Nutrition stories swept the board this year.
 2023 in medicine: Sweeteners, cancer, and male birth control | With only a little of 2023 remaining, let's revisit some of the stories that resonated with Sunday Supplement readers over the past year. There has been no shortage of fascinating health research and concerning warnings for consumers.
Our runaway hit focused on the cardiovascular benefits of key food groups. By analyzing a diverse range of diets across the globe, researchers confirmed fruits, vegetables, nuts, beans, fish, and even full fat dairy are associated with lower heart disease and mortality rates. The findings proved robust even for lower income nations.
Speaking of diet, our In Conversation podcast explored whether nutrition could succeed where other depression treatments fail. Emerging data suggests Mediterranean foods, gut-friendly fiber, probiotics, and omega-3s may relieve symptoms. Our experts discussed how healthy cuisine supports neurotransmitters and how gut-brain connections may influence mood.
Artificial sweeteners raised alarms this year when researchers linked sucralose to DNA damage in lab tests. While confirming that these cancer risks apply to humans will take time, the discovery underscores why natural options like stevia or monk fruit are likely safer choices.
Vitamin D was a frequent topic this year, but news that current dosage recommendations frequently miss heart health thresholds stood out. Results expected by mid-2024 will reveal whether tailored dosage prevents recurrence of cardiovascular disease.
Finally, we reported that researchers succeeded in crafting a nutritionally complete menu with only processed food ingredients. Some shortfalls, such as lower vitamin levels, persisted even in this menu, but defining what constitutes "ultra-processed" for public health purposes remains unclear.
Let's hope 2024 brings fresh understanding of what's good for our health along with even more fascinating science. Here's to healthy, happy times ahead.
We'll return with our regular daily newsletter tomorrow. We love to hear from you, so please get in touch by email if you have any feedback, comments, or questions about this week's Sunday Supplement.
Happy New Year!
Tim Snaith
Newsletter Editor, Medical News Today
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