May 2006

Keeping an Eye on Your Diet May Help Save Your Sight in the Long Run
By Diane Welland, M.S., R.D.
It's not just about eating carrots. Enjoying a variety of fruits and vegetables can protect your eyes, particularly against age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in older Americans.

Some Salty Wisdom: EN Helps You Slash Sodium by Shopping Smart
By Linda Antinoro, R.D. J.D.
Conventional wisdom: Cut back on salt to avoid high blood presssure. But the real culprit is the sodium in salt---and in foods that don’t taste at all salty. EN explains why and searches supermarket shelves for simple ways to cut back.

B Vitamins a Bust for Heart in Two Trials
Despite the fact that getting more of the B vitamins folic acid, B6 and B12 significantly lowers blood levels of homocysteine, B supplements do not seem to reduce cardiovascular risk.

A Weekly To-Do List to Help Delay or Prevent Dementia
By Elizabeth M. Ward, M.S., R.D.
Dementia is on the rise; experts expect the number of Americans with Alzheimer's disease--now 4.5 million---to quadruple by 2050. However, there’s plenty you can do to maintain your brain. Here is EN’s advice.

EN Tackles New Questions About Calcium’s Role in Bone Health
Another confusing round of findings from the Women’s Health Initiative study suggested that taking calcium and vitamin D supplements offered no significant benefit for preventing fractures. There’s more to the story.

TV Dinners to Organic Entrées. . . .We’ve Come a Long Way
By Julie Upton, M.S., R.D.
A lot has changed since the first TV dinner was introduced some 50 years ago. Now there are cuisines from Italian to Indian, plus many have gone organic. An EN brand-by-brand comparison.

Soy Still Healthful, Despite News It Doesn’t Help Heart….or Much Else
Q. I heard that the American Heart Association no longer recommends soy. Should I stop eating soy foods?
A. No, because they’re still healthful, if not the potent panaceas once envisioned.

The Sonoma Diet: Weight-Loss Tips From Wine Country
Q. I keep hearing about The Sonoma Diet. Is it healthful? Will it help me lose weight?
A. Yes on both counts. This weight-loss bestseller is not only one of the most popular diet books right now, but is probably one of the best.

Fruit That’s Plum Good for Health and Taste
By Anastasia Schepers, M.S., R.D.
Plums come in a variety of shapes and colors ranging from green to black-red. Whatever hue, they are antioxidant superstars, surpassed only by wild blueberries and cranberries. Try EN's recipe: Plum-Raspberry Soup.

Yogurt That Claims to Conquer Constipation
Activia is a new functional food that claims it “helps naturally regulate the digestive tract.” Translation? It helps relieve constipation.

Teflon, Popcorn Concern
A chemical used to manufacture numerous consumer products, including nonstick cookware, microwave popcorn bags and fast-food French fry containers, is a likely carcinogen, according to a recent EPA finding.

Research Roundup
• Eating red grapefruit as part of a heart-healthy diet can significantly improve lipid levels.
• A high intake of calcium-rich dairy foods, especially milk, was linked to a reduced risk of colon cancer.
• Low-carb diets can help you lose weight, lower triglycerides and raise “good” high-density lipoproteins.

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This newsletter is not intended to provide advice on personal health matters,
which should be provided by a qualified health care provider.