In 2024, Belén Torres and a team from Spain reviewed six clinical trials from 2012–2022 involving overweight or obese adults. They studied how probiotics, like Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus strains, affect body weight, BMI, and fat mass without dieting, using data from PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane databases.

In 2024, Cheng Fang and a team from the University of Newcastle, Australia, studied micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) released from self-sealing Ziploc bags used for food storage. Using scanning electron microscopy and Raman imaging, they found that opening and closing bags creates friction, releasing thousands of MNPs per use, ranging from hundreds of nanometers to millimeters.

In 2021, Primally Pure compiled research on raw dairy’s benefits. Unlike conventional dairy, raw milk from grass-fed cows keeps natural enzymes, vitamins, and bacteria. It’s not pasteurized, so it retains 3x more omega-3s, 2-4x more CLA (anti-cancer fat), and higher vitamin A, D, and K levels, which support immunity and skin health.

In 2025, Carina Venter and a team from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus studied 84 healthy infants. They randomly gave one group freeze-dried blueberry powder from 5-6 months old, mixed into food, while the control group got no blueberries. They tracked allergies like eczema or food reactions, immune markers in blood, and gut bacteria via stool samples over 6 months.

In 2025, Huang-Pin Chen and a team from National Cheng Kung University reviewed studies on low-calorie sweeteners like aspartame, sucralose, and stevia. They examined how these affect metabolism, heart health, cancer risk, and gut bacteria, pulling data from human and animal studies on blood sugar, insulin, and microbiome changes.

In 2007, Begoña Cerdá and a team studied six volunteers whose fecal samples were incubated with ellagic acid, a soy polyphenol. They found gut bacteria turned it into urolithin, a compound tied to gut inflammation and potential cancer risk in animal studies, with 30-50% more urolithin production in some people, suggesting soy may harm gut health in certain individuals.

In 2025, researchers from the University of South Australia, including Hanbiao Chen and Rietie Venter, tested common painkillers like ibuprofen and acetaminophen with the antibiotic ciprofloxacin on E. coli bacteria, a common cause of gut and urinary infections. They exposed bacteria to the drugs alone and together, measuring mutations that lead to resistance.

In 2025, health experts from EatingWell reviewed studies on walking after eating. They looked at how even a short stroll, like 15-30 minutes, can help people with or without diabetes by preventing blood sugar spikes, easing digestion, and more. Research showed walking right after meals lowers glycemic response better than before, cutting blood sugar rises by 20-30% in some cases.

In 2025, Xiangyan Zhou and a team from Huazhong University of Science and Technology in China reviewed studies on how gut microbes affect depression. They explored the gut-brain axis, a two-way connection between your belly and brain, showing how gut bugs impact mood and mental health.

In 2023, Carly Fraser from Live Love Fruit reviewed Apeel Sciences' edible coatings, like Organipeel for organic produce. Apeel mimics fruit skins to reduce spoilage, using citric acid from black mold fermentation and mono/diglycerides from plant oils processed with solvents like heptane.

Two 2025 studies in Frontiers in Nutrition show that probiotics do much more than just aid digestion—they can improve mental clarity, reduce inflammation, and support healthy weight and immune function for nearly everyone.

A July 2025 study from researchers in Japan found that certain gut bacteria may block weight loss—even when you eat well. People who ate a healthy diet but failed to lose weight had higher levels of Collinsella, a microbe linked to obesity and fat storage.

A 2025 animal study in Frontiers in Nutrition by Wang et al. found that giving high-fat–fed rats betaine (1.5% in drinking water) for 8 weeks led to less body fat, improved blood lipids (lower triglycerides, higher HDL), and better glucose tolerance—all without cutting calories.

A 2025 double-blind, placebo-controlled trial by Lamichhane et al. in Nutrients found that elderly prediabetic adults taking 80 mg/day of curcumin for 12 weeks saw significant reductions in HbA1c, a key marker of long-term blood sugar control.

A 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis in Nutrients by Sultan et al. analyzed multiple studies on egg consumption and digestive outcomes. They found that eating eggs (up to one per day) can improve gut permeability, reduce inflammation, and may even help balance gut bacteria.

Research confirms many plant “anti-nutrients” bind minerals, block enzymes, and may harm vulnerable individuals. For example, phytates reduce iron, zinc, and calcium absorption. One Harvard study even found higher glucosinolate intake—found in broccoli and Brussels sprouts—was linked to a 19 % increase in type 2 diabetes risk.

A 2025 UCLA pilot study led by Sanjay Mohanty found that a single piece of chewing gum can release between 100 to over 600 microplastic particles per gram, which means a large stick may shed up to 3,000 fragments into your saliva during chewing.

A 2020 study in the British Journal of Nutrition found that drinking unpasteurised milk increases levels of Lactobacillus in the gut—beneficial bacteria that support digestion and immune health. Two studies in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (2011 & 2015) linked raw milk to a significantly reduced risk of asthma, allergies, and respiratory infections in children.

A 2025 study published in Frontiers in Nutrition found that adults who consumed more live dietary microbes—like those in fermented foods—had significantly fewer migraines. The gut-brain connection suggests these microbes reduce inflammation and improve nervous system balance.

A 2025 double-blind, placebo-controlled study by Laterza et al. in Nutrients found that taking a multistrain probiotic with vitamin D significantly improved gut barrier function and microbiota balance in people with IBS. Benefits even lasted after treatment stopped.