Humans are physiologically unprepared for the amount of sodium found in manufactured foods in the modern food supply, contributing to the diet-related diseases observed today. That's the conclusion of an article titled "Successful Sodium Reduction," recently published in The World of Food Ingredients. Coauthored by John Hayes, assistant professor of food science in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, the piece outlines some basic strategies to reduce the sodium content in preprocessed foods. Sodium is essential for human functioning, and for much of human history this mineral was relatively scarce, resulting in humans and animals needing to actively seek out appropriate sources, according to Hayes. But now most people consume far too much, he noted. (more)
Recent surveys show that a growing number of people are deciding to abstain from consuming animal products. But if they're not careful, that decision can result in deficiencies of certain nutrients needed for optimum health, according to a nutrition expert in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences. (more)
The main criticism of the old food pyramid was that it was too complicated, and some perceived it as outdated, said Terry Hartman, associate professor of nutrition at Penn State. Enter "MyPlate". A panel headed by Michelle Obama, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Surgeon General Regina M. Benjamin introduced the new MyPlate nutrition symbol in early June 2011 in Washington. Said Hartman, "MyPlate is meant to be a simple reminder to guide people to healthier choices. The USDA has set up a new website ChooseMyPlate.gov, with tools and resources to help consumers decide what to eat." (more)
If you're an adult American, chances are pretty good that at one time or another you've tried to diet. Chances also are good that, despite your efforts, you've found yourself standing on a scale and looking at a certain number with frustration and disbelief. It's the same number as last week, and the week before, even though you've been cutting back on sweets and going to the gym an extra day. Why won't that bulge budge?
"I tell my patients losing weight is the hardest thing to do, even harder than quitting smoking. Smokers can stop buying cigarettes, but you can't stop eating," said Jennifer Kraschnewski, a weight loss specialist at Penn State Hershey Medical Center. (more)
Pistachio nuts, eaten as part of a healthy diet, can increase the levels of antioxidants in the blood of adults with high cholesterol, according to an international team of nutritional scientists including Penny Kris-Etherton, distinguished professor of nutrition at Penn State. (more)
Practicing physicians hear familiar remarks about people's diets that include some common misunderstandings. Something all of us do daily, like eating, should not require a nutrition degree to do correctly, and it doesn't. Food is necessary for life, but it can be fun, too. Done properly with a bit of planning, food will make us feel good, feed our appetites and improve our health and energy levels, says John Messmer in the latest edition of The Medical Minute, a service of the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. (more)
For serious chocoholics, the best health-related news in the past decade had to be that dark chocolate is good for you. A recent Yale study concluded that eating dark chocolate can mean better cardiovascular health, with short-term improvements in blood pressure and arterial function. Even better news is that milk chocolate also may have some health benefits. So which one is the healthier snack? It depends, said Penny Kris-Etherton, distinguished professor of nutrition at Penn State. (more)
Macadamia nuts included in a heart healthy diet reduced low-density cholesterol (bad cholesterol) and should be included among nuts with qualified health claims, according to researchers. "We looked at macadamia nuts because they are not currently included in the health claim for tree nuts, while other tree nuts are currently recommended as part of a heart healthy diet," says Amy E. Griel, a recent Penn State Ph.D. recipient in nutrition and now senior nutrition scientist at The Hershey Company. "Macadamia nuts have higher levels of monosaturated fats, like those found in olive oil compared with other tree nuts." (more)
A handful of pistachios may lower cholesterol and provide the antioxidants usually found in leafy green vegetables and brightly colored fruit, according a team of researchers led by Penny Kris-Etherton, distinguished professor of nutrition at Penn State. "Pistachio amounts of 1.5 ounces and 3 ounces -- one to two handfuls -- reduced risk for cardiovascular disease by significantly reducing LDL cholesterol levels, and the higher dose significantly reduced lipoprotein ratios," said Sarah K. Gebauer, graduate student in integrative biosciences, Penn State, to attendees at the Experimental Biology meeting recently held in Washington, D.C. (more)
