Ask the Experts

Based on available research, the usual 'healthy diet' is the best one can do. That includes a high (5 or more servings daily) intake of fruits and vegetables (including dark leafy greens), some dark (fatty) fish and whole-grain products, but lower in refined carbohydrate and sugars." Why the emphasis on carbohydrate quality?

Tea (from the Camellia sinensis plant) is a rich source of flavonoid phytonutrients, which function as antioxidants. The amount and relative proportion of these compounds in tea leaves depends on a variety of factors, including growing conditions, post-harvest processing (including the fermentation that converts green tea to oolong and black teas) and storage time before brewing. The form of tea, whether as loose leaf or the broken leaf (pekoe) and even smaller particles (fannings or dust) in bags, is not a clear determinant of its antioxidant capacity.

For maximal absorption of calcium from supplements, no more than 500 to 600 milligrams (mg) of elemental calcium should be taken as a single dose. For the few people who require more than 500 to 600 mg of calcium in supplement form, the dose should be split. For best absorption, calcium carbonate should be taken with meals. Calcium citrate may be taken anytime.

Nutrient loss with heat is not unique to roasting. Other forms of cooking can also reduce heat-sensitive nutrients, and cooking methods that use water, such as boiling, result in nutrient losses from water-soluble nutrients leaching into the water. "So, consider varying your preparation methods, such as by eating raw vegetables and salads as well as roasted, steamed or sauted vegetables.

While it is true that an enteric coating would protect the probiotic from acid killing in the digestive tract, if the probiotic is part of a food matrix such as yogurt, the buffering capacity of the yogurt or kefir would also act as an effective protector against stomach acid.

All vegetable oils are made entirely of fat, but each type has a different blend of polyunsaturated, monounsaturated and saturated fat. Canola oil is predominantly comprised of monounsaturated fat with a low amount of saturated fat - even lower than most other cooking oils." Monounsaturated fat, when used to replace saturated fat in your dietary pattern, is associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.

The current Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommend that you accumulate 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per week, ideally in bouts of 10 minutes or longer. So, either longer or shorter sessions on your exercise bike can be beneficial. If you work at a higher intensity during 15-minute bouts and a slower intensity during the 30-minute bouts, they may end up having nearly equal physiological benefits.

Q. Is it true that sour cherries or sour cherry juices are effective for pain relief? How much should I consume if so?

Q. When studies refer to "cups" of coffee or tea, do they mean eight-ounce cups or the more typical amount found in a standard mug of coffee or tea?

Q. Is there any danger of salmonella contamination in raw almonds?