GI Health

As the popular depiction of leaky gut goes, damage to the lining of the small intestine can release undigested food particles, bacteria and toxins into your bloodstream. And, that can potentially spur a myriad of health problems ranging from digestive issues to joint pain. Without a doubt, this description is oversimplified and misleading. But, its worth looking at whether leaky gut-or more precisely, increased intestinal permeability-is a legitimate concern.

The potential health benefits of regularly consuming black tea, such as lower risk of heart disease, certain cancers and osteoporosis, are likely due to the polyphenols it provides. Polyphenols may help protect our body in several ways, such as by helping prevent cell damage, supporting the immune system and fighting inflammation, among other mechanisms.

Locally-grown goodies await you at farmers' markets across the country. While you're picking up staples like green beans, tomatoes and strawberries, consider trying other nutritious, farm-fresh fare thats new to you.

A chief consideration in safety of cutting boards is how easy they are to clean. Cutting boards made of a nonporous material, such as plastic or tempered glass, can be easily washed in the dishwasher. Those made of solid, hard wood with a tight grain (such as maple) might do OK in the dishwasher but over time that may encourage cracking and splitting.

Humans can produce choline, but the amount is usually not sufficient (depending on factors such as age and genetics), so dietary intake of some choline is necessary. In the US, the most common sources of choline are meat, poultry, fish, dairy products and eggs. Cruciferous vegetables, beans, nuts, seeds and whole grains also supply choline.

The glycemic index, a value that aims to quantify how fast blood sugar rises after eating a given food, can vary by an average of 20% within an individual and 25% among individuals. That's the surprising finding of a new study by scientists from the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (HNRCA) at Tufts.

Q. Should I avoid eating spinach because it has oxalate found in kidney stones? I already have some kidney stones.

Scientists who succeeded in sequencing the genome of carrots have identified the gene, dubbed DCAR_032551, responsible for carotenoids, which make carrots and other produce orange and provide humans with vitamin A.

Keeping your kitchen uncluttered and calm might help prevent you from munching empty calories. A recent Cornell University experiment, published in Environment and Behavior, compared the snacking habits of 100 young women.

If you're the "canary in the coal mine" who's always the first to get sick from that undercooked burger or picnic potato salad, blame your genes.