The Mixed-Up Plate

Mixed dishes make it easy to serve up plenty of whole plant foods.

Dietary guidelines are designed to suggest foods and food patterns that provide all the nutrients and bioactive compounds our bodies need, while avoiding those we don’t need (like too much sodium, starch, added sugars, and unwanted additives).

Avoiding Cow’s Milk Right After Birth May Help Prevent Food Allergies

A randomized trial in JAMA Pediatrics found that newborns who received cow’s milk formula (CMF) in the first three days of life had a higher risk of food allergies at age two than newborns not given CMF.

Common Medications and Vitamin B12 Levels

Metformin and acid-lowering drugs may increase risk for vitamin B12 deficiency.

Vitamin B12 plays many crucial roles in the body. It is involved in neurologic function, red blood cell production, DNA synthesis, and a number of important chemical reactions. Vitamin B12 deficiency, while not common, can cause megaloblastic anemia (a disorder of the red blood cells that can cause symptoms such as fatigue, pale skin, and lightheadedness) and neurological and cognitive disorders.

Dealing with Changes in Taste and Odor Perception

Part of eating well is enjoying our food. Changes in the ability to taste and smell can interfere with that joy. Unfortunately, these two senses often diminish with age, which can harm our choices of foods, along with our enjoyment. Acknowledging and addressing changes to taste and smell can help bring pleasure back to the plate.

Organic Produce: The Facts

Organic produce is not necessarily more nutritious than conventional, but other factors may influence purchasing decisions.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which regulates labelling of organic foods, says organic fruits and vegetables must be grown without the use of most synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides, and the seeds cannot be genetically engineered. Surveys done over the years show that organic produce is often (but not always) more costly to grow and thus more expensive than conventional produce.

Foods, Not Supplements

Getting nutrients from foods, rather than supplements, is linked to better health.

A dietary pattern rich in foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, and whole grains is associated with better overall health and lower risk of death from all causes. Since the micronutrients in these foods are one of the reasons for their positive health effects, many Americans try to improve their odds for a long, healthy life by taking vitamin and mineral supplements.

Plant-Based Meatballs