Breaking News:Tips for a healthier new year from the University of Minnesota– What Just Happened

As a top U.S. public research university, University of Minnesota researchers regularly get up to extraordinary things. That includes playing a vital role in Minnesota’s healthcare ecosystem by providing comprehensive education, innovative clinical services, and cutting-edge research.

In 2025, the University of Minnesota published hundreds of groundbreaking studies that provide a foundation for improving human health. Here, we look back on just a few of those that can help you plan those 2026 resolutions. 

On average, Americans walk 3,000 to 4,000 steps a day. Adding to that step count could lead to a longer life. According to a 2025 study by the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, physical activity levels are a better predictor of mortality than obesity, diabetes, smoking or even heart disease.

“Our nationwide study showed that physical activity measures perform as well as, or even slightly better than, age — making physical activity one of the strongest predictors of mortality,” says School of Public Health Assistant Professor Erjia Cui, who co-authored the study. “The message here is clear: moving more will benefit your long-term health.”

Takeaways for 2026: Grab a wearable device and look at the numbers — they actually matter.

Technology and artificial intelligence have the potential to support and/or undermine our health, depending on how intentionally we navigate them.

Intentionally disconnecting from electronic devices, AI and all things virtual — at least for a time — can help us reconnect with people, nature and the physical world, which in turn can help us feel more grounded and human.

“Many of us spend the year immersed in virtual spaces — constantly reachable, constantly stimulated, unaware of the consequences, until we can suddenly realize something’s gone missing,” says Dr. Sabine Schmid of the University of Minnesota Medical School. “When the gap between our digital life and our physical life becomes too wide, it creates tension. The desire to unplug isn’t a rejection of technology; it’s our nervous system signaling a need to reduce certain inputs for optimal functioning.”

Takeaways for 2026: 

• Designate short “device-free windows” each day.
• Leave your phone in another room during meals or conversations.
• Replace one digital habit with a physical one: a walk, a puzzle, a handwritten card or cooking with someone.

Schmid says that if at first you feel anxious without your devices, that’s normal. “By approaching unplugging with curiosity rather than judgment, you create space for choice rather than deprivation.”

So much of our lives seem to be lived elsewhere from where our bodies physically reside. For young people, that can have real consequences later in life. University of Minnesota researchers have begun investigating how much social media affects teen weight concerns and body image issues. A 2025 study from the University of Minnesota College of Education and Human Development and Stanford University found that teens who used Snapchat, TikTok and X for longer periods of time reported more weight concerns than their peers who used these platforms less often.

“When it comes to teen social media use, duration of screen time may be less important than the content on these platforms,” says lead author Xiaoran Sun, an assistant professor in the College of Education and Human Development. “We now know that certain platforms expose teens to more potentially harmful content than others. To protect teen mental health and body image in the future, we’ll need to explore ways to limit exposure to that content.”

Takeaways for 2026: Your body is a wonderful thing, and how you feel about it is your business. In the meantime, try to be present within it. 

Grilled meats, alcohol and cancer risks

Food and drink are among life’s greatest pleasures. But everyday habits — from what we eat to what and how much we drink — impact our health in unexpected ways. University of Minnesota researchers Robert Turesky, College of Pharmacy, and Logan Spector, Medical School, recently discovered that the way we cook red meat may play a major role in exposure to PhIP. Frequent consumption of cooked meats containing PhIP is associated with human prostate cancer risk. 

Meanwhile, in 2025 the U.S. Surgeon General released an advisory outlining the direct link between alcohol consumption and increased cancer risk — yet fewer than half of Americans recognize alcohol as a risk factor for cancer.

Takeaways for 2026: When it comes to grilling meat, cooking it to medium instead of well-done can help reduce the formation of harmful chemicals like PhIP. And with alcohol, you can immediately reduce your cancer risk by reducing the frequency of drinking, consuming alcohol with food and considering alcohol-free alternatives.

It’s not all bad news for our food choices. For decades, Americans were advised that cutting fat was key to a heart-healthy diet, spurring an industry of low-fat dairy products. But a new generation of nutrition research is challenging some of those long-held beliefs — suggesting the impact of dietary fat is different when found in dairy products compared with other foods.

A 2025 study from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health tracked dairy consumption and measured coronary artery calcification — a buildup of calcium in the arteries that can be an early sign of heart disease.

The study found whole-fat dairy appears protective against coronary artery calcification. Participants who consumed the most whole-fat dairy actually had a lower risk of developing coronary artery calcification compared with those who consumed the least. Meanwhile, low-fat and total dairy showed no clear relationship with risk of coronary artery calcification. 

Takeaways for 2026: Don’t break out the endless cheese plate just yet: More research is needed. That’s because the protective effect of whole-fat dairy weakened slightly after researchers adjusted for participants’ body mass index (BMI), suggesting that the slightly lower average BMI of those who consume dairy may partly explain the association.

Future research should further explore the impacts of whole-fat dairy on heart health by investigating biological mechanisms, such as the role of specific fatty acids or bioactive compounds in dairy fat.