Q: I have been told that the sugar substitute Splenda is unhealthy due to...
Answer :Its true that Splenda is made using chlorine, which sounds scary; the sugar industry warns that youre actually eating chlorine when consuming sucralose, the chemical sold as Splenda. Plain sugar is transformed into sucralose by substituting three chlorine atoms for hydrogen, creating a substance that is not digested by the body-so its effectively caloriefree- and thats 600 times sweeter than sugar. (Packaged Splenda also contains dextrose and maltodextrin as bulking agents.) But theres no…
Q: How does tapioca rate nutritionally? Does it fall under the refined food category?...
Answer :People have been eating tapioca at least since the heyday of the Mayans, who first figured out how to process the root of the cassava plant (also called manioc or yuca) to eliminate its naturally occurring cyanide. Technically, yes, tapioca is a refined food in the sense that the packaged tapioca you buy is made from reconstituted, processed root; being a root starch, rather than a grain, however, theres no such thing as whole…
Q: I read a report recently indicating that all nuts contain monosaturated fat. I...
Answer :All popular nuts contain both types of fat- and the good news is that both mono- and polyunsaturated fat are heart-healthy compared to saturated and trans fats. According to the American Heart Asso ciation, Monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats appear to not raise LDL cholesterol; some studies suggest they might even help lower LDL cholesterol slightly when eaten as part of a low-saturated and trans-fat diet. Each type of nut does differ in its…
Q: When nutritionists talk about walnuts, do they mean black or English walnuts?
Answer :According to the California Walnut Board, a trade association, the walnuts you buy in stores-and those most commonly touted for nutritional benefits-
Q: We live in southern Arizona where citrus trees thrive and own two well-producing...
Answer :According to the Center for Food-Drug Interaction Research and Education, led by Tufts and the University of Florida, most prescription drugs do not show a clinically relevant interaction...
Q: My eczema has become worse over the last few years. Are there any...
Answer :Eczema is a chronic skin disorder due to a hypersensitivity reaction-similar to an allergy-in the skin.
Q: Is frozen yogurt as nutritious as regular yogurt? What happens to live cultures...
Answer : Simin Nikbin Meydani, DVM, PhD, professor of nutrition at the Friedman School and associate director of Tufts Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, responds:
Q: What can you tell me about the possible toxic effect of peanut oil...
Answer : We tracked down one of the original researchers in those 1998 studies, David Klurfeld, PhD, who is now a national program leader in human nutrition with the USDAs Agricultural Research Service. He replies:
Q: Your newsletter often states the advantages of omega-3 fatty acids. But how much...
Answer : Both the American Heart Association and the 2005 federal Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend consuming at least two servings of fish per week for heart health.
Q: With the increasing evidence for the benefits of vitamin D, is there any...
Answer : While not even the most avid vitamin D advocate suggests broiling yourself in a tanning booth, it is true that people in northern climes cant get enough sunshine during winter to trigger the bodys natural ability to make vitamin D.