Raw food diets are predominantly plant-based diets followed with the intention of preventing chronic diseases by virtue of their high content of beneficial nutritive substances such as carotenoids.
However, little is known about the ability to maintain recommended levels of nutrients with this diet. Now, researchers from the University of Giessen in Germany are taking a closer look. Continue reading Investigating the raw food diet
A series of published studies support the safety of rebiana, which is the trade name for a stevia-derived sweetener being developed by The Coca-Cola Company and Cargill. Truvia is Cargill’s brand name for the same product.
Wikipedia has a good overview of stevia and it’s relationship to rebiana.
Here’s what we know from recently published studies. Continue reading Rebiana: The new stevia-derived sweetener.
Farm-raised tilapia, one of the most highly consumed fish in America, has very low levels of beneficial omega-3 fatty acids and, perhaps worse, very high levels of omega-6 fatty acids, according to research from Wake Forest University School of Medicine.
Catfish rate poorly too. Continue reading Tilapia: low in omega-3, high in omega-6 fatty acids
At the Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies (SLEEP 2008), researchers from Brazil reported that late night snacking has an effect on sleep patterns. Continue reading Late night noshing and sleep patterns
Apples are often described as a healthy food. But what’s the association with protection from cancer? Continue reading Apples and cancer risk
Coffee is a complex mixture of more than 1,000 compounds, some of which are linked to good and others to bad effects on human health.
Among the good stuff is soluble dietary fiber, according to an article in Science Daily.
Data suggest that soy foods are as good as other protein sources for promoting weight loss, according to researchers at the University of Alabama in Birmingham.
But is there more? Continue reading Soy foods and weight loss
The National Stroke Association along with Bristol-Meyers Squibb Sanofi Pharmaceuticals sponsors the STARS program, which is designed to inform stoke patients how to reduce their risk for recurrent stroke.
There are 5 things to do. How many of them include at least some component of CAM? Continue reading STARS (Steps Against Recurrent Stroke)
Over 22 years, men who ate fish had a lower risk of colorectal cancer, according to the latest findings from the Physicians’ Health Study. Continue reading Fish oil and colorectal cancer risk
Lowering sodium in your diet will lower your blood pressure, but what about other cardiovascular benefits?
New data suggest, “Sodium reduction … may also reduce long term risk of cardiovascular events.” Continue reading What’s the long term effect of salt restriction on your health?
According to Claire Williamson, a nutrition scientist for the British Nutrition Foundation, “There appears to be a perception among many consumers that organic foods are more nutritious… However, to date there are limited data to support this view.”
But, there are some exceptions. Continue reading Is organic food healthier?
The authors of this study at the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing in Pennsylvania tell us that the type of diet is important.
But there’s more to discuss here than just dieting. Continue reading Complementing dieting with counseling
A study from the University of Alberta concluded that the environmental impact of food-miles racked up by organic produce when making the trip from farm to grocery store cancels out the benefits of growing it according to organic principals. Continue reading Judging organic food based on miles to grocery store
The FDA has developed an interactive online learning program that is also available in a downloadable format. It’s designed to help consumers understand and use the Nutrition Facts label in planning a healthy diet while managing calorie intake.
I think it might be most useful for teachers and nutritionists in their educational activities.
In 2003, the FDA stated, “Scientific evidence suggests, but does not prove, that eating 1.5 ounces per day of most nuts, such as pistachios, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease.”
This study supports that statement. Continue reading Effect of pistachio nuts on cholesterol levels
In April, GlaxoSmithKline filed a citizen’s petition with the FDA asking the agency to treat weight loss claims for dietary supplements as disease claims.
This doesn’t sit well with the supplements industry, but is the right thing to do? Continue reading Do weight loss claims = disease claims?
Volunteers in a study reported on Medscape were told not to do things known to slow the clotting of blood by inhibiting platelet function.
But some just couldn’t stop eating chocolate. Continue reading Chocolate slows your ability to clot blood, a little
The European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) is designed to investigate the relationship between diet and cancer. It’s a multicenter study of more than 500,000 adults in 23 centers from 10 European countries.
Here’s what we now know. Continue reading Diet and cancer prevention: What we know
According to this study, you can if they’re n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) enriched eggs. Continue reading Eat eggs and lower your triglyceride levels?
In her book, Queen of Fats, medical writer Susan Allport contends that for optimum health and disease prevention, the balance should be one to four times more omega-6 fatty acids than omega-3 fatty acids.
Here’s a different view. Continue reading Is the omega-6/-3 ratio still important?