Category: Nutrition in the News

My take on the latest diet and nutrition headlines.

Caffeine and Sugar: An Unexpected Link

by Monica Reinagel, MS, LDN

Did you know that caffeine reduces our perception of sweetness?  Researchers found that if they took the caffeine out of a sweetened beverage, they could then remove about 10% of the sugar without altering the taste.  I had no idea!  The researchers  go on to suggest that removing caffeine from sweetened beverages could allow manufacturers to lower the amount of sugar in those products, thereby reducing the amount consumed by the general population and aiding in the fight against obesity.

That doesn’t seem terribly likely. First of all,  people who consume caffeinated beverages are usually looking for that caffeine bump.  (See also: Benefits of Caffeine) Secondly, we already have caffeine-free versions of many sweetened beverages.  And interestingly, caffeine-free Coca-Cola and Sprite both contain the same amount of sugar as regular Coca-cola.

Nonetheless, it’s an interesting finding.   Have you ever noticed this effect? For example, does caffeine-free Coke taste sweeter than regular? (I find both types to be unpleasantly sweet so I’m not a good judge.)  If you drink sugar in your coffee, does it take less sugar to sweeten decaf to your liking?

Industry Sponsored Research at its Most Useless

by Monica Reinagel, MS, LDN

What a waste of everyone’s time.

A company that manufactures a soy-based meal replacement drink funds a study comparing a soy-based meal replacement (i.e., their product) with a “standard breakfast” which had the same number of calories but was lower in protein, higher in refined carbohydrates. They found–gasp!–that the high protein breakfast controlled hunger better and regulated fat-burning metabolism.  Conclusion: Meal replacement regimes high in soy protein are beneficial for weight loss and metabolic syndrome.

What about this study design suggests that soy had anything to do with this?  The results were completely predictable based solely on the glycemic load and protein content.  Here, in fact, is a different study showing that you get more or less the same results using casein (milk protein).

I’ve argued in the past that industry-funded research can play a valuable part in the expensive world of nutrition research.  This study, however, was a waste of time, money, and resources. It generates no useful, new information and serves only to promote a product. Shame on the researchers who dignified the study with their time and to the journal that published it.

Low sodium intake linked to heart problems?

by Monica Reinagel, MS, LDN

This is crazy. A new study evaluating the link between salt intake and heart problems finds that people with low sodium intake also have an increased risk of cardiovascular issues. But the “low” sodium intake that was linked to increased risk was between 2,000 and 3,000mg per day…in other words, substantially higher than the American Heart Association’s recommended maximum intake of 1500mg. The risk declined slightly at higher intakes and then rose again when sodium intake got up around 8,000mg per day.

Study details: Too little salt may also increase risk of heart problems.

To me, this somewhat ridiculous finding confirms what I’ve long suspected: Continue reading “Low sodium intake linked to heart problems?” >

Do Grains Decrease Colon Cancer Risk?

by Monica Reinagel, MS, LDN
Do Grains Decrease Colon Cancer Risk?

Q.  After doing some research, I have been trying to reduce my intake of grains. But the big thing in the news this week is a new study finding that fiber from grains reduces the risk of colon cancer and that fiber from fruits and veggies doesn’t have the same effect. Have you looked at this new research? Do you still recommend reducing grains?

A.  Just to be clear, I’m not anti-grain.  Although I suspect that most Americans consume an excessive amount of grain products (especially refined grains),  and I believe that grains are not essential to a healthy diet, I still think that a healthy diet can include grains (especially whole grains).

I have, however, questioned  the dogma on the “benefits of whole grains” on the basis that the research doesn’t really distinguish between the benefits of adding whole grains and the benefits of reducing refined grains. (The two virtually always go hand in hand.)

Does this new study change my position?   Not really. Continue reading “Do Grains Decrease Colon Cancer Risk?” >

Is Eating More Often Really the Key to Staying Thin?

by Monica Reinagel, MS, LDN
Can eating more often help you stay thin?
Can eating more often help you stay thin?

A study in this month’s  Journal of the American Dietetic Association reports that people of normal weight eat more frequently (5 times per day on average) than overweight people (who average 4.2 times per day), suggesting that eating more frequently may be a key to maintaining a healthy weight.  At least, that’s what all the headlines will say–and this will fuel the popular myth that eating more frequently “revs up your metabolism.”

See also: Metabolism Myths

But let’s dig a little deeper, shall we?   Continue reading “Is Eating More Often Really the Key to Staying Thin?” >

My Take on the Potato Wars

by Monica Reinagel, MS, LDN
Should potatoes be classified as vegetables?

One of the proposed changes to the National School Lunch Program is to limit the amount of “starchy” vegetables like corn and potatoes to no more than two servings a week.  Turns out that potatoes (mostly in the form of French fries) constitute 75% of the vegetables eaten in our school cafeterias.   The idea is that cutting back on potatoes might compel kids to consume other vegetables.  French fried carrots, presumably.  Continue reading “My Take on the Potato Wars” >

Vitamins for Those Who Need Them

by Monica Reinagel, MS, LDN

As most of you know, I am not overly enthusiastic about vitamin supplements. I think people are better off getting their nutrients from foods rather than pills and—with a couple of exceptions—meeting your nutritional requirements from diet alone is not difficult.  After all, most of us live in countries were food is plentiful. (Too plentiful, by the looks of things.)

See also: Do you Need a Multivitamin?

However, there are places where food is scarce and children go hungry.  There, a basic multivitamin is more than just an inexpensive insurance policy—it can literally make the difference between barely surviving and thriving.   According to a global task force, providing multivitamins to at-risk infants and children is one of the most cost effective ways to combat disease and poverty.

A charitable organization called Vitamin Angels partners with corporate sponsors and local aid organizations to provide free vitamins to malnourished and undernourished children, helping to break the cycle of poverty, disease, and disability. To learn more about this wonderful program or to join me in supporting them, please visit VitaminAngels.org