Healthy, Satisfying Snacks

The right snack can take the edge off between-meal hunger, and nourish the body, too.

A snack is basically any food or drink consumed between meals. Researchers sometimes add qualifiers (a snack is smaller than a meal, provides less calories, or takes place at least 15 minutes after mealtime), but most snackers are probably just looking for a quick, convenient way to make it to the next meal without getting “hangry,” or a pleasurable break from the daily routine.

The Facts about Local Produce

Local, seasonal fruits and vegetables are good options, but other types of produce are excellent choices too.

Throughout the summer and fall, farm stands display locally-grown fruits and vegetables, and supermarkets offer fresh seasonal produce, along with organic, conventional, imported, and frozen selections. Understanding the variables associated with these options may make deciding what to buy a little easier.

Physical Activity on the Rise but Still Low

According to a recent report from the CDC and federal department of Health and Human Services, only 23 percent of American adults aged 18 to 64 years get the recommended amount of physical activity.

The Pros and Cons of Nutrient Density

Choosing nutrient-dense foods can increase intake of health-promoting nutrients, but rankings of foods can be misleading.

Research shows that overall dietary patterns have a big impact on health. But people don’t buy dietary patterns, they buy foods. That’s why the idea of quantifying the healthfulness of individual foods is so appealing.

Can Junk Food Taxes Improve Health?

Tufts researchers tackle tough questions on junk food taxes.

There is currently a lot of interest in whether adjusting food prices could encourage more healthful food choices, and ultimately improve health. Would taxes change buying behavior in meaningful and impactful ways? Would they lead to improved public health? And is it viable (and fair) to implement such policies on a national level? Tufts experts have examined these important issues in several recently published studies.

Avoiding Dehydration

Summer heat increases risk for this potentially dangerous condition.

The hot summer months are upon us, but sweating in the sun is not the only factor that raises risk for dehydration. This potentially dangerous drop in body fluid affects everything from blood pressure to the brain, so knowing the causes, signs, and symptoms of dehydration—as well as how to avoid it—is critical.

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