Sarah Robertson, RD, CDN

Hey, twenty-somethings: you might want to think twice before taking a bite out of that bacon double cheeseburger. While you may be young and carefree, you may not be young at heart. New research has found that abnormal cholesterol levels even during young adulthood are associated with coronary heart disease later in life. Coronary heart disease (CHD) is very common among middle-aged and older adults. Over 83% of people who die of coronary heart disease are 65 or older. Having CHD increases your risk of having a heart attack. There are …

For many busy Americans, convenience is a major determinant in what we choose to eat. It makes sense, then, that nutrition bars are a hot product. Whether it’s more protein, increased energy, enhanced performance, or weight loss you’re seeking, there’s a bar for it all. But with this widespread proliferation of products came a profusion of additives and a whole bunch of confused and overwhelmed consumers. In many cases, these bars and their overzealous promises are too good to be true. Many of these “nutrition” bars are imposters: they’re basically …

America has been called a “fast food nation,” and rightfully so. Fast food restaurants are ubiquitous in the United States, and at least one in four adults reports eating fast food. It’s very common for people to choose convenience over health when deciding what to eat. Many of us lead busy lives with hectic schedules, and sometimes, a fast-food lunch is unavoidable. The problem is that excessive consumption of fast food can lead to weight gain and other health complications. The documentary film, Super Size Me, and Eric Schlosser’s book Fast …

If you’re feeling blue, you may want to examine your diet. A new study featured in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that higher intakes of vitamins B6 and B12 are associated with a lower likelihood of depression in older adults. The study focused on 3503 community-dwelling adults aged 65 years or older from the Chicago Health and Aging Project (CHAP). Researchers examined subjects’ dietary consumption of vitamin B6, B12 and folate and the incidence of depression over approximately 7 years. The risk of developing depression dropped 2% for every …

Ladies, here’s another reason to replace that cup of joe with a spot of tea: research shows that regular consumption of tea may reduce the risk of ovarian cancer. A recent study featured in the publication Cancer Causes Control found that women who drink tea regularly (4 or more cups per day) had a lower risk of ovarian cancer compared with non-tea drinkers. The study, part of the Australian Ovarian Cancer Study, aimed to examine the effects of tea consumption on ovarian cancer rates among 2,784 Australian women aged 18-79. …