Healthy Eating

Two recent studies suggest egg lovers aren't at higher risk of type 2 diabetes or coronary artery disease. In a new meta-analysis, egg consumption was largely unrelated to risk of type 2 diabetes. And in a population study, egg consumption was not associated with increased incidence of coronary artery disease among men, even those with a genetic risk factor.

Summer is picnic and outdoor barbecue time - which also makes it prime time for foodborne illnesses. Warm, humid weather encourages the growth of bacteria, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), but so can human factors such as lax outdoor sanitation and inadequate refrigeration. The combination causes foodborne illness to spike in summer months.

What better way to celebrate the start of the growing season than with a nourishing soup made with spring asparagus and spinach? Even though this soup doesnt contain any cream, it has a velvety consistency.

Have you ever looked at a "sell by" or "best if used by" date on a food container, checked the calendar, and thrown out something because it had "expired"? Youre part of a $165 billion a year problem. About 40% of Americas food gets wasted, much of it because of a confusing patchwork of state laws that make people think food thats still safe to eat should be trashed.

Substituting colorful fruits and vegetables such as berries, peaches and peppers into your diet could help combat the gradual weight gain with age sometimes referred to as "middle-age spread." A large new study, published in BMJ, links greater consumption of foods high in plant pigments called flavonoids to less weight gain over time.

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.

Q. Can you tell me if instant coffee confers the same health benefits as brewed coffee?

Q. How safe are bagged or otherwise pre-packaged salad greens? Should these be washed before using?

Q. How is it possible to get enough potassium from food? It looks like Id have to eat 11 bananas a day.