Dietary Carbohydrate: Facts and Misconceptions

Many people have misconceptions regarding dietary carbohydrate. Rather than being the villain as portrayed in several off-the-wall popular diets, carbohydrate is actually essential for human survival, optimal bodily function, and disease prevention. However, it is very important to distinguish between the two major types of dietary carbohydrate; simple and complex. In this blog, we will take a careful look at facts and common misconceptions about carbohydrates. We also provide links to several previous blogs related to this topic....

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New Studies Bolster Existing Support for Whole Grains!

When it comes to grains, misinformation abounds, particularly in how grains are processed for consumer consumption. The basic understanding between grains and whole grains means a world of difference. As September is Childhood Obesity Awareness month, it’s important to reflect on this important distinction and evaluate whether you and your family are truly eating for optimal health. Read on for The Cooper Institute’s Dr. Steve Farrell’s keen insights into this critically important dietary component....

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New Evidence that Following the Mediterranean Eating Plan Decreases the Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke!

With so many different diet plans and opinions floating around, it’s hard to separate fact from fiction when it comes to what constitutes healthful eating. A large European study published in the world-renowned New England Journal of Medicine bolsters support for the Mediterranean Eating Plan....

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Should You Be Nuts Over Coconuts?

Over the past few years, a number of claims have been made regarding the benefits of dietary coconut oil (DCO). Weight loss and improved heart health are among the most commonly purported health benefits of DCO. Because I’m a big proponent of the old adage ‘if it seems too good to be true, it probably is’, let’s take an objective look at what the science says. First off, while dietary saturated fats tend to increase blood levels of LDL-cholesterol (the bad cholesterol), not all saturated fatty acids are exactly alike. Dietary saturated fatty acids fall in two categories based on how many carb...

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Should everyone be Concerned About Gluten?

Many individuals are going to great lengths to avoid gluten in their diets, and food manufacturers as well as restaurants are touting their ‘gluten-free’ products as being healthful. However, before you jump on the ‘anti-gluten’ bandwagon, let’s look at some basic facts....

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High-Energy Protein Foods and Drinks: an Oxymoron?

An oxymoron is a figure of speech in which contradictory terms appear in conjunction. A couple of my favorite oxymorons are ‘jumbo shrimp’ and ‘pretty ugly!’ Some food and beverage manufacturers promote their products using terms such as ‘high-energy protein bar’ or ‘high-energy protein drink.’...

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Berries: Superfoods for Preventing Heart Disease in Women

It’s no secret that plant-based foods are good for our health. Fruits, veggies, whole grains, and legumes are packed with nutrients, fiber, and phytochemicals (non-nutrients in plant foods that help to prevent disease)....

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What’s in a Name? “Ketogenic” Diet

The Internet and the public are buzzing about the latest dietary fad, the Ketogenic Diet. However, this not a new diet at all! Read more......

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The Alkaline Diet: Help or Hype?

The latest diet craze claims that you can lose weight, have more energy, and prevent chronic disease by consuming more alkaline foods and fewer acidic foods. Does this sound too good to be true?...

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The Omega-3 Index: A Novel Way to Determine Cardiovascular Risk

You probably already know that omega-3 fatty acids (fish oils) are good for your heart and brain. In recent years, Dr. William Harris has developed a novel blood test known as the omega-3 index. We will discuss how the index is determined, as well as its implications for cardiovascular health in this article....

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Beetroot Juice: A Boon for the Older Adult Heart?

Heart failure is the leading cause of hospitalization in adults ages 65 and older. Beetroot juice has been shown to be beneficial to the cardiovascular system in healthy adults. Here we describe a study on the effects of beetroot juice on the cardiovascular system of twenty older adults with heart failure....

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Do Health Behaviors Early in Life Affect Health Risk Later on?

Little is known regarding how health behaviors such as diet during early adulthood impact the risk of developing coronary heart disease later in life. This study examined how fruit and vegetable intake at age 25 impacted the coronary artery calcium score 20 years later....

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