Ask the Experts

Each carrot type will have varied health effects because of these colored compounds. A healthy dietary pattern contains a variety of fruits and vegetables, which carrots of multiple colors can be a part of.

Canned fish products such as sardines and mackerel are good sources of omega-3 fat. Direct comparisons between canned and fresh fish are challenging because some of the difference in omega-3 content comes from variations in the fish, such as the exact species, what they eat, where theyre harvested and when, rather than canning per se. Regardless, an oily fish, including canned, is a much better source of omega-3 fat than a white fish like tilapia.

Once eaten by an animal, lectins bind to the sugar portions of the animal's intestinal wall where they interfere with digestion and nutrient uptake. That is why lectins are sometimes called antinutrients. However, after edible seeds are prepared by methods using heat [especially moist heat], they contain very little lectin. Yet, they provide concentrated packets of protein, fat, carbohydrate and fiber, all of which are nutritionally beneficial.

The main differences between dark chocolate and milk chocolate are that dark chocolate does not contain milk or milk solids, and dark chocolate is typically lower in added sugars. However, there is not a specific minimum cacao percentage (the amount of cocoa solids in a product) for dark chocolate in the US; in Europe, dark chocolate is defined as chocolate containing at least 35% cocoa solids.

After acute inflammation of the gallbladder and pancreas, I was advised a low-fat diet. Do these organs distinguish between good and bad fats?

Calcium requirements vary around the world because they are influenced by other components of the diet that vary around the world. For example, dietary fiber can reduce calcium absorption. High sodium (salt) intake increases calcium losses through the urine.

For a corn tortilla to be considered a whole grain product, it must be made with whole grain corn flour, and this will be indicated on the ingredient list with words such as 'whole corn' or 'whole grain corn flour.'

Fortunately for those who avoid meat and meat products, there are numerous other suitable protein sources to choose from. Protein is comprised of building blocks' called amino acids that our bodies need to function. Though meat is a notable protein source because it contains all nine of the essential amino acids (which we must get from food), it is not the only one - eggs, dairy and soy products (like soy milk and tofu) also provide all of the essential amino acids in the desired proportions.

Beetroot juice is currently a 'hot' nutritional supplement for its touted effects both on reducing cardiovascular disease risk and its potential to improve endurance exercise performance. Beetroot is naturally high in nitrate, which is converted to a signaling molecule called nitric oxide in the body. Nitric oxide has beneficial effects on vasodilation (relaxation and widening of blood vessels, increasing blood flow).

Our reward center in the midbrain gets activated for the prospect of food and available food of a kind we like, so until our sensory-specific satiety mechanism tells us the portion size is sufficient, addictive chemicals are released, such as dopamine, to keep us eating.