Diet and nutrition

8:02 PM CDT, May 22, 2013

Do diet changes help ADHD children?

Dylan Jerrell was having a tough time in kindergarten.

2:15 PM CDT, May 21, 2013

People choose larger portions of 'healthy' foods

People will choose larger portions of food if they are labeled as being "healthier," even if they have the same number of calories, according to a new study.

May 18, 2013

Gluten-free cake options

Baking has been a challenge for people who maintain a gluten-free diet, especially for people trying to make traditional birthday cakes or re-create a childhood favorite. That's in part because flours made from other ingredients (almonds, chickpeas, rice) don't "behave" in the same manner as flour made from wheat.

May 18, 2013

What is gluten? And other frequently asked questions about gluten

What is gluten?

May 18, 2013

Going gluten-free more common, but not necessarily easier

For more than 20 years, Kristine Kidd tasted what came her way as the food editor at Bon Appetit magazine. But she never felt great.

3:47 PM CDT, May 7, 2013

Spring is the perfect time to taste the rainbow

Spring showers inspire the growth of a colorful array of fruits and vegetables to decorate your dishes, tempt your taste buds and nourish yourself naturally.

7:49 PM CDT, May 14, 2013

Study casts doubt on some findings about sodium

Are Americans getting mixed messages about how much sodium they should be consuming? Lately, yes, and some of those messages are muddled because studies themselves are muddled, a panel of doctors has concluded.

4:26 PM CDT, May 13, 2013

Small restaurants serving big calories, salt: studies

Despite public health progress in cutting calories, as well as salt and fat from fast foods and supermarket products, neighborhood restaurants are still packing big helpings of each into their meals, a trio of studies suggests.

10:47 AM CDT, May 13, 2013

Eating insects could help fight obesity, U.N. says

The thought of eating beetles, caterpillars and ants may give you the creeps, but the authors of a U.N. report published on Monday said the health benefits of consuming nutritious insects could help fight obesity.

7:00 AM CDT, May 13, 2013

Could giving newborns formula help with breast-feeding?

A new study suggests that there are situations in which limited formula use might actually help some mothers breast-feed their children for a longer period of time.

3:45 PM CDT, May 10, 2013

What do we spend to preserve nature? $40 billion

Some say that you can’t put a price on precious natural resources. As of this week, you can.

4:20 PM CDT, May 13, 2013

Ask adult patients about alcohol misuse: panel

Primary care doctors should ask adults how much and how often they drink alcohol and counsel those with risky and dangerous drinking habits, a government-backed panel said today.

11:10 AM CDT, May 7, 2013

Fluids may prevent constipation better than fiber

Everyone knows that getting enough fiber is a secret to staying "regular," but a large new study finds that people who got plenty of fluids were the least likely to suffer constipation.

4:05 PM CDT, May 8, 2013

Study questions fish oil benefit before heart attack

Fish oil supplements did not prevent heart problems in people who hadn't had a heart attack yet, in a large long-term study from Italy.

1:13 PM CDT, May 8, 2013

Packaged diet foods may spur more weight loss

In a head-to-head comparison with a traditional diet, people who stuck to a diet of portion-controlled packaged foods lost almost twice as much weight as those who only got advice on how to trim calories, according to a new study.

6:54 PM CDT, May 9, 2013

Wrigley holds off on caffeinated gum as FDA reviews caffeine

Less than a week after the FDA announced that it would investigate the safety of added caffeine in U.S. food and beverage products, Wrigley North America put its bid to market a caffeinated gum on hold.

2:08 AM CDT, May 9, 2013

What to consume before, during and after exercise

Have you ever been hungry before you workout or even hungrier after you're done? BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois gives tips on what to eat before, during and after workouts.

6:17 PM CDT, May 8, 2013

Posting calories: 'So yesterday' already?

At chain restaurants across the country, the ink is scarcely dry on new menus posting the calorie counts of food and beverage options. But already, public health experts are debating whether there might be better ways to influence Americans' nutritional choices when they're out and about.

1:01 PM CDT, May 8, 2013

Dietary supplement contained erectile dysfunction drug

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced the recall of several dietary supplements that contain the undeclared drug tadalafil, which is used to treat erectile dysfunction.

May 9, 2013

Got diet milk?

In the face of troubling childhood obesity rates and what it sees as low milk consumption rates, the dairy industry says it has a solution: Offer kids flavored milk that uses low-calorie artificial sweeteners.

5:53 PM CDT, May 7, 2013

Teens ate 'too many calories' at Subway and McDonald's, study says

Adolescents who went to McDonald’s and Subway in Los Angeles bought about the same number of calories at each, despite Subway's reputation as a healthier place to eat, researchers said.

5:03 PM CDT, May 6, 2013

Grocery shopping on an empty stomach leads to dieting disaster

Attention dieters: If you want to maximize your chances of success, don’t go to the grocery store on an empty stomach.

4:11 PM CDT, May 1, 2013

Addicted to added sugar? It's 13 percent of calories consumed by Americans

Sugar. Honey. Maple syrup. Molasses. High fructose corn syrup. All of these are “added sugars,” and you are probably eating — and drinking — too much of them.

9:04 PM CDT, April 30, 2013

Monster sues San Francisco city attorney over energy drinks probe

Monster Beverage Corp has sued San Francisco's city attorney over an investigation the city launched last year into the safety and marketing of Monster energy drinks.

1:11 PM CDT, April 30, 2013

FDA looks at caffeine impact on kids after Wrigley gum

Wrigley's new Alert Energy Caffeine Gum has prompted the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to look into the potential impact that added caffeine may have on children and adolescents.

2:49 PM CDT, April 26, 2013

More evidence adding nuts is a healthy choice

People can safely add a few nuts to their diet — or replace other foods with the high-unsaturated fat, high-fiber snacks — without gaining weight, a new review of past studies suggests.

6:21 PM CDT, April 25, 2013

Imported cucumbers sicken 73 people in 18 states with salmonella

More than 70 people in 18 states have fallen ill because of a salmonella outbreak linked to imported Mexican cucumbers, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday.

12:03 PM CDT, April 24, 2013

Fruit, Mediterranean diet tied to fewer hot flashes

Women who eat diets high in fruit, certain vegetables, pasta and red wine are less likely to have hot flashes and night sweats during menopause, a new study from Australia suggests.

4:03 PM CDT, April 24, 2013

Gut bugs are implicated in heart attacks and stroke

Thousands of heart attack victims every year have none of the notorious risk factors before their crisis — not high cholesterol, not unhealthy triglycerides. Suspects? The human gut.

4:00 PM CDT, April 19, 2013

Extra fiber tied to lower risk of stroke

People who get more fiber in their diet are less likely to have a stroke than those who skimp on the nutrient, according to a new review of existing research.

April 20, 2013

Set a goal but didn't follow through? Tips to resetting habits

OK, you've had nearly a third of the year. Lost that weight? Smoking a thing of the past? Nicer to your husband? If you are like many people, such resolutions have disappeared as completely as the bubbles in your Champagne toast. But you can start again.

2:18 PM CDT, April 18, 2013

Exercise, diet may keep sleep apnea from worsening

Losing weight through exercise and healthier eating may have long-term benefits for people with mild sleep apnea, a new study suggests.

2:45 PM CDT, April 15, 2013

Beer's taste, sans alcoholic effect, triggers dopamine in brain

Remember that Jamie Foxx song "Blame It (On the Alcohol)"? If not, perhaps it’s just as well, because scientists say that even the taste of beer (without the intoxicating effects of alcohol) can trigger that flow of striatal dopamine in the brain.

2:06 PM CDT, April 11, 2013

Raw fruit may not be linked to lower blood pressure

People who eat more raw fruits or drink juice do not necessarily have lower blood pressure, according to a new study that goes against previous evidence.

9:22 AM CDT, April 10, 2013

People eat more unhealthy foods on days they drink

Americans tend to eat more calories and fat on the days they also have alcoholic drinks, a new study suggests.

3:07 PM CDT, April 10, 2013

Small dishes mean less food for kids, study says

Everyone who has ever read a diet book knows this tip: Use a smaller plate, and you are likely to put less food on it. Now researchers have found the same is true for children taking food at school lunch.

4:26 PM CDT, April 9, 2013

Breakfast cereal tied to lower BMI for kids

Regularly eating cereal for breakfast is tied to healthy weight for kids, according to a new study that endorses making breakfast cereal accessible to low-income kids to help fight childhood obesity.

3:25 PM CDT, April 8, 2013

Strict school lunch standards tied to healthy weight

Strict school lunch standards that are similar to new regulations from the U.S. government may be tied to healthier body weights among students, according to a new study.

3:56 PM CDT, April 8, 2013

Red meat and heart disease link: Not all about the fat?

The long-established link between red meat consumption and heart disease may have less to do with the fat in the meat than many have assumed, researchers said Sunday.

12:35 PM CDT, April 8, 2013

The science of a healthful diet explained

Harlan-the-medical-student channeled Harlan-the-chef and wrote "It's Heartly Fare," a guide to healthful eating. His primary advice was simple: "Cut down on saturated fat, sugar and salt."

2:07 PM CDT, April 5, 2013

Non-dairy calcium seen to lower kidney stone risk

Getting plenty of calcium from foods has been shown to lower the likelihood of kidney stones in those most at risk, but a new study makes clear the benefit isn't just linked to milk products.

April 6, 2013

Food as medicine? What to make of the claims

What's a healthful food and what's a healing food? Is there a difference? At least since the mid-19th century, when the Battle Creek Sanitarium opened its doors and people flocked there to follow John Harvey Kellogg's regime of whole grains, nuts and frequent enemas, many Americans have sought food as medicine.

9:41 AM CDT, April 2, 2013

Shoppers may buy more fruit, veggies when prices dip

Cut fruit and vegetable prices in half and people will load up on them, according to a new study that suggests price regulation may play an important role in future public policy.

6:52 PM CDT, April 3, 2013

Whole truth about which whole-grain foods are best

"Whole grain" has become a healthy eating buzz phrase, and food companies aren't shy about using it to entice us to buy products. Browse the bread, cereal or chip aisles of your favorite grocery store, and you'll see the upsell.

2:27 PM CDT, April 2, 2013

Possible E. coli contamination spurs Farm Rich products recall

Possible contamination with E. coli has prompted the Rich Products Corp. to voluntarily recall the following products: Farm Rich Mini Quesadillas, Farm Rich Mini Pizza Slices, Farm Rich Philly Cheese Steaks, Farm Rich Mozzarella Bites and Market Day Mozzarella Bites, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

2:54 PM CDT, April 2, 2013

Undisclosed soy prompts recall by Lisy Corp.

The Miami-based Lisy Corp. is recalling some of its seasoning blends because their labels do not list the ingredient soy, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

12:35 PM CDT, March 29, 2013

Chinese herbs may reduce hot flashes

Women taking a Chinese herbal formula experienced less than half the number of menopausal hot flashes they had before the treatment, according to a new study from Hong Kong.

2:18 PM CDT, March 28, 2013

Prebiotics in baby formula and eczema: mixed picture

There's some evidence to suggest that putting prebiotics in baby formula protects children against the skin condition eczema, according to a fresh look at past research.

5:36 PM CDT, March 28, 2013

Animal rights groups sue FDA over egg labeling concerns

Animal rights advocates on Thursday sued U.S. regulators to correct what they say is misleading labeling on cartons of eggs that come from caged hens.

3:15 PM CDT, March 28, 2013

Kids' menus are not healthy, nutrition group says

Ninety-one percent of thousands of children’s meals at the biggest restaurant chains don’t meet standards set by the National Restaurant Assn.’s own initiative for healthful kids’ meals, a study out Thursday from a nutrition advocacy group says. And nine chains have no meals that meet those standards, the study says.

8:12 PM CDT, March 27, 2013

What one woman gained by giving up diet foods

I was 13 years old when I ate my first diet meal.

8:00 PM CDT, March 27, 2013

Dried fruits pale to fresh

Q: Are dried fruits a healthy choice compared to fresh fruits?

11:28 AM CDT, March 27, 2013

Julie Deardorff: Does a low-fat diet increase triglycerides?

It’s easy to assume that a low-fat diet is the healthy way to go, especially since a diet low in saturated and trans fat was recommended by government agencies back in the 1980s.

8:00 AM CDT, March 27, 2013

Food deserts may not be key in what people eat, study says

There’s no strong evidence of an association between living within walking distance of places to buy food and being overweight or not, researchers said after interviewing nearly 100,000 Californians.

1:36 AM CDT, March 27, 2013

Adding fiber to your food

According to the National Fiber Council, fiber is the go-to item to lower cholesterol, feel full longer, lowers the risk of certain diseases (heart attack, diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, obesity, and certain cancers) and helps with intestinal regularity. Click this photo gallery for food fiber shopping ideas and NFC's infographic to find out more about how fiber works in your body.

12:24 PM CDT, March 26, 2013

Soy tied to better lung cancer survival among women

Women with lung cancer who ate the most soy before their diagnosis might live a little longer than those who ate the least, according to a new study.

2:43 PM CDT, March 26, 2013

Undeclared walnuts prompt recall of coffee cake

Chicago-based Gold Standard Baking has voluntarily recalled Sweet P’s Bake Shop branded Caramel Apple Danish Coffee Cake after discovering that it contained walnuts, but was distributed in packaging that did not state their presence, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

1:59 AM CDT, March 26, 2013

Photos: Sorting through calories at the salad bar

Self Magazine gives tips on calorie counting at the salad bar. Check out this gallery to find out what's the right amount for a serving and how many calories are in each selection.

6:34 PM CDT, March 25, 2013

Too many babies start eating solid foods too soon, CDC study says

Four out of 10 mothers surveyed began feeding their infants solid food when they were only 4 months old and their still-developing bodies weren’t able to process it -- and more than half the moms said they had been advised to do so by a medical professional. 

March 26, 2013

Prescription for nutrition

Despite a growing consensus that cardiovascular disease is a "food-borne" illness, many physicians are ill-prepared to advise patients on what they should eat to best protect them from heart attack or stroke.

March 26, 2013

Mediterranean diet: A sample menu

A Mediterranean-style diet emphasizes foods traditionally consumed in countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea. Here is a sample day's menu provided by Dr. Stephen Devries, executive director of the Gaples Institute in Deerfield, which promotes the value of nutrition and natural strategies in medical care.

8:15 AM CDT, March 22, 2013

Warning: Excessive tea drinking can be hazardous to your health

You can never be too rich or too thin, perhaps, but you certainly can drink too much tea. 

11:13 AM CDT, March 20, 2013

Allergy alert issued for soybean paste, FDA says

Daesang America Inc. is recalling  packages of sesame- and garlic-flavored mixed soy bean paste because they may contain undeclared peanuts, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

7:00 AM CDT, March 20, 2013

Genetically engineered tomato mimics good cholesterol

Researchers at UCLA have genetically engineered tomatoes that, when fed to mice, mimic the beneficial qualities of good cholesterol, according to a new study.

3:54 PM CDT, March 19, 2013

Rebates motivate shoppers to buy produce, whole grains, study says

Rand Corp. research released Tuesday shows that offering discounts on healthful foods increases the amounts people eat ¿ and it appears also to reduce how much foods such as cookies and chips they eat too.

4:40 PM CDT, March 18, 2013

FDA issues salmonella warning for ProtiDiet protein bars

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers not to eat certain ProtiDiet High Protein Chocolate Dream bars due to possible contamination with salmonella, according to an FDA statement Monday.

9:21 PM CDT, March 18, 2013

Low-fat milk doesn't help toddlers' weight, study says

Giving toddlers skim or 1 percent milk to keep them from growing overweight doesn’t seem to work, according to a study out Monday that gives pause over the common advice to avoid whole milk from age 2.

March 18, 2013

Doubts surface about safety of common food additive, carrageenan

Sara Baker says the light went on in her head after a cup of hot cocoa set off a storm in her stomach.

3:08 PM CDT, March 15, 2013

Distracted eaters likely to take in more calories

People who eat meals or snacks while watching TV, playing games or reading tend to consume more calories in a sitting, and especially later in the day, according to a review of two dozen past studies.

March 16, 2013

Natural Products Expo lays out the latest, with an emphasis on what's real and what's absent

Consumers say they are too busy to sort through complicated labels and want straightforward products they can trust, according to many of the exhibitors at Natural Products Expo West.

2:12 PM CDT, March 15, 2013

'Sugar-free' baked goods, with sugar? What is a dieter to do?

As if studying product labels to keep tabs on calories, carbs and fat grams wasn't painful enough, now dieters have this to worry about: one bakery's "goodies that taste good without being bad" are actually quite naughty, after all.

6:09 PM CDT, March 13, 2013

New York City's appeal of soda ban ruling to be heard in June

The legal battle over New York City's ban of large sugary drinks is set to continue in early June, after a New York appellate court agreed on Wednesday to hear the city's appeal of a ruling that struck down the new law.

3:07 PM CDT, March 14, 2013

After breast cancer, high-fat dairy foods raise risk of death

Women who have ever had breast cancer might want to walk away from the brie, the butter and the black cherry (and every other flavor) ice cream.

7:10 PM CDT, March 13, 2013

A diet miracle?

The miracle berry has been described as a hallucinogen for the tongue. It can make sour things taste sweet. But can it help solve the obesity crisis? Not so fast, experts say.

12:45 PM CST, March 7, 2013

Study finds association between processed meat and disease

Another study has found an association between eating meat and premature death, this time linking the consumption of bacon, sausage and other processed meats with cardiovascular disease and cancer in a study of nearly a half-million Europeans.

4:58 PM CST, March 7, 2013

Meat Institute finds fault with study on red meat consumption

The American Meat Institute has weighed in on a study published this week about eating red meat, and it objects to the study’s methods and conclusions.

6:50 PM CST, March 6, 2013

Too much salt may trigger autoimmune diseases: studies

Increased salt consumption may be a key culprit behind rising rates of autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis.

12:34 PM CST, March 6, 2013

Despite obesity rise, U.S. calories trending downward

U.S. adults have been eating steadily fewer calories for almost a decade, despite the continued increase in obesity rates, according to survey data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

2:19 PM CST, March 5, 2013

Getting creative with the coconut

Despite its name, the coconut is a fruit from the coconut palm. Tropical cultures have been using this delicious fruit for everything from food to body lotion and even currency.

March 6, 2013

Oh, that old diet

Although some skeptics remain wary, Mary Tapia, of Mount Prospect, is convinced there are benefits to the "Paleo Diet," which promotes unprocessed foods that were the diet of hunter-gatherers during the Paleolithic era — primarily meats, fish, fruits, and vegetables.

6:14 PM CST, March 3, 2013

More iron linked to reduced risk of severe PMS

Women who get a little more than the recommended daily amount of iron in their diets may be less likely to get a more severe form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), according to a U.S. study.

1:58 PM CST, February 28, 2013

Head Start teachers behind on nutrition: study

Preschool teachers scored low on a nutrition knowledge quiz and seemed to have unhealthy eating habits themselves, researchers found in a small study.

7:00 PM CST, February 27, 2013

Photos: 8 ways to eat healthier, from PresidentsChallenge.org

It's so easy to find junk food that eating healthy can be a challenge. Here are eight recommendations for eating healthier straight from the President's Challenge website.

February 27, 2013

Babies of obese moms show lower vitamin D levels

Babies born to women who are obese at the start of pregnancy tend to have one-third less vitamin D than the infants of lean women, according to a new study led by a Northwestern Medicine professor.

4:15 PM CST, February 25, 2013

Older women, don't take vitamin D for bones: Panel

Older women shouldn't take vitamin D and calcium supplements to prevent broken bones, and there's not enough evidence to say whether it would help anyone else either, says a U.S. government-backed panel.

12:26 PM CST, February 25, 2013

Mediterranean diet can ward off heart disease: study

A Mediterranean diet high in olive oil, nuts, fish and fresh fruits and vegetables may help prevent heart disease and strokes, according to a new large study from Spain.

2:07 PM CST, February 21, 2013

Adults cut back fast food, but U.S. kids still eat too much fat: CDC

American adults have made a little progress in recent years in cutting back on calories from fast food, but children are still consuming too much fat, U.S. health researchers say.

6:30 PM CST, February 20, 2013

Ditching dairy

"Canned salmon: It does a body good" doesn't pack quite the same punch as that other slogan.

3:19 PM CST, February 20, 2013

Antioxidants may not ward off strokes, dementia

Older adults who eat diets high in antioxidants may not have a lower risk of dementia or stroke, a new study suggests.

7:00 AM CST, February 20, 2013

Cooking up toxic air pollution

When UC Davis scientists collected air pollution particles in Fresno and then exposed laboratory mice to them, they found that one of the most toxic sources was the backyard grill.

11:21 AM CST, February 20, 2013

Diet drinks may not fuel your appetite: study

Take another sip of that Diet Coke without fear that it may be spurring your appetite. Apparently, diet soda drinkers don't eat any more sugary or fatty foods than people who stick with water instead, according to a U.S. study.

5:23 PM CST, February 15, 2013

Menu labels may sway those who need them most

Showing diners how many calories are in restaurant food items may influence how much they eat ¿ especially among the least health-conscious people, a new study suggests.

5:44 PM CST, February 18, 2013

Doctors who cook say they give better nutrition advice

Perhaps the next time you see your doctor, he might finish the visit with a reminder to take a medication and a conversation about cooking salmon.

7:06 PM CST, February 13, 2013

Exercise: Choose your own potential

Long ago I had one of those "choose-your-own adventure" books based on a James Bond movie, and I made bad choices; the poor British spy kept getting consumed in a vat of molten lava, impaled on a bunch of spiky things or became an appetizer for saltwater crocodiles.

3:39 PM CST, February 13, 2013

Nutrition group petitions for federal regulation of sugary drinks

A nutrition advocacy group joined with scientists and health agencies Wednesday to ask the federal government to decide just how much sugar is “safe” in sodas, raising the bar in its crusade to curb the “dangerously high” amounts Americans consume.

12:51 PM CST, February 11, 2013

Tesco's spaghetti bolognese tests positive for horse DNA

Tesco, Britain's biggest retailer, said on Monday it had found horse DNA exceeding 60 percent in some of its own-brand frozen spaghetti bolognese meals withdrawn from stores last week.

February 11, 2013

Nowadays, Valentine's Day is less sweet — and peanut-free

The rules for 7-year-old Riley Krieger's Valentine's Day party recently arrived from school: Bring one valentine addressed to each child on the list attached. Make a heart-covered shoe box on your own time or just bring a bag. Any treats for the class must be individually wrapped and, as always, peanut-free.

3:17 PM CST, February 8, 2013

No sign that omega-3s benefit babies' brains

A review of the existing evidence finds it to be inconclusive about whether omega-3 fatty acids taken by mothers during pregnancy boost their kids' brain development early in life.

4:46 PM CST, February 8, 2013

Are plant-based diets environmentally friendly?

A nutritious diet that includes lots of fruits and vegetables might not be the greenest in its environmental impact, according to a new study from France.