Q. We have been hearing about the benefits of lycopene. Is it true that...
Q. We have been hearing about the benefits of lycopene. Is it true that red and yellow tomatoes have different types of lycopene, and that the type in yellow tomatoes is more easily absorbed by the human body?…
Q. My mother has severe age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and it was recommended she...
A.Touted as the strongest natural antioxidant found to date and also promoted for anti-inflammatory benefits, astaxanthin is a naturally occurring plant pigment. Like many such compounds, its a type of carotenoid. When microalgae containing astaxanthin are eaten by salmon or shellfish, the compound turns their flesh pink; the same effect is seen in the feathers of flamingos who consume astaxanthin via algae. Supplement producers seeking to cash in on recent publicity for astaxanthin, including the…
Q. Im thinking about taking a vitamin A supplement, but am confused by the...
If youre eating a balanced diet and have no special health concerns, you probably dont need extra vitamin A of any kind. According to the Office of Dietary Supplements of the National Institutes of Health, Vitamin A is available in multivitamins and as a stand-alone supplement, often in the form of retinyl acetate or retinyl palmitate [preformed vitamin A].
Confusing Labels Cause Food Waste
Is your household throwing away hundreds of dollars worth of usable food every year? Thats the conclusion of a new report by the Natural Resources Defense Council and Harvard Food Law and Policy Clinic, which warns that $165 billion of edible food is tossed in the trash annually and 40% of US food production never gets eaten. The leading culprit? Confusing food date labels, according to the report.
The Thrill of Victory, the Fat of Defeat
Rooting for the home team could be hard on your arteries when your football favorites lose, especially if its a nail-biter. French researchers report that fans whose NFL team lost consumed as much as 28% more saturated fat the next day.
Serial Snackers Now 21% of Population
In the latest evidence that day-long snacking is overtaking traditional mealtimes, a new report says more than one in five Americans-21%-now graze on snacks all day long, skipping meals completely
Antioxidants Vary in Green Tea
Green tea is touted for its health-promoting properties in large part because of its high levels of antioxidants called catechins, especially epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG).
Gulf Between Perception and Reality in Nutrient Intakes
Most Americans arent doing nearly as well in getting key nutrients as we think we are, according to the International Food Information Council. The new study of more than 1,000 US adults identified wide disparities between consumer perception and actual consumption.
Q. You recently wrote that certain fibers can bind essential minerals and lessen their...
A.Robert M. Russell, MD, emeritus professor at Tufts Friedman School, answers: It is known that many foods that are high in fiber (particularly cereals) can inhibit the absorption of iron and zinc from the gastrointestinal tract. However, cereals that are high in fiber are also high in a substance known as phytate, which also has an inhibitory effect on these minerals absorption. So it is hard to pick apart how much of the inhibition of…
FDA Moves to Effectively Ban Artificial Trans Fats
he US Food and Drug Administration has proposed a regulatory change that would all but eliminate artificial trans fats by ruling them no longer generally recognized as safe.