Halloween can be a special time of year for children, but parents may be stressed about sugar overload. Candy is intentionally excluded from the Kid’s Healthy Eating Plate, but one night a year of extra sweetness is not the main problem. The concern is that the candy rarely lasts one night. Leftovers often linger, and […] Continue reading
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PREDIMED Study Retraction and Republication
What Changed, What Didn’t, and the Big Picture On June 13, 2018, the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) retracted the 2013 study, “Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases with a Mediterranean Diet,” [1] as a result of error in randomization procedures affecting a portion of participants in the PREDIMED (Prevención con Dieta Mediterránea) trial. Concurrently, […] Continue reading
Coffee Warning Label Conflicts With Public Health Guidance
A recent ruling by a Los Angeles County Superior Judge states that all California coffee shops and sellers must warn consumers about the “potential cancer risk” from drinking coffee—a judgment following a lawsuit focused on the specific chemical acrylamide, which has been linked to cancer in rats. However, scientists are adamant that coffee does not […] Continue reading
How Meat Is Cooked May Affect Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
You may have heard that grilling and barbecuing meats may create cancer-causing substances. You may have also heard that eating a lot of red meat—especially processed meats—may be linked to certain cancers. Now, new research suggests a possible connection between high-heat meat cooking and type 2 diabetes. The study, published in Diabetes Care by researchers from […] Continue reading
PURE study makes headlines, but the conclusions are misleading
Last week, The Lancet published results from the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (“PURE”) study that made headlines: “Study Challenges Conventional Wisdom on Fats, Fruits, and Vegetables;” “PURE Shakes Up Nutritional Field;” “Huge New Study Casts Doubt on Conventional Wisdom About Fat and Carbs.” Following over 135,000 participants spanning five continents, the study is indeed a […] Continue reading
19 Take-Home Messages for Health Professionals from Healthy Kitchens, Healthy Lives
Each February, over 400 doctors, registered dietitians, and other health professionals join food service directors and chefs for Healthy Kitchens, Healthy Lives—a conference that bridges nutrition science, health care, and the culinary arts. The annual conference (a collaboration between the Harvard Chan School’s Department of Nutrition and The Culinary Institute of America) was created to […] Continue reading
Prioritize Your Health Instead of Hibernating
When cold weather hits, it’s easy to prioritize hibernating over health—abandoning outdoor activities and opting for comfort foods and the couch. However, you can keep up your healthy habits–and even add some new ones–even if you’re stuck inside. Continue reading
Saturated fat, regardless of type, linked with increased heart disease risk
A study published in the November issue of the British Medical Journal revealed findings that, at first glance, are not that surprising: Saturated fat in the diet is associated with an increased risk of heart disease. (1) However, the study offers a unique twist by teasing out the effects of different types of saturated fatty […] Continue reading
Science of Flavor: Cruciferous Vegetables
Cruciferous or Brassica vegetables, like broccoli, have long been promoted as a key part of a healthy diet—and rightfully so. The veggies in this family have been associated with reduced risk of heart disease and stroke, [1] and are being studied for their potential role in cancer prevention. [2] But beyond broccoli, at least 40 types of […] Continue reading
Why School Meals Matter
School foods in the U.S. have come a long way. In 2010 they received a complete makeover when The First Lady Michelle Obama spearheaded a school meals initiative, the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (HHFKA), which was signed into law in December of that year. The act targeted childhood obesity by funding child nutrition programs and […] Continue reading