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Processed foods that sit on supermarket shelves for a while would deteriorate if certain food additives were not included. Humectants and anticaking agents contribute to consumer expectations for quality and performance of favorite foods if certain

Developed for medical use and generally prescribed to treat poisoning, activated charcoal is ingested to absorb harmful chemicals in the GI tract and stop the body from absorbing them. While it is effective in treating

One does not need to go far to find harrowing statistics about obesity. According to National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data, obesity in adults more than doubled over half a century — from 13.4

If nutrition is a vehicle to good health, dietitians are in the driver’s seat, poised to lead consumers toward self-awareness and positive behavior change. But what road do you take? Which roads have been traveled?

Consumers demand a certain quality and eating experience from processed foods. This is achieved, in part, by the addition of stabilizers, thickeners and gelling agents, which give foods consistent texture, taste and mouth feel. Definition

Is cultured meat the future of food or a science experiment gone wrong? Also known as in vitro meat, cellular agriculture, artificial meat or synthetic meat, cultured meat means growing muscle tissue from animal stem

An ancient practice designed to prevent spoilage, among the first food preservation practices were the salting of meat and fish, adding sugar in canned foods and pickling vegetables. Today, preservatives continue this important role. Definition

Few ingredients cause as much confusion, or consternation, as food additives. For some, it might be the long chemical names found on labels, uncertainty of how the use of additives is regulated or skepticism in

While browsing supermarket aisles, you may notice food packages bearing various claims. “Low-sodium” and “nonfat” are established terms, but relatively new phrases such as “not bioengineered,” “no antibiotics” and “natural” are appearing on produce, meat,

The term “glycemic index” may sound complicated, but it’s simply a measure of the rise in blood sugar after eating a food that contains carbohydrates. Over the years, the glycemic index has had its share

Arguably the “superfood” of the moment, spirulina is associated with a number of health claims, from curing allergies and candida to detoxifying the body and aiding in weight loss. Does this blue-green algae deliver, or

Dietary supplements taken for the purpose of decreasing blood sugar may be popular — after all, more than 9 percent of the American population (29.1 million people) is diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes — but

Stock art companies such as Getty Images and Shutterstock have collections of thousands of images and charge a fee by subscription or per image. Fees range based on the size of the image and how

The plant kingdom boasts an arsenal of protective, naturally occurring chemical compounds that not only guard plants against foreign invaders and disease, but also benefit human health when eaten. One of the main types of

Most nutrition experts would agree that a holiday cocktail or midnight toast on New Year’s Eve is not likely to affect one’s overall health — assuming the imbiber is not in a group that should

Young adults, especially on college campuses, looking to avoid weight gain from alcohol while simultaneously achieving a fast buzz are adopting the unhealthy habit known as "drunkorexia." Straddling the line between alcohol abuse and eating

Once upon a time, attending a meeting or conference, or being out of the office for any reason, could be a bit of an ordeal. Even with back-up staff, daily operational activities were often put

Chances are, if you've been on social media, watched the news or been anywhere near a videogamer in the last year, you've heard about virtual reality. But what is it? In simplest terms, it's a

More than 80 percent of adults with cancer take at least one dietary supplement or use one or more as a complementary therapy. They include fish oil or omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals.

Irritable bowel syndrome is a complex digestive condition that interferes with the daily lives of millions of people worldwide. Typically occurring in episodes, the condition is characterized by symptoms such as moderate to intense abdominal

Following a low-FODMAP diet can feel restrictive. Low-FODMAP diet educator Kate Scarlata, RDN, LDN offers expert tips to help people with IBS overcome barriers of the elimination diet. Don’t Ditch Fiber Picks for low-FODMAP fiber

Understanding metabolic syndrome, which is estimated to affect 35 percent of adults and 10 percent of adolescents in the U.S., is important for recognizing chronic disease risk and for communicating the multidimensional role of a

You may have seen the recent headlines — "Banned Stimulants Found in Supplements" or "Hidden Dangers in Dietary Supplements" — and wondered, are supplements safe? Indeed, the supplements industry has a long history of tainted

When you shop for food, are you getting what you pay for? How would you know? Recent news stories of food fraud incidents — imported olive oil labeled "extra-virgin" that's actually a less-expensive grade of

Worried about food fraud? According to the Congressional Research Service, these are the nine leading food categories with reported cases of food fraud. Olive Oil Often substituted with a lower-cost type of olive oil or

Although fractures due to thinning bones are rare before age 65, the risk of this common and often debilitating condition is heavily influenced by choices we make decades earlier. Each phase of life offers a

Found in virtually every tissue and cell in the body and enabling many biological functions, vitamin D comes from three sources: food, supplements and the sun. It's also one of four fat-soluble vitamins, the other

When the topic of bone health arises, we often think of milk mustaches and calcium supplements. But what about visions of hitting the weights, jumping rope or doing pushups? It turns out there is more

While lowering sodium is indisputably beneficial for those who already have hypertension, increasingly conservative sodium recommendations for the general public is hotly contested — and concern that too little sodium can lead to other health

Hyponatremia is a potentially life-threatening condition that occurs when there is too little sodium in the blood. Early signs may include fatigue, headaches, confusion and nausea. If not quickly resolved, hyponatremia can lead to seizures,

With approximately 70 million American adults having high blood pressure, hypertension is one of the United States' more ubiquitous diseases. Medical nutrition therapy — centered on the DASH diet, weight management and increased physical activity

When it comes to controlling blood pressure, dietary recommendations tend to focus on what not to eat. However, also emphasizing which foods to eat more of offers a positive and encouraging approach for patients and

A simple Internet search yields copious amounts of web pages declaring the health benefits of MCT oil, from therapeutic use in hospitals, weight loss and improved body composition to improved blood lipid and glucose profiles,

For decades, dietary fat has been under the microscope as a nutrient that may heal or hinder health. Although the Institute of Medicine recommends an acceptable macronutrient distribution range, or AMDR, of 20 percent to

The subject of scientific studies around the world, omega-3 fatty acids’ role in heart health is one of the most researched topics in nutrition. While that connection has long been established, omega-3 fatty acids, or

It was such a simple sound bite: Know your number and know your risk. When research emerged in the 1980s implicating dietary and serum cholesterol in the development of heart disease, cholesterol became the nutrient that

Because scratch stocks involve skimming, straining and discarding solids — and since each stock ingredient has different nutrients and will release those nutrients in varying amounts — the only truly accurate and reliable method for

There is little question that grilling and baking are healthful alternatives to frying, particularly in terms of reducing calories and fats. But when it comes to meat, these high-temperature, dry-heat cooking methods may not reign

The best strategies for limiting dietary AGEs are simple, cost-effective and consistent with dietary recommendations for good health. Fill Plates with Fruits, Vegetables and Whole Grains They are naturally low in AGEs, and animal foods are

From emergency relief posts to missions organized by faith-based organizations, the dietetics community is no stranger to international volunteerism — and the expertise and skill sets of registered dietitian nutritionists often make them unique assets

The South American yacón plant is often cultivated for its edible root, which can be juiced and evaporated to produce a syrup. The high fructooligosaccharide content of yacón root has drawn recent attention. A type

Gluten-free diets have become one of the hottest approaches to a long list of health ailments and weight loss. An ongoing debate asks whether gluten sensitivity truly exists or if it is a media-driven fad,

Visit any Ethiopian restaurant, and you’re bound to receive a generous serving of injera, a spongy, fermented flatbread commonly found in Ethiopian cuisine. Increasing in global popularity due to the expanding diaspora and interest in

Grocery shopping. Love it or hate it, one aspect of shopping that few people relish is waiting in line to pay. But change could be coming to the checkout experience, making stores' "front end" more

American dining may have evolved from Old World custom into the "three square meals" tradition of the 20th century, but today's consumers are snackers. In fact, over the last four decades, more Americans have traded

Until recently, shopping for organic foods required a special trip to a natural foods store or farmers market. As interest in organics grew, organic foods became widely available in conventional supermarkets, but premium prices meant

When Victoria M. Getty, MEd, RD, heard a proposal for the development of an urban orchard in Bloomington, Ind., she jumped at the chance to get involved. As director of the didactic program in dietetics

Some say sugar — including natural sugar found in 100-percent fruit juice — is behind the obesity epidemic, responsible for heart disease and causes cancer. Are concerns about sugar overshadowing fruit juice's positive contributions to

For every cell in the human body, there are about 10 nonhuman cells. These microbial residents of our gut, skin, eyes and nasal passages collectively are referred to as the "microbiome" — and research of

Prophylactic use of antibiotics in animal feed helps livestock stay healthy and grow faster, but it also may speed the emergence of drug-resistant bacteria that, according to the Centers for Disease Control, kill 23,000 people

For centuries, essential oils have been used to treat a variety of conditions, from lack of mental clarity and alertness to depression and indigestion. Today, practitioners employ essential oils using a combination of traditional medicine

A teaspoon here, a dash there… For people who regularly take medications, could drugs interact with the spices and herbs used in recipes? After all, it can happen with food. If an individual takes certain

With approximately 300 food co-ops in the U.S. today, cooperative grocers represent fewer than 1 percent of American grocery stores. But food co-ops — which are owned and directed by customers rather than corporations —

Around the world, many Muslims celebrate the birth of the Islamic Prophet Mohammad, peace be upon him,* with feasts, festivals, street parades, chants and decorations in streets, mosques and homes. Mawlid un-Nabi — also referred

If a recipe calls for a “stick of butter,” how many tablespoons is that? If you’re from the United States, Liberia or Myanmar, you know the answer is eight; anywhere else, and chances are you’d

When her second child was born, Jenna knew something was amiss; even as a baby, Alexa was hard to soothe. Today, she is a 3-year-old picky eater who is easily frustrated and melts down over

On scorching days in Niger, it is not uncommon for a mother to give water to her infant. After all, she is thirsty so her baby must be, too. But in a nation where sanitation

From Australian miners toting 2-pound tubs of pre-workout powders into excavation sites to ready-to-drink protein supplements touting peak job performance to accountants and school teachers in the United Kingdom, sports nutrition products are attracting new