Ask the Experts

Q: I live in Texas, and here its a common practice to take salt...

Answer : Salt tablets are no longer recommended to prevent heat stroke, says Alice H. Lichtenstein, DSc, director of Tufts Cardiovascular Nutrition Laboratory.

Q: I understand the importance of limiting added sugars, as the latest Dietary Guidelines...

Answer : Molly Ubele, a masters candidate at the Friedman School, replies: The 2010 Dietary Guidelines recommend that Americans reduce the intake of calories from solid fats and added sugars.

Q: We make vegetable soups on a regular basis, but wonder if were getting...

Answer : Helen M. Rasmussen, PhD, senior research dietitian...

Is V8 Juice Too Sugary?

Answer : That 8 grams of sugar in 8 ounces of V8 juice compares to 28 in the same size serving of a typical non-diet cola, but we can see how that number might still be surprising.

Q: Is it true that you need both DHA and EPA omega-3s for cardiovascular...

Answer : Most algae-based omega-3 supplements do contain only DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and not the other important omega-3 found in fish...

Q: Does lettuce contain iron? I’ve always wondered, because the stems frequently turn reddish-brown...

Answer : Lettuce does contain a small amount of iron; according to the USDAs nutrient database, for example, a cup of green leaf lettuce has 0.31 milligrams of iron.

Q: Is it true that increasing magnesium intake can help migraine sufferers?

Answer : Jennifer Hall, a dietetic intern at Tufts Frances Stern Nutrition Center, looked into this for us.

Q: Are there any nutritional advantages or disadvantages to cooking an egg so the...

Answer : None that I am aware of, except the concern about runny yolks and bacterial contamination, says Alice H. Lichtenstein, DSc, Stanley N. Gershoff Professor of Nutrition Science and Policy at the Friedman School.

Q: Is it true that you dont get much nutrition from eating raw spinach,...

Answer : Lingxia Sun, a dietetic intern at Tufts Frances Stern Nutrition Center, replies: This is a no and yes answer.

Q: Ive been hearing a lot about the benefits of vitamin K2, and my...

Answer : Sarah L. Booth, PhD, director of Tufts HNRCA Vitamin K Laboratory, responds: Currently the clinical trial data do not support a protective effect of vitamin K2...