The truth about emulsifiers: are they destroying our gut health?

The E numbers in food make bread softer and ice-cream silkier. But there is growing concern about how they might affect our microbiome

Tea, apples and berries could stave off age-related memory loss, study suggests

Research found 71-year-olds with high flavanol consumption had better memory function

‘Water is too boring’?! Can you really survive on nothing but coffee, tea or juice?

Everyone agrees you need some form of hydration – but are any of the alternatives as good for you as H20? And precisely how much should you be gulping down?

Should I worry about skipping breakfast?

Some claim it is the most important meal of the day, while others believe fasting has its benefits. What does the science say?

Chocolate doesn’t cause acne – but carrots do help you see in the dark: the best and worst health myths and wisdom

True or false: cheese gives you bad dreams and oysters are aphrodisiacs? We investigate good, bad and mad health advice

Should I worry about how much sugar I consume?

Sugary foods are easier to access than ever and designed to keep us coming back for more. Are they actually addictive – and should we quit them?

Mind over matter: can meditation soothe my troubled insides?

Meditating Buddhist monks have been shown to have healthier gut microbiomes and more effective metabolisms than non-meditators. Could an app make mine happier?

Chew slowly, keep moving and eat 30 plants a week: 12 rules for gut health

What to eat, when, how to do it properly – and what to avoid. Experts lay out the food habits that will make a real difference to your health

What are the real signs of a healthy gut? A user’s guide

It’s a huge organ that gives us the energy to live, grow and repair. But how does it work – and how do you keep it healthy? Our science editor unravels its astonishing job

Society has never produced so much food, yet we live in a world where only the rich get to be healthy

It’s not a failure of collective willpower that’s jeopardising our health, but a diet of bad food that’s culturally familiar, low in nutrition and super available