Special Reports

If youre under doctors orders to improve your cholesterol numbers, several new studies offer good news: Whether or not your physician prescribes cholesterol-lowering medications such as statins, you can take control of your cholesterol with diet and lifestyle changes. Separately or in combination with medication, these simple steps can move those nagging numbers in the right direction and reduce your risk of heart disease.

Summertime brings picnics, barbe-cues-and foodborne illness.According to the US Departmentof Agriculture (USDA), which overseesthe safety of meat and poultry, food-borne illness peaks in the summer aswarm, humid weather encourages thegrowth of bacteria. The USDA alsoblames people causes for the sum-mertime spike in foodborne illness:More people cook outside in summer,at picnics, barbecues and campingtrips, away from the safety controlscommon in the kitchen, such as ther-mostats and washing facilities.

Cancer is constantly in the news, it seems-and no wonder, since its re-cently overtaken heart disease as the leading cause of death in the US. Youre bombarded with information, myths and hopeful guesses about what might protect you against cancer and what might raise your risk. Your lifestyle really can affect your risk-but whats fact and whats sheer speculation?

You can never be too rich or too thin, the saying goes-and now a new study suggests the two conditions are connected. Adam Drewnowski, PhD, an epidemiologist at the University of Washington, recently found that people who shop at the priciest grocery stores-where its easier to find fresh and healthy foods-are dramatically thinner than shoppers at discount supermarkets.

Its been a tough year for salt. Most recently, the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC)-whose recommendations will form the basis of the 2010 federal Dietary Guidelines for Americans to be released late this year-called for slashing the recommended maximum daily sodium intake from 2,300 to 1,500 milligrams (mg).

While autumns chill marks the end of lazy summer days, it also signals the fall fruit harvest-a seasonal bounty of fresh nutrition. Apples and pears are among the most familiar of these healthy fruits; although today theyre available year-round, autumn is still the time to find them at their peak of flavor and nutritional benefits. And as you look to get your one and a half to two cups of daily fruit this fall, dont overlook more exotic options such as persimmons and pomegranates.

hanksgiving is the only American holiday not traditionally associated with eating red meat. But Turkey Day may be a trendsetter if the current onslaught of negative news about the health effects of red and processed meats continues: July 4th grilled fish… Labor Day roast chicken… Christmas tofu…

A rthritis is increasingly affecting our daily lives-and new research fnd- ings seem to dash any hopes that the most popular supplements thought to combat arthritis do any good. Yet amidst this gloomy picture, scientists are discovering clues to how you might make a difference against arthritis by smart choices in your diet.