Diet and nutrition Archive

Although they may seem unfamiliar, these nutritious foods are as easy to cook and use as white rice.

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Refined carbohydrates are out; whole grains are in. That's one of the messages from the 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. It makes a lot of sense, given that diets rich in whole grains are linked with a reduced risk of diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and certain cancers.

"All the grains we eat now started as whole grains, but we've stripped them down and lost some of the nutrition," says Stacey Nelson, manager of clinical nutrition at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital.

Indian, Peruvian, or Vietnamese food may be just the thing to give your diet a dose of interest and fun.

Vietnamese pho with shrimp is tasty. But stick to small portions of noodles to avoid spiking blood sugar. 
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Following a healthy diet doesn't have to be boring. Take your palate on a culinary adventure by sampling world cuisines that are new to you. "Variety can add taste as well as vitamins and micronutrients you may not be receiving from your standard diet," says registered dietitian Kathy McManus, director of the Department of Nutrition at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital.

Dr. Terry Schraeder and Uma Naidoo, MD, instructor in psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and a professional chef, discuss the significant amount of hidden sugar in everyday food and drinks.

From fast-food restaurants and delis exploding with high-calorie sandwiches to salad bars stocked with high-fat and high-sugar add-ons, lunchtime can be a minefield of temptation for those trying to eat a healthy and balanced diet.

But a healthful — and enjoyable — lunch can be done. These simple tips can help.

Increasing daily water intake by one, two, or three cups daily can help reduce total calorie intake and lower a person’s intake of saturated fat, sugar, sodium, and cholesterol.

Eating 10 servings of green leafy vegetables per week, or about 1.5 cups per day, may lower a person’s risk for primary open-angle glaucoma by 20% to 30%. These foods are rich in nitrate, which can help reduce eye pressure and improve blood flow to the optic nerve.

Inflammation is an important link between obesity, elevated blood sugar, and type 2 diabetes.

Weight loss can reduce inflammation—a major contributor to diabetes.
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We've known for a long time that being overweight is a major risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes. But only in the last 20 years have researchers determined that metabolism and immune responses are linked and that chronic inflammation plays an important role in the development of obesity, diabetes, and related metabolic diseases. "Inflammation is not only associated with obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, but also precedes and predicts these conditions," says Dr. Allison Goldfine, head of the Clinical Research section at Harvard-affiliated Joslin Diabetes Center.

Research We’re Watching

In the 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the emphasis shifted from healthy foods to healthy eating plans. Scientists are also focusing on the role of one's entire diet in preventing osteoporosis.

A team of German researchers analyzed data from more than 90,000 women enrolled in the Women's Health Initiative (WHI), who were ages 50 to 79 when they entered the study.

They follow their own advice to enjoy lots of vegetables, legumes, lean protein, and a fruit-based dessert.

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Following a healthy diet is a proven and powerful way to lower your risk of heart disease. But do you ever wonder if doc-tors actually practice what they preach, especially with regard to their eating habits? While we obviously can't speak for all of them, four Harvard physicians with diverse ethnic backgrounds agreed to share examples of their favorite heart-healthy dinner menus.

Dr. Enrique Caballero, assistant professor of medicine

A native of Mexico, Dr. Caballero directs the Latino Diabetes Initiative at the Joslin Diabetes Center; his research interests include cardiovascular disease prevention.