The United States Food and Drug Administration announced on Tuesday and in the coming next few years, food manufacturers have to put nutritional labels on the front of packaged foods. This proposal by FDA comes in the content of chronic diseases and the need for combating the same. The front-of-package labels are required for "most packaged foods", said the announcement.

Nutrition Info Box

The labels will be called the "Nutrition box info", which would show customers whether products have low, medium, or high levels of saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars.

Saturated Fat

They are solid at room temperature and found in animal products like pork, milk, and cheese. The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends limited saturated fats to less than 6% of total calories. It is one of the unhealthy fats and too much of it in your diet could lead to heart diseases and other health problems.

Sodium

As per FDA, diets higher in sodium are associated with an increased risk of developing high blood pressure, which is also the major cause of stroke and heart attack. Sodium attracts water, which increases the volume of blood in your body and can lead to high blood pressure, and damage your heart, kidneys, brain and eyes.

Added Sugars

Added sugars are added to foods and drink during processing or preparation and they do not occur naturally. They add calories but little nutrition. As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), added sugars can contribute to health problems such as weight gain, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart diseases.

What happens with the proposal?

If the proposal is approved, food manufacturers who make $10 million or more in annual food sales will have three years to add the labels to their packaging. While businesses with less than $10 million in annual food sales will have four years to comply.

Chronic Diseases

FDA said that saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars have been "directly linked with chronic diseases". The FDA highlights that chronic diseases like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes are the leading causes of disability and death in the U.S., with 60% of Americans living with at least one chronic condition. These illnesses also account for much of the $4.5 trillion spent annually on healthcare in the country.

According to FDA, a major factor contributing to the issue is also the overcompensation of saturated fat, sodium, and added sugar. There are many store-brought foods that are highly processed and also contain excessive amounts of these ingredients. In 2023, the FDA also conducted a study that involved 10,000 adults to evaluate how different types of nutritional labels influence consumer choices.

The research revealed that a black-and-white nutrition label displaying the percent daily value was the most effective in helping people select healthier options.

This is why the Nutritional Info Box will also come in the same color. If reports are to be believed, it will soon become part of the White House National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition and Health to reduce diet-related diseases by 2030.

Most people assume that low- or no-sugar drinks are a healthier alternative to regular sodas, but new research suggests that might not be the full picture. A large-scale study presented at UEG Week 2025 found that both sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and low- or non-sugar-sweetened beverages (LNSSBs) are linked to an increased risk of developing metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), a condition previously known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

What Is MASLD?

According to the Cleveland Clinic, MASLD—short for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, is a condition in which extra fat accumulates in the liver. It was previously called nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Unlike liver damage caused by heavy drinking, MASLD is linked to metabolic risk factors such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. If left untreated, it can progress to more serious liver problems.

What The Study Found

Researchers analyzed data from 123,788 participants in the UK Biobank who did not have liver disease at the start of the study. Participants reported their beverage consumption through multiple 24-hour dietary questionnaires, giving researchers insight into how both sugary and “diet” drinks might affect liver health.

The results were striking: individuals consuming more than 250 grams per day of either SSBs or LNSSBs faced significantly higher risks of MASLD, about 60% higher for LNSSBs and 50% higher for SSBs. Over a median follow-up of 10.3 years, 1,178 participants were diagnosed with MASLD, and 108 died from liver-related causes. Interestingly, LNSSBs, but not SSBs, showed a notable link to liver-related mortality. Both drink types were also tied to increased liver fat.

Understanding MASLD and Its Growing Impact

MASLD occurs when excess fat builds up in the liver, which can eventually lead to inflammation, fatigue, abdominal pain, and loss of appetite. Once considered less common, MASLD has now become the most widespread chronic liver disease globally, affecting more than 30% of the population. It is also emerging as a leading cause of liver-related deaths worldwide.

Lead author Lihe Liu emphasized, “SSBs have long been scrutinized, while their ‘diet’ counterparts are often seen as a healthier choice. Our study shows that both types of beverages are widely consumed, yet their effects on liver health have not been fully understood.”

Liu added, “Even modest consumption of LNSSBs, like a single can per day, was linked to a higher risk of MASLD. These findings challenge the perception that ‘diet’ drinks are harmless and highlight the need to reconsider their role in our diets, especially as MASLD continues to grow as a public health concern.”

Why Both Sugary and Diet Drinks May Harm the Liver

The researchers explained potential mechanisms behind the risks. SSBs, with their high sugar content, can spike blood glucose and insulin, promote weight gain, and increase uric acid levels, all contributing to liver fat accumulation. LNSSBs may affect liver health differently: by altering the gut microbiome, disrupting feelings of fullness, triggering sugar cravings, or even stimulating insulin secretion.

Water Remains the Safest Choice

Experts recommend limiting both sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened beverages. Replacing either type with water showed a significant reduction in MASLD risk, about 13% for SSBs and 15% for LNSSBs. Simply switching between SSBs and LNSSBs did not reduce risk.

The researchers plan to investigate causal mechanisms more deeply with long-term studies, including randomized and genetic trials. They aim to better understand how sugar and its substitutes interact with the gut microbiome and influence liver disease.

Arterial plaque buildup is one of the biggest drivers of heart disease, yet most people don’t realise how silently it develops. When fatty deposits, cholesterol, calcium, and cellular waste accumulate along the artery walls, they gradually harden and narrow the vessels, a condition known as atherosclerosis. This restricts blood flow, makes the heart work harder, and increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.

While medication and lifestyle changes are standard recommendations, growing research, including a study by the University of Sunshine Coast, Australia, suggests that one everyday food may offer surprising protection: beetroot.

Why Arterial Blockage Happens

Plaque develops over years. High levels of LDL cholesterol damage the artery lining, allowing lipids to stick and form deposits. Inflammation accelerates this process, making the plaque harder and more unstable. When a plaque ruptures, it can trigger a clot that blocks blood flow completely, leading to a heart attack. Because early atherosclerosis has almost no symptoms, prevention becomes essential.

Beetroot: A Natural Artery-Friendly Food

Beetroot has emerged as one of the most heart-friendly foods due to its exceptional nutritional profile. Rich in nitrates, antioxidants, fibre, minerals, and bioactive compounds, it is being studied for its ability to influence blood pressure, reduce inflammation, and possibly slow arterial stiffening, all key factors in preventing plaque formation.

Lowers Blood Pressure Naturally

One of the best-researched benefits of beetroot is its effect on blood pressure. Dietary nitrates in beets convert into nitric oxide, a molecule that helps arteries relax, expand, and carry blood more efficiently. Clinical studies show that drinking beetroot juice can lower systolic blood pressure by 4–10 mmHg within hours. Over time, this improved vascular flexibility may reduce strain on the heart and keep arteries healthier.

Reduces Inflammation, a Key Driver of Plaque

Chronic inflammation is a major contributor to plaque buildup. Beetroots contain betalains, powerful antioxidants with anti-inflammatory properties. Research suggests these compounds may help lower markers of inflammation in the body, ultimately slowing the progression of arterial damage.

May Limit Arterial Stiffness

Arterial stiffness is a strong predictor of heart attack and stroke. Studies have found that beetroot juice can reduce arterial stiffness in both young adults and older individuals. More flexible arteries allow for smoother blood flow, reducing the pressure that contributes to plaque formation and rupture.

Improves Muscle Recovery and Heart Efficiency

Beetroot has been found to improve oxygen efficiency in the body, meaning muscles — including the heart — need less effort to perform the same tasks. This can indirectly protect the cardiovascular system, especially during physical exertion.

Supports a Healthy Cholesterol Balance

The fiber and antioxidants in beetroot may help improve lipid levels by lowering LDL cholesterol and supporting the removal of excess fats. While not a substitute for medication, it complements a heart-healthy diet.

If you're making a smoothie for a health boost, especially for your brain and heart, you might want to leave out bananas. New research suggests that adding a banana to your drink can actually block your body from absorbing key healthy compounds.

Bananas have always been a big favorite for healthy drinks and desserts. You may have seen many healthy smoothie recipes like banana and coffee smoothie, or bananas and berries, being listed along with other healthy food recipes. While it does have many health benefits, how healthy it is with other nutrients involved has been questioned.

Researchers at the University of California-Davis found that bananas interfere with the absorption of powerful nutrients called flavanols. These compounds are fantastic for health, but if you blend them with a banana, you might not get the benefit you're looking for.

Should You Add Bananas In Health Smoothies?

The researchers found that bananas block how well we absorb flavanol. Flavanols are beneficial natural chemicals found in foods like berries, apples, grapes, and cocoa. When you eat enough of them regularly, they are known to help your memory, reduce swelling inside your body, which is called inflammation, and make your blood flow better.

So, why does the banana stop this? The culprit is a specific enzyme, a kind of protein, that is found in high amounts in bananas. It's called polyphenol oxidase (PPO). This is the same enzyme that makes a peeled banana or apple slice turn brown quickly. The researchers found that when PPO mixes with flavanols in the blender, it somehow stops your body from being able to use them. Lead researcher Javier Ottaviani said it was surprising to see how quickly even just one banana dropped the levels of flavanols your body could absorb.

Why Do Bananas Block Nutrients?

The scientists conducted a very clear experiment to figure this out. They had people drink three different things and then measured the flavanols in their bodies, by testing their blood and urine:

The Banana Test

A smoothie made with banana, which is high in the PPO enzyme.

The Berry Test

A smoothie made with mixed berries, which are low in the PPO enzyme.

The Control Test

A plain capsule of pure flavanols, just to see what 100% absorption looked like.

The results were impossible to ignore, the people who drank the banana smoothie had 84% less flavanols show up in their system compared to the people who took the pure flavanol capsule. This clearly proved that the banana was the reason the healthy compounds weren't getting absorbed.

How to Get Your Daily Flavanols?

If you're trying to meet the daily recommendation of flavanols, which is about 400 to 600 milligrams, to help your heart and overall health, you need to be smart about your smoothies.

The main takeaway is to skip the bananas if you're mixing it with high-flavanol foods like berries. If your smoothie already contains ingredients that are low in the PPO enzyme—like berries, pineapple, oranges, mango, or yogurt—then you are maximizing the amount of healthy flavanols your body will actually get. This finding opens the door for more research into how simple acts of cooking or preparing food, like how you brew tea (a major flavanol source), can change the nutrients you absorb.