Serial Snackers Now 21% of Population
In the latest evidence that day-long snacking is overtaking traditional mealtimes, a new report says more than one in five Americans-21%-now graze on snacks all day long, skipping meals completely
Antioxidants Vary in Green Tea
Green tea is touted for its health-promoting properties in large part because of its high levels of antioxidants called catechins, especially epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG).
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 covered a new green tea study that focused on protecting brain...
A.Jeffrey Blumberg, PhD, director of Tufts HNRCA Antioxidants Research Laboratory, responds: It is not possible to determine the green tea cups/day equivalent in that particular study because the authors disclosed the dose only as 0.05% standardized green tea extract without describing the standard. However, two observational studies of green tea and cognitive performance, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2006 and 2008, identified those drinking two or more cups per day and…
Q. The dietary coach at my gym recommended that I go on the Paleo...
A.Susan B. Roberts, PhD, director of Tufts HNRCA Energy Metabolism Laboratory, replies, We do not recommend the Paleo diet. It has a very strange (non-scientific) view of what Paleolithic man ate, and does not provide a balanced, healthy diet. For somebody who is not overweight, the USDAs MyPlate is good general dietary advice.…
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…
Q. Raisins are my favorite snack. Is this a good choice? If grapes are...
A.Diane L. McKay, PhD, an assistant professor in Tufts Friedman School and a scientist in its HNRCA Antioxidants Laboratory, notes that a supplement in the June 2013 issue of the Journal of Food Science was all about raisins. While this was sponsored by the California Raisin Board, it nonetheless presented some valuable studies. Basically, she says, the findings were: …
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).
Herbal Remedies Often Missing the Herbs
What are Americans getting for the $5 billion spent annually on unproven herbal supplements? Many of the pills may contain fillers such as powdered soybean, wheat, rice and even weeds, instead of the promised herbal remedies, according to a new DNA analysis published in BMC Medicine.