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.
Breakfast Key for Nutrients-But Many Skip It
More Americans are skipping breakfast or grabbing it on the go, with only about 6 in 10 eating breakfast at home. Thats one finding from a new National Dairy Council analysis of data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
Nutrition Star Ratings Shift Sales
Nutrition ratings using gold stars next to price labels on grocery shelves might lead to modest but measurable improvements in consumer choices, says a new study. Published in the journal Food Policy, its the most rigorous independent analysis of point-of-purchase nutrition labeling. Because of the availability of data, researchers focused on the Guiding Stars system introduced in 2006 by the Hannaford supermarket chain and now licensed for use in more than 1,800 stores. Compared to…
Eating Right for Healthy Joints
With some 50 million Americans afflicted by arthritis, chances are that even if you dont suffer from the disease, your spouse or someone else close to you does. But theres hope for this painful condition. Arthritis patients have a range of medications available, and today most know the benefits of exercise for improving their condition. While once arthritis sufferers were told rest is best, research at Tufts and elsewhere has shown that strength training in particular can help prevent and reduce arthritis symptoms.
Q. Does the magnesium content of frozen spinach differ from that of fresh?
A. Adela Hruby, PhD, MS, MPH, who recently completed an American Heart Association Predoctoral Fellowship at Tufts Friedman School, responds: According to the USDA Nutrient Database, per gram, both raw spinach and frozen spinach (unprepared or prepared by boiling and draining), contain around the same amount of magnesium (about 75-82 milligrams per 100 grams of spinach). However, if you go by a typical serving of one cup, rather than by weight, then frozen spinach, because its…
Q. Is brown spaghetti higher in vitamins and other nutrients than regular white spaghetti,...
A. Lisa Massini, a dietetic intern at Tufts Frances Stern Nutrition Center, answers: Whole-grain pasta is naturally darker than white refined pasta due to the bran (the hard, fibrous outer layer of a grain) that it contains. This color difference is not due to added colors. Whole-grain pasta contains a significantly larger amount of fiber than white pasta (6 grams per serving versus 2 grams serving). It is also richer in iron and magnesium; however,…
Q. I enjoyed your Special Report on food-drug and supplement-drug interactions (May), which states...
A. Our source for this information was the National Library of Medicines MedlinePlus, which explains: Warfarin (Coumadin) is used to slow blood clotting. There are several reports showing that taking glucosamine hydrochloride with or without chondroitin increases the effect of warfarin (Coumadin) on blood clotting. This can cause bruising and bleeding that can be serious. Dont take glucosamine hydrochloride if you are taking warfarin (Coumadin).…
Q. Do you have any information regarding the prickly pear cactus and claims that...
A. Erika Hval, a dietetic intern at Tufts Frances Stern Nutrition Center, answers: The prickly pear cactus, sometimes referred to as the cactus pear (Optunia spp.), has been touted for a variety of health-related benefits from treating diabetes to alleviating alcohol-induced hangover symptoms. Found in Mediterranean and subtropical African and American zones, cactus pear plants are characterized by flattened stems (cladodes) and brightly colored, sweet-tasting fruits. In general, the stems supply high amounts of pectin…