All Nutrition Articles

You've undoubtedly read that your relationships can affect your weight--especially your ability to lose it. Your mother, who always seems to be pushing food at family occasions; your teens, who insist on stocking the cupboards with Flaming Hot Cheetos; your husband, who won't eat anything but steak for dinner. Sound familiar? Indeed, the people in your life can have an enormous impact on Read more...

I keep hearing that omega-3s are good for you, but what exactly do they do? Yes, omega-3 fatty acids are beneficial -- in fact, they're essential. Here's what you need to know: The fats you eat can dramatically affect your body chemistry. Whether they come from fryer grease or more healthful sources, they pass from your digestive tract into your bloodstream. Traces of these fats end Read more...

It's 3 p.m., and you're feeling less than peppy. Instead of grabbing a cup of joe or a sugary caffeinated drink, why not try one of these natural, low-to no-calorie energy boosters? Go Nuts! (Almonds, to be precise.) "Almonds are a terrific source of protein that help stabilize blood sugar and increase energy," says Georgianna Donadio, MD, of the National Institute of Whole Read more...

A little fresh-fruit snack may put you on the fast track to better blood flow. People in a study experienced better blood flow in their brachial arteries just three hours after eating the equivalent of one and a quarter cups of grapes. At 60 calories a delicious cup, that's a pretty juicy deal. Many Benefits The blood flow benefits were even better after three weeks of consistent Read more...

Vibrantly colored vegetables often overshadow the paler varieties, which many people view as nutritional lightweights. It's true that color is usually a reliable indicator of the nutrients inside, and typically the brighter the better. For example, dark leafy greens have more to offer than pallid iceberg lettuce. Even so, winter white vegetables should not be discounted. They might lack the vivid Read more...

Next time you visit your local pharmacist, pause in the aisle containing vitamin supplements, and take in the quantities and varieties of pills and potions. Tiny boxes and bottles stretch as far as the eye can see, affirming that even in these cash-strapped times, the gorging of such "miracle cures" continues to be big business. But as the U.K. population continues to shell out Read more...

Dieters who cut out carbohydrates are more likely to lose their memory than those who eat balanced meals, new research has shown. A study has found that people who avoid starchy foods perform worse in mental tests than those who eat bread, pasta and potatoes. Scientists found mental performance drops after just a week on a low-carb diet. The best-known low-carb diet is the Read more...

CHICAGO – Increasing numbers of American adults are aware of the importance of nutrition and physical activity and are taking steps to eat a healthy diet and engage in exercise, according to the American Dietetic Association's nationwide consumer opinion survey, Nutrition and You: Trends 2008. In each ADA survey since 1991, ADA has used respondents' answers to a number of different questions Read more...

In the pursuit of a shiny head of hair, you might spend a fortune on the best shampoos and conditioners. You need to consider however what you're eating or not eating can have a greater impact on the condition and health of your hair. Hair responds to what you eat in the same way as your skin. Many of us just aren't getting enough of the right stuff to keep our hair looking its best. Read more...

Nov. 1 -- Soon, the sun will be merely a rumor for long stretches during waking hours, and darkness will dominate our senses and moods. As if that weren't depressing enough, here's another grim thought: You most likely will become significantly deficient in vitamin D. Vitamin D, the so-called "sunshine vitamin," can be absorbed either through the skin via ultraviolet-B rays -- Read more...

Scientific studies have uncovered the secrets of living longer -- and a good sex life, eating chocolate and positive thinking are all in there. In fact, those who indulge in life's little pleasures are shown to outlive miserable abstainers in any number of studies. But living as long as possible is, according to one piece of research, also dependent on making healthy choices and by Read more...

Onions are known for flavor, but they are also healthy for you, says the National Onion Association. The NOA says onions contain organosulfur compounds linked to lowering blood pressure and cholesterol. The non-profit group says that members of the Allium family like onion and garlic also contain alliinase, which is an enzyme that speeds up chemical reactions. Alliinase helps create Read more...

Tests on leading brands of bottled water turned up a variety of contaminants often found in tap water, according to a study released Wednesday by an environmental advocacy group. The findings challenge the popular impression - and marketing pitch - that bottled water is purer than tap water, the researchers say. However, all the brands met federal health standards for drinking water. Read more...

While every other day we seem to be bombarded with contradictory advice about what we should and shouldn't eat, one message has remained constant throughout -- eat five portions of fruits and vegetables a day. The U.K.'s Department of Health launched it's campaign to encourage us to do this over eight years ago, so why is it that recent studies have estimated that only one in seven of us Read more...

Gout is a painful form of arthritis that has long been associated with a rich diet, and a change in that department is just one thing that can make a difference. Gout afflicts as many as 3 million Americans, mostly men, postmenopausal women and people with kidney disease, according to the American College of Rheumatology. Gout attacks are caused by a buildup of a waste product called uric Read more...

Breakfast may be the most important meal of the day, but it also can be one of the hardest to do right. The get-out-the-door-frenzy most of us face makes it easy to make decisions that are good for neither our wallets nor our health. Grab-and-go fast-food breakfasts or a pit stop at the coffee shop can cost plenty of cash and calories. Stocking up on healthy cereal, such as low-fat Read more...

Sep. 17, 2008 -- The Mediterranean diet is famous for staving off heart disease, but recent studies show that the eating pattern -- heavy on vegetables, fruits, olive oil and fish -- also provides substantial protection from cancer and Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. Italian researchers compiled evidence from a dozen large-scale studies that tracked more than 1.5 million people in Read more...

A combination of moderate exercise and nutritional supplements could help older people maintain an active lifestyle, British researchers said. Researchers at Manchester Metropolitan University found that 60 healthy, independent-living adults age 65 and older, who took carbohydrate and protein supplements just before and just after low-resistance exercise could boost muscle performance and Read more...

QUESTION: Is it true that menopause causes weight gain? ANSWER: The correlation between menopause and increased body fat levels continues to be studied. Many women report experiencing weight gain around the time of menopause and in the years after. The average age of menopause is 51, and life expectancy for women is 80 years. It is true that hormonal changes, such as the loss of Read more...

At restaurants around the country, from Seattle to New York, customers will begin to catch glimpses of information that may surprise them. In New York City this summer, a law kicked in requiring chain restaurants -- from Starbucks to Burger King -- to display on menus and menu boards the caloric content of the food they serve. In five other cities and counties elsewhere, similar labeling Read more...