Kristina Petersen

Mar 23, 2025

Just 2 ounces of this buttery snack could help lower cholesterol, reduce heart disease risk

A recent study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that swapping your go-to snack with just a handful of this popular nut can give your cardiovascular health a boost because it is rich in antioxidants, monounsaturated fats and fiber — all of which help combat heart disease.

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Mar 17, 2025

Replacing other snacks with pecans may improve cholesterol, diet quality

Switching daily snack foods to pecans improved cholesterol levels and enhanced overall diet quality, according to a new study by researchers in the Penn State Department of Nutritional Sciences.

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Feb 21, 2025

Ultra-processed foods are everywhere. How bad are they?

It’s not about making drastic changes, restrictions or dropping excess money on health foods, but about developing intentions and habits, say experts

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Jan 31, 2025

Daily serving of common breakfast item can help you live longer

Avocados are a top superfood

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Nov 04, 2024

Nutritional sciences researchers receive funds from McCormick Science Institute

Researchers from the Departments of Nutritional Sciences and Food Science at Penn State have recently received $420,000 in funding from the McCormick Science Institute (MSI) to study the use of herbs and spices in school lunch recipes over the next two years.

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Jun 02, 2024

Cracking the calcium code to understand its role in health

People seeking straightforward nutrition advice might have a bone to pick with calcium, a building block of health that can start to seem like a piece from a complicated puzzle.

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Apr 15, 2024

Cracking the calcium code to understand its role in health

Why you need calcium and how to make sure you get enough

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Apr 11, 2024

Study Finds Daily Avocado Consumption Is Linked to Better Diet—Here’s Why

Researchers found that eating one whole avocado each day is associated with better diet quality

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Feb 27, 2024

Red meat can be part of a healthy diet. Here’s how.

Red meat may contribute towards a healthier diet

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Dec 09, 2023

How Red Meat Can Fit Into a Healthy Diet

How meat can fit into a diet and be healthy

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Nov 13, 2023

Is the 'portfolio diet' all it's cracked up to be? We asked the experts

About the Portfolio Diet

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Oct 27, 2023

Move over, Mediterranean diet: New 'portfolio diet' is the silver bullet for health, America's top cardiologists say - here are the foods you should invest in

The Portfolio diet has been shown to improve heart health

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Oct 26, 2023

Leading Cardiologists Recommend New Diet: Eating A ‘Portfolio’ of Different Foods

Research suggests following the portfolio diet can have major benefits

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Oct 25, 2023

Ever heard of the portfolio diet? It may lower risk for heart disease and stroke

A lesser-known dietary pattern called the portfolio diet may lower the risk for heart disease and stroke, new research shows

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Sep 09, 2023

Want a healthy and tasty diet? Replace saturated fat with herbs and spices

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Aug 29, 2023

Herbs and spices tout taste and health as saturated fat, salt replacements

A team of Penn State researchers has figured out how to remove some saturated fat, sugar and salt from popular American foods while maintaining their tastiness. The trick? Replacing these overconsumed nutrients with a dose of healthy herbs and spices.

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Dec 22, 2022

2022 Top 10 Most Popular Microbiome Center News Articles

The stories that made the year in 2022 for the Penn State Microbiome Center

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Dec 02, 2022

Peanuts and herbs and spices may positively impact gut microbiome

Adding a daily ounce of peanuts or about a teaspoon of herbs and spices to your diet may affect the composition of gut bacteria, an indicator of overall health, according to new research from Penn State.

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Jan 21, 2020

Study: Walnuts Good For Gut Bacteria, Lower Heart Disease Risk

There is a growing consensus in the scientific community that a healthy stomach, filled with beneficial “good” gut bacteria can go a long way towards promoting a strong and robust heart. With this relationship in mind, a new study conducted at Penn State finds that walnuts promote the production of good gut bacteria, consequently indicating they’re also good for our hearts.

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Jan 21, 2020

Walnuts Promote Heart Healthy Microbiome

A team of investigators at Penn State University has uncovered new evidence that walnuts may not just be a tasty snack, they may also promote good-for-your-gut bacteria and that these “good” bacteria could be contributing to the heart-health benefits of walnuts.

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May 21, 2025

Is Green Juice Good for You?

The ways that green juice can be good and bad for your body

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May 21, 2025

This simple tasty snack swap can protect you from heart disease

Study shows eating pecans instead of junk food boosts heart health.

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