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August 2010
That chicken you're so casually flipping from cutting board to platter to grill and back just might be a deadly weapon. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that poultry was again the leading culprit in foodborne illness outbreaks reported to the government in 2007, the most recent year for which statistics have been compiled. Counting only the 45% of outbreaks in which a single ingredient was clearly the cause of food poisoning (rather than multiple ingredients, such as chicken salad), poultry accounted for about 17% of cases. Beef was close behind, at 16%, followed by leafy vegetables such as lettuces and spinach, at 14%. Overall, the CDC counted more than 21,000 illnesses and 18 deaths in 1,100 outbreaks nationwide; that's estimated to be only a fraction of the total cases, however, since many foodborne illnesses go unreported or are not part of a larger outbreak. Chicken, turkey and other poultry also topped the list of single-ingredient causes the previous year. About half the 2007 outbreaks were due to salmonella and other bacteria, 40% from viruses such as norovirus, 7% from mushroom toxin or other chemical agents and 1% from parasites.…
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August 2010
That weight-loss supplement in your medicine cabinet may contain more than you bargained for. The US Food and Drug Administration announced a recall of three products marketed as dietary supplements by the EZVille company that actually contain undeclared prescription-drug ingredients. Two weight-loss supplements — Solo Slim and Solo Slim Extra Strength — were found to contain sibutramine, a prescription weight-loss medication sold under the brand name Meridia. In patients with a history of cardiovascular disease, sibutramine has been known to increase the risk of stroke and heart attack. Another EZVille supplement, Revivexxx Extra Strength, touted for male sexual enhancement, turns out to contain an unlabeled dose of the drug tadalafil — better known as Cialis. The products were sold online and in retail stores without a prescription. EZVille said it has not received any reports of adverse events related to the recalled products.…
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August 2010
Can you afford to eat right? A new report says it's getting tougher. Prices of foods rich in nutrients rose at almost double the rate of junk food from 2004 to 2008, according to University of Washington researchers. They tracked the cost of the top 20% most nutrient-dense supermarket selections, such as vegetables and fortified whole-grain cereals, and compared with the cost of the least nutrient-dense foods, such as those high in sugar, fat and refined grains. Over the 4-year span, prices of the healthy foods rose 29.2%, while the least-nutritious foods went up only 16.1% in price. The most nutritious choices rang the cash register at $27.20 per 1,000 calories, compared to just $3.32 for 1,000 calories' worth of junk food. The growing price disparity between nutrient-dense foods and less-nutritious choices "may pose a barrier to the adoption of healthier diets," researchers warned. — Food Policy…
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August 2010
Nutrition Facts labels work — but not enough of us are using them. That's the conclusion of a study of US adults based on data from a national nutrition survey. People who consult nutrition labels consumed fewer calories and less total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol and added sugars than non-label users. But only 61.6% of those surveyed said they regularly check the Nutrition Facts panel. Numbers for other label resources were even weaker: 51.6% check the ingredients list, 47.2% look at serving size, and 43.8% consider health claims when pondering a food purchase. "National campaigns or modification of the food label may be needed to reduce the proportion of the population not using this information," researchers wrote. But they cautioned, "Despite food label use being associated with improved dietary factors, label use alone is not expected to be sufficient in modifying behavior ultimately leading to improved health outcomes." — Journal of the American Dietetic Association…
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July 2010
Most of us are trying to lose weight, but few Americans have any idea how many calories they should consume. Those are among the findings of the 2010 Food & Health Survey by the International Food Information Council. Concerns about weight were the prime driver of food choices for 65% of respondents, and 70% are worried about how much they weigh. Only 17%, however, could accurately estimate how many calories a person of their age, height, weight and activity level ought to consume. Even among those trying to lose weight, only 19% are counting calories, and few knew roughly how many calories they burn in a day. New questions on this year's survey asked about protein and sodium. Nearly half of respondents said they're trying to eat more protein — even though most Americans consume plenty of protein. More than half of those surveyed worry about their salt intake, and 60% purchase reduced-sodium products.…
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July 2010
Vitamin E, the subject of dashed hopes for a variety of health benefits a few years ago, is back in the spotlight. This time the focus is dementia and Alzheimer's disease, with two new studies suggesting that vitamin E — especially from dietary sources — may help stave off mental decline with aging. In results from a study tracing 5,395 people ages 55 and up for nearly a decade, Dutch researchers report that those with the highest intake of vitamin E from food were 25% less likely to develop dementia than those consuming the least vitamin E. Similar results were seen for Alzheimer's disease. Dietary sources of the vitamin were primarily vegetable oils, margarine, butter and mayonnaise; the group consuming the most vitamin E averaged 18.5 mg daily, a little less than that found in a quarter-cup of sunflower oil. A second study, from Sweden, compared blood levels of eight different forms of vitamin E with risk of developing Alzheimer's among 232 elderly people over 6 years. Those with the highest vitamin E levels were 45%-54% less likely to develop the disease. Scientists speculated that vitamin E's antioxidant properties might counter the oxidative stress thought to play a role in the development of Alzheimer's. — Archives of Neurology and Journal of Alzheimer's Disease
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July 2010
When dieting to lose weight — like 1 in 3 Americans — you're not just cutting out calories; you're also omitting vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that tag along with those calories. To test these nutritional effects of popular weight-loss plans, Stanford University scientists randomly assigned 300 overweight or obese women to one of four diets: Atkins, Zone, LEARN and Ornish. By repeatedly quizzing the women on what they'd actually eaten, researchers were able to calculate their vitamin and nutrient intake from food. While cutting an average of 500 daily calories, overall the women also reduced their intake of 12 of the 17 nutrients measured, putting some at risk of deficiency. The reduction in dietary vitamin E was most pronounced, with more than 65% of the dieters not getting enough. One surprise: Women on the Zone diet actually boosted their intake of vitamins A, E, C and K, while seeing no dip in other nutrients. Researchers said that finding demonstrated the benefits of a regimen, like the Zone plan, that encourages moderate but not extreme carbohydrate reductions — cutting back on added sugars and refined grains while keeping beans, greens and other veggies. — American Journal of Clinical Nutrition…
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July 2010
Just because a food is labeled "organic" doesn't mean it has fewer calories — but a "tendency to over-generalize health claims" may lead to that mistaken conclusion, according to University of Michigan researchers. They conducted two studies with college students to test whether people "assume that foods produced organically contain fewer calories than their conventional counterparts, despite the fact that the 'organic' designation entails no such claim." In one study, 114 students were shown two nutrition labels for cookies, both clearly marked as containing 160 calories per serving; nonetheless, the cookies "made with organic flour and sugar" were perceived as having fewer calories. A second study asked 215 students about a story in which a character who wants to lose weight skips exercising. Students were more forgiving if the character chose an organic dessert than a non-organic dessert — and even more than if she had no dessert. The influence of organic labeling on notions about calories was strongest among those who also otherwise most highly valued "organic" as an attribute of healthy foods. — Judgment and Decision Making
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July 2010
Want to reduce your risk of stroke, the nation's third most-common killer? Get your blood pressure under control. The new Interstroke study of 3,000 stroke cases matched with 3,000 controls in 22 countries reports that hypertension is the strongest predictor of stroke risk, followed by smoking, abdominal obesity, diet and physical activity. A history of high blood pressure was associated with more than 2 1/2 times the risk of suffering a stroke. Smokers were at more than double the risk of stroke. Although body-mass index (BMI) wasn't associated with greater risk, abdominal obesity as measured by waist-to-hip ratio was. Eating more fruit and fish was linked to lower stroke occurrence, while eating lots of red meat, organ meats, eggs, fried foods, pizza and salty snakes all boosted risk. Moderate alcohol intake actually decreased risk, but having more than 30 drinks per month was associated with a 50% greater likelihood of stroke. Regular exercise cut stroke risk by more than 30%. — The Lancet
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July 2010
Previous studies have suggested that B vitamins might help protect against depression, but these were mostly snapshots at a single point in time. Now a new study connects B-vitamin intake among 3,500 seniors, initially free of depression, over a span of 12 years: For every 10-milligram increase in daily vitamin B6 from food and supplements, risk of developing depression declined by 2%. The same was true for every additional 10 micrograms of vitamin B12. Folate, another B vitamin previously linked to lower depression incidence, was not associated with reduced risk; researchers speculated this may be because folate deficiency is rare in the US, thanks to fortified grains and cereals. While cautioning that the findings don't show cause and effect — adequate B vitamin intake might, for example, simply be a sign of an overall healthy diet — researchers said the study bolsters the case that relatively low B vitamin intake might be a risk factor for depression. — American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
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July 2010
Plant sterols and stanols — naturally occurring compounds that block the absorption of cholesterol — are emerging as a potent new weapon in the battle against heart disease. New findings by Dutch and German scientists show that higher levels of plant stanols produce comparably greater reductions in unhealthy LDL cholesterol. Although most recommendations call for doses of about 2 grams of plant sterols or stanols daily (either as supplements or in fortified foods such as juice and spreads), the study found benefits from daily consumption as high as 9 grams. In testing with 93 healthy subjects with slightly elevated cholesterol, up to 9 grams daily of plant stanols reduced blood levels of LDL cholesterol by up to 17.4%. An editorial accompanying the findings noted, "This raises the question of whether dietary phytosterols, 'natural' products, should be used rather than larger doses of statins or other drugs. These sterols probably would avoid some of the side effects of added drugs." — American Journal of Clinical Nutrition…
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June 2010
The experts developing the next federal Dietary Guidelines for Americans have the nation's obesity epidemic squarely in their crosshairs. Linda V. Van Horn, PhD, RD, LD, of Northwestern University, chair of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, said in presenting the group's recommendations, "The most important issue is that this set of guidelines is addressing an unhealthy American public for the first time. The obesity epidemic is priority number one, and every single thing in this report is focused on addressing that problem up front." The 13-member committee, which includes Tufts' Miriam Nelson, PhD, made its recommendations to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which will issue the final guidelines by year's end.
Despite the call to arms against obesity, the actual intake recommendations contain only a few changes from the last update in 2005:
* Saturated fat limits were reduced from 10% of total daily calories to 7%, with an emphasis on substituting more healthy mono- and polyunsaturated fats.
* Trans fat intake has been halved, from 1% to 0.5%.
* Recommended sodium intake was also slashed, from 2,300 milligrams daily to 1,500 milligrams.
* Recommendations for seafood intake call for two four-ounce servings per week to get 250 milligrams daily of the omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA.
Although guidelines for protein and carbohydrate consumption are little changed, the expert panel called for a shift to a more plant-based diet and a focus on nutrient-rich rather than energy-dense foods.
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June 2010
Eating right could help protect your eyes from cataracts. Researchers who studied 1,808 women, ages 55 to 86, report that a healthy diet — such as that recommended by the federal dietary guidelines and food pyramid — was associated with reduced risk of cataracts. Overall, 41% of the women experienced evidence of cataracts or had a cataract extracted. To compare cataract risk with eating habits, their diets were scored higher for intakes at or above recommended levels of vegetables, fruits, grains, milk, meat (or beans, fish or eggs) and for eating below recommended levels for fat, saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium. Investigators concluded that healthy diets "are more strongly related to the lower occurrence of nuclear cataracts than any other modifiable risk factor or protective factor studied in this sample of women." Cataracts are the most prevalent cause of visual impairment due to eye disease in the US. — Archives of Ophthalmology…
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June 2010
Getting plenty of B vitamins, especially B6, may reduce your risk of lung cancer, the world's most common cause of cancer death — even if you've never smoked. A study involving nearly 400,000 participants in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) reports that higher blood levels of vitamin B6 were associated with reduced rates of lung cancer regardless of smoking status. Higher levels of the essential amino acid methionine, found in most proteins, and folate were also linked to lower risk, although the folate connection was seen only in former and current smokers. Overall, above-average levels of B6 and methionine were associated with at least a 50% reduction in the risk of developing lung cancer. Combined with higher folate levels, the risk reduction climbed to 67%. Foods high in vitamin B6 include fortified breakfast cereal, potatoes, bananas, garbanzo beans, trout and lean beef and pork. — JAMA
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June 2010
Evidence keeps adding up that vitamin K, one of the lesser-known weapons in the nutrient arsenal, might help combat diabetes. A previous Tufts clinical trial found that supplements of the most common form of the vitamin, K1, found naturally in leafy greens and other vegetables, reduced the risk of insulin resistance in older men, thereby helping to protect against diabetes. Now a Dutch observational study suggests that another form of the vitamin, K2, found in meat, cheese and the Japanese food natto (made from fermented soybeans), may reduce diabetes risk. Researchers followed 38,094 men and women, ages 20-70, for an average 10.3 years, during which 918 cases of type-2 diabetes were diagnosed. While higher vitamin K1 intake was non-significantly associated with a lower risk of diabetes, the biggest connection was seen for K2: With every extra 10 micrograms, risk of diabetes dropped 7%. Vitamin K may be effective against diabetes, Tufts researchers have theorized, by suppressing inflammation. — Diabetes Care
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June 2010
Kellogg's health claims for its Rice Krispies cereal have officially snapped, crackled and popped. In an agreement with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the company said it would drop claims that Rice Krispies "help support your child's immunity" and labeling about added "antioxidants and nutrients that your family needs to help them stay healthy." The settlement expands upon an agreement last July over health claims for another Kellogg brand, Frosted Mini-Wheats, which the company had touted as "clinically shown to improve kids' attentiveness by nearly 20%." Jon Leibowitz, chairman of the FTC, said in a statement, "We expect more from a great American company than making dubious claims — not once, but twice — that its cereals improve children's health." In settling the FTC inquiry, Kellogg promised not to make "claims about any health benefit of any food unless the claims are backed by scientific evidence and not misleading."…
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June 2010
British scientists have again come up empty in their search for evidence that organic foods are healthier than conventional products. Last year, researchers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine reviewed 162 studies and found no proof that organic products are nutritionally superior. Now the same team pored over the scientific literature looking for nutrition-related health benefits from organic foods. Lamenting the "paucity of available data," they identified only a dozen relevant studies. Just one pointed to a possible health benefit from eating organic food: a reduced risk of eczema in infants fed organic dairy products. "The majority of the remaining studies showed no evidence of differences in nutrition-related health outcomes that result from organic or conventionally produced foodstuffs," the review concluded. Reviewers did not, however, take into account possible differences in pesticide residue — a concern about conventionally grown food recently spotlighted by the President's Cancer Panel. — American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
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June 2010
"Chinese restaurant syndrome" is probably all in your head. The term, coined in a 1968 letter to a medical journal, refers to the notion that glutamate and the flavor enhancer monosodium glutamate (MSG), popular in Asian cuisine, can trigger headaches. Now, more than 40 years later, scientists at the Center of Excellence for Food Safety Research in Malaysia have concluded from a sweeping survey of the scientific evidence that glutamate and MSG are safe. "Despite a widespread belief that glutamate can elicit asthma, migraine headache and Chinese Restaurant Syndrome," the reviewers write, "there are no consistent clinical data to support this claim. In addition, findings from the clinical literature indicate that there is no consistent evidence to suggest that individuals may be uniquely sensitive to glutamate." The findings are consistent with a recent un-scientific demonstration on the "Food Detectives" TV program in which people unaware they'd been fed MSG-free Chinese food nonetheless reported symptoms when asked if they were sensitive to the food additive. — Appetite
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June 2010
New research continues to show that reducing saturated fat by itself isn't the key to preventing heart disease. Too many Americans, it turns out, have replaced those fatty calories in their diets with refined carbohydrates and added sugars. Now a Dutch study reports that replacing saturated fats with processed carbohydrates is actually associated with a higher risk of heart attack, while substituting foods such as whole grains and vegetables is linked to lower risk. Researchers followed 53,644 healthy adults for an average 12 years, during which 1,943 subjects suffered heart attacks. Those who substituted refined carbohydrates, as measured by a food's glycemic index (GI), for saturated fats were 33% more likely to have a heart attack. People who picked low-GI carbohydrates in lieu of saturated fat, on the other hand, were at slightly lower risk than average. The scientists concluded that their findings would tend toward a recommended consumption of "less-refined foods, non-starchy vegetables, fruit and legumes," along with dietary patterns high in fiber and micronutrients, to reduce heart-disease risk. — American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
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June 2010
Undercover agents from the Government Accountability Office (GAO), posing as elderly customers, have busted a host of deceptive and even dangerous marketing practices by sellers of herbs and other supplements. According to a GAO report, "The most egregious practices included suspect marketing claims that a dietary supplement prevented or cured extremely serious diseases, such as cancer and cardiovascular disease." Under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not approve dietary supplements before they go on the market, unlike prescription drugs. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulates the marketing of supplements, which are forbidden from claiming to treat medical conditions. Investigators, in the guise of elderly buyers in stores or on the phone, also were given dangerously erroneous information about interactions between supplements and medications, such as those that raise the risk of internal bleeding. Others were advised they could drop their prescription drugs and take herbal remedies instead.…
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May 2010
Oleic acid, an omega-9 fatty acid found in olive and peanut oil, might help protect against ulcerative colitis. In a study of 25,639 patients, ages 40 to 74, enrolled in the EPIC-Norfolk study in England, those with the highest intake of oleic acid were almost 90% less at risk for the painful intestinal condition. Researchers identified 22 patients who developed ulcerative colitis and compared their seven-day food diaries to those of age- and gender-matched controls. Results were adjusted for factors such as smoking as well as for intake of other polyunsaturated fats. A significant trend associating oleic acid consumption — the equivalent of that found in 2 or 3 tablespoons of olive oil — with reduced risk was seen across the study. Although the causes of ulcerative colitis are largely unknown, researchers suggested that omega-9 fats may inhibit the formation of metabolic compounds that cause inflammation. It's too early, they added, to make clinical recommendations based on their findings. — Digestive Disease Week…
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May 2010
Although a new Canadian study found no evidence that overall vitamin D or calcium intake is associated with protection against breast cancer, the findings may have a silver lining: Women who took at least 400 IU of vitamin D in supplement form every day were 24% less likely to develop breast cancer. Researchers at Cancer Care Ontario compared the food and supplement intakes of 3,101 breast-cancer patients with 3,471 healthy controls. Neither total vitamin D nor total calcium intake was associated with breast-cancer risk. The surprising supplement results could be tied to the fact that it's difficult to get high levels of vitamin D from food alone, and only 13% of the patients and 14% of the controls took extra vitamin D. Some previous studies have suggested that vitamin D might help protect against breast cancer, researchers noted, and breast cells do have receptors for vitamin D, so the vitamin could help regulate the division and proliferation of these cells. — American Journal of Clinical Nutrition…
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May 2010
Do pregnant women participating in the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition program have healthier babies? A new analysis of the nationwide spread of WIC since the first office opened its doors in 1974 finds that pre-natal WIC nutritional assistance is associated with a significant increase in babies' birth weight — important in its own right and as a predictor of later health. The gradual introduction of WIC, which now numbers 8.7 million participants, allowed researchers to gauge its effects independently of underlying trends in infant health. Overall, WIC availability was linked to a statistically significant average increase in birth weight of 2.7 grams. When the results were adjusted to reflect that only a portion of eligible mothers actually sign up for WIC, the average birth weight improvement jumped to 29 grams, a 10% gain. WIC provides nutritional counseling and vouchers for food and infant formula to low-income pregnant and lactating women and young children. — National Bureau of Economic Research…
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May 2010
You deserve a break from sodium today. New York City researchers report that a typical fast-food lunch contains as much sodium as many people should consume in an entire day. They studied the receipts for 6,580 lunches bought at 11 different fast-food chains by ordinary consumers, adding up the sodium content. The average was a whopping 1,751 mg. That's nearly as much as the dietary guidelines' 2,300 mg limit for an entire day, and more than the 1,500 mg the government recommends for everyone over age 40, African-Americans and those with hypertension. About 57% of the lunches purchased exceeded the 1,500 mg mark. The chains with the most sodium in a typical lunch were KFC and Popeye's, both emphasizing chicken dishes, with McDonald's actually the lowest. But lunches at the burger giant still averaged a high 1,477 mg. Researchers noted, "Fast food is not only a high-calorie but also a high-sodium food." — Archives of Internal Medicine
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May 2010
Recommendations of the scientific experts reviewing the federal Dietary Guidelines for Americans will be presented at the committee's final meeting next week, and sugary soft drinks and sodium are in the bullseye. The expert committee's report on May 12 will be followed by a public-comment period in June, with the final 2010 guidelines issued later this year. The guidelines are updated every five years to reflect changes in scientific knowledge about nutrition. The committee is said to be targeting sugar-sweetened soft drinks, especially for children, and considering lowering the recommended daily sodium limit from 2,300 mg to 1,500 mg. It's also weighing alternatives to milk for those who are lactose-intolerant, and may recommended soymilk as the next best thing. Other concerns expected to affect the 2010 guidelines include: the obesity epidemic; a focus on reducing added sugar, fats, refined carbohydrates and sodium rather than discretionary calories; helping people get more exercise; and shifting the overall food environment toward a more plant-based diet. — American Society of Nutrition…
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April 2010
You know that sugar can pad your waistline and rot your teeth, but does too much sugar in your diet also contribute to unhealthy cholesterol levels? That's the conclusion of the first study of its kind to look at the link between consumption of sugar added to processed foods and measures of blood cholesterol known to raise the risk of heart disease. Researchers examined data on 6,113 participants in a national nutrition survey, dividing them into five groups based on the percentage of total calories from added sugars — which ranged from less than 5% to 25% or more. With higher consumption of added sugar, average levels of the good HDL cholesterol were lower and triglycerides were higher. Compared with the lowest-sugar group, participants with the highest intake of calories from added sugars were more than three times as likely to have unhealthy LDL cholesterol levels. The study wasn't designed to show cause and effect, and it's possible that added sugar intake is actually a marker for larger dietary patterns. But researchers concluded, "Our data support dietary guidelines that target a reduction in consumption of added sugar." — JAMA…
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April 2010
Just in time for picnic season, when foodborne illness peaks, comes news that little progress has been made in the public-health battle against microorganisms in food. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that overall rates of foodborne illness remained roughly flat in 2009, as they have for more than five years. The 10 states that participate in a federally funded monitoring system reported a total of 17,500 cases, down slightly from the year before. Cases of the most dangerous form of E. coli dropped, probably due to improved safety measures in the meat and produce industries, the CDC said. And illnesses from shigella declined, possibly because of increased hand-washing spurred by fears of the H1N1 flu. The salmonella outbreak linked to peanut products helped lead to a salmonella rate of 15.19 cases per 100,000 Americans — more than double the CDC's goal. The report concluded, "The incidence of foodborne illnesses in the United States has changed little in recent years; foodborne illness continues to be an important public health problem."
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April 2010
The prestigious Institute of Medicine, which sets recommended nutrient levels for Americans' food, has called on the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate the amount of sodium added to foods. A new Institute report concluded that public health and education campaigns have failed to reduce US sodium intake — which mostly comes from processed and restaurant foods, rather than salt shakers. So, the report argued, the FDA should lower the level of salt Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) from 2,300 mg daily, a level most American now far exceed. Then, slowly, over time, the FDA should "reduce the sodium content of the food supply in a way that goes unnoticed by most consumers as individuals' taste sensors adjust to the lower levels of sodium." The recommendation comes as 16 major food companies announced they would commit to New York City's salt-reduction initiative, which has now spread to 28 other locales. And the committee revising the federal Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which holds its final meeting May 12, is expected to call for lowering recommended sodium levels.
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April 2010
While scientists aren't exactly ready to anoint an "anti-Alzheimer's diet," they are edging closer to an understanding of the complex interactions of nutrients that might help ward off Alzheimer's disease. A new study of 2,148 senior New Yorkers has identified a dietary pattern that seems to optimize the nutrients — such as B12, folate and vitamin E — that may protect against Alzheimer's, while minimizing saturated fats and other elements associated with greater risk. During a four-year follow-up, 253 previously healthy individuals developed Alzheimer's disease. One dietary pattern was significantly associated with a reduced risk of the disease: high intakes of salad dressing, nuts, fish, tomatoes, poultry, fruits and cruciferous and dark and green leafy vegetables and low intakes of high-fat dairy, red meat, organ meat and butter. Researchers concluded, "Our findings provide support for further exploration of food combination-based dietary behavior for the prevention of this important public health problem." — Archives of Neurology
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April 2010
Consuming too many "bad carbs" may raise women's risk of heart disease, according to a new Italian study. Researchers compared dietary data with the risk of developing heart disease over almost 8 years among nearly 48,000 adults, and found that women who consumed the most total carbohydrates were twice as likely to develop heart disease as those eating the least. But a closer look revealed that not all carbs had equal apparent effect: Increased intake of carbs with a high glycemic index (a measure of how quickly a food raises blood-sugar levels) was linked to greater heart risk, while low-glycemic-index carbs were not. Women with the highest glycemic load, which combines glycemic index with serving size, were 2.24 times as likely to develop heart disease as those with the lowest glycemic load. Refined carbohydrates such as white bread and sugary foods tend to have high glycemic indexes, while whole grains generally score lower. No similar associations were seen in men. — Archives of Internal Medicine
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April 2010
Eating foods sweetened with sugar-free products such as stevia or aspartame doesn't lead to consuming more calories later to compensate, according to a new trial at the University of Florida. Some critics of low-calorie sweeteners had suggested the products might backfire by causing extra calorie consumption, as people compensated for feelings of hunger. So researchers put that notion to the test, recruiting 19 lean and 12 obese people, ages 18 to 50. The volunteers were tested on three days, during which they received either a lower-calorie appetizer sweetened with stevia, one sweetened with aspartame, or a higher-calorie appetizer containing sugar before lunch and dinner. The difference between the appetizers was more than 200 calories. No significant difference was found, however, in lunch and dinner calorie consumption or reported hunger and satiety levels between the three test days. Moreover, blood glucose and insulin levels were lower after the meals preceded by stevia, suggesting a possible benefit with blood-sugar regulation. — Appetite
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April 2010
An experiment with lab rats suggests that bingeing on junk food may be a sort of addiction, contributing to obesity. Scientists at Scripps Research Institute in Florida divided rats into three groups, all fed a balanced, healthy diet. One group, however, was allowed access to junk food — "Ding-Dongs, cheesecake, bacon, sausage, the stuff that you enjoy, but you really shouldn't eat too often" — for one hour a day, while another group enjoyed unlimited access to the high-calorie treats. That group soon shunned its healthy food and munched on junk food all day instead, quickly becoming obese. The fat rats were found to have decreased levels of dopamine, a brain chemical that's also low in humans addicted to drugs. And the rats became so focused on gobbling junk food that they no longer responded to a flashing light that they'd been trained to associated with getting a mild shock. — Nature Neuroscience
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April 2010
Is that produce labeled "organic" really pesticide-free? The US Department of Agriculture's National Organic Program recently announced a step-up in spot inspections to make sure organic foods live up to their promises. The move comes in response to a report from the department's inspector general that exposed major gaps in federal oversight of organic foods — in particular, frequent failure to perform the spot testing for pesticides required in a 1990 law. A review of independent agents responsible for certifying almost a third of US organic foods found that none did routine spot testing. In addition to testing for pesticide residues, slated to begin in September, the government will require unannounced inspections of organic producers and start regular checks of organic foods in stores. A trade association for organic producers welcomed the moves, saying the National Organic Program has lacked the resources until now to keep pace with the industry's rapid growth; the program's budget expanded from $3.9 million to $6.9 million for the current fiscal year, and staff will almost double.…
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April 2010
Another new "pooled" analysis of previous studies supports the importance of a healthy diet and reducing alcohol consumption to reduce the risk of breast cancer. You can't change your family history, researchers noted, but you can modify what you eat and drink. Previous studies have focused on individual dietary components, but since foods aren't consumed in isolation, researchers reasoned it might be more illuminating to combine this data. They pooled 18 studies involving more than 400,000 women. A "prudent" diet was defined in part as one high in whole grains and vegetables; women sticking most closely to this goal were 11% less likely to develop breast cancer than those eating the least-prudent diet. Surprisingly, however, no such association was observed for high and low adherence to a "Western" diet. Higher consumption of alcohol was linked to a 21% increased risk, as seen in previous studies; postmenopausal women who drink more alcohol have higher levels of estrogen, thought to be a factor in breast cancer. — American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
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April 2010
Tucked into the controversial health-care legislation recently signed into law was a surprisingly uncontroversial provision requiring big restaurant chains to list calorie information on menus and drive-through signs. The measure was backed by the National Restaurant Association, which preferred a national standard to a patchwork of conflicting local ordinances. Restaurants with 20 or more outlets, as well as vending machines selling food items, will be covered by the law, which also mandates making complete nutrition information available somewhere in each location. Calorie counts will have to be listed for all standard menu choices, plus items on salad bars or buffets, but not for daily specials and limited-time offers. Exactly when the regulations kick in will be up to the FDA, which the legislation charges with proposing specific rules by March 2011. Although those rules will override many local laws, some more stringent regulations will be allowed to stay on the books, including New York City's posting mandates for chains with 15 or more restaurants.
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March 2010
If you're reading this, you're not alone — Americans are thinking more about food and health and, in general, know more about nutrition and prevention of chronic disease. A newly released survey by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reports that the percentage of people who say they read the nutrition label before buying a product for the first time increased from 44% in 2002 to 54% in 2008. Nearly half of the more than 2,500 adults surveyed said such label information had changed their decision to buy or use a product. On the other hand, 56% said they didn't believe such front-of-package claims as "low fat" or "high fiber." The Health and Diet Survey, the FDA's 10th since 1982, also found more Americans say they know about the links between diet and heart disease and about the heart-health benefits of omega-3s. The percentage of those aware that trans fats raise heart-disease risk almost doubled just since the 2004 survey. But produce vendors have some work to do: Awareness of the preventive benefits of fruits and vegetables against chronic disease actually dropped from 2004 to 2008. — FDA…
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March 2010
Keeping a promise made in December when food packagers were warned to voluntarily police their label claims — or else — the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) fired off warning letters to 17 companies, including many familiar names. Some were singled out for boasting that products contain zero trans fat, without the required disclaimer that the foods are, however, high in saturated fat; these included several Dreyers ice-cream treats, Mrs. Smith's Coconut Custard Pie and Gorton's Fish Fillets. Nestle was warned about claims that its Juicy Juice drink is 100% fruit juice (it's actually a blend of juices with added flavors) as well as for a "Brain Development" juice the FDA said violated rules against claims on products for children under age 2. Other products were warned about claims for antioxidant or other nutrient content that verged on pharmaceutical claims, including Pom Wonderful pomegranate juice, Salada green tea, Pompeian olive oil and Diamond Walnuts. — FDA
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March 2010
The fluorescent lighting in supermarkets not only makes produce look tastier — it can even make some greens healthier. USDA scientists report that continuous lighting like that in supermarkets actually boosts the nutritional value of fresh spinach. Supermarkets often display fresh spinach in clear plastic containers at around 39 degrees Fahrenheit in showcases that may be exposed to fluorescent light 24 hours a day. Researchers wondered how this might affect spinach's nutritional value, so they exposed fresh spinach leaves to continuous light or darkness during simulated retail storage conditions. Spinach stored in light for as little as three days had significantly higher levels of vitamins C, K and E and folate, plus higher levels of the healthful carotenoids (plant pigments) lutein and zeaxanthin. After nine lit-up days, levels of folate and vitamin K doubled in some spinach varieties. By contrast, spinach leaves kept in the dark tended to have declining or unchanged levels of nutrients. The finding could lead to improved ways of preserving and enhancing the nutritional value of spinach and perhaps other veggies. — Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry…
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March 2010
Can taxes make us eat better? As several states and cities debate levies on "junk food" and soda, a new study reports that yes, when less-healthy foods cost more, people eat less of them. As prices of pizza and soda go up, not only does consumption go down, so do consumers' total calorie intake and body weight. University of North Carolina researchers
tracked the dietary habits and health of 5,115 young adults (age 18 to 30) over 20 years, comparing changes to food-price data. A 10% increase in price was associated with a 7% percent decrease in the amount of calories consumed from soda and a 12% decrease in calories from pizza. A $1 increase in the cost of soda or pizza was also associated with a lower overall daily calorie intake, lower body weight and improved insulin resistance. The researchers estimate that an 18% tax on these foods would result in a decline of roughly 56 calories per person per day — enough to shed about 5 pounds per person per year, with corresponding reductions in the risk of obesity-related diseases. — Archives of Internal Medicine…
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March 2010
Add increased risk of stroke to the many downsides of consuming too much fat. A new analysis of data on 87,230 participants in the Women's Health Initiative finds that those consuming the most fat were 44% more likely to suffer a stroke than those with the lowest fat intake. The women, ages 50 to 79 when the study started, were followed for about seven years. During that span, 288 in the one-quarter consuming the most fat (an average 95 grams daily) suffered a stroke caused by clogged blood vessels supplying the brain — the most common kind of stroke. The group reporting the least fat intake (25 grams) suffered 249 strokes. After adjusting for other known risk factors, that relatively small difference translated into a significantly higher risk associated with fat consumption. Women eating the most trans fat, found in baked goods, fried foods and some spreads, had a 30% greater risk of stroke. Researchers concluded, "What's bad for the heart is bad for the brain." — American Stroke Association…
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March 2010
Americans are saying "cheese" now more than ever, according to a new database tracking the availability of food in the US since 1909. The Food Availability Data System (www.ers.usda.gov/Data/FoodConsumption/) was recently unveiled online by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). Among other trends, the data show that US cheese consumption has ballooned from 11.4 pounds per person in 1970 to 31.4 pounds in 2008. Overall milk consumption has plummeted, and a trend toward increasing popularity of low-fat and skim milk that began in 1960 has reversed since 1996. What are Americans drinking instead? Carbonated soft drinks, according to the data. On the other hand, a USDA spokesperson noted that health concerns are driving a sharp increase in chicken consumption: "Beef is still Americans' favorite meat, but chicken is growing." The agency also launched an interactive atlas, an online mapping tool that tracks 90 different indicators of food choice, health choice and community characteristics on a state or county level (ers.usda.gov/foodatlas). — USDA…
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February 2010
Dessert is off the menu for the American Heart Association. The AHA's red heart checkmark symbol, introduced in 1995 as one of the first front-of-package nutrition labeling plans, will no longer be issued to desserts, and the five desserts still carrying the symbol won't be allowed to renew their certification. The move comes as part of the heart group's ramped-up battle against sugar. To qualify for the AHA symbol, packaged foods must meet criteria for being low in saturated fat, cholesterol, trans fat, total fat and sodium, while delivering at least 10% of the Daily Value (DV) of one of six nutrients (vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, calcium, protein, dietary fiber). Labeling variations also recognize "extra lean" meats and foods high in soluble fiber or whole grains. Until now, sugar content has not been a criterion. An AHA spokesperson said that the axing of the dessert category recognizes that such sweets are a significant source of discretionary calories from added sugars.…
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February 2010
Men who are feeling blue may not be getting enough folate in their diet, a new Japanese study suggests. Researchers compared blood levels of folate in 530 adults, 313 of them men, with scores for symptoms on a standard test for depression. About 36% of the subjects showed symptoms of depression. But men with the highest folate levels were 50% less likely to have depressive symptoms than those with the lowest levels. On the other hand, higher levels of homocysteine, an amino acid reduced by folate that's been linked to cardiovascular disease and dementia, were linked to greater risk of depression. Neither association was observed in the women. Folate, found in foods such as leafy greens and legumes, and its synthetic form, folic acid, have increasingly been linked to reduced risk of depression. A recent British review of 11 studies came to a similar conclusion, and Tufts researchers reported in 2003 that supplements of folic acid seemed to protect against depressive symptoms. — European Journal of Clinical Nutrition…
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February 2010
Remember when the standard beverage at mealtime was milk? That "Father Knows Best" image is as dated as black-and-white TV, according to a study of beverage consumption over more than a quarter-century. The look at four national food-intake surveys found a steady decline in milk consumption, with only a partial shift towards reduced-fat milk. Children ages 2 to 18 are averaging 91 fewer calories daily from milk than in 1977-78. What are Americans drinking instead? Sugar-sweetened beverages, going from 87 to 154 calories a day for kids and more than doubling for adults, from 64 to 142 daily calories. Juice consumption is also up for children, adding 21 calories a day. And adults are downing more alcohol, going from 45 to 155 boozy calories daily. Researcher Barry Popkin of the University of North Carolina warned, "The consumer shift toward increased levels of sugar-sweetened beverages and alcohol, limited amounts of reduced-fat milk along with a continued consumption of whole milk, and increased juice intake represent issues to address from a public health perspective." Also of potential concern is an overall decrease in beverage intake after age 60, when the body's natural ability to signal thirst and possible dehydration is weaker. — Physiology and Behavior
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February 2010
When consumers see on the Nutrition Facts panel that a product provides 25% of the Daily Value (DV) of carbohydrates, some interpret that percentage to mean the product is made up of 25% carbohydrates. That's one of the findings in a new research project by the International Food Information Council, an industry association. The results are being provided to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which is currently undertaking its own research before possible changes to nutrition labeling. The industry study found that the DV percentages were poorly understood, and that few consumers use them in dietary planning. The exception was the DV for calories, and this information was even more useful if moved into the main body of the Nutrition Facts panel. Moving the explanation of the DV from a footnote into the panel proper also boosted use of the percentages. And consumers were more likely to trust the data, particularly as it relates to portion size, if a government agency such as the FDA is mentioned in a highly visible spot. — Food Insight…
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January 2010
Pepsi-Cola and Mountain Dew recently introduced "Throwback" soft drinks sweetened with sugar instead of high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) "for a limited time only" (the nostalgic promotion was scheduled to end Feb. 22). Some soft-drink fans swear sugar-sweetened sodas taste better, but are they also better for you? Chemically, both sugar and HFCS contain similar amounts of glucose and fructose. In sugar (sucrose), those more basic sugars are connected in a single molecule and don't separate until broken down in digestion. In HFCS, which typically contains 55% fructose and 45% glucose, the sugars are already detached. Some studies have suggested that consuming fructose directly, rather than as part of sucrose, may have different metabolic effects in the body. But the evidence is mixed--and, in any case, "throwback" sugar is hardly health food. The most important health fact about sugar and HFCS is that both contain about 50 calories per tablespoon.…
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January 2010
New York City officials are leading the charge in a nationwide effort to reduce the amounts of salt in packaged and restaurant foods. The National Salt Reduction Initiative aims to cut such "hidden" salt — a major source of dietary sodium — by 25% over the next five years. New York is the first to enact the initiative's targets, with final approval expected this spring. City Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley said, "Consumers can always add salt to food, but they can't take it out. At current levels, the salt in our diets poses health risks for people with normal blood pressure, and it's even riskier for the 1.5 million New Yorkers with high blood pressure." The initiative has developed targets to help companies reduce salt levels in 61 categories of packaged foods plus 25 types of restaurant dishes; each target includes two- and four-year goals. Nationwide, 26 cities, including Los Angeles and Seattle, and 17 health organizations have signed on.
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January 2010
Can you trust the calorie counts on chain-restaurant menus and frozen supermarket meals? Tufts researchers tested 29 restaurant dishes and 10 frozen dinners — all supposed to be among the lower-calorie choices at Boston-area eateries and groceries — and found the numbers often varied widely from reality. The restaurant selections averaged 18% more calories than claimed, while the frozen alternatives to eating out averaged 8% extra calories. Some revealed extreme discrepancies, including seven restaurant foods and three frozen dinners that contained up to double the calories on the menu or label. A few items actually came in low, such as Domino's large thin-crust cheese pizza, which had one-third fewer than the promised 180 calories per serving. Most of the packaged foods were within the 20% margin of error allowed by the FDA, while variations in preparation from one franchise to another mostly explained the restaurant irregularities. Still, Tufts' Susan Roberts pointed out that 5% extra calories for someone needing 2,000 calories daily could lead to a 10-pound weight gain in just one year. — Journal of the American Dietetic Association…
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January 2010
If you can't stick to a Mediterranean-style eating pattern, a new Greek study concludes, foods enriched with cholesterol-fighting plant stanol-esters might be the next best thing. Researchers compared the so-called "Mediterranean diet" with a diet containing 2 grams daily of plant stanol-esters (a type of phytosterols added to foods such as spreads and juices) and a diet using a placebo spread. The four-month study involved 150 participants with mildly elevated cholesterol levels. Those assigned to a Mediterranean eating pattern gradually reduced levels of total and LDL ("bad") cholesterol, triglycerides and blood pressure, leading to an overall reduction in cardiovascular disease risk that researchers calculated at 24% to 32%. But those consuming plant stanol-esters did almost as well, seeing a rapid and sustained drop in total and LDL cholesterol that led to a 26% to 30% reduction in cardiovascular disease risk after only one month. — Nutrition, Metabolism & Cardiovascular Diseases
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January 2010
Changes may be coming to the familiar Nutrition Facts panel on food packages. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is wrapping up a public-comment period on a proposed study to test labeling changes with a randomly selected group of 3,600 consumers. Insight into the agency's thinking comes from three official rulemaking notices, which addressed how to better emphasize calorie counts, changes in serving-size regulations and adding or subtracting nutrients from the Nutrition Facts list. Tweaking the calorie information, the FDA said, could involve using a larger type size for total calories, eliminating the "calories from fat" data, and adding "percentage of daily calories" figures. The planned public testing will get reactions to several design alternatives while assessing how well consumers can use the revised Nutrition Facts panel.…
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December 2009
The American Dietetic Association (ADA) says a nutritious diet, not pills, is the best way to promote health and reduce the risk of disease. In a new position statement sure to rile the $23 billion dietary supplements industry, the ADA stated, "The best nutrition-based strategy for promoting optimal health and reducing the risk of chronic disease is to wisely choose a wide variety of nutrient-rich foods." Citing concerns that consumers lacking information on the safety and effectiveness of dietary supplements, the association called on its membership to keep abreast of research findings on supplements and help educate the public. The position paper did add, "Additional nutrients from supplements can help some people meet their nutrition needs as specified by science-based nutrition standards such as the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI)." Sales of most supplements grew in 2007, the most recent year for which figures are available, including 3.9% increase in sales of multivitamins, the most popular choice.
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December 2009
Two recent events put the spotlight on hunger: the quadrennial United Nations world food summit in Rome, attended by 60 chiefs of state, plus the release of the USDA's annual "hunger report." Both reported worsening hunger, globally and in the US. The UN meeting saw extensive finger-pointing among participants and a demand by the Pope that richer countries invest much more in food production and development in poorer countries. The USDA reported that hunger in America, as measured by "food security," jumped from 11.1% in 2007 to 14.6% in 2008, with "very low food security" afflicting 5.6%, or some 17 million Americans. And the numbers don't yet reflect the full impact of the economic downturn. The USDA's Food Security Index is based on an 18-question survey, including "In the last 12 months, were you ever hungry but didn't eat because there wasn't enough money for food?" — to which 4.6% of respondents answered yes, an increase of 40% over the previous survey.…
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November 2009
In further proof that, at least when it comes to nutrition, it's possible to have too much of a good thing, Norwegian researchers report that high doses of folic acid may increase the risk of cancer. They analyzed long-term results of two clinical trials totaling 6,837 heart patients who were given combinations of folic acid, B12, B6 or placebo to test the lowering of homocysteine, an amino acid in the blood linked to heart disease. Unlike the US, Norway doesn't fortify foods with folic acid, making it ideal for such a study. When participants were revisited after a total of 77 months, those assigned to supplemental folic acid plus B12 were 21% more likely to be diagnosed with cancer and 38% more likely to die of cancer. Lung cancer was the main driver of the results, suggesting a possible connection with subjects' smoking history. Supplementation levels were also quite high: double the US RDA for folic acid and a whopping 167 times the RDA for B12. The bottom line, experts commenting on the findings said, is that it's safest to get your nutrients from food, and that high-dose supplements shouldn't be relied on to prevent chronic disease. — JAMA…
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November 2009
Slowing down your eating not only gives you a chance to actually taste your food, it may give your body time to signal, "Enough!" Greek researchers report that gobbling food appears to short-circuit the release of appetite-regulating hormones, promoting overeating. They conducted a crossover study with 17 healthy men, comparing hormones in blood samples taken after eating 675 calories' worth of ice cream in 5 minutes versus a more leisurely 30-minute consumption. After savoring the ice cream for 30 minutes, participants had higher levels of two peptides that signal satiety, though there was no difference in ghrelin, a hormone that triggers hunger. Researchers concluded, "The warning we were given as children that 'wolfing down your food will make you fat' may, in fact, have a physiological explanation." — Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
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November 2009
Compounds common to the Western diet — produced by high-temperature cooking, frying, grilling and smoking food — are linked to increased levels of inflammation and oxidation that ultimately may boost the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. But cutting back on advanced glycation end products (AGEs) can reduce inflammation and empower the body's natural defenses, according to a new study. Researchers from the National Institute on Aging and Mount Sinai School of Medicine split 40 healthy participants plus 9 with kidney disease into two groups: One ate a normal, high-AGE diet, while the other group reduced AGE intake 50% by poaching, stewing and steaming their meals. The groups' calorie and nutrient intake were identical. After four months, the low-AGE group — including those with kidney disease — showed dramatic improvements in markers of inflammation and blood-vessel health. To cut down on AGEs, researchers advised "keeping the heat down and the water content up in food and avoiding pre-packaged and fast foods." — Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
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November 2009
Experts have long advised cutting back on salt to avoid high blood pressure, but a new study suggests that sugar may also be a culprit. University of Denver researchers used data from a national nutrition survey to examine consumption of candy, soft drinks, fruit juice and bakery products among 4,528 adults. They found that those who consumed more than 74 grams daily of fructose — about that found in 2 1/2 sugary drinks — were significantly more likely to develop high blood pressure. Fructose is a natural sugar found in almost equal amounts in ordinary table sugar and high-fructose corn syrup. It's also what makes fruits sweet, but fruits were excluded from the study because of their other ingredients that counter fructose's effects. "We can't say based on our results that fructose leads to high blood pressure," the scientists cautioned. But, along with other research implicating fructose in health problems, they said, "collectively, it is highly implicative of fructose as an indicator of disease." — American Society of Nephrology
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October 2009
A Western-style diet, high in meat, fast food, starches, dairy fats, eggs and alcohol, is associated with a greater risk of breast cancer among postmenopausal women than eating mostly fruits, vegetables, fish and olive or sunflower oil, according to new French findings. Except for alcohol, the reduced-risk regimen resembles what's commonly called the "Mediterranean diet." Researchers followed 65,374 older French women for an average of 9.7 years, during which 2,381 developed invasive breast cancer. Those following the "healthy/Mediterranean" diet were 15% less likely to develop breast cancer. Researchers noted that breast cancer incidence varies widely between countries, suggesting an important role for diet and other environmental factors. Japan, they pointed out, has traditionally seen one of the lowest rates for breast cancer; as a Western diet has grown in popularity in Japan, however, breast cancer incidence has risen. — American Journal of Epidemiology
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October 2009
Even as some dietary supplements are under fire for inflated health claims and safety concerns, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has thrown a lifeline to the embattled supplements industry with a new consumer advisory stating "there are many good reasons" to take extra vitamins. Barbara Schneeman, PhD, director of the FDA's Office of Nutritional Products, Labeling and Dietary Supplements, said, "Supplements can be useful when they fulfill a specific identified nutrient need that can't be met by food or is not being met through normal food intake." Examples cited by the FDA included iron and folic acid for pregnant women, B12 for people over 50 (who may not be as able to absorb it from food), and vitamin D for those with darker skin or insufficient exposure to sunlight. Schneeman stressed, "It's really important to remember that supplements can't displace a healthful diet — that's the important nutritional strategy." The agency also warned consumers against "chasing the latest headlines" and using supplements as a "quick fix." Take only the recommended amounts, the FDA advised, and beware of supplement claims that seem too good to be true. — FDA
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October 2009
Nitrites and nitrates in food, commonly shunned for fear they might contribute to cancer, are getting a second look. Following recent suggestions that these nitrogen compounds might actually have health benefits — such as in reducing blood pressure — a new study finds no link between dietary nitrites and nitrates and the risk of brain tumors. Researchers combined data from three studies with a total of 335 cases of glioma, incurable tumors that start in cells that support the brain. Analyzing the diets of study participants, scientists found no increase in glioma risk for those with the highest intake of nitrates (typically from vegetables), nitrites (from vegetables, fruit and processed meats) or processed meats (where nitrites are added as a preservative and coloring agent). It had been thought that these nitrogen compounds might react with other dietary compounds to form nitrosamines, known carcinogens. The new findings still don't make bacon a health food, but may contribute to a rethinking of the health pros and cons of nitrites as well as nitrates. — American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
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October 2009
The so-called "Mediterranean diet" may be good for you — with new evidence almost daily of its health benefits — but that healthy eating pattern comes at a price. A new Spanish study of 11,195 people over more than 8 years reports that those sticking to a traditional Mediterranean diet spent nearly a dollar more per 1,000 calories than Spaniards eating more like Americans. Researchers compared those eating greater proportions of olive oil, fish and vegetables versus a "Western" diet higher in red meat, processed meat and dairy products. They concluded, "Our results are consistent with previous studies that have shown low-energy-density diets, specifically of the Mediterranean dietary pattern, are associated with higher costs of daily food consumption." Researchers noted that the expansion of the fast-food industry in Spain and other Mediterranean countries has made a Western-style diet more affordable, convenient and popular there. — Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health
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September 2009
Are you getting enough daily grains in your diet? Probably not. A new survey says that only 4% of Americans eat the recommended six daily servings of grains. The Harris Interactive poll of 2,106 US adults, commissioned by the Grain Foods Foundation, found average daily grain consumption was 3.2 servings, barely half that recommended by the federal dietary guidelines. Those guidelines also urge Americans to "make half your grains whole"--a goal that previous surveys have likewise found lagging; only 11% of total grain consumption consists of whole grains. The Grain Foods Foundation used the new survey to launch a "Daily 6" campaign to encourage healthy grain consumption. Getting six daily grain servings, the group noted, is "as easy as having cereal for breakfast, a sandwich for lunch and a cup of pasta with dinner." The dietary guidelines count as "one serving" a slice of bread, a cup of ready-to-eat cereal, or a half-cup of cooked rice, pasta or cereal.…
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September 2009
The health price tag of Americans' craving for salt totals $18 billion a year, according to a new report from RAND Health. That's how much medical spending — plus thousands of lives — that could be saved if Americans cut their sodium consumption to recommended levels, leading to lower rates of hypertension, cardiovascular disease and stroke. The study calculated that cutting sodium intake from dietary salt could prevent 11 million cases of high blood pressure alone, saving $55 billion annually in medical bills. The Institute of Medicine recommends consuming no more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium daily — about the amount in one teaspoon of table salt. But Americans actually average more like 4,000 milligrams of sodium each day, with about 70% of that coming from processed food rather than the salt shaker. Experts expect the RAND report to ratchet up the pressure on food manufacturers and packagers to reduce sodium content.
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September 2009
The American Heart Association has declared war on added sugar in the US diet. Although the association has recommended limiting sugary foods and drinks since 2006, a new scientific statement for the first time suggests an upper limit to the added sugar Americans should consume daily. The new guidelines recommend that sugars added in processing, cooking or at the table should total no more than 100 calories a day for women and 150 calories a day for men. That's about five to nine teaspoons of sugar daily — a drastic reduction from the current average daily US intake of 22 teaspoons of added sugar, which total 355 calories. Drinking just one 12-ounce can of non-diet soda, with about 130 calories from sugar, would put a woman over the recommended limit. And sweetened soft drinks and other beverages are among the chief culprits in the 19% rise in Americans' sugar consumption since 1970, according to the AHA. The association's expert panel acknowledged that calculating consumption of added sugar in your diet can be tricky, since labels don't distinguish between added sugar (often labeled as a "syrup") and naturally occurring sugars. — American Heart Association
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September 2009
Eating whole-grain cereal for breakfast or snacking on popcorn does more than just add fiber to your diet, according to new University of Scranton research: Whole-grain cereals and snacks also contain surprisingly high levels of antioxidants called polyphenols, rivaling such well-known antioxidant sources as fruits and vegetables. Scientists took a fresh look at the antioxidant content in whole-grain foods, measuring total antioxidants rather than just "free" antioxidants (those not bound to sugar). The findings were an eye-opener, perhaps helping to explain the health benefits of whole grains beyond their fiber content. Whole-grain cereals scored the highest, with oat varieties containing the most antioxidants, followed by corn and wheat. Popcorn proved the champ among snacks, delivering five times the antioxidants of any other snack tested; snacks that were more heavily processed, such as tortilla chips, lost much of their original antioxidant benefits. — American Chemical Society…
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September 2009
New research from China adds to a small but growing body of evidence suggesting that getting more omega-3 fats and less omega-6s may reduce your cancer risk. Omega-3s, found in fatty fish like salmon, have been linked to a wide range of health benefits. Omega-6s — another type of polyunsaturated fatty acids, found in vegetable oils and some meats — also have benefits, but may promote inflammation that's associated with cancer. Vanderbilt researchers analyzed data on 73,242 Chinese women in the Shanghai Women's Health Study. They found that women with the highest ratio of omega-6s to omega-3s were nearly twice as likely to develop colorectal cancer as those with the lowest ratio. One particular omega-6, arachidonic acid, was also linked to colorectal cancer risk: Women with the highest intake were at 40% greater risk. An essential fatty acid, arachidonic acid is found in greatest amounts in foods including poultry dark meat and organ meats, and also comes from eggs. — Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention…
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September 2009
Here's another reason to skip the French fries: While dietary cholesterol, long given a bad rap, has largely been replaced by saturated fat as the acknowledged chief culprit in clogging your arteries, the cholesterol in fried foods is different. Hong Kong researchers report that cholesterol subjected to high-heat cooking such as in deep frying becomes oxidized. And this oxidized cholesterol can clog your arteries even if your blood-cholesterol numbers remain OK. In testing on hamsters (which digest cholesterol much the same way humans do), scientists found that the animals whose otherwise-identical diets included heated cholesterol had 12%-22% higher total blood lipid levels and significantly more arterial plaque. Oxidized cholesterol, the researchers noted, adheres more easily to blood-vessel walls and disrupts the release of nitric oxide. — American Chemical Society…
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September 2009
Carrots and broccoli could be weapons against non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), a cancer that starts in the lymphatic system and strikes 50,000 Americans every year. Mayo Clinic researchers have found that higher intake of antioxidants — vitamin C, alpha-carotene and proanthocyanidins — found in yellow-orange vegetables and cruciferous vegetables was associated with a 22%-30% lower risk of NHL. Scientists studied 35,159 participants in the Iowa Women's Health Study, initially ages 55 to 69; over 20 years, 415 cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma were diagnosed. Women eating the most fruits and vegetables overall (about 7 daily servings or more) were at 31% lower risk than those eating the least. Specifically, high intakes of yellow-orange veggies (at least 14 servings per month) and cruciferous veggies such as broccoli (at least 4 servings monthly) were associated with a 28% lower risk of NHL. But getting antioxidants in pill form failed to deliver the same benefits — no risk reduction was associated with mulivitamin or antioxidant supplement use — leading scientists to conclude that the NHL protection "is likely to be mediated through food." — International Journal of Cancer…
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August 2009
A diet designed to fight high blood pressure may also help prevent kidney stones, according to an analysis of three large studies totaling more than 240,000 men and women. People whose diets most closely matched the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating plan were 40% to 50% less likely to develop kidney stones than those eating most at odds with DASH. Moreover, the findings may overturn some common dietary advice for preventing kidney stones: Although those at high risk may still want to avoid foods highest in oxalate, such as spinach and almonds, the DASH plan emphasizes vegetables, fruits and whole grains — sometimes skipped by those fearing the painful stones. The DASH plan also promotes moderate intake of low-fat dairy and limiting animal protein and sodium. In the combined studies, 5,645 episodes of kidney stones were documented. Researchers found a DASH-like diet reduced kidney-stone risk similarly regardless of gender, age and body mass index. — Journal of the American Society of Nephrology…
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August 2009
Americans are at least trying to eat more vegetables, according to a new survey that found veggies number-one among foods targeted by those seeking a healthier diet. The survey of 1,000 US adults conducted for the International Food Information Council found that 55% are changing what and/or how much they eat in the interest of health. After vegetables, cited by 60% of those seeking healthier foods, the most popular choices were fruits and fruit juices (53%) and whole grains (11%). When asked to rank the top three factors they look for in selecting healthier food for themselves, respondents picked fiber (37%), followed by whole grains (34%) and protein (28%). That focus on protein may be misplaced: A 2008 analysis of national nutrition data found that most Americans get enough protein (about 56 grams/day for adult men, 46 for women), and federal dietary guidelines recommend getting only 17% to 21% of total calories from protein. — IFIC…
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August 2009
When you're not in fat city, you're at greater risk of getting fat. German researchers report that people who are "overindebted"—in debt with no clear way out—are almost twice as likely to be overweight and two and a half times more likely to be obese, with potentially dire health consequences. They compared data from two health surveys, one on 8,000 individuals from the general population and one focusing on 800 people deeply in debt. Overindebted people were also more likely to suffer depression and to use tobacco. Being in financial straits restricts access to healthy foods and increases consumption of cheap, high-calorie foods, researchers noted, adding, "Overindebtedness affects a series of risk factors for chronic diseases such as leisure-time activities, as well as social activities."—BMC Public Health…
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August 2009
Looking to save on grocery bills in tough economic times? Maybe not everything you buy needs to be organic. Although typically pricier than conventionally grown foods, organic options have no special nutritional benefits, according to a sweeping new review of the scientific literature. Commissioned by Britain's Food Standards Agency, the study by researchers at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine looked at 162 scientific papers published over the past 50 years. The conclusion may surprise organic-food fans: "Our review indicates that there is currently no evidence to support the selection of organically over conventionally produced foods on the basis of nutritional superiority." The review identified a handful of differences in nutritional content for organic foods, but found that "these are unlikely to be of any public health relevance." Researchers did not, however, address questions of pesticide or other residues or the environmental impact of different growing techniques.—American Journal of Clinical Nutrition…
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July 2009
Data from more than a half-million participants in the National Institutes of Health-AARP Health Study points to high intake of fat from red meat and dairy products as a risk factor for pancreatic cancer. Over an average six-year follow-up, 1,337 participants were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer—a relatively uncommon but especially deadly cancer for which prevention is key. Men consuming the most total fat were 53% more likely to develop the cancer, and women with the highest fat intake were at 23% greater risk. Overall, participants consuming the most saturated fat—found in animal products such as meat, butter and whole milk—had a 36% higher rate of pancreatic cancer than those consuming the least. Researchers concluded, "We observed positive associations between pancreatic cancer and intakes of total, saturated and monounsaturated fat overall, particularly from red meat and dairy food sources. We did not observe any consistent association with polyunsaturated fat or fat from plant food sources. Altogether, these results suggest a role for animal fat in pancreatic carcinogenesis."—Journal of the National Cancer Institute…
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July 2009
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has signaled its willingness to allow certain highly qualified health claims that selenium might reduce the risk of prostate, bladder and thyroid cancer. But don't expect supplement makers to rush to splash the FDA-approved language on their labels—the claims aren't exactly a marketer's dream. After summarizing the findings of several "weak studies" on selenium and prostate cancer, for example, the health claim would state, "Based on these studies, FDA concludes that it is highly unlikely that selenium supplements reduce the risk of prostate cancer." Similarly lukewarm—at best—endorsements state that "it is highly uncertain that selenium supplements reduce the risk of bladder cancer in women" or the risk of thyroid cancer. The agency also ruled that there is "no credible evidence" to support even qualified health claims for selenium supplements reducing the risk of other cancers. A spokesperson for a supplements trade group said of the three claims that the FDA would okay, "I can't see why anyone would want to use these claims."—FDA
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June 2009
The evidence for health benefits from consuming whole grains keeps adding up. Now Italian researchers report that switching from refined grains to a diet higher in whole wheat and fiber may help improve your cholesterol. The scientists tested 15 healthy volunteers, average age 54.5 and slightly overweight, on two equal-calorie diets: One regimen contained processed grains and 9.8 grams of daily fiber; the other diet emphasized whole-wheat foods and contained 23.1 grams of daily fiber. After three weeks on one diet, then a two-week "washout" period, the subjects switched over to the other diet. When consuming the whole-grain, high-fiber diet, subjects' total cholesterol levels were 4.3% lower than on the refined-grain plan, and their LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels were 4.9% lower. No difference was seen, however, in glucose and insulin metabolism, antioxidants status or inflammation markers.—Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Disease…
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June 2009
The US Food and Drug Administration has warned consumers to stop using Zicam intranasal cold-remedy products because of more than 130 reports of users who've lost their sense of smell. The warning applies to Zicam products containing zinc used within the nose, including Cold Remedy Nasal Gel and Nasal Swabs; the agency cited studies showing zinc can be toxic to nasal nerve receptors. Loss of the sense of smell—a condition called anosmia—can be dangerous, an FDA spokesman added, because people can't smell gas leaks, smoke from fires or spoiled food. The FDA also issued a warning letter to Matrixx Initiatives, maker of Zicam, directing the firm to stop marketing the products and stating that Matrixx must now seek agency approval to stay on store shelves. Previously, Zicam has been sold as a homeopathic remedy, which can be marketed without the same scrutiny the FDA requires of standard drugs. Matrixx, which paid $12 million in 2006 to settle 340 lawsuits by consumers who claimed damage to their sense of smell, stated, "No plaintiff has ever won a court case, because there is no known causal link between the use of Zicam Cold Remedy nasal gel and impairment of smell."—FDA…
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June 2009
Tufts researchers have further advanced the case for omega-3 fatty acids as a weapon against age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of vision loss among older Americans. According to newly published research, a diet high in omega-3s—found in fatty fish such as salmon—can reduce the progression of AMD by about 25%. Scientists at Tufts' HNRCA Laboratory for Nutrition and Vision Research analyzed data on 2,924 participants in the Age-Related Eye Disease (AREDS) study, which concluded that antioxidant vitamins could reduce the risk of AMD. That study didn't directly involve omega-3s, but did collect information on participants' diets. So the Tufts team compared dietary consumption of foods high in omega-3s with the progression of AMD. Those in the highest one-fourth of intake of DHA (more than 64mg a day), one of two key omega-3s found in fish, were at 27% lower risk of AMD progression than those with the lowest DHA in their diets. The group consuming the most of the second key omega-3, EPA (more than 42.3mg a day), were at 26% reduced risk.—British Journal of Ophthalmology…
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June 2009
A review of the scientific evidence by the American Dietetic Association has "busted" a trio of myths about aspartame. According to the ADA's Evidence Analysis Library, it's not true that the artificial sweetener causes a "rebound" effect, making you more hungry: "There is good evidence that aspartame does not affect appetite or food intake." The evidence review also discounted the myth that aspartame somehow makes people gain weight, despite its lack of calories; using aspartame in the context of a low-calorie diet does not adversely affect weight, the experts concluded, and may be associated with increased weight loss. Finally, the ADA debunked various Internet myths about purported ill effects on health from the sweetener, concluding: "Aspartame consumption is not associated with adverse effects in the general population." The study was co-funded by Ajinomoto, an aspartame manufacturer, but managed and directed entirely by the ADA.—American Dietetic Association…
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June 2009
The experts at the forefront of protecting skin from the sun have recognized one downside to their advice: Practicing "photoprotection" keeps your body from producing natural vitamin D. So the Skin Cancer Foundation has become the first major medical group to call for an increase in the daily recommended intake of vitamin D—from food and supplements—from 400 IU daily to 1,000 IU for adults with limited sun exposure or who practice photoprotection. The chair of the foundation's Photobiology Committee notes that this level "is well within the safety limits set by the US Food and Drug Administration and it may also help alleviate vitamin D deficiency, which has been a growing concern for people." While a few minutes of unprotected sun exposure can make plenty of vitamin D in the skin, the foundation points out that about 90% of non-melanoma skin cancers are associated with UV rays from the sun.—Skin Cancer Foundation
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May 2009
If you're looking to lose weight, make sure you're getting enough calcium. While scientific debate continues over whether extra calcium—primarily from dairy products—aids in weight loss, a new Canadian study suggests that very low calcium intake may make you crave food. Researchers compared a calcium and vitamin D supplement versus a placebo in 63 overweight and obese women on a 15-week weight-reduction plan. Overall, there was no difference in weight loss between the supplement and placebo groups. But among women with the lowest calcium intake—less than 600 mg daily—those taking the supplement lost an average of more than 13 pounds compared to about 2 pounds for the placebo group. Scientists concluded, "Our hypothesis is that the brain can detect the lack of calcium and seeks to compensate by spurring food intake, which obviously works against the goals of any weight-loss program. Sufficient calcium intake seems to stifle the desire to eat more."—British Journal of Nutrition
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May 2009
Here's another reason to blow on your tea before taking a sip: Drinking very hot tea could increase your risk for cancer of the esophagus. A two-part Iranian study reports that regularly drinking tea at 149 to 158 degrees Fahrenheit was associated with double the risk of esophageal cancer. Habitually drinking "very hot" tea—above 158 degrees—was linked to eight times the normal cancer risk. The research combined one study in which 300 esophageal-cancer victims were compared with 571 cancer-free controls, plus a study of 48,000 tea-drinkers ages 40 to 75. All the subjects lived in the province of Golestan, known both for its tea drinking (with low use of tobacco or alcohol) and some of the highest rates of esophageal cancer in the world. An accompanying editorial in the medical journal recommended that people served extremely hot beverages and foods—not just tea—should wait a few minutes before consuming.—BMJ…
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May 2009
Just as pistachio growers were basking in recent good news about the nuts and heart health, a nationwide recall for possible salmonella contamination suddenly casts a pall over pistachios. Setton, a California pistachio grower supplying nuts for several nationwide brands as well as for products containing pistachios, announced it was recalling about 1 million pounds of nuts shipped on or after Sept. 1, 2008. Brands affected include Setton Farms, Kraft's Planters and Back to Nature labels and Kroger's Private Selection; Supervalu also announced it was removing all pistachio products from its stores, including Albertsons and Jewel-Osco, for now. Brands apparently not affected include Diamond, Emerald, Sam's Choice and private labels from CVS and Walgreen. "Our advice to consumers is that they avoid eating pistachio products, and that they hold onto those products," said Dr. David Acheson, FDA assistant commissioner for food safety. "The number of products that are going to be recalled over the coming days will grow, simply because these pistachio nuts have then been repackaged into consumer-level containers." For complete and updated information, see www.fda.gov/pistachios.…
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May 2009
Are those toasted-oat "Os" in your breakfast bowl of cereal really an "unapproved new drug"? That's what the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says in a warning letter to General Mills, maker of Cheerios. Citing "unauthorized health claims," the FDA said Cheerios can continue to make its cholesterol-lowering boasts only if General Mills applies for approval of the cereal as a drug. The agency singled out claims both on cereal boxes and the product's website that Cheerios can "reduce bad cholesterol by an average of 4%" in six weeks. Such language violates FDA rules against claims of any specific degree of risk reduction. The stand-alone claim also fails to include FDA-approved verbiage that soluble fiber from whole-grain oats can improve cholesterol as part of an overall healthy diet. A General Mills statement said, "We look forward to discussing this with FDA and to reaching a resolution."—FDA…
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May 2009
Controversial new research in Germany suggests that supplements of antioxidants such as vitamins C and E may block the metabolic benefits of exercise and could even increase diabetes risk. Researchers compared two groups of exercisers, one of which received 1,000 mg of vitamin C and 400 IU of vitamin E daily. After four weeks, the group getting antioxidant vitamins showed no improvement in insulin sensitivity—a normal diabetes-fighting benefit of exercise. When exercise causes muscle cells to burn glucose, oxygen gets consumed much as in a fire; some highly reactive oxygen molecules escape in this process, but the body has natural mechanisms to mop them up. Researchers theorized that the antioxidants might short-circuit the body's own defenses against this "free-radical" oxygen. "If you exercise to promote health," they concluded, "you shouldn't take large amounts of antioxidants." Natural antioxidants in foods rather than pills, however, are in lower doses and come with other nutritional benefits.—Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
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May 2009
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a voluntary recall of 14 diet-aid products sold under the Hydroxycut brand, following reports of liver damage associated with the dietary supplements. The Hydroxycut pills, drinks and powders, manufactured by Iovate Health Sciences, totaled more than 9 million units in sales last year. The FDA received 23 reports of serious health problems linked to Hydroxycut products, including at least one death in 2007 and one customer who required a liver transplant. The FDA didn't learn of the death until March 2009, a delay the agency said is not unusual because reporting is voluntary for supplement makers (unlike prescription drugs, which are closely regulated). Since supplement producers also are not required to give the FDA precise ingredient formulas, the agency said it doesn't know if the liver damage was due to a single ingredient or a combination. Two Iovate products, Hydroxycut Cleanse and Hoodia, are not affected by the recall.—FDA…
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May 2009
Sniffling and wheezing from allergies or asthma? Maybe you're not getting enough folate. New Johns Hopkins research has linked low levels of folate, a type of B vitamin found in leafy green vegetables and (as folic acid) in fortified grain products, to higher risk of allergic symptoms. In a study of 8,083 participants in a national health and nutrition survey, those with the lowest blood folate levels were 40% more likely to wheeze and 31% more likely to have allergenic reactions than those with the highest folate amounts. Researchers wrote, "These findings suggest that dietary folic acid and factors affecting its metabolism might play an important role in the development and perpetuation of allergy and asthma." Low intake of folate and its synthetic form, folic acid, found in supplements and fortified foods, has previously been associated with inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis.—Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology…
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May 2009
Whichever diet plan works best for you to lose weight, after you've slimmed down, a diet low in saturated fat is best for your health. A new study at the University of Maryland compared the health effects—not the weight-loss impact—of three popular diet plans: the low-carbohydrate Atkins Diet, which allows foods high in saturated fat; the South Beach Diet, which emphasizes unsaturated fats, vegetables and legumes; and the Ornish plan, a low-fat, vegetarian regimen. The 26 healthy, non-obese volunteers tried each diet plan for a month to test the effects on cholesterol, inflammation and blood-vessel function. While the Atkins Diet caused LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels to slightly increase, LDL levels dropped 12% on the South Beach plan and 17% on Ornish. The Ornish diet also had the most positive effect on blood-vessel function. Researchers concluded, "The bottom line is that once weight loss has been attained, a diet low in saturated fat represents an excellent prescription for a healthy heart."—Journal of the American Dietetic Association
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May 2009
Cutting back on sugar-sweetened sodas may be more effective for weight loss than skipping the same amount of calories in solid food. A new study using data on 810 adults from the PREMIER trial reports that each daily 12-ounce serving of sugared soft drinks eliminated from the diet led to one pound of weight loss over six months. Reducing liquid calories appeared to lead to greater weight loss than cutting equivalent amounts of calories from food. Researchers speculated that the reason could be that beverages aren't as satisfying or may actually cause different metabolic and endocrine responses in the body. One thing's for sure: "Liquid calories" have played a big role in the obesity epidemic. At least half of the 150 to 300 calories added to the typical US diet over the past 30 years have come from beverages.—American Journal of Clinical Nutrition…
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May 2009
Rich in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, salmon swam into first place in a new survey of New York nutritionists asked to name foods they'd recommend as not only nutritious but offering distinct health benefits and good value. The poll of members in the New York State Dietetic Association ranked oats number-two because of high fiber, "a powerhouse nutrient, known for aiding with digestion [and which] also helps fight disease, and may lower the risk for high cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes and cancer." Coming in third were blueberries, rich in antioxidants and vitamins, for their "ability to protect the body against the damaging effects of free radicals and the chronic diseases associated with the aging process." Rounding out the nutritionists' top-five foods were two dairy products: low-fat milk, for its calcium and vitamin D content, and low-fat yogurt with added probiotics, which aid digestion.—NYSDA…
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April 2009
Broccoli is already enshrined in the pantheon of healthy foods, but now there's evidence that baby broccoli—sprouts—fight a common stomach bacteria that is linked to gastritis, ulcers and even stomach cancer. Fresh broccoli sprouts have a much higher concentration of sulforaphane—a natural sulfur compound—than mature broccoli; a potent antibiotic, sulforaphane is thought to trigger the production of protective enzymes in the stomach. Researchers divided 48 volunteers infected with Helicobacter pylori, a bacteria known to cause gastritis and ulcers and implicated in cancer, into two groups. One group ate about 2.5 ounces of broccoli sprouts daily, while a control group got alfalfa sprouts, which don't contain sulforaphane. After eight weeks, the broccoli-sprouts group showed lower levels of the bacteria. Researchers concluded, "We identified a food that, if eaten regularly, might potentially have an effect on the cause of a lot of gastric problems and even ultimately help prevent stomach cancer."—Cancer Prevention Research…
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April 2009
If you're looking to lose weight, make sure you're getting enough calcium. While scientific debate continues over whether extra calcium—primarily from dairy products—aids in weight loss, a new Canadian study suggests that very low calcium intake may make you crave food. Researchers compared a calcium and vitamin D supplement versus a placebo in 63 overweight and obese women on a 15-week weight-reduction plan. Overall, there was no difference in weight loss between the supplement and placebo groups. But among women with the lowest calcium intake—less than 600 mg daily—those taking the supplement lost an average of more than 13 pounds compared to about 2 pounds for the placebo group. Scientists concluded, "Our hypothesis is that the brain can detect the lack of calcium and seeks to compensate by spurring food intake, which obviously works against the goals of any weight-loss program. Sufficient calcium intake seems to stifle the desire to eat more."—British Journal of Nutrition
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April 2009
Here's another reason to blow on your tea before taking a sip: Drinking very hot tea could increase your risk for cancer of the esophagus. A two-part Iranian study reports that regularly drinking tea at 149 to 158 degrees Fahrenheit was associated with double the risk of esophageal cancer. Habitually drinking "very hot" tea—above 158 degrees—was linked to eight times the normal cancer risk. The research combined one study in which 300 esophageal-cancer victims were compared with 571 cancer-free controls, plus a study of 48,000 tea-drinkers ages 40 to 75. All the subjects lived in the province of Golestan, known both for its tea drinking (with low use of tobacco or alcohol) and some of the highest rates of esophageal cancer in the world. An accompanying editorial in the medical journal recommended that people served extremely hot beverages and foods—not just tea—should wait a few minutes before consuming.—BMJ…
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April 2009
Just as pistachio growers were basking in recent good news about the nuts and heart health, a nationwide recall for possible salmonella contamination suddenly casts a pall over pistachios. Setton, a California pistachio grower supplying nuts for several nationwide brands as well as for products containing pistachios, announced it was recalling about 1 million pounds of nuts shipped on or after Sept. 1, 2008. Brands affected include Setton Farms, Kraft's Planters and Back to Nature labels and Kroger's Private Selection; Supervalu also announced it was removing all pistachio products from its stores, including Albertsons and Jewel-Osco, for now. Brands apparently not affected include Diamond, Emerald, Sam's Choice and private labels from CVS and Walgreen. "Our advice to consumers is that they avoid eating pistachio products, and that they hold onto those products," said Dr. David Acheson, FDA assistant commissioner for food safety. "The number of products that are going to be recalled over the coming days will grow, simply because these pistachio nuts have then been repackaged into consumer-level containers." For complete and updated information, see www.fda.gov/pistachios.
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March 2009
Men with higher intake of vitamin C from food and supplements appear less likely to develop gout, a painful form of arthritis. Gout is the most common type of inflammatory arthritis in men and is increasingly common. A study of 46,994 men over a 20-year span found that those with the highest total intake of vitamin C (1,500 milligrams daily or more) were 45% less likely to develop gout than those with the lowest intake. Overall, each 500-milligram increase in daily vitamin C was associated with a 17% reduction in gout risk. Vitamin C appears to reduce levels of uric acid in the blood, according to the researchers; a buildup of this naturally occurring compound can form crystal deposits in and around joints, leading to the pain, inflammation and swelling associated with gout.—Archives of Internal Medicine
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March 2009
Is it time to give eggs a second chance? Nutrition experts have recently suggested that eggs may have been given a bad rap as a cholesterol culprit. Now a new Canadian study finds that proteins unique to eggs could actually help improve blood flow and blood pressure, reducing heart-disease risk. Using a model of the human digestive system, the scientists tested boiled and fried eggs. Proteins in the eggs, they discovered, could be converted by digestive enzymes to produce compounds called peptides, which have "ACE-inhibitory activity." That means the peptides help block a process in the body that constricts blood vessels. The most effective proteins came from the fried eggs—but the study did not take into account negative effects of fats from frying. "Findings from this study provided further evidence that eggs are an excellent source of health-promoting food," researchers concluded.—Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
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February 2009
Calcium might help prevent some cancers, after all. Three years after the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) dashed hopes that calcium and vitamin D supplements might offer a benefit against colorectal cancer, another big study finds an association between calcium intake and reduced risk of colorectal and other digestive-system cancers. One difference: This seven-year study of nearly a half-million participants in the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study focused on calcium from food, such as low-fat dairy, as well as pills. Women with highest calcium intake were at 23% less risk for digestive-system cancers than those with the lowest intake; for men, the risk-reduction was 16%. Women, but not men, also showed a lower risk of cancer overall with greater calcium consumption.—Archives of Internal Medicine
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February 2009
Increased your consumption of vitamin C from foods may reduce your risk of hardening of the arteries, according to a new Norwegian study. Researchers used ultrasound techniques to measure thee intima media thickness (IMT) of the carotid artery and food-frequency questionnaires to assess dietary intakes of participants in a three-year trial involving 563 men, average age 70. Those in a dietary-intervention group, who increased their intake of vitamin C-rich foods, showed less arterial thickening. When data on other participants was analyzed, those consuming the most dietary vitamin C also had better IMT scores. The findings add to the growing evidence of cardiovascular benefits for vitamin C, such as recent UC-Berkeley research linking intake with lower blood pressure.—Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases
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February 2009
If you're a woman who finds she just can't combat cravings for favorite foods, blame your brain. New research at Brookhaven National Laboratory finds that women may be less able to suppress their hunger than men. Scientists asked 13 women and 10 men about their favorite foods, then monitored brain activity while the volunteers—after an overnight fast—were presented with those foods. Both men and women reported that a cognitive-inhibition technique they'd been taught helped decrease their hunger, but only the men's brains actually showed a decrease in hunger signals. The women's brains "were still firing away in the regions that control the drive to eat," researchers reported, saying the findings may help explain why the obesity rate is higher for females.—Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
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February 2009
Score another one for food versus pills: Orange and blackcurrant juices reduced levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of inflammation associated with heart disease and diabetes risk, by 11% in a new Danish study, while vitamin E supplements showed no benefit. Researchers compared the juices, vitamin E, a sugar drink and placebo in four different combinations in two 28-day trials on 48 patients with peripheral artery disease. The scientists concluded, "It is the mixture of several agents in fruit and vegetables—here notable fruit juices—that affect the arterial wall; thus patients are better off eating 'whole' fruits and vegetables (juices) than specific supplements."—British Journal of Nutrition
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February 2009
Do those phytosterols added to foods such as spreads really improve your cholesterol levels? A new review of 84 trials says yes, and that there's no important difference between the two main types (sterols and stanols) or delivery in fat or non-fat foods or dairy vs. nondairy foods. In the combined studies, average intake of 2.15 grams of phytosterols daily—slightly above the recommended 2 grams—was associated with a reduction in LDL ("bad") cholesterol of 8.8%. Getting your phytosterols in multiple smaller portions throughout the day was more effective than one big dose, and at higher doses the effect was greater from solid foods than from liquids.—Journal of Nutrition…
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January 2009
Worried about carcinogenic compounds forming when you grill or pan-fry steaks? Marinating beef in beer or red wine before cooking can significantly reduce the levels of potentially cancer-causing compounds, according to Portuguese scientists. Chemicals called heterocyclic amines (HAs), thought to increase cancer risk, are created when meats are grilled, broiled or pan-fried at high temperature or to "well done." Researchers marinated beef samples in beer or red wine for up to six hours before pan-frying, then compared HA levels to un-marinated control samples. Levels of potential carcinogens were reduced 88% in the beer-marinated beef and 40% in the wine batch. A tasting panel found the beer-marinated steaks as good as regular beef, while the wine-soaked steaks scored lower; marinating for longer than two hours had negative effects on odor, color and overall quality.—Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry…
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