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Richard Hoffman

Lecturer in Nutritional Biochemistry, University of Hertfordshire

I am a strong advocate of the Mediterranean diet and how to make it more relevant to the UK population. My current research is examining how dietary phytochemicals influence glucose absorption and hence the glycaemic load of a meal. I also write articles and books, lobby politicians and decision makers to promote a Med diet as the gold standard of healthy eating, and run short courses giving practical advice to dietitians, nutritionists and the general public on how to switch to a Med diet.

I lead the Nutrition and Health Research Group advocating the Mediterranean diet to be the "gold standard" of healthy diets, adopting a multi-disciplinary approach including analysing phytochemicals found in food plants that are consumed as part of the Mediterranean diet and determining factors that affect their bioavailability.

I also write articles and books and runs short courses giving practical advice to dietitians, nutritionists and the general public on how the Mediterranean diet can be adapted for the UK consumer.

Vegan cheese: what you should know

Jun 23, 2022 16:17 pm UTC| Health

For many people who go vegan, one of the hardest things to give up is cheese. Fortunately, thanks to the increasing popularity of veganism, food manufacturers have begun producing a greater variety of vegan cheeses with...

Why nitrates and nitrites in processed meats are harmful – but those in vegetables aren’t

Nov 13, 2021 07:49 am UTC| Health

Many of us know that we should steer away from processed meats and eat more vegetables if we want to be healthier and lower our chances of developing certain types of cancers. While there are many reasons processed meats...

Red meat study caused a stir – here's what wasn't discussed

Oct 09, 2019 13:49 pm UTC| Insights & Views Health

Accurate, consistent dietary advice seems increasingly hard to find. For instance, a widely reported study recently claimed that people dont need to reduce their consumption of red and processed meat for health reasons....

Is alcohol bad for you? It depends on the drink and how you drink it

Nov 26, 2018 16:21 pm UTC| Health

Recent headlines claim that a glass of wine or a pint of beer a day shortens your life. Its enough to dampen any thoughts of a celebratory drink or two at Christmas. But those conclusions are based on a partial view of the...

Are you getting enough vitamin B1 to help fend off Alzheimer's?

Jan 27, 2017 11:23 am UTC| Health

A feeling of apathy or being a little forgetful from time to time is nothing unusual. But for some, this could be an early sign of not getting enough thiamine (also known as vitamin B1). Long term, this can have serious...

Economy

Stock Futures Dip as S&P 500, Nasdaq Hit Record Highs Amid Rising U.S.-Iran Tensions

U.S. stock index futures moved slightly lower on Wednesday evening after major benchmarks, including the SP 500 and Nasdaq Composite, closed at fresh record highs. Investors remained cautious as geopolitical tensions...

Oil Prices Rise as U.S.-Iran Tensions and Strait of Hormuz Disruptions Persist

Oil prices climbed during Asian trading on Thursday, supported by ongoing geopolitical tensions between the United States and Iran and continued disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. The lack of progress in diplomatic...

Gold Prices Edge Higher Amid Middle East Tensions and Ceasefire Uncertainty

Gold prices inched higher on Wednesday as investors balanced geopolitical developments in the Middle East with shifting market sentiment and a slightly stronger U.S. dollar. Spot gold rose 0.4% to $4,740.15 per ounce,...

New Zealand Labour Backs India Free Trade Deal, Boosting Chances of Parliamentary Approval

New Zealands opposition Labour Party has announced it will support the proposed free trade agreement (FTA) with India, significantly increasing the likelihood of the deal passing through parliament. The decision comes...

Iran Tightens Grip on Strait of Hormuz as Oil Prices Surge

Tensions in the Middle East escalated after Iran seized two vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route, intensifying the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict and disrupting international oil supply chains. The...

Politics

U.S. Criticizes Airspace Denials to Taiwan President as China Influence Grows

The United States has raised concerns after several African nations reportedly revoked overflight clearances for Taiwans president, calling the move a misuse of international aviation systems and an example of growing...

Mexico Senate Seeks Answers on Deadly Chihuahua Crash Involving U.S. and Mexican Officials

A Mexican Senate committee has formally requested key officials from the state of Chihuahua to provide detailed information a fatal car crash that resulted in the deaths of two U.S. officials and two Mexican officials. The...

Argentina Proposes Electoral Reform to Cut Costs and End Mandatory Primaries

Argentinas government has introduced a sweeping electoral reform bill aimed at reducing public spending, increasing transparency, and tightening political party regulations. The proposal, submitted to Congress on...

Israeli Airstrike in Northern Gaza Kills Five Palestinians Amid Fragile Ceasefire

An Israeli airstrike in northern Gaza has killed five Palestinians, including three children, according to local health officials, marking another deadly incident despite an ongoing ceasefire agreement. The strike...

Trump Administration Proposes New Rule to Limit Joint Employer Liability

The Trump administration has introduced a proposed rule that could significantly reshape how companies are held accountable for labor violations involving contractors and franchise workers. Announced by the U.S. Department...

Science

China vs. NASA: The New Moon Race and What's at Stake by 2030

The space race is back and this time, its a direct competition between the United States and China for dominance on the lunar surface. NASAs Artemis II mission recently made history when four astronauts flew farther into...

NASA Artemis II: First Crewed Moon Mission Since Apollo Takes Four Astronauts on 10-Day Lunar Journey

NASAs Artemis II mission launched Wednesday, marking humanitys return to crewed lunar exploration for the first time since the Apollo era. Carrying four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft, this historic 10-day mission...

NASA's Artemis II Mission: First Crewed Lunar Journey Since Apollo

NASA's Artemis II Crew Arrives in Florida for Historic Moon Mission

The four astronauts chosen for NASAs Artemis II mission have touched down at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, marking the beginning of final launch preparations for the first crewed lunar journey in over 50 years. NASA...

SpaceX Pivots Toward Moon City as Musk Reframes Long-Term Space Vision

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has revealed a significant shift in the companys near-term space exploration strategy, announcing that SpaceX is now prioritizing the development of a self-growing city on the Moon rather than focusing...

Technology

Elon Musk Signals Intel 14A Chips for Tesla’s Terafab AI Semiconductor Venture

Tesla Inc (NASDAQ: TSLA) CEO Elon Musk revealed new details about the companys ambitious semiconductor plans, confirming that the Terafab joint venture intends to leverage Intels advanced 14A chip manufacturing process....

Tesla Earnings Beat Expectations as EV Growth Holds Amid Robotics and AI Shift

Tesla reported stronger-than-expected first-quarter 2026 earnings, driven largely by resilience in its core electric vehicle business, even as the company continues shifting focus toward artificial intelligence, robotics,...

SK Hynix Reports Record Q1 Profit Surge Driven by AI Memory Chip Demand

SK Hynix Inc. (KS:000660) delivered a standout performance in the first quarter, reporting a dramatic surge in operating profit that exceeded market expectations. The South Korean semiconductor giant benefited...

Florida Launches Criminal Probe Into OpenAI Over FSU Shooting Incident

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced Tuesday that the state has opened a criminal investigation into OpenAI and its AI chatbot, ChatGPT, following a deadly shooting at Florida State University last year. The...

Meta Expands AI Training With Employee Activity Tracking Tools

Meta is advancing its artificial intelligence strategy by introducing new internal tracking software designed to capture employee interactions on workplace systems. The initiative, known as the Model Capability Initiative...