Vitamins, additives and nutrition BLOG

Truvia is the newest non-caloric sweetener to hit the store shelves. It isn’t available in every grocery store yet, however the Truvia website has a “where to buy” section.

Truvia is made from stevia, a plant that has been sold as an herbal supplement for many years. Personally, I’ve always had difficulty using stevia herb as a sweetener (I usually end up using too much), but since stevia has been used safely and for so long, I’ve been looking Read the rest of this entry »

If losing weight is one of your New Year’s resolutions, sooner or later you’ll probably find your resolve tested by an overwhelming desire for something really naughty. Hopefully, you’ll reach for a diet-friendly snack instead. But your chances of heading off dietary disaster will be higher if you choose an alternative that is a good match for your particular craving.

if you’re craving chocolate, for example, another stick of celery Read the rest of this entry »

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 your resolution as specific as possible.

The other day, I sent out an email asking other Nutrition Data staffers about their New Read the rest of this entry »

Salads can be an effective tool for weight loss. A salad with greens, vegetables, fruits and nuts is perfect before a meal, or a salad can be the meal if you make it big with lots of healthy vegetables.

Want to know how to make a salad that is high in nutrition an fiber, without a lot of calories? Here is how to create a healthy salad.

Daily Nutrition Tip

Photo © Bob Smith

nutrition.about.com

“Calories eaten late at night are more likely to be stored as fat.”

“Sugar causes hyperactivity in kids.”

“You lose most body heat through your head.”

These are just some of the myths debunked by Rachel C Vreemanand Aaron E Carroll in this article in this week’s British Medical Journal. (Myth-debunking has become an annual tradition for Vreeman and Carroll, who published a similar list last December.)

Read the rest of this entry »

Hundreds of new foods will soon be available on NutritionData.com and updated nutrition information for many others will be added as well. The new data comes from the USDA’s Nutrient Data Laboratory.

The final phase of our update is scheduled for January 6th, after which all of the new data will be available on the site. (Note: Access to your saved foods and recipes will be briefly suspended from around 6 to 9am Eastern time, while Read the rest of this entry »

Turmeric, the yellow-orange spice found in curry powders and as a powdered seasoning for Asian cooking, is more than a delicious, flavorful spice. Researchers are hot on the trail of turmeric, holding studies and trials to determine how it can be used to increase health and fight disease, including cancer.

This article examines how turmeric, which contains the powerful antioxidant curcumin, can help fight diseases such as diabetes, Read the rest of this entry »

Healthy cooking starts with choosing the right foods at the grocery store. If your kitchen is stocked with wholesome ingredients, all of your meals with be good for you and your family.

Shopping for healthy foods isn’t too difficult, but it helps to have a grocery list ready. Take your list to the store and stick to buying the items on your list and don’t add any extra junk foods. In fact, just stay out of the junk food aisles Read the rest of this entry »

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 sales for brands like Equal, Splenda, and diet products using them–and use their muscle to tie up the approval process.

Stevia’s been availabe Read the rest of this entry »

Low carb diets may reduce cognitive function, according to a small but well-designed study done at Tufts. Dieters eating low carbohydrate diets for just one week performed more poorly on tests of memory and reaction times than a similar group of dieters on a higher carb regimen. Their performance improved after increasing carbohydrates.

Interestingly, the low carb dieters did better than the other dieters on tests of attention span, Read the rest of this entry »