Diets high in saturated fat and added sugars—such as those common in Western countries like the U.S.—may impair memory and lower ability to control appetite. A small study conducted in Australia and published recently in Royal Society Open Science fed 102 healthy, lean adults breakfast for four days. The experimental group consumed more calories, total […]
Diets High in Saturated Fat and Sugars May Impact Brain Function
Diets high in saturated fat and added sugars—such as those common in Western countries like the U.S.—may impair memory and lower ability to control appetite. A small study conducted in Australia and published recently in Royal Society Open Science fed 102 healthy, lean adults breakfast for four days. The experimental group consumed more calories, total […]
Mediterranean-Style Diet Keeps Blood Vessels Flexible
A systematic review and meta-analysis published recently in The Journal of Nutrition concluded that adherence to a Mediterranean-style diet may help prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD) in part by improving the function of the endothelial cells that line blood vessels. The review pooled results from 14 randomized controlled trials, including data for 1,930 participants. The ability […]
It’s Never too Late for Women to Lower Stroke Risk
An analysis of data published recently in the journal Stroke found that certain lifestyle changes, even later in life, were associated with lower risk of stroke. Nearly 60,000 women, who were an average of 52 years old at the start of the study, were followed for 26 years. Quitting smoking, being physically active for 30 […]
Genes and Weight
In 1953, the same year Watson and Crick reported the discovery of DNA, Jean Mayer, former president of Tufts University and then a professor at Harvard School of Public Heath, published an article in which he predicted that a wide variety of genes are likely to contribute to the complex mechanisms involved in obesity. Since […]
What, Exactly, is BMI?
Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure of body weight adjusted for height. It is considered a better indicator of excess weight than body weight alone and is used to categorize individuals as “underweight,” “normal weight,” “overweight,” or “obese.” What does it really tell us, and how accurate is it? Measuring Body Fat: Being overweight […]
Coconut Oil Raises LDL-Cholesterol; is Not a Healthy Choice
A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials recently published in the journal Circulation concluded that coconut oil consumption results in significantly higher LDL (bad) cholesterol than consumption of non-tropical plant oils such as soybean and canola. To a much lesser extent, it also raises HDL (good) cholesterol. Increasing HDL-cholesterol levels has not been shown […]
Health Benefits of Nuts and Seeds
Once thought of as high calorie treats to be avoided, nuts and seeds are emerging as an important component of a healthy dietary pattern. All Seeds: Nuts and seeds are a rich source of plant protein, have plenty of dietary fiber, and are high in heart-healthy mono-and polyunsaturated fats (including plant omega-3 fatty acids) and […]
Q. I have heard I should eat protein after I exercise. Why is this,...
A. Roger A. Fielding, PhD, director of the HNRCA’s Nutrition, Exercise Physiology and Sarcopenia laboratory, answers: “After exercise, protein synthesis causes our muscles to increase in size and strength. Dietary protein supports muscle growth. We have known for a long time that muscles are more sensitive to dietary protein after exercise. Rates of muscle protein […]
Honey: Potential Benefits and Risks
Humans have been using honey as a sweetener for over 5,000 years. Throughout history, many cultures have also used it as a natural remedy—to treat wounds, ease coughs, and more. While there are many studies looking into a variety of medicinal uses for honey, few offer any sign of efficacy in humans, and honey is […]
Q. Do I need to throw out food as soon as the printed expiration...
A. Judith C. Thalheimer, RDN, LDN, managing editor of Tufts Health & Nutrition Letter, answers: “Those ‘sell by’ and ‘best by’ dates on packages are not actually expiration dates. Food product dating is voluntary and represents the manufacturer’s best guess as to when the product may no longer be at peak quality. Not being at […]
