Dietary patterns Archive

Certain food pairings work synergistically, enabling the body to absorb nutrients more efficiently than if either food were eaten alone. Other combinations keep people full longer. Examples of synergistic combinations include beans and brown rice, spinach and citrus, cereal and milk, tomatoes and olive oil, apples and peanut butter, and turmeric and black pepper. But people absorb nutrients differently, meaning there's no guarantee someone will extract as many nutrients from a certain combination of foods as another person does.

What we eat plays an important role in health and quality of life - but is there a single best diet? One newer choice is the largely plant-based portfolio diet, which combines aspects of highly regarded eating patterns and focuses on foods proven to lower harmful blood lipids and enhance cardiovascular health.

As children go through another school year under the cloud of the COVID-19 pandemic, parents are asking what they can do to keep their children healthy. While no magic solutions can ward off every illness, parents can take steps to help children - and everyone in their household - protect their health by keeping their immune systems robust.

Dried fruits such as raisins, dates, and figs are good sources of potassium, fiber, and other nutrients. A serving size of these calorie-dense treats is just a quarter-cup.

Compared with white rice, brown rice contains much higher amounts of fiber, certain B vitamins, magnesium, potassium, and iron. Research suggests that swapping white rice for brown rice may improve blood sugar levels and help with weight control.