Jyothi Prasad | Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Our nutrition expert answers questions related to diets and healthy eating.

My son, two-and-a-half years old, suffers from several allergies — he is lactose intolerant and also has gluten allergy. Please suggest some meal ideas that the entire family can have — we are north Indians.
Arpita Singh, Bangalore
Given your son’s allergies, you will have to eliminate milk and milk solids for lactose intolerance and wheat, rye and barley for gluten allergy. Milk is a rich source of calcium, good quality protein and B vitamins which can be easily substituted by other means. If you eat non-vegetarian food, chicken, fish, meat and eggs can be given as a protein source. Calcium is found in greens and ragi and can also be given as supplements. A good alternative for milk is soy milk. Although you cannot have a typical north Indian meal with rotis, cornflakes, idlis and dosas are fine as are rotis made with other cereals like ragi, jowar and rice. They can be taken with a protein combination like daal or non-veg. Be positive and focus on what you can give instead of those you cant and don’t forget to read the nutrition facts label on packaged food.

I work at a BPO and keep very odd meal hours.>>>

January 19, 2011, 11:58 am

Kylynn Welsh, 21, was in and out of the hospital as a child. She had frequent episodes of swelling all over her body that no one seemed to understand.

Martha Bryce, 42, was a healthy 32-year-old when she began having strange episodes of fainting while eating. Doctors believed she had epilepsy and told her not to drive anymore, but that diagnosis just didn’t feel right to Ms. Bryce, a registered nurse. Her symptoms were different from those of epilepsy.

Cheryl Marshall, 46, always knew there was something strange about her body odor. She took frequent baths and tried every deodorant on the market, but still classmates would tease her for her body’s smell. She saw countless doctors and specialists about this issue. Some prescribed strong deodorants, others suggested surgery to remove her sweat glands, and some dismissed her complaints entirely. Bottom line, nothing helped.

In the latest>>>

January 2011 ~ An update on some new and improved almond-based dairy alternatives, plus some recipes! ~ The DREAM™ family of non-dairy beverages and non-dairy frozen desserts and novelties proudly introduces two new ALMOND DREAM® offerings that will leave you wanting more ...

New Almond Dream™ Vanilla and Vanilla Unsweetened beverages are made from real almonds with a hint of vanilla for a light refreshing flavor –a delicious non-dairy beverage alternative for those living a lactose and dairy-free lifestyle. Improved ALMOND DREAM Original and Unsweetened beverages have been reformulated for a great new flavor and a smoother, creamier texture while providing the nutrients that you’ve come to expect in DREAM non-dairy beverages.

All contain 50% more calcium than the leading brand of almond beverages (see below for details), provide an excellent source of antioxidant Vitamins A and E and are enriched with Vitamins B12, D and Calcium. They are cholesterol and gluten-free - perfect for those with special dietary needs. Enjoy them chilled in a glass, over cereal or blended with your favorite fruit to create a nutritious smoothie. The thirst-quenching possibilities are as endless as the health benefits.

and more here>>>

Tuesday, 4 January 2011, 10:31 GMT

Cheese has long been a food of confusion. Recent reports have connected this dairy product to everything from speedier weight loss to damaging heart disease. So, what’s the bottom line? Is this food truly healthful and, if so, what kind do you have to eat to reap its benefits: soft or hard, non-fat or full, mild flavored or intense? For a straight slice of the truth, we asked our Health Editor-at-Large, Madelyn Fernstrom, PhD, CNS, to sift through the newest research. Here's a look at the latest health risks and benefits and what you need to know to become a true cheese whiz today.

Are bolder cheeses better for you?

The Claim: Full-fat cheeses are better for you than low- or no-fat versions.

The Bottom Line: Nope, low fat cheeses>>>

No more mint chocolate chip ice cream for Maritza Lowenberg.

And those cheese enchiladas her family enjoys oh so much at her mother-in-law's house? Let's just say that has become a spectator sport for Lowenberg.

"I've been allergic to dairy products for about five years, now," she said with more than a bit of sadness. "I can't have dairy at all. I break out with really bad hives."

No dairy, meaning no ice cream, no cheese, no cream filling and "no Twinkies."

Food allergy is a public health problem that affects children and adults and may be increasing in prevalence.

An estimated 2.5 percent of Americans -- 7.5 million people -- have at least one food allergy, according to research conducted by Johns Hopkins Children's Center, the National Institutes of Health and other institutions.

Allergies were most common in children 5 or younger (4.2 percent of them tested highly positive for one) followed by children between ages 6 and 19 (3.8 percent).

"This study is comprehensive in its scope>>>

Tuesday, 4 January 2011, 10:31 GMT

Cheese has long been a food of confusion. Recent reports have connected this dairy product to everything from speedier weight loss to damaging heart disease. So, what’s the bottom line? Is this food truly healthful and, if so, what kind do you have to eat to reap its benefits: soft or hard, non-fat or full, mild flavored or intense? For a straight slice of the truth, we asked our Health Editor-at-Large, Madelyn Fernstrom, PhD, CNS, to sift through the newest research. Here's a look at the latest health risks and benefits and what you need to know to become a true cheese whiz today.

Are bolder cheeses better for you?

The Claim: Full-fat cheeses are better for you than low- or no-fat versions.

The Bottom Line: Nope, low fat cheeses>>>

No more mint chocolate chip ice cream for Maritza Lowenberg.

And those cheese enchiladas her family enjoys oh so much at her mother-in-law's house? Let's just say that has become a spectator sport for Lowenberg.

"I've been allergic to dairy products for about five years, now," she said with more than a bit of sadness. "I can't have dairy at all. I break out with really bad hives."

No dairy, meaning no ice cream, no cheese, no cream filling and "no Twinkies."

Food allergy is a public health problem that affects children and adults and may be increasing in prevalence.

An estimated 2.5 percent of Americans -- 7.5 million people -- have at least one food allergy, according to research conducted by Johns Hopkins Children's Center, the National Institutes of Health and other institutions.

Allergies were most common in children 5 or younger (4.2 percent of them tested highly positive for one) followed by children between ages 6 and 19 (3.8 percent).

"This study is comprehensive in its scope>>>

Posted at: 01/12/2011 5:05 PM | Updated at: 01/12/2011 6:30 PM
By: Lynette Adams | WHEC.com

There's a battle brewing in grocery stores and it could mean cows' milk is going to have to moooove over.

Almond Milk is selling so fast, stores are having a hard time keeping it on the shelf.

Milk alternatives that come from non-dairy sources-are on the rise and Almond Milk is the new darling of dairy.
 
“I'm primarily buying it because I want some kind of milk.” Chris Bianchi from Chili started buying almond milk about a year ago because his partner is lactose intolerant. Now Bianchi says he's hooked. “I think it has a much better flavor than some of the alternatives and I've actually gotten used to it that I don't like dairy milk anymore.”

Bianchi is like a number of people who saw Almond Milk appear on store shelves a year ago, tried it and love it. It's selling like crazy.

Wegmans R.D. Jane Andrews said, “At Wegmans we've seen a rapid increase in sales growth for Almond Milk compared to other forms of milk -- soy milk, rice milk, milk alternatives.”

The competition between Blue Diamond and Silk is so fierce, it could be compared to the rivalry between Coke and Pepsi. “Promotion helps, but I think that taste is the deciding point for almond milk. It has a nutty flavor and the calories are low and it doesn't have lactose. A lot of people are intolerant to lactose or they can't handle milk protein.”

A Chicago research firm found Almond Milk>>>

By JANE E. BRODY

Published: January 10, 2011

Food allergies have generated a great deal of anxiety in recent years, with some schools going so far as to ban popular staples — especially peanut butter — after appeals from worried parents.

Some airlines have quit serving peanut snacks, and more and more restaurants are offering dishes for diners concerned about gluten or dairy allergies.

There is no question that some foods, especially peanuts and shellfish, can provoke severe reactions in a small fraction of the population. But a new analysis of the best available evidence finds that many children and adults who think they have food allergies are mistaken.

According to>>>