General Nutrition

According to a recent analysis, 97% of studies that were independently funded (not sponsored by beverage makers) have reported that drinking sugary sodas is linked with obesity and diabetes.

Cranberry juice is touted for fending off urinary tract infections (UTIs), typically signaled by frequent, burning urination. However, results from clinical trials have been inconsistent. A new study published in JAMA failed to find a benefit.

If you sometimes suffer a burning sensation behind your breastbone, you're far from alone. An estimated 44% of American adults suffer heartburn at least once a month, and about 20% have a serious form called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Looking to adopt a dietary pattern that has the least "food-print" impact on agricultural land? New Tufts-led research might surprise you: Scientists found that a vegan diet was not the best choice for feeding the most people from the area of available land. Instead, a vegetarian diet that includes dairy products was the most efficient use of agricultural acreage.

Eating less may help you lead a longer, healthier life, even if youre not obese. New research reports that restricting calories by 12% in healthy non-obese individuals over two years significantly lowered markers of chronic inflammation.

What's in your sandwich? A new analysis of national nutrition survey data on more than 27,000 Americans suggests not paying attention to the nutrient facts on sandwiches could contribute to less-healthy eating.

The US Department of Agriculture has made it easier for scientists and consumers to check out the nutritional characteristics of popular foods. The agency added a database of 80,000 name-brand packaged and prepared foods sold at supermarkets and restaurants to its existing almost 9,000-item National Nutrient Database.

Don't count on the "five-second rule" to keep dropped food free of bacteria. An exhaustive test of the notion that food touching the floor for no more than five seconds is still safe to eat debunked it with more than 2,500 measurements.

Nutrition experts - including those advising this newsletter - have been preaching for years about the benefits of replacing refined grains in your diet with whole grains. The latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans echoed this advice, recommending limiting intake of refined grains and products made with refined grains and starches.

While you're celebrating the holidays this season, your body could be quietly sending out a cry for help. The period from Thanksgiving through New Years can be a disaster for your best intentions of watching what you eat and staying active.