Food

Are nuts healthy?

Nuts are rich in heart-healthy polyunsaturated fats and monounsaturated fats, which lower LDL or "bad" cholesterol; plus, they are a good source of phytosterols, compounds that help lower blood cholesterol.

They are packed with fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals, including folate, vitamin E, potassium and magnesium.

Why hot chillies might be good for us

Chillies come in many shapes, colours, sizes and strengths, but one thing they have in common is the burning sensation they cause in your mouth, eyes and any other part of your body into which their juices come into contact.

Although most people think that the hottest part of a chilli is its seeds, in fact it is the white spongy layer you find inside, called the placenta. Bite into this and you will really feel the burn.

That burning sensation is mainly caused by a chemical called capsaicin, which is found in tiny glands in the chilli's placenta.

Fruit and veg: For a longer life eat 10-a-day

The study, by Imperial College London, calculated such eating habits could prevent 7.8 million premature deaths each year.

The team also identified specific fruit and veg that reduced the risk of cancer and heart disease.

The analysis showed even small amounts had a health boon, but more is even better.

A portion counts as 80g (3oz) of fruit or veg - the equivalent of a small banana, a pear or three heaped tablespoons of spinach or peas.

The conclusions were made by pooling data on 95 separate studies, involving two million people's eating habits.

Why eating a lot of fat is worse for men than women

Eating too much fat can make you put on weight and lead to heart disease - especially if you eat too much of the wrong kind of fat, such as the omega-6 fats found in many processed foods. But now it seems sausages, pastries and cakes are even worse for men than they are for women.

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Are food Instagrammers really to blame for food waste?

"86% of us admit buying ingredients for one specific recipe, knowing we will struggle to use it elsewhere," according to the report for Sainsbury's.

It suggests under-35s are especially likely to experiment.

Which may be because they're inspired by Instagram to buy ingredients they will never use again. Za'atar anyone?

But can you really blame social media for the UK's food waste problem?

Eight foods to superpower your immune system

Cue the sniffling, sore throats, coughs and congestion -- classic signs of the common cold.

If you're feeling under the weather, food might be the last thing on your mind. "Some people may lose their appetite [when they're feeling sick] due to diminished sense of taste or smell or lack of energy," says Toby Smithson, MS, RDN, LDN, CDE, spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and Founder of DiabetesEveryDay.com.

Report finds chemicals in one-third of fast food packaging

But it turns out that the packaging your food comes in could also have a negative impact on your health, according to a report published Wednesday in the journal Environmental Science & Technology Letters.

The report found fluorinated chemicals in one-third of the fast food packaging researchers tested.

These chemicals are favored for their grease-repellent properties.

Is the Mediterranean diet good for kids, too?

"There is no reason why a child could not thrive on a Mediterranean dietary pattern," said Rachel Johnson, a professor of nutrition and pediatrics at the University of Vermont.

However, she added that there are caveats.

The easy-to-follow Mediterranean diet involves eating mostly vegetables, fruits, legumes, unrefined grains, olive oil and fish.

Helping kids build relationship with food is better than bribery

Some take to hiding morsels in more delicious parts of meals, while others adopt a stricter approach, refusing to let little ones leave the table until plates are clear.

One "alternative" idea touted recently is for parents to essentially bribe their children, depositing money into a child's bank account as a reward when they eat vegetables -- an idea actually backed up by research.

How much is too much salt?

Would you stop smoking to avoid a heart attack? Would you eat less salt for the same reason?

The World Health Organisation says that reducing salt is as important as stopping smoking when it comes to reducing heart disease. Too much salt also increases the risk of stomach cancer and osteoporosis, and raises blood pressure – a major cause of strokes.

But surveys suggest only half of us check how much salt we’re eating.

Which of these contains the most salt?