As a nutrition reporter, healthy eating is my bread and butter (pardon the pun). I spend a lot of time dissecting the latest nutrition news, studies and trends, and asking experts for guidance on what to eat and why.<\/p>\n
Now, at the year\u2019s halfway point, I\u2019m looking back at some of our most-read nutrition stories of 2026 and pulling out their lessons. Consider this your summer-eating cheat sheet.<\/p>\n
1. Frozen yogurt is not exactly a health food.<\/p>\n
Billed for decades as a healthier alternative to ice cream, frozen yogurt is making a comeback<\/a>. But nutrition experts say that its health hype is largely overblown. While frozen yogurt does tend to have less saturated fat than ice cream, it can be higher in added sugars. And its oft-touted probiotic benefits have not been well-established.<\/p>\n Read more about \u201cfro-yo\u2019s\u201d pros and cons.<\/p>\n 2. Your diet influences your cancer risk.<\/p>\n Many aspects of cancer risk are beyond our control. But following a diet high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and plant-based proteins (like beans and lentils) can help lower it<\/a>, along with the risk of developing other diseases like Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. What else should you eat \u2014 and avoid \u2014 to help reduce your chances of developing certain types of cancer?<\/p>\n Here\u2019s what decades of research suggests.<\/p>\n 3. Be wary of \u2018low-carb\u2019 diets.<\/p>\n Limiting carbohydrates can help with short-term goals like weight loss or blood sugar control. But over the long term, avoiding carbohydrate-rich foods like many fruits, starchy vegetables, legumes and whole grains can cause you to miss out on other beneficial nutrients, including fiber. The quality of the carbohydrates, not the quantity, matters more for health, experts say.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s why many nutrition experts don\u2019t like \u201clow-carb\u201d diets<\/a>.<\/p>\n 4. The science of intermittent fasting isn\u2019t as sound as you may think.<\/p>\n Proponents of intermittent fasting, which generally involves limiting your eating to certain parts of the day or week, often claim that it helps with weight loss, metabolic health, cognitive function, longevity and more. While many people find the eating plan easier to adhere to than other diets, the science on its benefits is shaky<\/a>.<\/p>\n Read more about what intermittent fasting can, and can\u2019t, do for your health.<\/p>\n 5. Oats are powerhouses of nutrition.<\/p>\n Prosaic? Perhaps. But the breakfast staple is great for your heart and gut \u2014 thanks in large part to beta-glucan, a type of fiber that feeds good bacteria in the colon and helps lower the LDL (or \u201cbad\u201d cholesterol) in your blood. Oats also help keep blood sugar steady \u2014 especially for those with Type 2 diabetes.<\/p>\n Here are some of the best ways to enjoy them<\/a>.<\/p>\n 6. There is such a thing as too much protein.<\/p>\n It\u2019s the macronutrient of the moment, but eating too much can come with some downsides<\/a>, experts say. Getting most of your protein from red or processed meat, for instance, can raise the risk of heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer. And if you\u2019re leaving out high-fiber foods like vegetables and whole grains, you may suffer digestive consequences as a result.<\/p>\n Learn more about the risks of going overboard on protein.<\/p>\n 7. You should probably try to get more fiber.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re like most Americans, you probably aren\u2019t eating enough fiber. The good news: You can get more with small \u2014 and tasty \u2014 additions to your diet. Three cups of popped popcorn offers nearly four grams of fiber. And guacamole, salsa, bean dip and hummus are all high in fiber, too, making them a good excuse to get snacking.<\/p>\n Get more expert tips<\/a> from our story.<\/p>\n 8. The dangers of alcohol start at one drink per day.<\/p>\n A recent study found that<\/a> Americans who had one alcoholic drink a day were more likely than those who didn\u2019t to die from alcohol-related illnesses. Women who consumed this amount, for instance, were more likely to die from liver cancer or breast cancer. And both men and women were at increased risk of dying from liver cirrhosis and oral and esophageal cancers. The more people drank, the higher the risks climbed.<\/p>\n Read more about the findings.<\/p>\n 9. Don\u2019t pass on peas.<\/p>\n