Healthy Eating

Although it has been the subject of numerous health, weight loss, and cooking books, the so-called Mediterranean diet is not actually a diet plan-its the traditional way of eating in countries that surround the Mediterranean Sea.

Cracked Wheat with Golden Raisins and Pistachios recipe courtesy of The Pescetarian Plan by Janis Jibrin, recipes by Sidra Forman.

Q. I have read reports that coffee is good for health. I cannot consume caffeine. Does decaf coffee have any health benefits?

The 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend replacing refined grains with whole grains so that at least half of all grains consumed are whole grains. This recommendation is echoed in other guidelines and is backed up by many observational studies in which diets high in whole grains are associated with an array of health benefits compared to diets high in refined grains.

In a recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Alice H. Lichtenstein, DSc, executive editor of the Tufts Health & Nutrition Letter, and colleagues from Spain found that participants with a more acute sense of taste were less likely to be overweight or obese.

A recent study from Singapore suggests that many mobile applications (apps) designed to support diabetes self-management do not offer key features that could help with blood sugar control.

Salmon lends itself to a number of cooking methods, but it is particularly well suited to moist-heat cooking. One of the simplest ways to do that is to wrap the salmon in a foil packet, along with shallots and a splash of white wine. The packets can be cooked in the oven or on an outdoor grill. Herbs, abundant in early summer, contribute fresh, lively flavors to this selection of sauces. It is easy to adjust the number of servings of salmon, making a smaller packet for one or two or two packets for a larger group. The sauces all keep well and can be used for a variety of dishes.

Easy to make and easy to eat, this soup is a source of many nutrients, including several of those featured in this issue: magnesium, lutein, and folate.

The prevalence of diabetes is rapidly rising in every country around the world. According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), nearly 10 percent of the U.S. population-more than 30 million Americans-has diabetes. Another 84 million adults have prediabetes. And, at least a quarter of people with diabetes and the vast majority with prediabetes dont even know they have it. If things dont change, about two in five Americans will develop diabetes in their lifetime.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recently published updated guidelines on the topic of maternal and early infant diets for the prevention of asthma, allergic rhinitis, dermatitis, and food allergy (atopic disease). The review of research studies concluded that the early introduction of appropriate forms of peanuts (such as ground peanuts or peanut protein) may prevent peanut allergy.