Antioxidants

Currently available medical treatments for age-related cognitive decline and Alzheimers disease have had limited success. Adopting a healthy diet and lifestyle has been among the most consistent recommendations to maintain brain health over the long term. Some studies have linked an overall healthy dietary pattern to less chance of experiencing age-related decline in memory and other cognitive skills.

Some people use supplements and fermented foods containing probiotics-beneficial bacteria and yeasts-in an effort to improve health. But, is there good science behind them? Probiotic experts help clear up six common myths.

With the holidays approaching, a new study in PLOS One reinforces the importance of staying a good distance away from festive food tables to help avoid overeating.

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.

Whether youre hosting or attending a holiday meal, chances are that one or more guests are restricting something from their diets. Watching salt intake is one of the more common dietary restrictions, according to an online poll of American households. But, a good portion of people limit or avoid items like lactose (natural milk sugar), meat, refined carbohydrate/sugar, gluten (a protein in certain grains) or commonly-allergenic items like milk (dairy), peanuts and tree nuts. So, how can you all come together to enjoy a meal?

Tea (from the Camellia sinensis plant) is a rich source of flavonoid phytonutrients, which function as antioxidants. The amount and relative proportion of these compounds in tea leaves depends on a variety of factors, including growing conditions, post-harvest processing (including the fermentation that converts green tea to oolong and black teas) and storage time before brewing. The form of tea, whether as loose leaf or the broken leaf (pekoe) and even smaller particles (fannings or dust) in bags, is not a clear determinant of its antioxidant capacity.

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

Q. How do heating and freezing affect antioxidant levels in food?

Q. Does it matter when I eat fruit? Should I eat fresh fruit before lunch and before dinner or after lunch and after dinner?

Q. How long can you store tea before it starts to lose its taste and nutritional benefits?