#Nutrition

A broad meta-analysis from a leading U.S. university indicates that omega-3 supplements, commonly taken as fish oil, can cut aggressive behavior by up to 28%. Spanning nearly 30 years of international studies, the review provides some of the strongest evidence to date that nutrition can influence behavior across ages and backgrounds.

In Thailand, where concerns about mental well-being, school safety, and road behavior are rising, the findings offer a timely, low-cost approach that complements existing therapies. Linking nutrition with behavior in a culturally neutral framework resonates with Thai families seeking practical prevention strategies.

A new examination of the claim that humans must eat meat because our ancestors did is reshaping how Thai readers view diet, health, and the environment. The analysis, adapted from an MIT Press-backed study and published in Nautilus, argues that both evolutionary and nutritional justifications for meat-heavy diets are weaker than once thought. Environmental concerns are underscored, making the debate highly relevant for Thailand’s public health and food policies.

For many in Thailand, this discussion matters beyond theory. Plant-based options are increasingly visible in Bangkok and Chiang Mai restaurants, while concerns about non-communicable diseases linked to red and processed meat grow. The piece challenges the idea that meat is an evolutionary imperative and explores how this belief shapes Thai cuisine, known for its balance of seafood, meats, and abundant vegetables.

A new study from McMaster University questions whether gluten is the primary trigger for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Published in Lancet Gastroenterology and Hepatology, the research suggests that expectations and perceptions may drive symptoms for many IBS patients, not gluten alone. For Thai audiences following wellness trends in Bangkok and beyond, this invites a more nuanced conversation about gluten-free diets and digestive health.

IBS is a chronic condition marked by abdominal pain, bloating, and changes in bowel habits. It is common worldwide and can be hard to diagnose because there is no visible tissue damage like in inflammatory bowel disease. The trial enrolled 28 IBS patients who believed they felt better on a gluten-free diet. In a double-blind setup, participants tasted cereal bars containing gluten, wheat, or neither—without knowing which bar they ate. This design reduces bias and reveals true dietary effects.

A new study indicates that older adults who consume more spermidine, a natural compound found in foods like aged cheese, mushrooms, and whole grains, tend to score higher on cognitive assessments. Published in a reputable psychiatry journal, the research offers a dietary angle for supporting brain health as Thailand’s population ages.

Researchers analyzed data from more than 2,600 Americans aged 60 and over, using national health and nutrition information. Participants reported their diets through two daily recalls and completed four standardized cognitive tests. The findings show a clear trend: those in the highest spermidine intake quartile performed better on cognitive tasks than those with lower intake. The association appeared stronger among men, non-Hispanic whites, individuals with overweight BMI, and those with hypertension or high cholesterol. Authors note that the observational design cannot prove causation, as people with sharper memories may simply choose nutrient-rich foods more often.

A practical approach to long-term wellness is to choose snacks that are high in protein and anti-inflammatory compounds. For Thai readers, this translates into affordable, familiar options that curb hunger and support overall health.

Evidence from reputable wellness guidance points to snacks built around yogurt, nuts, beans, and wholesome fruit. These foods can do more than tide you over between meals. Research suggests they may help reduce inflammation, improve focus, aid digestion, and bolster immune function. In Thailand, where noncommunicable diseases remain a concern, such a snacking strategy aligns with public health priorities and local dietary patterns.

A growing body of research positions the MIND Diet as a top choice for protecting brain health. Blending elements of the Mediterranean and DASH plans, the MIND Diet is gaining attention for its potential to reduce dementia risk and support cognitive function. For Thai readers, it offers practical, food-first strategies to maintain memory and learning at any age.

The significance resonates with Thai families as the population ages and concerns about Alzheimer’s and dementia rise. Global health data show nearly 10 million new dementia cases each year, with Southeast Asia experiencing sharp growth due to longer life expectancy and urban living. Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health warns that dementia rates could double by 2050 if current trends continue. Nutrition remains a key, modifiable factor that people can act on now to support brain health.

A recent article in The Conversation brings renewed attention to the essential vitamins—from A to K—that our bodies need, revealing both their crucial roles and the everyday foods that help us meet our daily nutritional requirements (The Conversation). While “superfoods” are often marketed for their seemingly miraculous health benefits, the latest research and expert perspectives underscore that a balanced, varied diet rich in common ingredients is usually sufficient to cover most vitamin needs.

A new wave of research supported by global education experts highlights that adopting a handful of straightforward daily habits can significantly enhance a child’s academic performance. The evidence-backed practices—ranging from consistent study routines and distraction-free environments to balanced sleep and nutrition—are gaining traction among educators, parents, and health professionals alike. As Thailand prepares for another academic year, these actionable insights offer fresh direction for families eager to help children reach their full educational potential.

A wave of recent research from global education experts shows that a few simple daily habits can meaningfully boost learning outcomes. Solid study routines, distraction-free spaces, and balanced sleep and nutrition are gaining traction among teachers, parents, and health professionals. As Thailand begins a new school year, these actionable insights offer fresh guidance for families seeking sustainable academic growth.

In Thailand, where academic excellence is often tied to long hours and extensive tutoring, these findings offer a hopeful balance. Many Thai students feel pressure from families and cultural expectations, sometimes leading to stress and burnout. The emphasis on practical daily habits provides a science-backed, attainable framework that complements traditional study practices.

A new report is casting doubt on the necessity of electrolyte powders, drinks, and tablets for the average person—a market that has ballooned to an estimated $38 billion in 2024 alone. As colorful bottles and attractive marketing campaigns promise better hydration, improved health, and even performance boosts, many Thais are left wondering: do these drinks really deliver on their promises, or are they just another health fad?

Electrolyte products are marketed to athletes, fitness enthusiasts, and even ordinary people who want to enhance their daily hydration. Popular in gyms and convenience stores across Bangkok, these drinks contain key minerals such as sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium—elements vital for maintaining fluid balance in the body, regulating heart rhythm, and ensuring muscle and nerve function. While sports drinks have become commonplace, public health experts say many Thais may be overestimating their benefits and underestimating the power of a regular balanced diet.

A recent review questions the necessity of electrolyte powders, drinks, and tablets for most people, even as the global market spins toward a multi-billion-dollar figure in 2024. In Bangkok gyms, convenience stores, and online shops, vibrant bottles promise better hydration and performance. For Thai readers, the takeaway is clear: can ordinary meals and water meet everyday hydration needs without chasing every new beverage?

Electrolyte products target athletes, fitness enthusiasts, and busy office workers who want a quick hydration boost. In Thailand, these drinks are common in fitness centers and markets and usually contain minerals such as sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. These electrolytes help maintain fluid balance and support heart rhythm, muscle, and nerve function. Yet public health experts emphasize that a varied, regular diet already provides most of what the body needs for daily activity.

Cilantro, known as phak chee in Thai, brightens tom yum, elevates larb, and finishes many street-side soups. A small but vocal segment of diners finds its flavor soapy. New research shows this aversion is genetic, not simply a personal preference, offering a fresh lens on how Thais experience food.

In Thai cuisine, cilantro’s citrusy zing is celebrated for lifting dishes from sour to savory. Yet the soapy bitterness has puzzled cooks and diners for years. Research indicates that genetic differences influence how cilantro tastes to different people.

Frequent childhood illness is a major concern for parents and educators alike across Thailand, with new research shedding light on everyday parenting mistakes that can undermine a child’s immunity. According to a recent report by the Times of India, many children fall ill repeatedly due to avoidable errors in care and hygiene, signalling the need for greater awareness among caregivers. These findings are particularly significant for Thai families striving to balance traditional approaches to child-rearing with modern health recommendations, as the nation continues its post-pandemic efforts to safeguard student health.

A groundbreaking global study has upended long-held beliefs about the true drivers of the obesity epidemic, finding that overeating—particularly of ultra-processed foods—is about ten times more responsible for rising obesity rates than a lack of exercise. This revelation carries profound implications for Thailand, where rates of overweight and obesity are increasing alongside rapid urbanisation and changing dietary patterns.

For decades, both Thai and international health authorities have emphasised the importance of physical activity in tackling obesity, broadcast through nationwide campaigns and initiatives. The popular narrative has been that sedentary lifestyles, especially in urban areas like Bangkok or Chiang Mai, are to blame for waistlines expanding. Yet, new research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) suggests this perspective may miss the mark. Based on an analysis of over 4,000 adults from 34 nations—including hunter-gatherer tribes in Tanzania, herder-farmers in Siberia, and executives in Norway—researchers found that people across cultural and economic backgrounds actually burn roughly the same amount of calories per day, regardless of whether their lives are active or sedentary (Washington Post).

A recent feature from the Times of India has spotlighted the “Top 5 cholesterol-fighting foods”—offering fresh insights into how simple dietary changes can have substantial impacts on heart health. This latest research is especially significant for Thai readers, given Thailand’s rising rates of heart disease and high cholesterol, which authorities say are largely driven by dietary patterns and lifestyle changes associated with urbanization and economic growth.

Cholesterol has long been a central concern in public health, as elevated levels are a leading cause of heart attacks and strokes worldwide. In Thailand, noncommunicable diseases, including heart disease, account for over 70% of total deaths annually, according to the Ministry of Public Health (source). Many Thai families face these health risks due to two factors: increased consumption of fatty foods and a shift away from traditional diets rich in vegetables, fruits, and whole grains.

A growing number of Thai parents and teachers are concerned about frequent childhood illnesses. New research points to everyday parenting choices that can weaken a child’s immunity. Studies summarized by major outlets emphasize ten common mistakes, urging caregivers to adapt traditional practices to modern health guidance. The findings align with Thailand’s post-pandemic push to protect student health and well-being.

In Thai communities, extended families and community care mean children encounter infectious agents more often. Yet experts say simple home changes can significantly reduce illness. The core message centers on routine habits—handwashing, nutrition, vaccination, and cautious exposure to crowded spaces—that influence a child’s disease risk. In Thailand, crowded markets, busy transport, school lunch vendors, and regular rainy-season gatherings heighten exposure, making practical, culturally sensitive adjustments especially relevant.

Across the globe, an increasing number of teenagers are turning to protein supplements as they strive to build muscle and achieve the body ideals promoted on social media. Recent research from the University of Michigan’s Mott Children’s Hospital has brought this trend into sharp focus, revealing that approximately 40% of teens consumed some form of protein supplement in the past year. This surge in popularity—echoed from the United States to Europe, and increasingly within Asian contexts—raises important questions for Thai parents, educators, and health professionals as social media-driven fitness trends reach new heights in the Kingdom.

A landmark global study reframes the obesity narrative by showing that overeating, especially ultra-processed foods, accounts for roughly ten times more of the rise in obesity than a lack of exercise. This finding has clear implications for Thailand, where obesity rates are climbing alongside rapid urbanisation and shifting eating habits.

Thai and international health authorities have long spotlighted physical activity as a key weapon against obesity, supported by nationwide campaigns. The prevalent view has been that sedentary urban lifestyles fuel expanding waistlines. But recent research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences challenges this focus. An analysis of more than 4,000 adults from 34 countries—from hunter-gatherer groups in Tanzania to executives in Norway—found that daily calorie burn is similar across cultures, regardless of activity level.

A growing number of teenagers view protein supplements as a quick path to muscle and the body ideals popular on social media. Research from a leading U.S. pediatric hospital indicates that around 40% of teens used some form of protein supplement in the past year. The trend is spreading beyond the United States to Europe and increasingly to Asia, prompting Thai parents, teachers, and health professionals to consider how online fitness messaging affects youths in Thailand.

A recent feature highlights the top foods that help fight cholesterol, showing how small dietary changes can protect heart health. In Thailand, where heart disease and high cholesterol are rising concerns, these findings come at a crucial time as urban lifestyles influence public health.

Cholesterol remains a major public health issue worldwide. In Thailand, noncommunicable diseases, including heart disease, account for a large share of deaths each year. Data from Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health shows trends shaped by shifts toward fatty foods and away from vegetable-rich traditional eating patterns.

For many Thais, cilantro (known locally as phak chee) is inseparable from everyday cuisine — sprinkled on tom yum, incorporated into larb, or simply used as a fresh garnish on soups and street-side noodles. Yet, a curious minority recoil at its presence, describing its taste as reminiscent of soap. Recent research confirms this odd aversion is grounded in genetics rather than culinary preference, reshaping our understanding of food appreciation in Thailand and globally.

A new wave of research is shedding light on the extensive—and sometimes unexpected—health implications of vitamin D deficiency, with experts warning that failing to get enough of the so-called “sunshine vitamin” could have far-reaching effects beyond what most people realize. These findings are particularly relevant for Thai readers, given shifting lifestyles, urbanization, and the rising prevalence of indoor work and study patterns, all of which can contribute to vitamin D insufficiency.

Frequent childhood illnesses concern Thai families juggling school, daycare, and busy city life. A recent piece from The Times of India highlights common parenting missteps that leave children more prone to infections. Supported by global studies and echoed by Thai health professionals, the findings point to practical steps families can adopt to protect kids—grounded in science and everyday sense.

In Thailand, urban living, academic pressures, and packed schedules amplify this concern. Preventable illnesses disrupt families, strain schools, and add pressure to public health resources. By understanding everyday behaviors that contribute to frequent illness, Thai families can take targeted action and inform policymakers on stronger child health strategies nationwide.

Frequent childhood illnesses are a common concern for Thai parents, especially those navigating the demands of school, day care, and modern city living. A recent article from The Times of India (“10 mistakes that cause children to fall ill frequently” timesofindia.indiatimes.com) summarizes research-backed parenting missteps that leave children vulnerable to infections. These findings, supported by international studies and echoed by health experts in Thailand, highlight crucial yet manageable steps for local families to safeguard children’s health—steps rooted in both science and everyday common sense.