Healthy Aging

Eat Right for a Strong Immune System

As the mercury drops, cold and flu outbreaks soar. Its tempting to believe the marketing claims that this pill or that herbal remedy can protect you, but the science says theres simply no magic bullet to boost your immune system. Eating a healthy diet, however, is even more important during cold and flu season. Experts may not fully understand how specific nutrients aid the immune system, and tests of individual vitamins and minerals against colds…

Q: A member of our family suffers from peripheral neuropathy. Is there any connection...

Answer : Peripheral neuropathy is a problem with the nerves that carry information to and from the brain and spinal cord...

Q: Many of us with high cholesterol have considered taking statin drugs, but are...

Answer : A A 2007 study at Stanford University cast doubt on the claims that garlic is effective in lowering bad LDL cholesterol in adults...

Q: I read some years ago that one of the biomarkers of healthy aging...

Answer : Youre recalling the book Biomarkers: The 10 Determinants of Aging You Can Control by Tufts William Evans, PhD, and Irwin H. Rosenberg, MD.

Q: If you dont have a family history of breast cancer, do the cardiovascular...

Answer : AJoel B. Mason, MD, Tufts professor of medicine and nutrition and director of the HNRCA Vitamins & Carcinogenesis Laboratory, replies: In general, the increased risk of cancer associated with alcoholic beverages is observed...

People Who Eat More Fish Live Longer

Getting more fish into your diet has never been easier-and the payoff in better health and longevity has never been clearer.

Whats the Right Nutrient Recipe for Your Eyes?

While the evidence for health benefits from most supplements is skimpy at best, extra vitamins for your eyes are a notable exception.

More Veggies, Less Meat Associated with Longevity Lifestyle

Eating more legumes, vegetables and fruits and less meat is associated with lower mortality risk, accord-ing to a new study. But that doesnt mean becoming a vegetarian necessarily means youll live longer, cautions Alice H. Lichtenstein, DSc, director of Tufts HNRCA Cardiovascular Nutrition Laboratory.

Are You Getting Enough Vitamin D to Prevent Disability?

You already know that vitamin D, the sunshine vitamin, is important to help your body use calcium for strong bones. But vitamin Ds role in boosting muscles is also emerging in scientific studies, with implications for disability and the capacity to perform daily chores with aging. As the days get shorter and it becomes more difficult for your body to synthesize vitamin D from sun exposure on the skin, you may not be getting enough for long-term healthy aging.

Q: Is frozen yogurt as nutritious as regular yogurt? What happens to live cultures...

Answer : Simin Nikbin Meydani, DVM, PhD, professor of nutrition at the Friedman School and associate director of Tufts Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, responds: