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November 2002
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Tired? Worn-Out? How To Get Your Energy Level Back Up Again
By Amy Aubertin, M.S., R.D.
Where’s that Energizer bunny when you need him? If you want to zap that afternoon slump and get more from your waking hours, you’re not alone. Plenty of people suffer from fatigue. Is it the result of an overbooked lifestyle—compounded by lack of sleep and exercise? Today there are plenty of products—energy bars, beverages, herbal and dietary supplements—claiming to provide pep. Do they work? (See What’s in Those Energy Bars, Drinks and Pills?,
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Glycemic Index: Gateway To Good Health Or Grand Waste Of Time?
By Densie Webb, Ph.D., R.D.
A decades-old theory—the glycemic index—is still rattling around, despite the fact that critics contend it can never be of practical use. It’s been put on the back burner of science more often than warmed-over vegetables. Now, the theory is on the front burner again. But with a twist. An alternative measure has emerged called "glycemic load," which some experts say is a more meaningful tool. And evidence is emerging that it may be
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Give the Gift of Good Food, Good Health, Good Reading
By Densie Webb, Ph.D., R.D.
It’s that time of year again—gift-giving season. And what better gift to give to the ones you care about than good food and good health? The editors at EN have chosen a few stellar diet and health books as possible gifts for family and friends….or maybe just for you. Nutrition Basics ADA Complete Food and Nutrition Guide, 2nd edition—Roberta Larson Duyff, M.S., R.D. (Wiley, 2002), $24.95. Newly updated and expanded, with
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Dieting? Its Okay, Go Nuts
If you’ve sworn off nuts because you fear you’ll put on pounds, fear no more. A growing body of evidence suggests otherwise. Here’s the latest study. New Study in a Nutshell. In the August International Journal of Obesity, researchers at Purdue University reported the effects of daily peanut consumption on body weight, satiety and metabolism. Fifteen healthy adults completed three phases of the study. For eight weeks, they were given 500 calories (about
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Research Roundup
F Regular physical activity may help prevent metabolic syndrome, a condition that often precedes diabetes and heart disease, say Finnish researchers who followed more than 600 middle-aged men for four years. Those who engaged in more than three hours a week of moderate or vigorous activity (e.g., brisk walking, jogging, swimming) were only half as likely to develop metabolic syndrome as sedentary men (one hour or less activity). Low-intensity activity (e.g., leisure walking, yard
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Beyond Soup: Beans, Peas and Lentils Serve Up Great Nutrition
By Anastasia Schepers, M.S., R.D.
Legumes—beans, peas and lentils— are among the world’s most popular foods and among the best nutrition bargains in your supermarket. But if you eat them only in soups, it’s time to think outside the can. Besides their winning nutrition profiles, legumes offer unmatched versatility in recipes and cost less than 25 cents a serving. Nutrition Arsenal. Legumes—especially lentils—are excellent sources of protein and one of the best natural sources
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Folate May Fend Off Colorectal Cancer
New findings suggest the B vitamin folate—emerging as an anticancer nutrient—may reduce the risk of rectal cancer in men and colon cancer in both men and women. Dutch researchers compared the dietary intakes and supplement use of 3,500 middle-aged men and women over a seven-year period. Those with the highest daily intake of folate—more than 266 micrograms (men) and more than 243 micrograms (women)—were about one-third less likely to develop colon cancer compared
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Listeria Outbreak Stumps Experts; Protect Yourself
The East has been gripped by Listeria hysteria, after 46 people have fallen ill (seven of whom have died) as a result of a Listeria outbreak that began over the summer. The outbreak still has not abated, but at press time, a likely cause had just been isolated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Deli turkey from Pilgrim’s Pride (Wampler brand) has been implicated, and a nationwide recall is underway.
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New-Wave Milk n HoneySoy Good?
Milk and honey is a time-honored combination. But soy milk and honey may be the new way to go. Here’s why: To lower your blood pressure naturally, soy milk may be worth a try. According to a preliminary Spanish study of 40 men and women with mild to moderate high blood pressure, participants who drank about two cups of soy milk a day for three months showed a significant reduction in average
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Versatile Eggplant Offers Ethnic Appeal
The Folklore: Whether it’s served as ratatouille, moussaka or parmigiana, eggplant is known worldwide, and nearly every cuisine has a dish that features it. Its name is thought to be derived from the small yellow and white varieties that bear egg-shaped fruit. Thomas Jefferson, known for experimenting with many varieties of plants in his Virginia garden, is credited with introducing eggplant to North America. The Facts: Along with tomatoes, potatoes and peppers, eggplant
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Macrobiotic Diets Can Be Healthful, But Not a Cancer Cure
Q. I hear macrobiotic diets are back in vogue. What exactly is the diet and are there any proven health advantages? A. With Gwyneth Paltrow and Madonna both on the macrobiotic bandwagon, the diet—popularized worldwide in the 1970’s by Michio Kushi—still has followers. Planned properly, macrobiotic diets can be healthful and as with any healthful way of eating may help prevent chronic diseases of aging, said Lawrence Kushi, Sc.D., an epidemiologist with Kaiser
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Allergic to Mold? No Need to Pass Up Gorgonzola, But Moldy Foods Bad for All
Q. If I have an allergy to mold, do I need to avoid foods made with mold like Brie or blue cheese? What about the mold on spoiled foods? A. No, "good" molds—those used to make some cheeses—are not a problem, even if you’re allergic to molds in the environment. However, everyone should avoid eating—or even sniffing—spoiled foods that are moldy. Molds 101. There are about 300,000 different molds. The molds used
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