Nutrition

Barcelona, Spain — Are you experiencing muscle pain or inflammation? Your diet may be contributing – if it’s laden with ultra-processed sweets or fats, a study from Spanish researchers suggests.

Have you ever taken a hot dog out of the package and eaten it without first cooking it? If so, you put yourself at risk for listeriosis, a serious infection usually caused by eating food contaminated with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes.

Coleraine, Northern Ireland — If dinner is typically your largest meal of the day, you might be consuming more calories than necessary – and not eating the most nutritious food, according to researchers from Ulster University.

Paris — Think artificially sweetened drinks are a healthier alternative to sugary beverages? If so, think again, say French researchers.

Different colors of fruits and vegetables have specific health benefits. By including a variety of them on your plate – called “eating the rainbow” – you can make sure you’re getting the illness-fighting nutrients you need to help your body function at its best.

Raleigh, NC — Many people may not be preparing frozen foods safely, leaving them – and their families – at risk of illness, results of a recent study indicate.

Houston — Go ahead, indulge in some chocolate – it just may lower your risk of heart disease, researchers from the Baylor College of Medicine say.

Boston — Fast-food meals have gotten slightly healthier in recent years, but most can still derail your diet, according to the results of a recent study.

Hangzhou, China — Are you struggling to keep your diet as healthy as possible? Two recent studies might offer motivation to stay on track.

Adelaide, Australia — Is the amount of coffee you drink on the high side? If so, you might want to cut back in the interest of long-term health, researchers from the University of South Australia say.