Fats

Contrary to some advice to limit the omega-6 fats found in vegetable oil, a new Finnish study finds that high blood levels are associated with a significantly reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, at least in men. The study looked primarily at linoleic acid, an essential omega-6 fat not formed by the body, which must be obtained from the diet. It's the primary fatty acid found in oils high in polyunsaturated fats as well as nuts and seeds.

After a two-year review period, the US Food and Drug Administration formally adopted changes to the Nutrition Facts panels that appear on some 800,000 food products. The updated labels will be required on products by July 26, 2018, except for small producers who will get an extra year to comply.

If you're worried about high blood pressure, a new systematic review of scientific evidence has good news: Changing your diet really can make a difference. Not surprisingly, the most effective diet for reducing hypertension was one designed specifically for that purpose - the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) plan. But other interventions, including cutting salt and calories, also were associated with blood-pressure benefits.

If concerns about mercury in seafood have kept you from the possible brain benefits of consuming more fish, an unusual new study has good news. Researchers did find that older adults who ate more seafood had higher brain levels of mercury - but that toxin was not associated with any signs of dementia. On the other hand, people at greatest genetic risk for Alzheimer's who consumed the most seafood showed less evidence of the diseases damage in the brain.

If you're eating out often, you're probably overdoing calorie consumption - even if you avoid fast-food restaurants. Meals consumed at fast-food restaurants have been singled out as culprits in America's obesity epidemic. But a new study reports that both chain and local restaurants are routinely serving far more than should be consumed in a single meal - often more than you should eat in a whole day.

Losing weight can improve your cholesterol and triglyceride levels as well as your waistline, according to a major new intervention study. The study found similar weight loss amounts could be achieved by lower-fat or lower-carbohydrate diets, whether the lower-carb diet was rich in walnuts or in monounsaturated fat (as in canola or olive oils).

If you've got your AARP card but you're still eating the way you did in your 20s, it's time for your diet to act your age. While most nutritional guidance is "ageless," you do need to make some adjustments to fit the changing needs of your aging body.

Q. I carefully watch the types of fat that I consume. Should I try to get more fat into my diet, such as a tablespoon or two of olive oil or safflower or sunflower oil?

Americans' craze for plenty of protein may be missing the point, at least as it applies to older adults. For protecting against frailty and retaining muscle mass, when you consume your protein might be as important as how much.

[IMGCAP(1)] Earlier this year, the federal government released the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs). (See our March Special Report.) As a cardiologist, public-health advocate and nutrition scientist, I see a lot of good in the DGAs. First, the DGAs emphasize healthful eating patterns and foods. This is an advance over past guidelines, which focused more on isolated nutrient targets. Modern nutrition science tells us that, for preventing major diseases like obesity, diabetes, heart disease and cancers, its…