My recent post on moderate drinking and breast cancer risk spurred a lot of comments.  So I thought you might also be interested in a new initiative from the National Institutes of Health called Rethinking Drinking. The goal is to help people assess the risks and/or benefits of their drinking h...

Q. Which vitamins and minerals are stored in our bodies and which are  excreted when eaten in excess?  A.   Fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, K, and E are stored in the liver and fatty tissues when you consume more than you need at the moment.  These vitamin storage pools will cove...

Q. I used the Nutrient Search Tool to look up vegetables high in calcium and found freeze-dried chives and freeze-dried leeks near the top of the list. However, when I went to the listings, they showed that the foods contained zero calcium. Is this an error? A.  Depending on what you select in ...

On December 31st, millions of us will vow (once again) to turn over a new leaf in the New Year, recommitting ourselves to healthy habits that may have gotten lost in the holiday bustle.  For those who are thinking ahead, here are some tips on turning this year's resolution into reality. 1. Make...

For years, the FDA has dragged its heels on approving stevia, an herbal zero-calorie sweetener, citing questions about its safety.  (It has a long history of safe use in other countries.) Rumor had it that food industry giants were opposed to the introduction of a product that might undermine s...

There's been a lot of talk lately about eating with the seasons as a way to maximize nutrition and minimize the environmental costs of our foods.  Foods that are fresh (i.e., in season) and locally-grown are going to be more nutritious because nutrients degrade during shipping and storage. It's...

The round of holiday parties begins this week. The friends, the family....the fruitcakes! Chances are you're going to be facing more platters  of bacon-wrapped bits, vats of hot cheese dip, and mounds of sugary sweets over the next three weeks than you will the rest of the year combined.  ...

Q.   Recently I've become very interested in consuming more foods that have an anti inflammatory effect. This website is a great place to find such information. However, I'm having a hard time. My current caloric need is between 4000 and 4500 calories per day and in order to achieve this, ...

In two years of writing this blog, there have been controversial topics that have provoked a lot of comment and argument. But few things compare to the reaction to this recent post on high fructose corn syrup. Many believe that high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is uniquely damaging to health. Others a...

November is Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month--but there's not a whole lot of good news to report.  Despite lots of research, we don't seem to be making much progress towards more effective treatments or cure.  And the clock is ticking. With the number of American seniors projected to do...