Special Reports

Could poaching that chicken breast instead of broiling it help reduce your risk of heart disease and diabetes? Does how you prepare tonights pot roast really affect your arthritis symptoms or the dangerous complications of diabetes? And can opting for a homemade salad rather than a takeout burger and fries actually protect against the effects of aging?

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?

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.

T he start of a new year marks the perfect opportunity to revisit familiar menu routines and jump- start healthy eating patterns. Adding a variety of fruits, vegetables and whole grains to your plate will not only boost overall nutrition in your diet, but also broaden your culinary horizons. Alice H. Lichtenstein, DSc, director of Tufts HNRCA Cardiovascular Nutrition Laboratory, emphasizes the importance of trying new foods in broadening diet variety: Dont get too caught up in trying to eat more of any one particular fruit or vegetable than another. Instead, work on expanding your palate by in- corporating some foods you dont rou- tinely eat. Were very fortunate today to have such a variety of affordable fruits and vegetables available year-round, so we should take advantage of that.

A furry of new research on fsh-oil supplements is raising eyebrows as well as questions about just how miraculous those omega-3 fatty acids really are. Live long, stay strong, say the ads for fsh-oil pills, touting not only omega-3s familiar heart-health benefts but also mental and cellular protection. But recent clinical trials have reminded nutrition scientists that, after all, the strongest data linking omega-3s and reduced cardiovascular risk come from observational studies: Overall, people who eat more fsh have lower rates of heart disease. Alice H. Lichtenstein, DSc, director of Tufts HNRCA Cardiovascular Nutrition Laboratory, points out, however, that people who eat more fsh also tend to be more physically active, less likely to smoke and to eat a healthier diet in general, including more fruits and vegetables and probably less meat and cheese. Should the fsh oils alone get the credit for healthier hearts-or are omega-3s only part of the story?