The health effects of low-calorie/artificial sweeteners are inconclusive, with research showing mixed findings. Low-calorie sweeteners (LCS) are sweeteners that contain few to no calories but have a higher intensity of sweetness per gram than sweeteners with calories—like table sugar, fruit juice concentrates, and corn syrups. Other names for LCS are non-nutritive sweeteners, artificial sweeteners, sugar […] Continue reading
Search for: calcium
Sugary Drinks
Sugary drinks (also categorized as sugar-sweetened beverages or “soft” drinks) refer to any beverage with added sugar or other sweeteners (high fructose corn syrup, sucrose, fruit juice concentrates, and more). This includes soda, pop, cola, tonic, fruit punch, lemonade (and other “ades”), sweetened powdered drinks, as well as sports and energy drinks. As a category, […] Continue reading
Drinks to Consume in Moderation
Artificially sweetened drinks Research suggests that artificially sweetened drinks may contribute to weight gain. Because sweet “diet” drinks may condition you to crave other sweet drinks and foods, drinking “diet” drinks has the possibility of leading to weight gain. Moreover, the other health effects of artificially sweetened diet drinks remains largely unknown. It’s best to […] Continue reading
Salt and Sodium
Salt, also known as sodium chloride, is about 40% sodium and 60% chloride. It flavors food and is used as a binder and stabilizer. It is also a food preservative, as bacteria can’t thrive in the presence of a high amount of salt. The human body requires a small amount of sodium to conduct nerve […] Continue reading
Nutrition Education Materials
Download these nutrition education materials based on research from the Harvard School of Public Health. The Healthy Eating Pyramid A guide to choosing a healthy diet that’s based on the latest science, from the Dept. of Nutrition at Harvard School of Public Health. Learn more about the Healthy Eating Pyramid: How to follow the […] Continue reading
Should I Take a Daily Multivitamin?
Nearly half of adults in the U.S. and 70% of older adults ages 71+ take a vitamin; about one-third of them use a comprehensive multivitamin pill. [1] But is this truly a necessity? There are certainly diseases caused by a lack of specific nutrients in the diet. Classic examples include scurvy (from a lack of […] Continue reading
Healthy Beverage Guidelines
Introduction Beverage Guidelines from the Experts Water Tea and Coffee Low-Fat and Skim Milk and Soy Beverages Noncalorically Sweetened Beverages Caloric Beverages with Some Nutrients Calorically Sweetened Beverages Putting it All Together: A Sample Beverage Plan References Introduction In the beginning there was water—abundant, refreshing, providing everything the body needs to replenish the fluids it […] Continue reading
Healthy Eating Plate vs. USDA’s MyPlate
The Healthy Eating Plate, created by experts at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Harvard Medical School, points consumers to the healthiest choices in the major food groups. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) MyPlate, though it has been revised to reflect some key findings, still doesn’t offer the most complete picture when […] Continue reading
Protein
Protein is an essential macronutrient, but not all food sources of protein are created equal, and you may not need as much as you think. Learn the basics about protein and shaping your diet with healthy protein foods. Jump to:–What is protein?–How much protein do I need?–It’s all about the protein “package”–Research on protein and […] Continue reading
Vitamins and Minerals
Vitamins and minerals are micronutrients required by the body to carry out a range of normal functions. However, these micronutrients are not produced in our bodies and must be derived from the food we eat. Vitamins are organic substances that are generally classified as either fat soluble or water soluble. Fat-soluble vitamins (vitamin A, vitamin […] Continue reading