Diane Lofshult
Article Archive
Looks like a spot of tea may be a way to lower blood pressure. A recent study out of Tufts University found that people were able to lower their systolic pressure by drinking as little as 3 cups of herbal hibiscus tea each day; this beneficial effect is thought to be the result of the tea’s high levels of antioxidants. Look for herbal teas that list hibiscus as one of the main ingredients on the food label, indicating a high concentration. And heed the advice in this month’s Ask the RD section to drink tea only between meals, to protect iron absorption.
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Answer: The good news is that tea is steeped in health benefits. The bad news is that tea contains compounds called tannins that can bind to iron in the body and inhibit absorption.
Drinking tea at meals has been shown to reduce iron absorption far more than drinking coffee. This is especially true when it comes to the absorption of nonheme iron (derived from plant sources), which is much more influenced by the tannins in tea than heme iron (derived from animal sources).
One way to save money in hard times is to
repurpose what you already have on hand. In your home, this can mean finding dual purposes for pantry staples; for example, using vinegar as both a base for salad dressings and
a powerful cleaning agent. Here are some household products that are overachievers.
Why can some teens lose weight and keep it off, while
others try and try again, to no avail? According to a recent study, teenagers who do lose weight appear to share certain characteristics that contribute to their success.
The cross-sectional study, published in the December 2009 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, showed that adolescents who lose weight are more likely to report using the following “healthful weight
control behaviors”:
Running late in the mornings shouldn’t mean your kids have to skip breakfast. Children can eat on the run and still get a nutritious boost to their day with their very own banana dog. (Come on, what kid can
resist something called
a banana dog?)
Just smear a little peanut butter on a toasted whole-wheat hot dog bun and insert a whole peeled banana. Fun on the run!
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Like its fancy cousin the truffle, the morel is a unique variety of mushroom found in woodlands. These spongy mushrooms have a distinctive honeycomb texture and a nutty, earthy taste. They grow wild from early spring to late June.
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Despite questionable anecdotal evidence
espoused by celebrities like Jenny McCarthy,
a panel of experts led by a Harvard Medical School researcher has determined that special diets do not improve autism in children.
Switching over to low-sodium food products may do more than simply lower your blood pressure: it may also benefit bone health by reducing calcium loss, according to findings published online by the British Journal of Nutrition.
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According to the December 2009 issue of the Tufts University Health & Nutrition Letter, the Agricultural Research Service,
a research arm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), recently updated its nutrient database. The database is the standard reference used to calculate the nutrition values of specific foods.
For years, government experts have been advising consumers to read food labels in order to track and curb their calorie intake. Now a new study
conducted by Tufts University
researchers has found that some commercially prepared foods actually contain almost 20% more calories than posted on the label. The study findings appeared in the January
issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.
It’s the day before the big race, and it’s time to carbo-load. This simple pasta dish is quick
to prepare and easy to digest, two features that can loom large on the eve of your event.
8 ounces uncooked penne pasta
2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons
extra-light olive oil (divided use)
11/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken
breasts, sliced into thin cutlets
1 medium onion, chopped
2 large carrots, thinly sliced
1/4 pound asparagus, thinly sliced
George H.W. Bush wasn’t the only one who hated broccoli. According to the findings of a 2007 survey reported in The Journal of Psychology, broccoli ranks high in foods disliked by the masses.
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Nutrition experts often point to today’s supersized plates and glasses as one cause of America’s rising obesity rates. Now
researchers are pointing to another culprit: corpulent cookbooks.
Put down your kitchen knife: researchers have found that carrots cooked whole contain 25% more of a potential cancer-fighting compound than those cooked after being sliced or diced. Chopping carrots increases the amount of the veggie’s surface area, which apparently causes more of its nutrients to leach out into the cooking water. (The same goes for packaged, already-cut carrots.)
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Try fighting the seasonal flu with food this year. Here’s a look at some foods that are rich in antioxidants, which help fortify the immune system:
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Want to save money while sitting at your computer? Click and print out cost-cutting Groupons, online coupons offered daily from a group collective that uses the power of group buying to pass along drastic savings to consumers. Each day, the site (www.groupon.com) features different products and services at unbelievable prices—providing enough people log on to take advantage of the group deal.
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Childhood obesity in America is higher among ethnic minorities. One reason may be their limited access to affordable, healthy food options, according to researchers who reported their findings in the November issue of the journal Pediatrics.
The purpose of the study under review was to document the nature of children’s food purchases in “corner stores” located near their
elementary schools. This observational trial looked at kids in grades 4 through 6 who lived and attended school in low-income, high-minority neighborhoods.
They may have placed number 8 on the list of most-hated foods (see “Top 10 Most-Hated Foods”), but Brussels sprouts really get
a bum rap. That’s probably because most cooks tend to drastically overcook the sprouts, which releases smelly sulfur compounds
that don’t exactly whet one’s appetite. Cooked properly, Brussels sprouts can be a revelation in taste; their nutty and sweet flavor can convert even the biggest balkers.
Increased consumption of sweetened beverages has been linked to higher energy intake and weight gain in children. Now a new study
has shown that a girl’s beverage intake at age 5 can predict her fat
composition and weight status in later childhood and adolescence.
Eating a high-protein diet may make the brain lighter, which can ultimately make you more vulnerable to Alzheimer’s disease (AD), according to a
recent animal study.