More facts and news about nutrition
December 27, 2010
Nutrition Lab
Saccharin's mostly sweet following
Think saccharin is unsafe? You may want to think again.
December 20, 2010
A reversal on carbs
Most people can count calories. Many have a clue about where fat lurks in their diets. However, fewer give carbohydrates much thought, or know why they should.
December 20, 2010
Cleaning up your carb act: Where to begin
Most Americans eat between 250 and 300 grams of carbohydrates a day, the equivalent of 1,000 to 1,200 calories. The Institute of Medicine, which sets dietary nutrient requirements, recommends 130 grams a day. Some, such as Dr. Frank Hu, professor of nutrition and epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health, say achieving that would be a big step in the right direction, but other low-carb advocates believe the number is too inflexible.
December 13, 2010
Nutrition Lab
Enriched eggs, milk may not be best source for omega-3s
Milk and eggs have earned their place in the American diet because they're good sources of calcium and protein, respectively. These days, some brands are also being touted as a good source of another nutrient: omega-3s.
November 8, 2010
The food-mood connection
You've heard the claims: Chocolate evokes that loving feeling. Eating fish makes you smarter. Pure carbs calm you down. If you are what you eat, as they say, then it certainly stands to reason that food can influence mood and brain power.
September 20, 2010
Nutrition Lab
High-protein Greek yogurt gains in popularity
Super-thick, creamy nonfat Greek yogurt has become a highly popular product, with the benefits of a high-quality protein.
September 2, 2010
Organic strawberries are better — in some ways — researchers say
Consumers who buy organic fruits and vegetables because they think they're tastier, more nutritious and better for the environment are getting at least some of what they're paying for, according to a study published online Wednesday.
August 30, 2010
My Turn:
Here's the veggies. Now create.
In my junior high home ec class, I liked the emphasis on precision we were taught: Use a butter knife to level off the dry ingredients in a measuring cup, and never pour salt into a measuring spoon over a bowl of already waiting ingredients.
August 2, 2010
My Turn: The hand that rocks the cradle can shake up the diet
I have always loved helping people achieve their fitness goals, whatever they may be.
July 26, 2010
Pantry Raid: Taken to task in May, a publicist gives up fast food and now makes most of her own meals
In May, we raided the nutritionally bankrupt pantry of Stephanie Jacobson, a Toluca Lake publicist whose meals were based on processed and frozen foods — or fast food. She was so hard-core she had Chipotle and Pizza Hut apps on her phone.
June 28, 2010
Nutrition Lab
The questionable claims about resistant starch
Keep an eye out for claims that carbs are making a comeback.
May 31, 2010
Nutrition Lab
Science picks through the chocolate nuggets
It's every sweet tooth's dream. A steady stream of studies has linked chocolate to a variety of health benefits, including decreased blood pressure, lower cholesterol, reduced risk of heart disease, even effects on mood.
May 31, 2010
The mysterious, dark-coated relationship between chocolate and mood
Many people will indulge in chocolate no matter its sugar content, fat content or purported health effects.
May 10, 2010
Pantry Raid: Young but on a dangerous diet path
Every so often, we take a candid look at the private dietary lives of people whose food choices need a makeover. Up this week: the kitchen and dining habits of 29-year-old Stephanie Jacobson.
May 10, 2010
Pantry Raid
The good and bad of Stephanie's diet
Stephanie Jacobson eats a smattering of whole grains and vegetables, which is better than none at all. She's cut way back on her soda consumption and stopped drinking coffee. But fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and foods with calcium need to be added to her daily diet ASAP.
May 10, 2010
Pantry Raid recipe: Penne with chicken, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes
Here's a healthful recipe for chicken with spinach and sun-dried tomatoes over penne, with a side dish of zucchini, both developed by registered dietitian Ruth Frechman (we haven't tested them ourselves):
May 10, 2010
What the food diary revealed
We asked Stephanie Jacobson to keep a food diary so that dietitian Ruth Frechman could get a better sense of her eating habits. Frechman's one-word reaction to the seven-day report: "Yikes."
April 29, 2010
Many doctors don't discuss diet with obese patients
With the nation's high rates of obesity and the low odds of weight loss, perhaps weary doctors are just giving up. National statistics show that only about half of obese Americans were advised by their doctors to cut down on fatty foods. The rate, from a 2006 survey, has not changed from a survey taken in 2002.
April 5, 2010
Nutrition Lab
It takes more than breakfast to lower cholesterol
If you believe what you read in the cereal aisle, the right breakfast choice can lower your cholesterol — and cut your risk of heart disease.
March 29, 2010
Organic: What it means on different products
Some consumers are more than willing to pay higher prices for organically grown food and other products. But is the extra dollar worth it? The answer may depend upon personal priorities.
March 29, 2010
People’s Pharmacy
Joe Graedon, Teresa Graedon: Lemonade to ward off kidney stones
Q: The other day, someone wrote asking about kidney stones. To cut down on kidney stones, I drink several glasses of lemonade a week.
March 22, 2010
Got coconut milk?
Coconut milk used to be something that came in a can and was good to have on hand for making pina coladas or Thai curries. These days, coconut milk can also be found in cartons in the milk aisle and in pints in the ice cream section — and as yogurt, coffee creamer and even kefir.
March 8, 2010
Fat American Children: Many Causes, a Lifetime of Effects
The percentage of American children who are overweight or obese has been growing for decades, and now nearly one in three has a body mass index that's greater than normal. Although evidence suggests that obesity rates are leveling off overall, for some groups of kids — especially poor or minority kids — the problem continues to grow, according to a study published Tuesday in the journal Health Affairs.
January 25, 2010
NUTRITION LAB
Foods fortified with extra vitamins could prove costly
These days, it's not difficult to consume 600% of your daily recommended value of B vitamins or 2,000% of the recommended amount of vitamin C -- all before lunchtime.
March 1, 2010
Controlling cholesterol in children
Doctors may not agree on the need to screen children for high cholesterol, but those who do will likely want to treat kids with abnormal results.
February 22, 2010
Nutrition Lab: Joint pain supplements examined
With more than 46 million Americans diagnosed with arthritis, the market for joint pain supplements is enormous — and only set to grow as baby boomers age. "I call it the quiet epidemic," says Dr. Thomas Vangsness, professor of orthopedic surgery and chief of sports medicine at the USC Keck School of Medicine.
February 15, 2010
The power of the calorie count
Registered dietitian Jill Weisenberger once had a client who kept a puzzling food journal. The calorie counts were all out of whack. The woman's tuna sandwich had 33 calories. An apple: 144.
February 8, 2010
Blood pressure: potassium, fish oil and fiber
Results haven't been unanimous, but a good deal of research suggests that healthy doses of potassium can help lower your blood pressure.
February 8, 2010
Blood pressure: the DASH diet
DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, an eight-week clinical trial, reported in 1997, that tested the effects of three diets on 459 adults. Among the group, 133 had high blood pressure for which they were not being treated with a drug.
January 11, 2010
Nutrition Lab
All fibers may not be created equal
If your diet lacks fiber, it's your own fault. High levels of the cholesterol-lowering, regularity-inducing substance can now be found in many breads, pastas, cereals -- even yogurts, cakes and juices.
November 30, 2009
NUTRITION LAB
L-carnitine might not be the boost for you
Read the ingredient label on any energy drink and odds are fairly good that, among other arcane items, you'll come across something called L-carnitine.
October 12, 2009
NUTRITION LAB
Sprouted-grain breads: The facts
Sprouted-grain bread offerings in the market have been slowly but steadily on the uptick of late, and a number of health claims have attached themselves to the spongy, nutty-tasting loaves: more digestible, richer in protein and higher in vitamins and minerals compared with other breads.
November 2, 2009
NUTRITION LAB
HCG diet was largely discredited long ago
A long-ago discredited fad diet has been getting increased attention lately, thanks to Web chatter and the claims of a bestselling author. The so-called HCG diet's recent popularity is a bit surprising -- and not just because research suggests it doesn't work.
July 13, 2009
Nutrition Lab
Authors have their theories
Acai berries, green tea, soy, olive oil and sweet potatoes have all been hyped for their life-prolonging potential. Diets rich in vegetables, fruits and grains, and low on meat may help prevent chronic disease. But so far there's only one dietary approach shown to lengthen life span: eating less. Of course, a dearth of firm data hasn't stopped doctors, scientists and nutritional dilettantes from penning anti-aging diet books. Here are a few of them.
March 30, 2009
NUTRITION LAB
Agave syrup's benefits are in debate: Is it too sweet?
A sweetener made from the juice of a Mexican cactus is an increasingly common ingredient in bottled teas, energy drinks, nutrition bars and desserts from health food stores.
September 15, 2008
NUTRITION
Kefir is nutritious, but larger health claims are on shakier ground
A tangy, sour, fermented milk drink may not sound like a likely candidate to move from health food stores to mainstream supermarkets, but that's exactly what kefir has done. The beverage is steadily gaining fans convinced of the health benefits -- proponents tout its purported ability to help cure cancer, reduce high cholesterol and treat high blood pressure -- yet the scientific studies to support the claims are still few.
HEALTH
Live chat: your nutrition questions answered
Administrator: Welcome to our first nutrition chat with Susan Bowerman of UCLA.
HEALTH
Live chat: anti-aging foods
Administrator: Welcome to this nutrition chat with Susan Bowerman of UCLA's Center for Human Nutrition. Today's topic: anti-aging foods.
E-mail
Twitter
Facebook
StumbleUpon