General Nutrition

Fruits and vegetables aren't just important for kids' health. New research combining data on nearly 3,000 people in three European studies reports that eating more fruits and vegetables can help older adults ward off frailty.

Q. How much sugar in cold cereal is too much?

Q. I recently read that eating white rice, white pasta, white potatoes and white bread is not good for you. I am writing simply because I like these foods. Can you please tell me if I am actually harming myself by eating these white foods?

Q. Is it a good idea to soak raw nuts before eating them?

Half of US adults check the Nutrition Facts panel when deciding whether to buy a food product either "always" (16%) or "most of the time" (34%). In the 11th Health and Diet Survey conducted by the Food and Drug Administration, only 22% of respondents said they "rarely" (12%) or "never" (10%) consult nutrition labels.

Craving candy, chips and fast food? Maybe you're just bored. Two studies presented at a meeting of the British Psychological Society support previous research linking boredom to unhealthy eating habits.

An important nutrient for reaching old age free of disease and disability might surprise you. According to a new Australian study, it's dietary fiber - a nutrient that, by definition, you don't even digest. In its path through your body, however, fiber is associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and some cancers.

Bored with broccoli? Had it up to here with green beans and asparagus? Seen enough carrots and peas to last a lifetime? Maybe you need to branch out a little in the produce aisle."Some often-overlooked vegetables deserve a second glance for their nutritional benefits," says Jeffrey B. Blumberg, PhD, Tufts professor and senior scientist at the HNRCA Antioxidants Research Laboratory. He and Helen M. Rasmussen, PhD, RD, a Friedman School instructor and senior research dietitian at the HNRCA, have put together a list of 10 nutritious veggies too often omitted from grocery carts.

Everything old is new again when it comes to grains. Data from the market-research firm SPINS shows that sales of so-called "ancient grains" grew 16.6% year-over-year in 2016, reaching almost $200 million. The most common products boasting of their "ancient" ingredients were ready-to-eat cereals, bread and other baked goods, and pastas.

What nutritionists think is healthy and what the average American considers good for you don't always align, according to a Morning Consult survey for the New York Times. The survey asked 2,000 ordinary Americans and 672 members of the American Society for Nutrition to rate the healthfulness of 52 foods.