News for Now Update: Week ending December 17, 2022

Phytates Block Nutrients in Plant-Based Meat
A Chalmers University of Technology study found that plant-based meats may not deliver as many nutrients as their labels claim. Despite high iron and zinc content accompanying concentrated plant proteins, phytates (naturally occurring compounds in beans and cereals) tend to block their absorption. The study authors call for manufacturers to consider nutritional content in terms of what is bioavailable for humans. Read more at EurekAlert!.

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Under Scrutiny
An investigation led by US Right to Know has surfaced documents detailing financial ties between the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and a number of ultra-processed food companies. These ties include accepting over $15 million in contributions since 2011 while also owning stock in those companies. The Academy claims that none of this has influenced its policies or endorsements. Read more at the Guardian.

Ancient Tooth Plaque Shows Evolution in Diets
Research published in Nature Communications analyzed the dental plaque of 76 ancient humans living in Italy from 31,000-2,200 BCE and found that DNA from their oral microbiomes corresponded with other evidence of dietary shifts. Along with food fragments trapped in the plaque and food residues at settlement sites, these data reinforce a gradual evolution from hunting to domestication of animals to agriculture. Read more at Nature Asia.

Science-Based Solutions to Reducing Food Waste
As the largest contributor to municipal landfills, food waste has both economic and environmental impacts. Companies are becoming increasingly conscious of this and investing in technologies to increase the lifespan of perishable and prepared foods, including edible coatings, bacterial sensors, and vapor-releasing or moisture-absorbing packets. Others say, simply valuing food more and buying more consciously could go a long way. Read more at AP News.

View of Health and Disease Based on … Cycles in Vitamin Tides, by Weston A. Price, DDS
In this 1930 article, Weston A. Price, DDS, discusses how seasonal variations in health can be attributed to wintertime decreases in plants’ vitamin production capabilities and, consequently, on animal access to these nutrients. To prevent rising mortality in winter, he recommends supplementing with foods rich in fat-soluble vitamins, such as butter, and he offers a noteworthy caution about cod liver oil. Read more in our Pioneer Archives Post.