Background/Objectives: Methods: Results: Conclusion:

Tree nuts and peanuts are good sources of many nutrients and antioxidants, but they are also energy dense. The latter often limits intake because of concerns about their possible contribution to positive energy balance. However, evidence to date suggests that nuts are not associated with predicted weight gain. This is largely due to their high satiety value, leading to strong compensatory dietary responses, inefficiency in absorption of the energy they contain, a possible increment in resting energy expenditure, and an augmentation of fat oxidation. Preliminary evidence suggests that these properties are especially evident when they are consumed as snacks.

Taste is frequently cited as an important factor in food choice, and while a number of studies have attempted to identify relationships between taste function and dietary intake, a systematic review of these studies has been lacking. This review identified studies that examined associations between taste function or taste perception and dietary intake. The purpose was to determine which taste measure was most closely associated with dietary intake in healthy adults. Studies that measured some component of dietary intake, either acutely or longer-term, were eligible for inclusion. Studies were grouped into three categories: those that measured sensitivity (thresholds), intensity, or hedonic responses to sweet stimuli. Sensitivity and intensity studies demonstrated little association with dietary intake measures. Hedonic measurements were more likely to be associated with dietary intake, especially if sweet likers were analyzed separately from sweet dislikers, but the degree of heterogeneity among stimulus concentrations and dietary measures as well as small sample sizes likely obscured more consistent relationships between hedonic evaluation and dietary intake. Due to the potential for within-day and between-day variability in both taste function and dietary intake, future work should explore obtaining more than one taste measurement before comparing results to longer-term dietary assessments and attempts to standardize methods.

We examined the differences in how coconut oil in a liquid or oleogel form affects blood triglycerides, glucose, insulin, and appetite when co-ingested with a carbohydrate-rich meal. This was a randomised, controlled, crossover study where eligible participants attended a screening visit where baseline demographics were measured. On test days, participants arrived at the laboratory after an overnight fast of 10 hours. Upon arrival, cannulation of the antecubital vein was performed and fasting capillary blood glucose, plasma insulin and triglyceride levels, and appetite sensations were measured. Following that, orange juice and rice porridge alone (control), or with 22.25 g of coconut oil (CO) or 25 g of coconut oleogel (CG) (22.25 g coconut oil + 2.75 g ethylcellulose to form an oleogel) was consumed. Subsequently, capillary blood glucose and plasma insulin and triglyceride levels were measured at fixed intervals for 6 hours. Appetite sensations were also measured using visual analog scales every 30 minutes. Sixteen healthy young adult males completed the study (age = 27 ± 6 years, weight = 65.5 ± 5.5 kg, BMI = 21.9 ± 1.7 kg m⁻²). After test meals, glucose, insulin, triglycerides and appetite sensations changed significantly (time effects, p < 0.001). Significant time × treatment effects were found only in postprandial glucose (p = 0.015) and triglyceride (p = 0.001) changes. CO reduced the peak of the glucose response, and increased the incremental area under the curve for postprandial triglycerides. CG produced outcomes comparable to those of the control treatment. Appetite sensations did not differ between all treatments. The gelling of coconut oil with ethylcellulose into an oleogel form reversed its effects on postprandial glucose and triglycerides.

The world’s ever-growing population presents a major challenge in providing sustainable food options and in reducing pressures on the Earth’s agricultural land and freshwater resources. Current estimates suggest that agriculture contributes ~30% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Additionally, there is an increased demand for animal protein, the production of which is particularly polluting. Therefore, the climate-disrupting potential of feeding the planet is likely to substantially worsen in the future. Due to the nutritional value of animal-based protein, it is not a simple solution to recommend a wholesale reduction in production/consumption of animal proteins. Rather, employing strategies which result in the production of low carbon animal protein may be part of the solution to reduce the GHGs associated with our diets without compromising diet quality. We suggest that farmed mussels may present a partial solution to this dilemma. Mussel production has a relatively low GHG production and does not put undue pressure on land or fresh water supplies. By drawing comparisons to other protein sources using the Australian Food and Nutrient Database and other published data, we demonstrate that they are a sustainable source of high-quality protein, long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, phytosterols, and other key micronutrients such as B-12 and iron. The aim of this review is to summarise the current knowledge on the health benefits and potential risks of increasing the consumption of farmed mussels.