Monthly Insights
What to know about SIBO (November 2024)
—Carrie Dennett, MPH, RDN With increasing interest in the gut microbiota and its role in health and disease, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, or SIBO, is also getting more attention. And, like many things related to gut health, there’s both reliable and not-so-reliable information to be found online. Here’s what you need to know. First, SIBO […]
What is the difference between “Sugar Free” and “Sugar Alcohols”? Are there better choices than food sweetened with sugar? (April 2009)
Sugar alcohols (also called polyols) such as sorbitol, polydextrose, isomalt, and hydrogenated starch hydrolysates are not technically sugar, but they provide sweetness in foods just as sugars do. Sugar alcohols are only partially absorbed in the small intestine, so they supply only about half the calories as equal amounts of regular sugar while sometimes […]
The Incredible Cranberry (March 2009)
Cranberries have a lot more to offer than holiday tradition, Diane McKay, Ph.D, a nutrition expert at Tuft University in Boston, says preliminary studies suggest phytonutrients, including antioxidants, in cranberry products may improve heart health by helping to: Increase HDL (good) cholesterol Lower LDL (bad) and total cholesterol Minimize plaque in your arteries Limit […]
When Fruit and Meds Don’t Mix (February 2009)
If you want to get rid of a sinus infection, don’t wash those antibiotics with a glass of juice. Researchers from Canada’s University of Western Ontario found that orange, grapefruit and apple juices can decrease the effectiveness of certain medicines, such as those for allergies (antihistamines), high blood pressure (beta-blockers), and infections (antibiotics). “These juices […]
Fuller Fat
Researchers at the University of California, Irvine, have discovered why avocados, nuts and olive oil are more filling than other foods. Their unsaturated fats trigger the release of a compound called oleoylethanolamide (OEA) in our small intestine, activating a brain circuit that makes us feel more satisfied for longer.
What is the Latest on the Consumption of Nuts, Seeds and Corn in Diverticular Disease? (January 2009)
People with Diverticulitis have been recommended to avoid nuts, seeds and popcorn for years. Research currently shows that consuming nuts and popcorn twice per week appeared to have a protective effect against diverticulitis, report researchers in the August 27, 2008 issue of Journal of the American Medical Association. Researchers analyzed the self reported data of […]
Soy and Male Fertility (November 2008)
Men who eat soy have fewer sperm than those who don’t, according to a new study. Soy foods such as tofu, soy milk and some veggie burgers have been shown to have many dietary benefits. But they happen to be high in isoflavones, a dietary compound that can act like estrogen. This is one reason […]
The Battle of the Berries (November 2008)
Every week there seems to be a new berry aiming to have the status as the one with the most antioxidants, the chemical compounds that protect the body against cell-damaging, disease causing free radicals. The latest challenger is Acai. To see how some popular berries compare, check out their antioxidant scores below.
What about the new “Superfood” Acai Berry? (October 2008)
The Brazilian Acai berry is only one of the “Super Berry” family that includes pomegranate, goji berry (aka: wolfberry), mangosteen and the Chilean macqui berry. The first qualification is that the berry must be an exotic “berry type” fruit (cranberry, blueberry, bilberry, raspberries, strawberry are not members). The Acai berry may have higher phenolic […]
The Truth Behind Water Bottle Health (September 2008)
Drinking water from your reusable water bottle you felt virtuous. Then came the news: A study from the National Toxicology Program warned that bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical found in hard plastic called polycarbonate (look for a number 7 inside the recycling symbol), was linked to precancerous tumors and hormonal changes. BPA is most […]