both sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened, were linked with a 22 per cent increased chance of stroke, and the risk increased sharply with two or more of these drinks a day. Fruit juice drinks were linked with a 37 per cent increase in the chance of stroke due to bleeding (intracranial haemorrhage). With two of these drinks a day, the risk triples.

Drinking more than four cups of coffee a day increased the chance of stroke by 37 per cent, but was not associated with stroke risk for lower intakes. Drinking tea was linked with a reduced chance of stroke by 18 to 20 per cent.

Professor Martin O’Donnell from the University of Galway said: “A key goal of the INTERSTROKE study is to provide usable information on how to reduce one’s risk of stroke. While hypertension is the most important risk factor, our stroke risk can also be lowered through healthy lifestyle choices in diet and physical activity. The current study adds further information on what constitutes healthy choices on daily intake of beverages.” The findings were published in the Journal of Stroke and the International Journal of Stroke.

A healthy diet may prevent progression of low grade prostate cancer

A healthy diet may reduce the chances of low-risk prostate cancer progressing to a more aggressive state, a new study has found.

A research team from Johns Hopkins Medicine analysed data from 886 men with grade group 1 prostate cancer from 2005 to 2017. Based on their dietary patterns, a Healthy Eating Index (HEI) score was calculated for each patient ranging from 0 to 100. The researchers then assessed whether the men with a higher quality diet were less likely to experience grade reclassification of their cancer in the following years of the study.

Their findings showed that the men who scored more highly in the Healthy Eating Index had a reduced risk of their cancer progressing to a higher grade disease. Every increase of 12.5 points in the HEI score was associated with an approximate reduction of 15 per cent in reclassification to grade group 2 or greater, and a 30 per cent reduction in reclassification to grade group 3 or greater.

“Our findings-to-date should be helpful for the counselling of men who choose to pursue active surveillance and are motivated to modify their behaviours, including quality of diet,” says study co-senior author Christian Pavlovich, M.D., “However, to truly validate the association between higher quality diet and reduced risk of prostate cancer progression, future studies with more diverse populations are needed.”

Study warns that millions are deficient in key nutrients

A new study has revealed that millions of people in the UK are heading into winter with a significant deficiency in key nutrients that support immunity. The report, titled British Dietary Habits and Declining Nutrient Intakes, was generated by the Health and Food Supplements Information Service. It highlights widespread shortfalls in essential vitamins and minerals like vitamin D, iron, zinc and selenium. These nutrients are vital for fighting off common winter illnesses.

Dr Pamela Mason, a nutritionist and co-author of the study, warns that low intake of these nutrients can leave people vulnerable to infections. She advises that individuals supplement their diets with daily multivitamins and multiminerals, especially during winter. The study also found concerning gaps in folic acid intake among women, which can lead to risks in pregnancy.

Dr Gill Jenkins, another co-author of the study, notes that while people are aware of the importance of healthy eating, confusion over dietary guidelines persists. Nearly 80 per cent of those surveyed were unsure about what constitutes a balanced diet. Jenkins emphasised that many, especially children and young women, are not consuming enough nutrients to maintain optimal health. As winter approaches, the researchers recommend boosting nutrient intake through supplements to avoid deficiencies.

Heart study proves reassuring for regular exercisers

Researchers from the University of Leicester have been investigating the belief that too much exercise can be bad for the heart.

Professor Tom Yates from the research team said: “In this study we wanted to explore how the heart adapts to high levels of habitual physical activity in those who exercise recreationally, as much of the research in this area has been on the hearts of elite or professional athletes.”

The team analysed data from 5,977 women and 4,134 men from the UK Biobank. The participants’ levels of average daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, vigorous-intensity physical activity, and total physical activity were compared to measurements of the structure and function of their heart. Levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in this group were as high as 288 minutes per day for women and 240 minutes each day for men.

Co-investigator on the study, Gerry McCann, said: “We saw that in those people with the highest levels of regular physical activity, the heart’s pumping chambers were larger than those who were inactive. However, these adaptions remained within normal ranges. In addition, there was no evidence that the heart’s muscles thickened to unhealthy levels. Therefore, in this population, there was no evidence that high levels of recreational physical activity were associated with heart physiologies that mimic heart disease.”

Professor Yates concluded: “Those who enjoy high levels of recreational exercise should find these results reassuring.” The study was published in the European Heart Journal.

Cutting salt lowers blood pressure, study shows

Halving salt intake can significantly lower blood pressure in people who are already having treatment for hypertension (high blood pressure), new research has shown.

The findings were announced by Action on Salt, the expert research group based at Queen Mary University of London, and were published in the journal Hypertension.

The study, which reviewed and combined results from 35 clinical trials, provides strong evidence that salt reduction remains an effective strategy for managing blood pressure in those on treatment. The research demonstrates that for every 3 grams of salt reduction, there is an average decrease of approximately 3.5 mmHg in systolic blood pressure (the top number) and 2 mmHg in diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number). These findings are consistent with prior studies on individuals not taking blood pressure treatment, underscoring the universal benefit of salt reduction.

In simple terms, the research shows that when people cut back on salt in their diet, their blood pressure goes down. This means that reducing salt can help lower blood pressure, making it easier to manage and reduce the risk of heart problems.

Both Action on Salt and Blood Pressure UK, the UK’s leading blood pressure charity, are now advocating for stronger public health initiatives to lower salt consumption.

Younger generations are choosing organic

Younger generations are embracing organic living as a meaningful commitment to their health, their communities, and their happiness, new research has revealed.

Choosing sustainable products is not just seen as good for the planet; it’s also having a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of Gen Z and Millennials.

The research from Soil Association Certification reveals that nearly half of 25 to 34-year-olds (43 per cent) feel happier when buying organic as they are making a difference for the environment. And almost a quarter (22 per cent) of all Brits feel healthier and happier when they choose sustainable options.

The survey of over 2,000 UK adults found that younger generations, particularly those aged 18 to 34, are leading the charge in making planet-friendly purchase decisions. More than 20 per cent of 25 to 34-year-olds consider factors like sustainability, reduced packaging, and health benefits as essential, rather than optional extras or ‘nice-to-haves,’ compared to just 9 per cent of those aged 65 and older.