Busting Weight Loss Myths

We know that carrying excess weight increases risk of type 2 diabetes, heart attack, stroke, certain cancers, back and joint pain, and more. Anyone who has tried knows that reaching or maintaining a healthy weight can be difficult.

Folic Acid Overload?

Negative health effects may be associated with excess folate intake from folic acid in dietary supplements and enriched foods.

The B vitamin folate (B9) is found naturally in a variety of foods including vegetables (especially dark leafy greens), fruits and fruit juices, nuts, beans, peas, seafood, eggs, dairy products, meat, poultry, and whole grains.

Physical Activity and Brain Health

Research suggests that being more active may help to keep the brain healthy.

Our brains tend to shrink as we age, and this brain atrophy is associated with cognitive decline and dementia. Research suggests that being more physically active may slow mental decline, in addition to slowing physical decline.

The Good Fat Swap

There are many different kinds of dietary fats—the lipids found naturally in the foods we eat. “Choosing the right kinds of fats, rather than avoiding fat altogether, is the healthy choice,” says Alice H. Lichtenstein, DSc, director of the Cardiovascular Nutrition Laboratory at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging.

Fruit and Vegetable Rx

Programs that incentivize intake of fruits and vegetables are already being piloted across the U.S., with promising impact on diet and health.

Your blood pressure, blood sugar, or weight is high. Your doctor takes out a prescription pad and writes a prescription for…fruits and vegetables? It may sound far-fetched, but healthy-food prescription programs are already operating in some doctors’ offices, and emerging research suggests such programs have the potential to improve health—saving lives and money.

Eggs: Good or Bad?

Eggs can be part of a healthy dietary pattern.

There is no question that eggs are nutritious. The protein in eggs provides all the essential amino acids our bodies need in the proportions we need them. Eggs are also a good source of many essential nutrients, including biotin, selenium, vitamin B12, iodine, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, phosphorus, potassium, and vitamins A and D. Additionally, egg yolks are high in lutein and zeaxanthin, phytochemicals that may help protect against age-related macular degeneration. Egg yolks are also a major source of dietary cholesterol, and therein lies the source of decades of conflicting and confusing nutrition recommendations.

"Three Sisters" Squash, Corn, & Black Bean Salad