Ask the Experts

Q. I do my best to keep up with the latest nutrition advice, but...

A. Judith C. Thalheimer, RD, LDN, managing editor of Tufts Health & Nutrition Letter, answers: “There are several factors that lead to confusion around...
The health-promoting compounds in cherries are not unique, but it can’t hurt to include them in a healthy dietary pattern.

Q. I have heard that cherries are good for arthritis. Can drinking cherry juice...

A. Judith C. Thalheimer, RD, LDN, managing editor of Tufts Health & Nutrition Letter, answers: “Anecdotal evidence suggests eating cherries or drinking cherry juice...
Fiber is found naturally in a wide array of foods. Added fibers in processed foods may not offer the same health benefits.

Q. I’ve noticed that a lot of food packages boast the product has extra...

A. Nicola McKeown, PhD, an associate professor at the Friedman School, answers: “Dietary fiber has a role in helping to lower blood glucose and...
A well-nourished population would have been less severely impacted by COVID-19. Personal and policy changes can help us be better prepared in the future.

COVID-19, Nutrition, and You: Lessons from a Pandemic

The COVID-19 epidemic laid bare some stark realities about nutrition in the United States: our food system is fractured, and the resulting poor nutrition...
There is no reason to think drinking bone broth will help you lose weight.

Q. I’ve heard bone broth is good for weight loss. Is this true? If...

A. Judith C. Thalheimer, RD, LDN, managing editor of Tufts Health & Nutrition Letter, answers: “Bone broth is made by simmering animal bones in...
In obstructive sleep apnea, the airway is blocked. People with this condition will stop breathing and then gasp for air while sleeping.

Don’t Ignore the Snore

Sleep apnea affects an estimated 22 million Americans, and an estimated 80 percent of cases are undiagnosed. When left untreated, the chronic lack of...
heart attack

DASH Diet Plus Sodium Reduction Best for Protecting the Heart

The heart can show signs of damage before a heart attack or other heart problem occurs. Scientists can measure things like inflammation, cardiac injury,...
Consuming at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day may help you live longer.

Five Servings of Fruits and Vegetables a Day Associated with Longer Life

In an attempt to identify the optimal intake of fruits and vegetables associated with maintaining long-term health, researchers collected information on the typical dietary...
If you need to put on some weight, bulk up your meals and between-meal drinks with healthy choices.

Q. I’m recovering from illness and need to put on a few pounds. Any...

A. Judith C. Thalheimer, RD, LDN, managing editor of Tufts Health & Nutrition Letter, answers: “Gaining weight is all about adding calories, but that...
Many of the terms we use when we talk about nutrition and health have to do with protecting the circulatory system.

Q. You often use the terms heart health, cardiovascular health, and cardiometabolic health. What...

A. Dariush Mozaffarian, MD, DrPH, dean of the Friedman School of Nutrition Science & Policy and editor-in-chief of Tufts Health & Nutrition Letter answers:...