Nutrition Archive

Research we're watching

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Noshing on a handful of nuts on most days of the week has been linked to a lower risk of obesity and heart disease. New research may help explain why: walnuts appear to activate a brain region involved in appetite and impulse control.

For the study, nine people with obesity drank a smoothie that contained about 14 ground walnut halves or a placebo smoothie (identical in taste and calories) for five consecutive days. After a month on their regular diets, the participants returned for another five days, during which the placebo group drank walnut smoothies and vice versa. On day five of both periods, they underwent brain imaging tests while looking at pictures of desirable foods (such as burgers and cake), less desirable foods (vegetables), or neutral pictures of rocks and trees.

You've tried different diets — and have even been exercising regularly — but those extra pounds won't budge. Don't give up. It may be that you haven't yet found the weight-loss strategies that work for you.

"Everything works for some people, but no treatment is equally effective for everyone," says Dr. Lee Kaplan, director of the Obesity, Metabolism and Nutrition Institute at Massachusetts General Hospital. "No method is fundamentally better than any other. The key is finding out which therapy is best for you, and that takes trial and error."

Your body depends on the mineral potassium for many bodily functions, including keeping control of the electrical balance of your heart, metabolizing carbohydrates, and building muscle.

Low potassium levels can cause muscle weakness and heartbeat irregularities. On the other hand, too much potassium can cause your heart to stop.

Take advantage of free medications, blood pressure screenings, and exercise classes to stay healthy and save money.

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Medical costs are soaring, but not every step you take to improve your health has to cost an arm and a leg. Some services are even free, regardless of your financial need. "These are incredibly helpful, although few of my patients know about many of them," says geriatrician Dr. Suzanne Salamon, an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School. The trick is knowing where to find the services, and this month we have suggestions on where to look.

Free exercise classes

Exercise is essential for overall health and mobility, especially as we get older. Many organizations support that by offering free exercise classes for older adults. Good places to find free classes: hospitals and senior centers. Give them a call, or look on the Internet to see an organization's event calendar.

Ask the doctor

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Q. Is there a way to avoid feeling sleepy after a holiday meal?

A. That's an unusual question: my patients usually ask me about foods to help them sleep. But with the holidays coming, the concern often is reversed. You may be with friends and family that you see only infrequently, and you don't want to nod off during the conversation.

These grains have more nutrients than regular whole grains, and they may be easier to digest.

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You know that whole grains are loaded with nutrients and fiber and are an important component of a healthy diet. Now an early harvesting method for grains — when they're just sprouts — is becoming popular, with sales of sprouted grains predicted to grow eightfold in the United States by 2018.

"It's one of those trends taking off as people are looking for the next big thing. And in some ways, sprouted grains are a step above regular whole grains," says Kristina Secinaro, a registered dietitian at Harvard-affiliated Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

News briefs

The amount of sodium we're bringing home from the grocery store has dropped significantly in the past two decades, according to a study published online June 5, 2017, by JAMA Internal Medicine. Excess sodium intake is associated with a higher risk of heart disease. Researchers analyzed the sodium in about 1.5 million products purchased by more than 172,000 households in the United States from 2000 to 2014. Sodium in packaged foods brought into these homes declined from about 2,300 milligrams (mg) per person per day to about 1,900 mg per person per day. The declines were seen in all kinds of products — especially those notoriously high in sodium like condiments, sauces, dips, and salty snacks. The study can't tell us if the amount of sodium people consume is also declining. But it's a good reminder to keep an eye on your intake, since a salty diet can lead to high blood pressure, a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. The American Heart Association says an ideal limit is 1,500 mg of sodium per day for most adults. That's hard to achieve, but being a savvy shopper for lower-sodium foods can help.

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Limiting animal-derived foods is only part of the story.

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If you're not totally sure what constitutes a plant-based diet, you're not alone. Many people believe a plant-based diet means a vegetarian diet — a family of eating patterns that omits some or all foods that come from animals (see "Vegetarian variations").

But plant-based diets don't necessarily exclude animal-derived foods. While the main focus is on plants — grains, vegetables, fruits, legumes (dried beans and peanuts), and nuts — these diets may include limited amounts of fish, meat, poultry, and dairy products.