Vitamin D is both a nutrient we eat and a hormone our bodies make. It is a fat-soluble vitamin that has long been known to help the body absorb and retain calcium and phosphorus; both are critical for building bone. Also, laboratory studies show that vitamin D can reduce cancer cell growth, help control infections […] Continue reading
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Vitamin K
Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin that comes in two forms. The main type is called phylloquinone, found in green leafy vegetables like collard greens, kale, and spinach. The other type, menaquinones, are found in some animal foods and fermented foods. Menaquinones can also be produced by bacteria in the human body. [1] Vitamin K […] Continue reading
Out with the Pyramid, In with the Plate
The US government has scrapped the much-maligned food pyramid icon and replaced it with a fruit- and vegetable-rich plate, seeking a simpler way to show Americans how to eat right. While it’s a major improvement, the new icon still falls short on giving people the nutrition advice they need to choose the healthiest diets. The new […] Continue reading
New U.S. Dietary Guidelines 2010: Progress, Not Perfection
The long-awaited new U.S. dietary guidelines are a step in the right direction, but they don’t go quite far enough to spell out what Americans need to do to stay healthy—not a surprise, some critics say, given the strong influence of the food industry on U.S. food policy. The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, released […] Continue reading
See related article on The Nutrition Source about the IOM’s vitamin D recommendation, For Adult Bone Health, Too Low on Vitamin D—and Too Generous on Calcium Continue reading
Food rating systems: A not-so-smart choice
When rushing through the supermarket, who has time to pore over Nutrition Facts labels and compare ingredient lists? That’s why more than a dozen rating systems have been established to help shoppers identify healthful products. (1) Some, like the Guiding Stars program in Hannaford supermarkets, put rating information on food shelf tags below various products. […] Continue reading
Ask the expert: Vitamin D and chronic disease
The Expert: Dr. Edward Giovannucci Professor of Nutrition and Epidemiology, Departments of Nutrition and Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health 1. There’s been a lot of news lately about vitamin D’s role in prevention of cancer, heart disease, and other chronic diseases. What do we know today—and what questions remain? Vitamin D has a well-established role […] Continue reading
Low-Fat Diet Not a Cure-All
Results from large, long Women’s Health Initiative Dietary Modification Trial shows no effect on heart disease, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, or weight. The low-fat, high-starch diet that was the focus of dietary advice during the 1990s-as reflected by the USDA food guide pyramid-is dying out. A growing body of evidence has been pointing to its […] Continue reading