Our nutrition reporting this year taught us a ton about healthy eating and drinking.
After sifting through scientific studies and spending hours on the phone with experts, we have focused on eating more sourdough bread, chia seeds and Greek yogurt this year, and we’re enjoying our morning coffee more than ever. We also have a greater appreciation for chickpeas and kiwis, and a newfound skepticism of honey and agave nectar.
Here are 10 nutrition lessons we’ll be carrying into the new year — and a few myths we’ll leave behind.
You shouldn’t believe everything you hear about dairy.
When we asked nutrition experts to tell us about the dairy myths they hear most often, the No. 1 misconception they cited was that milk is necessary for good health. They also spoke about lactose intolerance, raw milk, the science of low-fat dairy and more. Here are five dairy myths that nutrition experts want to correct.
There’s an effective cholesterol-lowering diet you’ve probably never heard of.
If you have high cholesterol, you might consider following the portfolio diet, which emphasizes naturally cholesterol-lowering foods like legumes, nuts, extra virgin olive oil, fruits and vegetables. Some research even suggests that the diet could be as effective as taking a statin. Here’s how to follow it.
It’s OK if you’re not a breakfast person.
There is no rule that says you must start your day with cereal or eggs, or that you need to eat breakfast at all. But skipping a morning meal can mean missing out on health benefits, so it may be worth exploring why you forgo it in the first place. Is it that you just don’t like breakfast food? A turkey sandwich or dinner leftovers can be breakfast, too. This article is for the breakfast haters.
Chia seed water is high in fiber, but there’s nothing magical about it.
On social media, it’s often called “the internal shower.” Some influencers have said that drinking water with a few spoonfuls of chia seeds mixed in will relieve constipation and bloating quickly, and some even claim that it can help you lose weight rapidly. While the concoction does provide fiber, which can help with certain digestive issues, it might not be the miracle elixir that chia-seed-water evangelists claim. Here’s what we learned about the drink.
These little legumes pack a big nutritional punch.
If you’re looking to add more fiber and protein to your diet, look to chickpeas in 2026. Just one cup provides about 15 grams of protein and 13 grams of fiber. Read what else these multitasking legumes can do for your health.
The baked goods in Europe may really be different.
Some on social media claim that the bread in Europe causes fewer digestive issues (like bloating, nausea and diarrhea) than the bread in the United States. Surprisingly, scientists say there may be some truth to these claims, in part because of the ingredients and techniques European bread makers use. Read more about researchers’ theories here.
Here’s one more reason to enjoy your coffee.
Coffee usually helps us wake up and start the day, but could it also lead to a longer, healthier life? A recent study found that it might, at least for middle-aged women. Read about the growing evidence of the benefits of one of America’s favorite drinks.
If you’re trying to cut back on ultraprocessed foods, it may help to consider how we became so reliant on them.
The evidence about the health risks of ultraprocessed foods is mounting, so we traced their history — from World War II foxholes to this year, when Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. called them “poison” — to understand how they came to dominate the American food supply.
You probably don’t need as much protein as many influencers claim, but it’s important to know if you’re getting enough.
Protein may be the hottest nutrient of 2025. And while it is undoubtedly necessary for health, it can be hard to know how much you actually need. Let us help you figure that out.
The claims about creatine supplements are outpacing the science.
Creatine supplements might give you a slight edge in your exercise performance. But can they improve your memory or blood sugar levels, as some say on social media? Learn more about what we know and don’t know about this increasingly popular supplement.
Caroline Hopkins Legaspi is a Times reporter focusing on nutrition and sleep.
The post 10 Nutrition Takeaways for a Healthier New Year appeared first on New York Times.
