Health headlines: April 2025

The latest in medical and wellness news you need to know.

Author

Umayya Theba
April 30, 2025

Plant-based diet helps prevent breast cancer

New evidence highlights how diet quality, not just plant-based eating, can influence breast cancer risk, particularly in postmenopausal women and those with lower BMI.

A case-control study conducted on Iranian women highlights the benefits of consuming a healthy plant-based diet in terms of preventing breast cancer risk, especially in postmenopausal women. The findings are published in the Journal of Health, Population, and Nutrition.

Potatoes are not all bad for you

Spuds have a reputation for causing spikes in blood sugar, but it all depends on the variety and the way it is prepared.

Potatoes are a staple of the British diet. However, they have gained a bad reputation, with concerns about them spiking our blood sugar levels – which, if repeated over time, can increase the risk of diabetes. “It depends on the type of potato and how you prepare it,” says Dr Christine Bosch, from Leeds University’s School of Food and Nutrition.

Junk food makes you dumber in a very specific way

We all know the many health effects that a diet high in saturated fat and refined sugar has on our bodies. Now, in the first study of its kind on humans, scientists find that it appears to also negatively impact a specific part of our brains.

Using a virtual reality (VR) system, scientists from the University of Sydney have shown a link between diets high in fat and sugar and impairment of spatial navigation and memory. This supports findings in previous rodent studies.

Your kidneys deserve better – These 13 superfoods can help

According to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one in seven adults in the United States has chronic kidney disease. Your kidneys work around the clock to filter out waste and excess fluid, helping to prevent serious health problems like heart disease, infections, anaemia, depression and even loss of appetite.

Your diet and gut health play a major role in your overall health, especially when it comes to keeping your kidneys healthy. There are 13 superfoods you should keep in mind when considering natural ways to give your kidney health a boost.

Shilajit: Male influencers claim it boosts testosterone and libido, but what does the science say?

The tar-like mineral substance has long been used in Ayurvedic medicine, but the evidence of its efficacy is limited – and some products may contain harmful heavy metals.

Shilajit is naturally occurring, but that is no guarantee of safety. Groundwaters in the Himalayas where shilajit is commonly found “tend to have a lot of arsenic in them,” Musgrave says, warning of the risk of potential contamination.

Keto expert's 'sleep superhero' food that can help improve sleep

A lack of sleep is linked to the likes of kidney disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and stroke. Renowned best-selling author Dr Eric berg has named four foods that could help you sleep better and that a lack of zinc can often cause sleep problems.