Is red wine good for your heart? Are ultraprocessed foods really that bad for you? We have answers to these questions and more.
If you’re looking to freshen up your food habits, summer is the season to do it. Farmers’ markets are overflowing. Backyard grills are firing. Picnic blankets are unfurling. And school pickups have slowed to a halt, giving us more time to cook and enjoy relaxed outdoor meals with friends.
Whatever your food goals, you’re bound to find at least a few morsels of wisdom in some of our favorite nutrition articles of 2024 — whether it’s learning to take the latest TikTok health hack with a grain of salt, or actually cutting back on salt.
Here are 10 important nutrition takeaways from the year, so far.
1. A Mediterranean eating pattern may be worth a try.
There’s a reason the Mediterranean diet is so beloved by nutrition experts: Decades of research have linked it to various health benefits, including reduced risks of cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, cognitive decline and certain types of cancer. And best of all, it’s not a “diet” in the colloquial sense: There’s no counting calories or cutting out foods.
If you’re interested in adopting this way of eating — which focuses on whole grains, fruits and vegetables, legumes, nuts and seeds, and healthy fats — check out the guide we created with our colleagues at NYT Cooking.
2. A glass of wine a day will not keep the doctor away.
A few decades ago, it was commonly understood that a daily glass or two of red wine was good for your heart. It was an appealing idea that was backed by research at the time. But the science has since changed, experts say, and the latest evidence suggests that the risks of drinking alcohol — including red wine — outweigh any potential benefits.