Category: Features

Dietary fat and heart disease study is seriously misleading

The journal Annals of Internal Medicine recently published a paper suggesting there is no evidence supporting the longstanding recommendation to limit saturated fat consumption. Media reporting on the paper included headlines such as “No link found between saturated fat and heart disease” and articles saying “Saturated fat shouldn’t be demonized” springing up on social media. Continue reading

Protein, carbs, and weight loss

How might a high-protein, low-carb diet lead to weight loss more quickly than a low-fat, high-carb diet, at least in the short run? First, chicken, beef, fish, beans, and other high-protein foods move more slowly from the stomach to the intestine. Slower stomach emptying means you feel full for longer and get hungrier later. Continue reading

Walking and bicycling your way to health

Walking is an ideal exercise for many people—it doesn’t require any special equipment, can be done any time, any place, and it is generally safe. Also, many studies – including the Nurses’ Health Study, (1, 2) Health Professionals Follow-up Study, (3) Women’s Health Study, (4)Harvard Alumni Health Study, (5) National Health Interview Survey, (6) Women’s […] Continue reading

Menus of Change full report now available

This annual report integrates nutrition and public health, environmental stewardship and restoration, and social responsibility within the food service industry and beyond. Food is a lens through which we see the world, and our vision is increasingly focused on not only our personal health, but also the health of our planet. Our food choices reflect […] Continue reading

The new salt controversy

An article risks misleading people about sodium intake.  A recent New York Times article by reporter Gina Kolata calls into question the national guidelines for daily sodium intake, citing a new Institute of Medicine report that examined consequences of sodium consumption and concluded there is insufficient evidence for the health benefits of reducing sodium below […] Continue reading