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
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Drinks to Consume in Moderation
Artificially Sweetened Drinks Learn more about artificial sweeteners. 100% Fruit Juice Fruit juice has vitamins, but it is high in calories from concentrated fruit sugars, so stick to no more than a small glass (four to six ounces) a day. If you’re in the mood for fruit, enjoy a whole piece of fruit which is […] 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
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 In the beginning there was water—abundant, refreshing, providing everything the body needs to replenish the fluids it loses. Humans relied on it as their only beverage for millions of years. Milk came next, with the advent of agriculture and the domestication of animals. Then beer and wine and coffee and tea, all drunk for […] Continue reading
Nutrition A to Z
Explore The Nutrition Source through the below topics, organized alphabetically (note that this is not an exhaustive list of all our content). Can’t find what you’re looking for? Try the search function! Jump to: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K […] 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
Vitamin D
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