Environmental Nutrition

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Research Roundup

Subscribers Only • People with peripheral arterial disease are less likely to have a cardiovascular event and less likely to die if they are physically active. • Men who adopt five key lifestyle changes are 87% less likely to develop coronary heart disease than men who adopt none. • Women who eat the most lignan-rich foods are 72% less likely to develop premenopausal breast cancer than women who eat the least.

New Study Questions Fish Oils as Cure for Irregular Heartbeat

Subscribers Only In an apparent blow to the growing consensus that omega-3 fatty acids may help regulate irregular heartbeats, a study from the Netherlands has found that fish oils do not have a major protective effect.

Garlic Pills Disappoint

Subscribers Only Garlic supplements are often recommended to treat high cholesterol. But which brands can you depend on? An independent testing firm recently analyzed 16 brands and found only eight reliably labeled.

Apples: Take a Big Bite for Better Health

Subscribers Only Apples are not bursting with traditional nutrients; where apples really shine is in their fiber and phytonutrient content. And we now know that apples rate a gold star in antioxidants. Bonus: EN 's recipe for delicious Apple Spread.

Go for Grass Over Grain

Subscribers Only Q. Is there any nutritional advantage to eating grass-fed beef? A. Yes. A recent review of the research determined that grass-fed beef has twice as many of some important nutrients as grain-fed cattle.

Sugar Alcohols: A Lot to Like, But One Caveat

Subscribers Only Q. I see sorbitol and xylitol on the ingredient lists of sugar-free foods. What exactly are they? A. They are sweeteners known as sugar alcohols. Sugar alcohols are converted to energy with little or no need for insulin, making them a good choice for people with diabetes.

High-Fiber Cereals: Still a Very Smart Health Move

Subscribers Only Chances are, unless you’re irregular, you don’t even think about fiber. You should. Fiber fights heart disease and diabetes and even helps dieters manage their weight. A daily bowl of high-fiber cereal is your best bet to get the fiber you need. An EN comparison.

So, Is Any Tuna Still Safe to Eat? New Data on Light Tuna Scrutinized

Subscribers Only Q. I’ve heard that experts now advise pregnant women to avoid all canned tuna because it contains high levels of mercury. What about the rest of us? A. That caution was based on an analysis of new data from the Food and Drug Administration. But the rest of us can safely eat tuna—within limits.

New Heart Guidelines Target Trans for First Time

Subscribers Only The American Heart Association recently released guidelines designed to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. In the process, AHA became the first major health organization to place specific limits on trans fats.

Olive Oil? Canola? Hazelnut? Here’s Help Choosing an Oil

Subscribers Only It seems fat has been a four-letter word for some time. Yet, while saturated and trans fats are implicated in conditions like heart disease, cancer and stroke, certain fats can be healthful. Which fats? EN sorts it out.

The Latest on Protecting the Prostate From Cancer, Enlargement and More

Subscribers Only Most men will experience a prostate problem at some point in their lives. The most common conditions include inflammation and enlargement. Scarier is prostate cancer, the most frequent cancer in men over age 50. The good news is that much can be done to protect the prostate. Here’s how.

Post-Menopause Weight Gain Ups Breast Cancer Risk

Subscribers Only Women who gain weight after menopause increase their risk of breast cancer, while women who lose weight—especially if they keep it off—decrease their risk, suggests the Nurses’ Health Study.

Tame Insidious Inflammation to
Delay or Dodge Diseases of Aging

Subscribers Only Fever or swelling around a cut is an appropriate response to injury. Persistent internal inflammation, however, is cause for concern. It has been linked to arthritis, heart disease, cancer and Alzheimer’s, to name a few. Fortunately, there’s plenty you can do to control simmering inflammation.