Diet and nutrition
Good health starts with a nutritious diet. Whole grains, fresh vegetables and fruits, lean protein; they have an appeal that endures. That's not to say that fads don't come and go, that research doesn't change, that trends don't shift. They do. The following articles offer a highlight of the latest news — and a snapshot of ever-evolving nutrition science.
May 24, 2012
Fruit juice targeted in war on obesity
Over the past decade, the nation's war on obesity has targeted some fairly obvious culprits, including fast food, pastries, fried foods and soda.
12:06 PM PDT, May 23, 2012
Avoiding picnic pitfalls
The weather is warming up, and for many of us this means heading outdoors to enjoy all the spring and summer have to offer. Sunshine, fresh fruits and vegetables, and friends make for the perfect picnic; however, many of us struggle with picnic temptations. Avoid these pitfalls, and you can enjoy your gatherings without overindulging.
4:39 PM PDT, May 23, 2012
Should I drink OJ with added calcium and vitamin D?
Q: Should I be drinking the orange juice that has calcium and vitamin D added to it?
4:26 PM PDT, May 23, 2012
Calcium supplements increase risk of heart attacks, study finds
Taking calcium supplements increases the risk of having a heart attack, Swiss and German researchers reported Wednesday. The finding adds to the growing body of evidence that such supplements increase the risk to those who take them while providing only minimal benefits. The study is considered important because large numbers of people, especially elderly women, continue to take the supplements in hopes of minimizing loss of bone density. The body of evidence now seems to suggest that calcium consumed as part of a normal diet can, indeed, increase bone density and perhaps help lower blood pressure, but that supplements may be too risky for most people to take.
May 22, 2012
Pomegranate juice maker used deceptive ads, judge rules
A federal administrative judge ruled that pomegranate juice maker Pom Wonderful used deceptive advertising when it implied its products could treat or prevent serious diseases and other medical conditions.
5:16 AM PDT, May 23, 2012
More Americans now eating whole grains, fresh produce
A vast majority of Americans say they eat more whole grains and fresh produce than they did five years ago, but many believe the federal government needs to do more to ensure greater access to locally produced fresh food, according to a new survey.
May 19, 2012
Are raspberry ketones a 'miracle' fat burner? Dr. Oz weighs in
Until recently, very few people had ever heard of raspberry ketones, the aromatic compounds that give the berries their distinctive smell. Today, health food stores have trouble keeping the capsules or drops of the stuff on their shelves. Almost overnight, an obscure plant compound became the next big thing in weight loss — and all it took was a few words from Dr. Oz.
4:27 PM PDT, May 16, 2012
Chain restaurants don't meet U.S. nutrition guidelines, study says
Plenty of restaurants have been advertising their efforts to offer healthful choices, and it’s possible to eat carefully just about anywhere. But researchers say nearly all the entrees they reviewed at 245 U.S. chains fail to meet federal guidelines.
7:15 AM PDT, May 10, 2012
Domino's offers new gluten-free pizza
Domino’s became the nation’s largest pizza chain this week to offer a gluten-free pizza crust, a step to meet the needs of gluten-sensitive customers, Nation’s Restaurant News reported.
May 5, 2012
Pantry Raid: A diet of good intentions
Most of us are too plump and are overly fond of snacks, fast food — and food in general. So why did two lean young women who dine on smoothies and organic fruits and vegetables (how unimpeachable does that sound) seek help cleaning up their act?
7:50 PM PDT, May 3, 2012
5 reasons to include nuts in your meal
Web MD has five reasons why nuts should be incorporated in your diet. Check them out here.
2:07 PM PDT, May 1, 2012
Eggs and nutrition
Are eggs really incredible? Yes! Eggs are affordable, a great source of lean protein, full of vitamins and minerals and low in calories, weighing in at about 70 calories each.
6:45 PM PDT, April 24, 2012
Pomegranates: The crown jewel of fruits
Scientists have now discovered what the ancient Persians always knew: The pomegranate is a superfood, full of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals.
6:13 PM PDT, April 25, 2012
Ellen Warren: Good night's sleep contributes to healthy eating
Here's a new spin on the saying, "If you snooze you lose."
7:27 PM PDT, April 25, 2012
Decoding the diabetic diet
A crucial tool in controlling diabetes is being vigilant about what you put in your mouth. But, some experts say, you don't have to be a slave to the glycemic index or banish cake and ice cream forever.
6:15 PM PDT, April 25, 2012
Hard facts about tap water
Apparently, all tap water is not created equal.
2:35 PM PDT, April 17, 2012
Vegging out: Get kids and teens to eat more plants
Most of us realize we aren't eating the recommended number of fruits and vegetables per day. Our kids' plates are falling short, too. Less than 25 percent of American kids are regularly eating the recommended number of vegetables. The statistics are even lower for teens. Furthermore, about half of the time the vegetable that they do eat is French fries.
1:20 PM PDT, April 18, 2012
Large doses of vitamin C lowers blood pressure, research finds
Large doses of Vitamin C may moderately reduce blood pressure, Johns Hopkins researchers have found.
1:08 PM PDT, April 18, 2012
Seven ways you may be sabotaging your diet
Whether you're counting calories, tallying points, cutting carbohydrates or sweating it out at the gym, dieting is a tough road to navigate. What's even worse is when you sabatoge your own efforts by making some classic diet-busting mistakes you might not even be aware of.
4:40 PM PDT, April 17, 2012
BOOSTER SHOTS: Oddities, musings and news from the health world
Superfruits: Super-silly?
Maqui, mangosteen, lingonberry -- superfruits! Though the scientific jury’s out on whether these superhero fruits are any better than the common kind, one thing is clear: A lot of the mystique is about marketing, as an article by Karen Ravn in The Times' Saturday section explained. Another fact that's evident: Their names invite punning.
April 14, 2012
Sounding the sugar alarms
Worried about trans fat or salt? That's a little old-school. If you want to stay current on dietary villains, you'll want to start thinking about sugar.
April 11, 2012
Doubts cast on food intolerance testing
According to one lab that tests for "toxic food syndrome," eating green peppers may cause bloating or lethargy. Lemons might trigger headaches. Other common foods like corn, soy, egg whites, whey and chicken "may act like a poison in your body," the website warns.
April 11, 2012
Common intolerance myths
If you're considering a food intolerance test, read the company's marketing materials with a critical eye. A quick scan of websites selling food intolerance tests revealed some inaccurate statements. Here are some of the most common:
6:50 PM PDT, April 9, 2012
BOOSTER SHOTS: Oddities, musings and news from the health world
Fish oil: Is it any good for us?
Omega-3 fatty acids don’t help people with preexisting heart disease avoid future cardiovascular trouble, a new study has found. What does this mean for fish oils and our health?
1:52 PM PDT, April 10, 2012
BOOSTER SHOTS: Oddities, musings and news from the health world
Weight loss study: Fads not as helpful as exercising, eating less
Nearly two-thirds of Americans who are obese try to lose weight, and about 40% of them actually succeed. How did they do it? The old-school way: By eating less, exercising more and switching to more healthful foods, according to a new study.
5:28 PM PDT, April 4, 2012
The price of 'free' foods
"Free-from" food products, whether they're labeled sugar-free, fat-free or gluten-free, are fast becoming a trendy lifestyle choice, regardless of allergies or intolerance.
6:46 PM PDT, March 21, 2012
Before you eat that doughnut . . .
There are zillions of tips floating around about how to lose weight, boost your metabolism and stay healthy. We polled registered dietitians and nutritionists to find their top 10:
6:14 PM PDT, March 21, 2012
BOOSTER SHOTS: Oddities, musings and news from the health world
Stronger smell linked to smaller bites, vanilla-custard study says
Want to reduce your portion size? Try eating food that smells good.
March 21, 2012
Study: Cadmium, breast cancer tied
In a finding that strengthens the link between environmental pollutants and rising rates of breast cancer, new research finds that women whose diets contain higher levels of cadmium are at greater risk of developing breast cancer than those who ingest less of the industrial chemical in their food.
Reminders for losing weight
Before you figure out what your diet will be and what health club you'll join, remember these basic tips for weight loss.
5:30 AM PDT, March 14, 2012
The many considerations of drinking milk
When you are standing in the milk aisle in the grocery store, what are you looking for? Are you lactose intolerant? Do you have a milk allergy? Do you dislike the taste of certain milk products? Are you vegan? How much money do you want to spend on milk? These are the questions you need to ask yourself. Each milk product has both strengths and weaknesses. Use the scenarios below to determine the best milk product for you.
March 17, 2012
Natural foods: Eating up the trends
Remember chia pets? Rinsing your hair with beer? Food that's just food — no soy protein isolate, xanthan gum, red dye No. 40 or mystery ingredients from the Amazon rain forest?
12:11 PM PDT, March 14, 2012
Some foods don't mix with drugs, supplements
Think of your stomach as one big test tube. Maybe you drop in a vitamin or herbal supplement each morning. Maybe a cholesterol-lowering statin or a blood-pressure drug. Perhaps an infection-fighting antibiotic or allergy-relieving antihistamine. And you wash it down with fruit juice or milk or coffee.
March 7, 2012
Instilling healthy eating habits in kids is a mission, not a war
Dr. Laura Jana and Dr. Jennifer Shu are co-authors of a new, updated edition of "Food Fights" — a real world guide to meeting the nutritional challenges of parenthood. The two pediatrician moms have cultivated a laid-back approach to instill healthy eating habits, without turning the dinner table into a battlefield.
8:00 PM PST, March 3, 2012
Woman uses holistic approach to health
When Rhonda Greene discovered she could study online at The Institute for Integrative Nutrition, the world's largest nutrition school, she jumped at the opportunity.
8:55 PM PST, February 22, 2012
Heart-healthy 'Kathy's Cookbook' was labor of love for late cardiac patient
Kathy Brown wasn't always much of a chef — but she was an educator. When Brown, the former head of Grace Christian School, was diagnosed with amyloidosis of the heart in April 2008, she began experimenting with recipes to suit her new low-fat, low-salt, low-sugar diet.
8:33 AM PST, February 22, 2012
BOOSTER SHOTS: Oddities, musings and news from the health world
Raw milk causes most dairy-related disease outbreaks, CDC says
A sour note for the raw-milk fans out there: Unpasteurized milk is 150 times more likely to cause a disease outbreak than pasteurized milk, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
4:07 AM PST, February 16, 2012
Is going gluten-free good for you?
Henry Hunt said goodbye to gluten not because a doctor told him to, but because — like so many others — he decided he was better off without it.
February 20, 2012
Seeking the right recipe for food labels
You can give people all sorts of useful information, but that doesn't mean they'll use it.
2:16 PM PST, February 15, 2012
Smart subs: Sensible switches for healthier eating
You're already cutting back on calories, sipping sparkling water instead of soda, slathering sandwiches with mustard (10 calories per tablespoon) instead of mayo (57 calories per tablespoon) and making vegetable dips with plain yogurt (149 calories per cup) instead of sour cream (444 calories per cup).
8:42 AM PST, February 9, 2012
Loving leftovers
A few slices of veggie pizza from that new restaurant you tried last night, a hunk of lasagna or eggplant parmesan from Saturday's potluck, and that chili you simmered on Sunday need not languish in your refrigerator.
5:26 PM PST, February 7, 2012
One less for the road
Last year in this space, dietitian Judy Caplan had a message for business travelers: Eat better. But what should you be drinking?
Healthy food tips for February: American Heart Month
According to the American Heart Association, "There are nine calories in every gram of fat, regardless of what type of fat it is. That's a lot of calories compared to carbohydrates and proteins, which contain four calories per gram." Whether you read the nutritional facts on menus or at home, here are some popular items to avoid or add on your grocery list to fight heart-related illnesses for February, American Heart Month.
January 30, 2012
Bagged greens: To wash or not to wash
The salad chefs I know fall into two camps: Some serve pre-washed bagged leafy greens straight from the bag. The others insist on washing them first, even though the bag label promises that the contents are "triple-washed."
January 30, 2012
Salad industry on hunt for solution to tainted greens
For millions of Americans, bagged salads are a miracle food, the perfect mix of health and convenience.
12:44 PM PST, January 25, 2012
Good carb, bad carb
Confused about which carbohydrates you should be eating? Welcome to the club.
12:45 PM PST, January 25, 2012
Ellen Warren: You'll buy less junk food if you pay in cash
Who doesn't know that junk food is bad for you? It's empty calories, puts on the pounds and is awfully, terribly, almost impossibly hard to resist.
11:38 AM PST, January 18, 2012
Ellen Warren: Start small to build nutrition habits that stick
Where do you start? You see yourself in the mirror and know you should do something about how you look and feel. But, how to begin?
Calorie content on common alcoholic drinks
Here's the calorie content of some common drinks. If weight is your only concern, pick your drink carefully.
4:48 PM PST, January 13, 2012
Should moderate drinkers cut back on their alcohol?
Most of us can see the health benefits of cutting back on alcohol consumption, especially for those who drink too much. Go from 10 beers a day to five, or six glasses of wine to three, and there would be positive changes. But what about the moderate drinker? As defined by the U.S.
10:43 AM PST, January 13, 2012
Indulge: A singular sip crafted from top-notch ingredients
It’s not incongruous to pair "good" with "indulgence." Not when you’re talking about the bloody mary at Perennial Virant: fresh, light, spiced nice, pickled vegetables garnishing. Do it with the most healthful ingredients.
3:39 PM PST, January 12, 2012
Switch hands, stop a habit
Want to break a bad eating habit? Try a change of venue — or switching hands.
12:07 PM PST, January 4, 2012
Book tackles how to diet without being hungry
"Diet" means "denial" no matter how you spell it, but "diet" doesn't have to mean "hungry," too. But often it does, which may be why so many righteous January resolutions are forgotten by February. A new e-book attempts to tackle the problem, offering ways to lose weight while still feeling satisfied.
11:50 AM PST, January 4, 2012
Ellen Warren: The keys to maintaining your weight loss
Some good news on the weight-loss front. Even if you've been a total flop before — regaining all the weight you lost and 10 pounds on top of that — you can be a dieting success.
12:06 PM PST, December 28, 2011
Can you keep a secret? It may be just what you need to lose weight
Anita Mills was 382 pounds when a family doctor gave her four simple rules to lose weight:
December 26, 2011
Pantry Raid: Good and bad food choices
What the Eckerlings are doing right: The couple are eating some fruits and vegetables and cooking many meals at home, so they're able to control what goes into their food. Having a bowl of fruit on the counter is a good reminder to eat it. Many healthful foods are part of their diet, such as eggs, oatmeal and fish, and they're able to keep treats in the house without bingeing on them.
11:25 AM PST, December 14, 2011
Ellen Warren: The working equation: Move more, eat less
You finally decide to get off the couch and start an exercise program. You faithfully go to the gym, walk in the neighborhood, swim, bike — whatever — and your weight stays stubbornly the same.
November 28, 2011
'Pizza vegetable' controversy is hot potato
A law blocking new regulations of tomato paste, spuds and salt in school meals causes a stir.
November 17, 2011
Mountain for some, molehill for others
Despite several decades of urging from doctors and government officials to cut back on salt, a culprit in high blood pressure, most Americans aren't paying much attention.
11:26 AM PDT, November 2, 2011
A problem of grand proportions
It's tempting to read a silver lining into the otherwise dreary news that food prices are skyrocketing and appear on pace to post their largest annual increase since 1980.
11:29 AM PDT, November 2, 2011
Some athletes ditch processed foods for the real deal
When sports physiologist Allen Lim flew to Europe six years ago to work with America's top pro cyclists, he saw a lot of problems in the peloton. Riders complained about the diet of packaged bars, gels, chews and sugary sports drinks that fueled them through races like the Tour de France, and many were experiencing stomachaches, diarrhea and bloating.
10:35 AM PDT, October 26, 2011
Be a good household nutrition director
In many households, one person is in charge of food shopping. That person has lots of power. "They lay the groundwork for healthy eating habits," says registered nurse Babs Benson, director of the weight management program at Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters in Norfolk, Va. To do the job well:
10:44 AM PDT, October 26, 2011
Should blood type guide your food choices?
While searching for relief from migraines and general malaise, a friend recently consulted a nutritionist who told her, matter-of-factly, that because she has Type O blood, she should be eating lots of meat and eliminating gluten, dairy and many grains. A Chinese medicine doctor she consulted confirmed the advice, saying, basically: Duh.
6:15 AM PDT, October 18, 2011
BOOSTER SHOTS: Oddities, musings and news from the health world
Emily Zaler's ingredient for guilt-free food: protein powder
Emily Zaler's business card should probably read "mad scientist." When the personal trainer is not putting clients through their paces up and down the famed Santa Monica stairs or working out herself, she's making a mess in her kitchen. There, she modifies recipes that are normally filled with unhealthy fat, sugar and carbs using her favorite secret ingredient: Whey protein powder.
October 6, 2011
Radical thinking on antioxidants
Antioxidant-rich products promise an easy way to stave off disease. Simply swallow two softgels daily or knock back a glass of goji-pomegranate juice and the "supercritical" compounds will neutralize those nasty free radicals that threaten your health.
12:41 PM PDT, October 5, 2011
Overeating and stress
It's been another hectic day. On impulse, you grab an extra-large candy bar during your afternoon break. You plan to take just a few bites. But before you know it, you've polished off the whole thing — and, at least temporarily, you may feel better.
Burning off lunch calories
The office lunch — which 62 percent of us eat at our desks, according to the 2011 Desktop Dining survey from the American Dietetic Association and ConAgra Foods — can deal a caloric wallop if you're not careful. But when it comes to weight loss, the key is to burn more calories than you consume (erase 3,500 calories to lose a pound).
1:19 PM PDT, September 21, 2011
Boost workout with right foods at right time
Getting a great workout goes beyond the number of reps you do or the miles you log on the treadmill.
September 9, 2011
Battle lines solidify over bid to distinguish food, supplements
Lazy Larry dietary supplements look and taste like fudge brownies. They contain some of the same ingredients, including flour, trans fats, sugar and oil. And until recently they could be found among the snack foods in convenience stores.
Nutrionists' dream vending machines
In an office building, vending machines are typically stocked with goodies to appeal to every sweet tooth, salt craving and "get me out of this slump" snacker. But in an ideal world, the vending machine would be able to satisfy your craving and also be good for your body.
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