|
|
|
|
|
March 2003
|
EN Asks the Experts How to Put the Brakes On Runaway Portion Sizes
By Anastasia Schepers, M.S., R.D.
While most Americans are preoccupied with whether they should eat more steak or more pasta, researchers have been monitoring another phenomenon—out-of-control portion sizes. It’s happening whether we eat at Applebee’s or McDonald’s, the neighborhood diner or the corner bagel shop. It’s even happening in our own kitchens.
|
|
Vitamins And Minerals: Are You Getting Enough? Too Much? Confused?
By Diane Welland, M.S., R.D.
Nutrition is a constantly evolving science. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the arena of vitamins and minerals, where new studies pop up almost daily. Eight years ago, the national Institute of Medicine (IOM) embarked on its periodic re-evaluation of nutrient recommendations—this time involving a much more comprehensive review of the literature than in the past —and has finally completed the task. Based on years of scientific evidence, the new Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA’s) represent a consensus of expert
|
|
So You Want to Be a Vegetarian? EN Answers Your Questions
By Adrienne Forman, M.S., R.D.
Have you pondered becoming a vegetarian? Or at least cutting back on animal foods in your diet? You may wonder how to get started. Here, EN answers some frequently asked questions about vegetarian diets. Q. What is a vegetarian? A. A vegetarian does not eat meat, poultry or fish, but does eat grains, beans, nuts, fruits and vegetables. There are, however, several variations on this eating style. For example, lacto-ovo vegetarians consume milk products (lacto) and eggs (ovo), but no meat, poultry or
|
|
Research Roundup
F Eating a vegetarian diet that includes cholesterol-lowering foods may lower lipid levels as much as some medications, say Canadian researchers. In a very small study, 13 men and women with high cholesterol levels followed a low-fat vegetarian diet that included soy milk, soy burgers, oats, almonds and bean soup—all of which have been found to lower cholesterol levels individually—as well as fruit and vegetables. After one month, blood levels of LDL ("bad"
|
|
Vitamin Ds Bone Protection Gets A+
Vitamin D may be even more important to bone health than calcium. That’s what researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston provocatively proposed after analyzing data from the long-running Nurses’ Health Study. Yet perhaps half of older adults don’t get nearly enough. The Study. For 18 years, researchers tracked the diet habits and supplement use of over 72,000 women. During that time, 10% of the women were diagnosed with osteoporosis and nearly 10% of those women
|
|
Can Knox NutraJoint Knock Out Your Arthritis Aches and Pains?
The Buzz: "Juice your joints," proclaims an ad for Knox NutraJoint plus Glucosamine powdered drink mix. It shows a man of a certain age giving the "A-OK" sign while waterskiing. Can this "maximum strength" formula really promote joint functioning in as little as two months, as the company says? Is it better than the original NutraJoint with no glucosamine? Will it help your waterskiing?
|
|
The Choices Are Spreading: ENs Guide to What to Put on Your Toast
By Linda Quinn, M.S., R.D.
The trying days of fat-free are over. With the emphasis now on the type of fat we consume, the new reality is that margarine-like spreads can be part of a healthful diet. Margarines don’t contain as much of the dangerous saturated fat inherent in butter. But true margarines—particularly stick margarines—also contain trans fat, a byproduct of hydrogenation that is equally risky to your heart, even in small amounts. Many companies now claim their products are "trans-free," but that comes with
|
|
Fish Oils Reduce Risk of Stroke From Plaque
Modest supplementation with fish oil significantly lowered blood triglyceride levels and stabilized plaque in the carotid arteries of 162 older men and women with advanced atherosclerosis—clogged arteries—in research from the United Kingdom. Prior to undergoing surgical removal of plaque in their carotid arteries—the major artery supplying the brain— participants were randomly assigned to receive one of three regimens for five to six weeks: sunflower oil (rich in linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid), fish oils (rich in omega-3’s) or palm and
|
|
In Brief
Regular intake of probiotics may reduce upper respiratory infections, suggests a Swiss study of 209 volunteers who ate either a fermented milk product with probiotic bacteria or traditional yogurt daily for three weeks. The probiotic group saw disease-causing bacteria decrease by 19%, while the occurence of pathogens was unchanged in the yogurt group. The researchers believe Lactobacillus GG, the probiotic bacteria in the fermented drink, indirectly stimulates the immune system of the
|
|
Asparagus Bursts With Flavor and Folate
The Folklore: As it is today, asparagus was considered a luxury vegetable in ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome, where it was believed to have medicinal qualities that helped relieve the pain of bee stings and toothaches. The popularity of asparagus flourished under France’s Louis XIV, a fan. The Facts: Asparagus is a relative of garlic, leeks and onions. Next to orange juice, asparagus is one of the best food sources of folate. About five medium spears provide one-third of your day’s
|
|
New From ENs Editor
by Susan Male Smith, M.A., R.D. Staying healthy or losing weight doesn’t have to be all about what foods you can’t eat. This new softcover handbook by EN’s editor is packed with the latest nutrition information on more than 60 foods that help fight fat and keep you healthy. Each Food Profile features a food’s fat-fighting attributes, nutrition values, health benefits plus how to choose and store it. You’ll also learn how to navigate supermarket aisles wisely and limit the portions
|
|
Alcohol Hand Gels Get Thumbs Up (But Soap and Water Fine Too)
Q. I heard that alcohol-based hand gels are now being used in hospitals to prevent the spread of infection. Should I use them at home too? A. It’s not necessary; the benefit is probably not worth the cost. Still, in updated handwashing guidelines issued last October for healthcare workers, the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) acknowledged the effectiveness of alcohol-based hand sanitizers for instantly killing potentially harmful microbes on the skin. Studies have found they work as well as,
|
|
Making Heads or Tails of Fish Oil Supplements: What to Look For
Q. My blood triglyceride level is high and I know that fish oil supplements can help lower triglycerides. How do I know how much or what to take? A. Good question. Last year the American Heart Association (AHA) acknowledged that the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) found naturally in fish can reduce high triglycerides and provide other benefits like reducing blood clotting and regulating heart rhythms (see EN, January 2003, and Just In, this issue).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
