August, 2006

Experts Waffle on Value Of Multis: What Panel Said, What EN Says to Do
By Diane Welland, M.S., R.D.
More than a third of Americans report they regularly take multivitamin/mineral supplements. Do they do any good? A recent National Institutes of Health-sponsored panel was ambivalent. But EN found plenty of reasons to keep taking multis.

Focus on Flavor Is Latest Rage; Does It Help or Hinder Efforts to Pare Pounds?
By Hillary M. Wright, M.Ed., R.D
It happens to everyone; you’re walking down the street not even thinking of food; you pass a bakery and the sensory system that links smell to appetite kicks in full tilt. BAM! You're starving. Such temptation is difficult to resist. EN tells you how.

Even Small Weight Gain Ups Risk for Heartburn
The more you weigh—even if you’re not overweight—the greater your risk of developing gastroesophageal reflux disease, commonly called heartburn. Those are the implications of results from the Nurses’ Health Study.

Would Your Kitchen Habits Pass a Food Safety Inspection?
By Kitty Broihier, M.S., R.D.
Whether you’re a kitchen novice or know-it-all, chances are your food safety practices could use a brush-up. Take EN’s quiz to help you clean up your act.

Add Flavor, Not Fat, Using EN’s Condiments Guide
By Julie Upton, M.S., R.D.
According to the dictionary, a condiment is “a substance…to flavor or complement food.” There are hundreds of condiments that can add flavor, spice and texture to your food, including Asian, Indian, Italian, Thai and Latin-inspired condiments. An EN comparison, brand by brand.

Is There Carcinogenic Benzene in Your Soft Drink or Fruit Drink?
Q. I read that some soft drinks contain dangerous levels of benzene. Should I stop drinking them?
A. Cutting back on soft drinks may be a good idea, though not necessarily because of their benzene content. Still, the latest findings are certainly of concern

EN Finds Easy Ways to Balance the Good Fats in Your Diet
Q. I’ve read that it’s important to balance the amount of omega-3 fats in my diet with other fats. How can I do that?
A. You’re likely referring to the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids in your diet. Both types of fat are important for optimal health, but only in the proper ratio.

Sweet, Refreshing Watermelon a Nutritious Treat
By Adrienne Forman, M.S., R.D.
Over 1,200 varieties of watermelon are grown worldwide. The red varieties are a lycopene leader among fresh produce; research suggests that foods rich in lycopene may reduce the risk of prostate cancer, heart disease and some other age-related diseases.

Gem of a Health Guide Masquerades as Diet Book
What do you get when you pair up a leading nutrition authority with a beloved cookbook author? A gem of a nutrition guide. The best part? It’s not really a diet, but a way to continually evaluate how you eat and live. As you improve your diet, you’ll likely shed pounds.

How to Stick With Your Fitness Routine
Persistence is the new watchword in getting active and staying active. Two fitness experts offer fresh advice to everyday nonathletes on how to get fit and stay that way.

International Study Backs Diet for Treating Gout
It’s not your father’s gout anymore. That’s the latest message from researchers, who estimate that gout affects 2.1 million Americans. And yet, they say, it is much misunderstood, frequently misdiagnosed and often undertreated.

Research Roundup
•Drinking lemonade may help prevent kidney stones, Duke University researchers discovered.
•Eating a lot of fruit—especially citrus—may help prevent asthma symptoms saya a Cambridge, England study.
•Alcohol mixed with a diet drink raises blood alcohol much faster than alcohol mixed with a sweetened drink.

View or print a copy of this entire issue of Environmental Nutrition

This newsletter is not intended to provide advice on personal health matters,
which should be provided by a qualified health care provider.