Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects millions of people, both children and adults. The key characteristics are hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention. Because of many obstacles, researchers have been searching for other therapies—inclining to include diet intervention to control the symptoms of ADHD more effectively. One interesting area of research is that for chili peppers! Yes, you read it correctly, scientists are studying the effects of chilli peppers in order to help ease symptoms of ADHD through their action on gut microbiota and the gut-brain axis.

The gut-brain axis (GBA) is a two-way communication system that connects the gastrointestinal tract with the central nervous system. It has significant roles in brain function, emotional control, and cognitive processes. The most recent research indicates that gut microbiota- bacteria living in the digestive system can potentially affect ADHD by impacting the production of neurotransmitters and brain structure.

People with ADHD tend to have reduced levels of healthy gut bacteria, including Lactobacillus, and a less diverse gut microbiota. This imbalance can contribute to greater neuroinflammation and oxidative stress, both of which are involved in ADHD pathology.

Gut microbiota also control the production of dopamine and serotonin, two neurotransmitters critical for attention, impulse control, and emotional stability.

Can Chili Peppers Be A Natural Treatment For ADHD?

Chili peppers have bioactive molecules, such as capsaicin, vitamin C, and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), that could affect symptoms of ADHD through modulation of the gut microbiota and neurotransmitter concentration.

Capsaicin, the phytochemical in chili peppers, has been found to modulate neurotransmitter levels. Experiments with animals reveal that capsaicin boosts the levels of serotonin and dopamine in the brain, which has the potential to enhance attention and impulse control.

Additionally, capsaicin has been shown to inhibit neuroinflammation and oxidative stress, both of which are associated with ADHD pathology. Through the reduction of these variables, capsaicin could help to decrease some ADHD symptoms. While animal models offer promising information, human studies are needed to ascertain if capsaicin supplementation can produce a concrete effect on ADHD symptoms.

Role of Vitamin C and Gut Microbiobe

Chili peppers are a rich source of vitamin C, a potent antioxidant that enhances immune function, neurotransmitter production, and iron absorption. New evidence indicates that vitamin C can also increase the prevalence of helpful microbes such as Lachnospiraceae in the gut microbiota. Gut microbial balance has been implicated in neurodevelopmental diseases such as ADHD, and vitamin C's activity in regulating gut microbes could potentially be used as a therapy.

Moreover, vitamin C also decreases brain inflammation, which tends to be higher in patients with ADHD.

Chili peppers are also rich in PUFAs, such as omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Studies have established that patients with ADHD tend to have lower levels of omega-3 PUFAs, which are important for brain function, synaptic plasticity, and regulation of neurotransmitters. Omega-3 supplementation has been shown to enhance memory function and boost short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing gut bacteria, which promote brain and gut health.

Given that PUFAs have anti-inflammatory properties and maintain cognitive function, their occurrence in chili peppers contributes to the accumulating data indicating dietary intervention may be effective in modulating ADHD symptoms.

Although chili peppers have bioactive substances that could affect the gut-brain axis and help alleviate ADHD symptoms, their impact is speculative until stricter human trials are carried out. Being a readily available food item, peppers can be used as a possible adjunct therapy, which can be added to conventional ADHD treatments. Peppers, however, cannot be used as a substitute for established medical therapies, including behavioral therapy and prescription drugs.

The developing connection between nutrition, gut microbiome, and ADHD has paved the way for exploring non-medication interventions. Chili peppers, rich in capsaicin, vitamin C, and PUFAs, represent a novel yet unproven method for modulating ADHD symptoms. While early research points towards a possible intervention by chili peppers in modulating neurotransmitter content and minimizing neuroinflammation, human studies are essential to validate the observations.

Navratri is a time of prayer, devotion and fasting for many people. While fasting is an important part of the celebration, what you eat during this period matters too. Choosing the right foods can help you stay energetic, avoid unnecessary hunger and maintain healthy blood sugar levels. A few simple changes to your fasting meals can make a real difference.

What Should You Eat During Navratri Fasting?

Fasting does not mean you have to compromise on nutrition. Instead of depending mainly on potatoes, sabudana and fried snacks, try including a variety of foods in your meals.

Some healthier choices include:

• Fresh fruits: Apples, guavas, pears and oranges provide vitamins, minerals and fibre. Choose whole fruits instead of juices.
• Vegetables: Cucumber, bottle gourd and pumpkin can add variety and nutrients to fasting meals.
• Protein-rich foods: Curd, paneer, milk and nuts help keep you satisfied for longer.
• Fasting grains: Buckwheat (kuttu) and amaranth (rajgira), where permitted, can be included in moderate portions.
• Healthy fats: Use small amounts of nuts, seeds and cooking oils instead of relying on deep-fried snacks.

How to Balance Carbohydrates, Protein and Fibre

One common mistake during fasting is eating too many carbohydrate-rich foods while missing out on protein and fibre. This can leave you feeling hungry soon after a meal and may cause blood sugar levels to rise quickly.

For better balance, combine fasting grains or potatoes with protein-rich foods such as curd or paneer. Include permitted vegetables and choose whole fruits for additional fibre. Keep portions of sabudana khichdi, potato dishes and fasting flour rotis under control.

Remember, foods considered traditional or healthy during fasting can still raise blood sugar when eaten in large quantities.

Also read: Peanut Consumption Associated With Lower Type 2 Diabetes Risk: Study Explains

Which Fasting Foods Should You Limit?

Sabudana, potatoes, sweets and fruit juices can raise blood sugar levels, particularly when consumed in large portions. Fried foods such as puris and pakoras can also add excess calories.

Whenever possible, choose boiled, steamed, roasted or lightly sautéed foods. Limit added sugar and avoid combining several starchy foods in the same meal.

Stay Hydrated and Watch Your Portions

Drinking enough water is important, especially if your fasting routine limits when you can eat or drink. Where permitted, unsweetened buttermilk can be another option. Avoid relying on sugary drinks to manage hunger or tiredness.

Instead of eating one very large meal after hours without food, choose moderate portions during your permitted eating periods.

Also read: Heart Racing During Garba: Is It Adrenaline Or A Warning Sign?

How Can People with Diabetes Fast Safely?

For people with diabetes, fasting needs extra care. Changes in meal timings and food intake can increase the risk of low or high blood sugar, as well as dehydration. The risk may be greater for those taking insulin or certain diabetes medicines.

Here are a few important precautions:

• Speak to your doctor before starting a fast.
• Discuss whether your medication timings or doses need adjustment.
• Monitor your blood sugar as advised by your healthcare team.
• Do not ignore symptoms such as sweating, dizziness, confusion or unusual thirst.
• Stop fasting and seek medical advice if your blood sugar becomes dangerously low or high, or if you feel unwell.

The takeaway: Navratri fasting can be both meaningful and mindful of your health. Simple choices, such as eating balanced meals, limiting fried foods and controlling portions, can help you feel better throughout the festival. If you have diabetes, plan your fast with your doctor to observe the tradition without putting your health at risk.

Eating peanuts may help lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Researchers have identified changes in blood fats that could help explain the association. The findings indicate that peanuts may impact the body’s lipid metabolism. The body weight also plays an important role in the association.

The study, published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2026, combined a dietary intervention of six months with data from a large cohort to investigate how eating peanuts changes circulating lipids and how these changes relate to cardiometabolic disease risk.

Link Between Peanut Consumption & Cardiometabolic Disease Risk

Researchers from the German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke and the University of Barcelona analysed data from two studies.

The first was the ARISTOTLE clinical trial, which involved 63 healthy adults aged 18 to 33. Participants were randomly assigned to consume one of three options daily for six months: 25 grams of skin-roasted peanuts, 32 grams of peanut butter or 32 grams of control butter made with peanut oil.

Researchers measured changes in participants’ blood lipids before and after the intervention. They then examined data from the EPIC-Potsdam cohort, which followed more than 27,000 people and included information on 774 cases of newly developed type 2 diabetes and 545 cases of cardiovascular disease.

Using a technique called lipidomics, which analyses fats circulating in the blood, the team identified a pattern of lipid changes associated with peanut consumption. They called this the “peanut lipidomic signature”

Also read: World Sight Day: The Hidden Link Between Diabetes & Blindness - Why Good Vision Doesn't Mean Healthy Eyes

What Were The Findings?

Peanut consumption altered 51 groups of fatty acids within different lipid classes, especially lipids containing very-long-chain saturated fatty acids (VLCSFAs).

These included changes involving C22:0 and C24:0 fatty acids. Researchers found that these fatty acids were incorporated into specific lipid classes, including ceramides, suggesting that peanut consumption was linked with restructuring of the blood lipid profile rather than simply an increase in fat levels.

“This is not merely a simple increase in fat levels, but a complex 'remodeling' of the lipidome,” said first author Dr. Inés Domínguez-López.

Professor Matthias Schulze explained the significance of the findings, “By characterizing this specific peanut lipid signature, we have uncovered a potential biological marker that links dietary fat quality to metabolic outcomes.”

When researchers examined the relationship between these lipid changes and disease outcomes in the larger cohort, they found that a higher PeLS was associated with a modestly lower risk of type 2 diabetes.

For every one-standard-deviation increase in the signature, the estimated risk was 11% lower. But the signature was not associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease in this analysis.

Also read: World Sight Day: How Technology & Community-Based Care Can Bring Retinal Screening Closer To Patients

Body Weight's Role

Body mass index (BMI) emerged as a possible explanation for much of the association between the peanut-affected lipid signature and type 2 diabetes risk.

Researchers estimated that BMI could explain approximately 89% of the observed association, although the estimate was inaccurate. This suggests that body weight or related metabolic processes may help understand the relationship.

Domínguez-López said, “This suggests that the positive metabolic effects of these specific peanut-derived lipids may be linked to their ability to support a healthier body weight or stabilize metabolic processes related to adiposity.”

Peanuts contain unsaturated fats, fibre, protein and several micronutrients, making them essential in a balanced diet. Replacing foods rich in saturated fats or highly processed snacks with unsalted peanuts may help improve overall dietary quality.

However, the findings do not prove that peanuts directly prevent diabetes. The intervention involved only 63 young, healthy adults, while the association with disease risk was assessed using a separate observational cohort. The analysis cannot establish that the lipid changes themselves caused the lower risk.

Starbucks is facing a class-action lawsuit in the US for marketing eight protein beverages as "sugar-free" despite containing between 13 and 21 grams of sugar in a venti serving. The lawsuit filed in Seattle states the drinks are labelled in a misleading manner that violate federal regulations. In response, Starbucks has denied the claims.

According to Reuters, the sugar comes from lactose, the naturally occurring sugar in milk, rather than sugar added to the beverages. Starbucks says the drinks contain no added sugar and that their nutritional information is available on its website and other platforms.

About The Starbucks Lawsuit

Also read: Nearly 1 In 4 US High School Seniors Drink Energy Drinks Daily: Doctors Warn About Caffeine Risks

Hagens Berman filed the suit on behalf of three consumers who bought Starbucks’ sugar-free protein drinks in California, New York and Washington.

“Consumers avoid sugar for various reasons, whether that be general health, diabetes and blood glucose levels or other factors, and for many, a staunch mislabeling like this is significant,” said Steve Berman, a co-founder and managing partner of the Seattle-headquartered firm.

The drinks named in the lawsuit include sugar-free vanilla and caramel protein lattes and matchas, along with their iced versions. Starbucks' U.S. website listed a 16-ounce (0.5-liter) Sugar-Free Caramel Protein Matcha with 16 grams of sugar and a 20-ounce (0.6-liter) version of the same drink with 21 grams of sugar.

The drinks are marketed as “sugar-free,” but the amount of sugar in each beverage was also mentioned, including a note that said that they were made without added sugar.

“We believe these claims have no merit,” a Starbucks spokesperson said Monday. “Starbucks has consistently and clearly provided information about its protein beverages, sugar-free options, customization choices and nutritional content across product announcements, menus, marketing materials, Starbucks.com and the Starbucks app, and we intend to vigorously defend ourselves in this matter.”

Naturally Occurring Sugar Vs Added Sugar

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The American Heart Association says that naturally occurring sugars are found in foods like milk and fruit, while added sugars are added during the preparation. Lactose in milk is therefore not the same as added table sugar or syrup.

However, “naturally occurring” does not mean the amount is irrelevant or it is completely healthy. Total sugar still contributes carbohydrates and calories, and affects the overall nutritional profile of a beverage.

Health Risks Of Consuming Excessive Sugar

High consumption of sugary foods and beverages can contribute to excess calorie intake and obesity. Excess sugar intake is also linked with a higher risk of conditions including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. WHO also identifies sugar consumption as a major risk factor for dental caries.

The American Heart Association recommends limiting added sugar to no more than 25 grams per day for most women and 36 grams for men.

Therefore, a drink containing 21 grams of naturally occurring sugar cannot simply be counted as 21 grams of added sugar, but the number still gives consumers useful information about what they are drinking.

Naturally added sugars do not make it fit for consumption, especially for someone monitoring blood glucose. Lactose is a carbohydrate and is broken down into glucose and galactose during digestion.

Therefore, people with diabetes or those specifically trying to control their carbohydrate intake may still need to account for the total carbohydrate and sugar content of a drink rather than trusting terms such as “sugar-free” or “no added sugar.”