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June 2002
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Leaving Cholesterol In The Dust: New Ways To Predict Heart Disease
By Linda Antinoro, J.D., R.D.
Here’s a stunner: Half of all heart attacks happen to people with normal blood cholesterol levels. We’ve been taught to think cholesterol = heart attack, but it turns out that’s just the half of it. While a lipid profile provides vital information—total cholesterol, low-density lipoproteins (LDL), high-density lipoproteins (HDL) and triglycerides—it doesn’t accurately predict heart disease risk for everyone. Although doctors still focus primarily on lowering LDL levels, additional diagnostic blood markers have
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Water, The Rodney Dangerfield Of Nutrients: It Gets No Respect
By Julie Walsh, M.S., R.D.
It covers over half our planet, makes up most of our body weight and is the most essential nutrient for life. Yet water is still little more than an afterthought in our diets. Most of us don’t drink nearly enough of it. Here’s why you need to start paying more attention to this nutrient, especially as you get older.
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Dont Let Unexpected Visitors "Spoil" Summer Meals
By Luanne Hughes, M.S., R.D.
With summer’s arrival, we begin our traditional warm-weather activities —the beach, backyard barbecues…and foodborne illness. Yes, foodborne illness. Summer is prime time for food "poisoning." An assessment of risk recently issued in draft form by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) reports that the risk of foodborne illness from E. coli may be three times greater during the summer than the rest of the year. A possible reason, says
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Research Roundup
w A high-calorie diet may increase the risk for prostate enlargement, according to Boston researchers. After following more than 33,000 men, ages 40 to 75, for eight years, about 10% were diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which triggers symptoms like urinary frequency and urgency, especially at night. Men with the highest calorie intake and weight for height were 30% more likely to develop BPH as men with the lowest calorie intake.
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A Good Time for Seafood Lovers: Three New Studies Confirm Heart Benefits
If past headlines didn’t motivate you to eat more salmon and sardines for heart health, the latest news is hard to ignore. Three major studies released in a two-week span attest to the heart-protective power of the omega-3 fatty acids in fish. For the first time, benefits were found in women as well as men. In the first study, from the April 10 Journal of the American Medical Association, diet information was collected
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Summers Best Selections: Frozen Treats on a Stick
By Densie Webb, Ph.D., R.D.
For young and old alike, nothing beats licking an icy delight on a stick when summer heat sets in. To cool off without overdoing fat and calories, you’ll need to choose a frozen treat wisely. There are lots of options: frozen fruit or coffee bars, frozen bars made with yogurt or sorbet and ice cream dipped in organic chocolate. With all of them, label reading is essential. First of all, while the weight
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Being Physically Fit Improves Cancer Odds
The more fit men are, the less the risk of dying from cancer—whether or not they smoke—say researchers at the Cooper Clinic in Dallas and at the University of Minnesota, who followed nearly 26,000 men, ages 30 to 87, for an average of 10 years. Men with the best cardiorespiratory fitness, as determined by a treadmill test, had 55% less risk of dying from cancer than men who were the least fit. Moderately
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Do Potato Chips Cause Cancer? Dont Panic Yet, Say Experts
When Swedish scientists announced in late April that acrylamide, a compound found in plastics, is also formed when starchy foods are cooked at high temperatures, a shock wave hit consumers and researchers alike. Why the ensuing panic? The World Health Organization (WHO) has labeled acrylamide a "probable human carcinogen," because it’s been shown to cause cancer, as well as genetic, neurological and reproductive damage in animals. In fact, the researchers released the results
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Harbinger of Summer: Vitamin C-Packed Strawberries
The Folklore: Owing to their heart shape and red color, strawberries have long been a symbol of passion. In ancient times, strawberries were used medicinally to treat melancholy, fainting, fevers and blood diseases. The Facts: A member of the rose family, today’s strawberries are larger hybrids descended from a small,
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Correction
Corrections In the March "Ask EN" on Juice Plus , the use of incorrect units in a calculation resulted in the erroneous conclusion that the stated nutrients could not fit in a Juice Plus capsule. Indeed they can. However, we still take issue with the vitamin C claims provided by the company and stand by our conclusion that you’re better off eating real fruits and vegetables.- The Editors In the April
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Misunderstood Bladder Disease Symptoms May Be Linked to Diet
Q. I’ve been diagnosed with interstitial cystitis and have noticed that certain foods seem to make my bladder pain worse. What should I avoid? A. Many people with interstitial cystitis (IC) find that acidic foods and beverages cause a flare-up of symptoms, which include increased frequency and urgency of urination, accompanied by burning. IC is a chronic, inflammatory condition of the bladder characterized by pinpoint hemorrhages (small points of bleeding) and, in some
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Potential Food Terror Threat Prompts Some Action: What's Being Done
Potential Food Terror Threat Prompts Some Action; What’s Being Done Q. I’m concerned about the threat of bioterrorism. Is anything being done to secure the safety of our food supply? A. In the wake of last year’s September 11 terrorist attacks and subsequent anthrax scares, the federal government and the food industry are working to improve the security of our food system. Admittedly, much needs to be done. No one can
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