Environmental Nutrition

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Research Roundup

Subscribers Only • "Cloudy" apple juice may be better for you than clear , filtered apple juice, say researchers from Poland. • Losing weight may reduce your risk of chronic diseases by reducing inflammation, study finds. • The lower your blood level of vitamin D , the greater your risk of multiple sclerosis, researchers report.

The Perks of Peanut Butter: Good-for-You Fats

Subscribers Only Peanut butter is one of America’s most popular sandwich spreads, as it should be. It provides protein, vitamins, minerals and helps manage cholesterol and blood insulin levels. For a change, enjoy our Ginger-Carrot Soup with a peanut butter boost.

FDA Gives Green Light to Cloned Animal Products; Why EN Is Leery

Subscribers Only Q. I read that cloned animals were approved to be used as food. Is that safe? A. That depends on who you ask. It’s true a recent report said the meat and milk from clones of some animals are safe and not in need of labeling.

High Cholesterol Cure?

Subscribers Only Q. Are supplements containing policosanol effective for lowering cholesterol? A. That’s unclear. Several studies have found that policosanol lowers the “bad” cholesterol and raises the “good.” Other studies have found no effect.

The Lowdown on Coffee as Rx for Diabetes

Subscribers Only Q. I saw a news story that drinking coffee might reduce my risk of developing diabetes. Is that true? A. Yes, according to some studies. Overall, however, results have been mixed.

Short-Cut Rice Is Convenient, But Sodium a Huge Problem

Subscribers Only There used to be only two choices when cooking rice—white rice in 20 minutes or brown rice in 40. Today’s climate of “get it on the table in a hurry” has led to an explosion in quick-cooking rice options and flavors available. Sodium is the sore point. A brand-by-brand nutrition comparison.

Trans Fats Get the Boot Thanks to You; How to Spur More Change

Subscribers Only As New York City became the first municipality to require restaurants to stop cooking with artificial trans fats, a major food manufacturer and numerous fast-food outlets were jumping on the no-trans-fat bandwagon.

4 Diet Pills Cited for Deceptive Marketing

Subscribers Only The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently announced settlements with marketers of four diet pills it alleged made unsubstantiated weight-loss and disease prevention claims.

Does New Enviga Tea Drink Really Deliver “Negative Calories in a Can”?

Subscribers Only Some eyebrow-raising slogans for the new carbonated tea drink Enviga promise that it will burn more calories than it provides. Is the promise kept? EN reports.

Red-Flagging Food Labels: 8 Tips to Sift Fact From Fiction

Subscribers Only Surveys say most of us take advantage of the information on food labels. That’s the good news. The bad news is that making sense of it all requires mental math skills, the ability to translate scientific jargon and the willingness to cut through a maze of marketing hype. Here’s what you need to know:

Folic Acid May Slow Hearing Loss

Subscribers Only Taking a daily supplement of 800 micrograms of folic acid may help slow the hearing loss that typically accompanies aging. Those were the findings of Dutch researchers who studied people in their 50s and 60s.

Antioxidant Mineral Selenium Protects Joints, Prostate; Could It Do More?

Subscribers Only Compared to most nutrients, selenium slips by almost unnoticed. But selenium’s relatively low public profile belies this mineral’s role in optimizing your health, including the promise of warding off some forms of cancer. EN sorts out what selenium can and cannot do for you.

Getting Physically Active May Increase Your Chances of Surviving Cancer

Subscribers Only More than 10 million Americans are cancer survivors. Most are anxious to do anything they can to reduce the risk of a recurrence. But what can be done? Ongoing research is finding that regular exercise is an important factor in preventing cancer’s return following treatment. Here’s what we know so far.