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December 2002
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The Best Of: ENs 25th Anniversary Editors Choice A-to-Z Guide
By Susan Male Smith, M.A., R.D.
In EN’s very first annual A-to-Z Guide, we started with vitamin A and ended with zinc. Pretty standard. But nutrition is no longer just vitamins and minerals, it’s now phytonutrients, herbs, supplements and exercise, too. This year’s A-to-Z Guide is a little different from our usual roundup of the past year’s news. It’s a "best of" current nutrition advice to celebrate EN’s 25th year. We picked the cream of the crop of past entries—nutrients, foods and diseases—giving credit to the
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Garlic: Potent Protector Against Heart Disease, CancerOr Mere Hype?
By Adrienne Forman, M.S., R.D.
From mythical to medicinal, the healing powers of garlic have been touted for millenia. Garlic is also legendary for warding off vampires and evil spirits. Even today, garlic is used with hopes of fending off high cholesterol and cancer, as well as fighting high blood pressure and infections, such as the common cold. Interest in garlic exploded in the 1990’s, triggering more than 1,000 published studies. By 1999, global sales of garlic reached $250 million. In the U.S., garlic ranks
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Experts Top 10 Tips on How to Getand StayMotivated for Change
By Densie Webb, R.D., Ph.D.
Motivation is the key to success. Whether it’s your job, your relationships, your hobbies or your lifestyle, you must have an impetus to be able to reach your ultimate goal. But you don’t need a guru from late-night infomercials to goad you. Motivation is something you can muster within yourself, if you just know how to do so.
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For Cancer Survivors: What to Eat During Treatment or After Youre Cancer-Free
No doubt diet has an impact on the development of cancer. For example, nearly 200 human studies link either fruit and vegetables or vegetable intake to decreased risk of first cancers. But what about after that? Is nutrition still influential in optimizing the odds for long-term survival? Unfortunately, that’s where the research comes to a relative standstill.
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Research Roundup
F Adults with early Parkinson’s disease may benefit from coenzyme Q10, a potent antioxidant that’s important to cell functioning. According to new research from the University of California at San Diego, the supplement may slow progression of the disease. Eighty adults with Parkinson’s were randomly assigned to receive either a placebo or coenzyme Q10 at dosages of 300, 600 or 1,200 milligrams per day for up to 16 months. Those receiving the most CoQ10 showed the most benefit—a 44%
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The Whole Truth About the Labeling of Grain Products
The Buzz: Breads, cereals and crackers often trumpet themselves as "hearty," "wholesome," "stone-ground" or "multi-grain." It all sounds very nutritious, seemingly just the ticket to fulfill that dietary recommendation to "Choose three servings a day of whole grains." But chances are, it’s not. The Bust: The truth is, none of the terms above guarantees a whole-grain product; in many cases, the main ingredient is actually refined wheat flour. Especially, don’t be fooled by color. The rich brown color of many breads, cereals
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CRP Proves Itself as Heart Disease Indicator
Blood levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) predict a first heart attack or stroke better than levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL, the "bad" cholesterol), according to data from the ongoing Women’s Health Study. CRP rises in response to inflammation, which researchers now think precedes plaque buildup in blood vessels. Among nearly 28,000 women, those with high LDL’s (154 and higher) were 1.5 times as likely to experience a first cardiovascular event over eight years as women with low LDL’s (97.5 and
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Pomegranates Give the Gift of Antioxidants
The Folklore: Bursting with seeds, the pomegranate has long been a symbol of fertility, hope, beauty and prosperity. Legend has it that human beings become immortal by eating its seeds. In Greek mythology, Persephone was so tempted by the luscious fruit while she was captive in the Underworld that she ate six seeds, destining the earth to six months of winter every year. The fruit’s name means "seeded apple." Some religious scholars believe that a pomegranate was the true forbidden
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Out of the Frying Pan and Into the Fire? Restaurant vs. Home Fried Foods
Q. I rarely eat fried food, but when I do, am I better off eating it home-cooked rather than in a restaurant? A. Probably. Home frying has the advantage of allowing you to directly monitor the type of oil, its freshness and the temperature to which it’s heated. All of these factors affect the formation of deleterious compounds and the amount of oil a food absorbs. But whether at home or in a restaurant, you should eat as few
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Get the Health Benefits of Red Wine Without the Alcohol
Q. I’ve heard that red wine contains health-protective substances. How can I get the same benefits without the alcohol? A. One simple way is to eat grapes, says Leroy Creasy, Ph.D., professor emeritus of horticulture at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. "There’s really nothing in wine that’s not in grapes, except the alcohol," he explains. And although alcohol might provide some benefit to the heart, it’s not the only important part of wine. Eating other fruits and vegetables, he adds, can
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