September 2002
Research Roundup
Subscribers Only A high-sodium diet increases the risk of congestive heart failure in people who are overweight, according to government data. Researchers tracked over 10,000 people, half of whom were overweight, for about 19 years. Overweight participants who consumed more than about 2,500 milligrams of sodium a day were 43% more likely to develop congestive heart failure by study’s end than overweight people who got less than about 1,200 milligrams a day.
Summer’s Out, But Smoothies Are Still In
Subscribers Only Sure, it’s September. But smoothies are a perennial treat, so EN checked out whether store-bought ones are as healthful as homemade. They can be, though many are not.
Need Hot Flash Relief That’s Not HRT? Natural Options to Try
Subscribers Only Q. I’ve stopped hormone replacement therapy (HRT) because of recent concerns, but now am again plagued by hot flashes. What else can I try?
Extracting the Truth About Chemicals in Decaf Coffee (and Tea)
Subscribers Only Q. I drink decaf coffee, but heard that the process to remove caffeine imparts unsafe chemicals. Is that true?
For a More Healthful Frozen Dinner, Opt for Organic
Subscribers Only Frozen dinners are no longer just for the "Hungry Man." Everyone can use easy, hurry-up meal preparation now and then, especially if the meals are more nutritionally responsible than typical frozen dinners. Several companies are now serving up organic frozen dinners for busy people who want more "natural"—read, hopefully more healthful—convenience foods. And from what we’ve sampled, you no longer need to sacrifice taste.
Parasites in Our Food: They May Not Be So Foreign Anymore
Subscribers Only Parasites? Isn’t that what people get from drinking water in underdeveloped foreign countries? Now there is risk right here in the U.S., too, from food.
Eye News to Use
Subscribers Only Too much caffeine may be detrimental for people with glaucoma and ocular hypertension, suggests a Tel Aviv University study. Six people with glaucoma and 22 people with ocular hypertension consumed either regular coffee or decaf daily for a week, then switched.
What’s on Your Plate May Help Prevent Alzheimer’s
Subscribers Only Alzheimer’s Disease is thought of as inevitable for the one in 10 over age 65 who get it. But some of the strongest evidence to date surfaced recently that by eating a healthful diet you may be able to significantly reduce your risk of developing this devastating disease.
Potassium Promises to Protect Against Stroke
Subscribers Only People who don’t get enough potassium in their diets and those who are taking diuretics and have low blood levels of the mineral may be at higher risk of a stroke, say researchers from The Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu.
What Your Doc Doesn’t Know Can Hurt You: Advice to Avoid
Subscribers Only Keeping up with nutrition is hard these days. Nutrition is an ever-evolving science, and advice changes all the time. It’s not surprising, then, that doctors may find it hard staying up to date on the latest in nutrition. Savvy doctors realize this and refer patients to a professional for nutrition counseling.
Are You Eating The Right Foods To Live Better, Longer? Take EN’s Quiz
Subscribers Only Eating healthfully is about more than just learning the ABC’s of vitamins, minerals or even phytonutrients. It’s all about making the best food choices possible—and choosing the right supplements, too. In each issue of EN, we try to guide you, the reader, on how to make those choices. Now, it’s time to test your food and nutrition know-how.
Most Feared Cancers: What Men Need To Know About Prostate Cancer and Diet
Subscribers Only (Part 2 of a two-part series on the most feared cancers.) Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths—after lung cancer—among American males. Those most at risk are over age 65, are African-American or have a family history of prostate cancer. You can’t alter those factors. But there is growing evidence that diet may also affect risk, and unlike the above factors, diet is a factor men can control.