The EDGE: Nutrition experts sort food facts from fiction

Protein drinks gain wider popularity, raising health issues | Study sees nutrition advances in breakfast cereals | Okla. grocery van to increase access to healthy foods

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June 7, 2013

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Nutrition experts sort food facts from fiction
It is not true that brown sugar is healthier than white sugar, and while maple syrup and honey might be slightly better options, dietitian Cindy Sass says people should reduce their intake of sugar overall. Nutrition experts say that while it's true that microwave cooking can destroy the B-12 vitamin content of foods, it's a myth that sea salt is healthier than regular salt and that multi-grain foods are as nutritious as whole-grain foods. Ottawa Citizen (Ontario)/Postmedia News (6/6)

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Dietary Health

Protein drinks gain wider popularity, raising health issues
Protein drinks, popular with body builders and serious athletes, are being branded and marketed to the general public, raising concerns that people may get too much protein. Dr. Helen Crawley, a nutritionist, says most people already get enough protein from regular foods and that excess consumption can damage the kidneys. BBC (6/6)

Study sees nutrition advances in breakfast cereals
Breakfast cereals made by Kellogg and General Mills increased fiber 32% between 2005 and 2011 while cutting sugar by 10% and sodium by 14%, finds a report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. "Beginning your day with a bowl of cereal can be one of the best ways to help meet whole grain recommendations," said Kathy Wiemer, fellow/director, General Mills Bell Institute of Health and Nutrition. FoodBusinessNews.net (free registration) (6/5), BakeryAndSnacks.com (France) (6/5)

Okla. grocery van to increase access to healthy foods
Tulsa, Okla., soon will have a mobile van to bring healthy basic foods to people who do not have access to them in their neighborhoods. Katie Plohocky of R&G Family Grocers says the van is a less-expensive option than building an actual store and it will not sell junk food or candy. KOKI-TV (Tulsa, Okla.) (6/6)

Science & Research

Study notes widespread but short-term food insecurity
Nearly 15% of households experience food insecurity, according to a U.S. Agriculture Department report, but in most cases, the condition is transient. The report, "Food insecurity in U.S. households rarely persists over many years," is by sociologist Mark Nord. FoodBusinessNews.net (free registration) (6/5)

High soda intake raises diabetes, heart disease risk in teens
Australian researchers found that teens who consumed more than one can of soda daily were at an increased risk of developing diabetes, heart disease or stroke. "What is important about this study is that excessive sugary drink consumption appears to increase risk factors for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, even in young people who are not overweight," lead researcher Dr. Gina Ambrosini said. The results appear in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The Australian (tiered subscription model)/Australian Associated Press (6/7)

Other News

Healthy lifestyle habits can reduce stroke risk, study shows
MedPage Today (free registration) (6/6)
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Fitness

Not all exercise video games give a good workout, report says
A test of workout video games found Nike Plus Kinect Training and Your Shape were among those strenuous enough to offer a fitness challenge, while others were just party games, according to Matt Ferretti of Consumer Reports. He says the Xbox gaming system is best for these types of video games because it can track full-body movements.

KDKA-TV (Pittsburgh) (6/6)

Institutional Foodservice

Breakfast in the classroom aims to boost participation in N.J. district
Students attending Jersey City Public Schools will have more breakfast options under a recently launched breakfast-in-classroom pilot program, which seeks to increase participation among students who receive free and reduced-price breakfasts. One school is reporting a 90% jump in participation since the project started. The Jersey Journal (Jersey City, N.J.) (6/6)

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