August 2003
GI Gems to Digest
Subscribers Only Here’s a roundup of highlights from the recent annual Digestive Disease Week, the largest gathering of gastroenterologists in the world: Eating frequently may increase colon cancer risk in men. . . . Being active may lower your risk of gallstones. . . . Chewing gum after meals may ease acid reflux.
Research Roundup
Subscribers Only •Obesity may increase the risk of developing advanced macular degeneration •A combined high intake of iron and manganese may nearly double the risk of Parkinson’s disease •Laughing—yes, laughing!—may help reduce blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes
Vibrant Green (and Gold) Kiwifruit Boast Key Nutrients
Subscribers Only The Folklore : Kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) was considered a delicacy by the great khans of China, who relished its tangy flavor and emerald-green flesh. Known then as “yang tao” (literally strawberry peach) or “Chinese gooseberries” in English, this funny fuzzy brown fruit wasn’t introduced to the U.S. until 1904. It actually is a berry—the fruit of a vine.
“Gotta Go, Gotta Go?” Tips to Help Control Overactive Bladder
Subscribers Only Q . I have an “overactive bladder” but want to avoid medication. Are there any non-drug treatments I can try first?
Refilling Water Bottles Is Okay If You Wash Them Well
Subscribers Only Q . I always reuse the containers of the bottled water I buy, but I just heard this may not be safe. Is that true?
Can Diet Drinks Help You Drop Excess Pounds?
Subscribers Only The Buzz : Snapple-a-Day , a new meal-replacement beverage from a surprising source—the familiar fruit drink company—promises easy and tasty weight loss in a plastic bottle. With prominent displays in supermarkets, Snapple-a-Day aims to give other liquid meals in cans like SlimFast, Kashi GoLean and Atkins Advantage Shake a run for their money. But can Snapple-a-Day —or any liquid meal replacement—really help tip the scales in your favor?
Beyond Ice Cream: Chill Out With Alternative Frozen Concoctions
Subscribers Only The dog days of summer are upon us. Time to enjoy a bowl of something refreshingly cool and sweet—minus the fat of ice cream. You’re in luck. Open the freezer doors at the supermarket (or natural foods market) and you’ll see a variety of frozen treats, from traditional sherbet to trendy sorbet to a growing number of non-dairy “frozen desserts.”
Food Additives You Might Want to Subtract From Your Diet
Subscribers Only Many food additives serve useful purposes. They keep bread from developing mold, slow the growth of bacteria in wine plus prevent oils from turning rancid, fruit from browning and peanut butter from separating. For the vast majority of people, additives pose little or no health hazard. But for a few, some additives may be a big headache—literally.
B Vitamins Take Aim At Alzheimer’s, Cancer, Heart Attack, Stroke
Subscribers Only The B vitamins don’t generate much excitement; they don’t have the antioxidant cachet of vitamins C and E. And yet during the past decade, researchers have discovered the remarkable abilities of the B vitamin folate to lower the risk of heart disease and reduce the risk of birth defects. . . .And new evidence now links B6, B12 and other B’s to improved mental functioning as well as reduced rates of cancer and stroke.
New Research Finds Eating More Of Certain Foods Lowers Cholesterol
Subscribers Only Don't eat this. Don't eat that. We’ve become used to lists of “forbidden foods” when it comes to eating healthfully. That’s especially true for heart-healthy diets, where what you’ve been told to avoid has always reigned supreme. Years ago, dietary cholesterol and fats of all types were demonized. We now know that the type of fat you eat is more important than the amount, with saturated and trans fats the real culprits in raising blood cholesterol. . . .
Trans Fat to Debut on Food Labels—in 2006
Subscribers Only In a move applauded by health and consumer advocates, the Food and Drug Administration will finally require food labels to list artery-clogging trans fatty acids so shoppers can make healthier choices. Trans fat will be listed on its own line. . .