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February 2002
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Losing 10 Pounds: Small Changes In Diet Can Mean Big Health Benefits
By Elisa Zied, M.S., R.D.
Do you weigh more than you should? If so, you’ve got lots of company. Overweight and obesity keep making headlines as Americans keep setting and breaking records. The latest numbers reveal the dubious distinction that more than half of American adults are overweight and nearly one-fourth are obese. Most everyone these days could stand to lose a few pounds. If you tried to lose weight in the past and were unsuccessful, perhaps your goal was unrealistic. Although you may
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Diet Advice To Chew On To Keep Teeth, GumsAnd MoreHealthy
By Linda Antinoro, J.D., R.D.
Brushing and flossing daily and getting regular dental checkups are mainstays for keeping your pearly whites and the gums that support them strong. But healthy eating also plays a major role in thwarting cavities, gum disease, premature tooth loss and bad breath. And keeping your teeth and gums healthy may even fend off more serious diseases.
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Ashwagandha: "Indian Ginseng" to Counter Stress
Also known as winter cherry and Indian ginseng, ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is a highly prized herb in Ayurvedic medicine, dating back more than 3,000 years. Its Sanskrit name means "like a horse," an apt description of its pungent aroma. What It Might Do: Ashwagandha is referred to as an adaptogen or tonic, an herb that enhances resistance to stress, increases stamina and promotes general well-being—similar to ginseng, but with additional calming effects.
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Whats a Kiss Worth?
In looking back over EN’s 25 years of issues, we found this gem from 1978: "A few years ago, the press reported that Italian nutritionists were hard at work calculating the energy cost of love. Working with a computer, they determined that a round of lovemaking might burn 125 to 300 calories, depending on the fervor. A kiss alone is worth six to 12 calories, again depending on the intensity." We then calculated a year’s worth of "burnin’ love" (assuming three
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Meat Safety: A Huge Step in the Wrong Direction
A December 2001 ruling by a federal Court of Appeals now limits the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s ability to close down a meat processing plant solely because the plant failed to meet limits on Salmonella contamination. The court ruled in favor of Supreme Beef Processors, Inc., a company that had failed three tests over several years, claiming the presence of Salmonella is not a measure of a plant’s sanitary condition. The USDA asserts, however, that Salmonella serve as a signal
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Doubt Dubious Descriptors on Supplements
Q. Are chelated, natural, timed- release and other special forms of supplements worth the extra cost? A. With a few exceptions, no. Companies that tout special formulations are trying to claim an edge on absorption, with what is, at best, small differences that aren’t worth any extra cost, says Mark Meskin, Ph.D., R.D., associate professor of food and nutrition at California State Polytechnic University. Most regular vitamin and mineral supplements are adequately absorbed by the body. Here’s a rundown of what special
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Its Hard Not to Be Thin-Skinned With Age; What to Do
Q. As I’ve gotten older, my skin has begun to thin and now bruises and breaks easily. Can supplements or a change in diet help? A. Perhaps, but not a lot. As you age, your skin becomes thinner because it loses the fat padding under the top layer of skin. Moreover, a loss of collagen and connective tissue weakens support around blood vessels, so the tiny vessels and capillaries underneath the skin’s surface become more vulnerable. Black and blue marks are
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