Nutrition FAQs
- Are Low-Carbohydrate Diets Healthy?
- Are Nutrition Drinks, Bars, and Meal Substitutes Healthy?
- What are the Risks and Benefits of Alcohol Consumption?
- Is Organic Food Better for Your Health?
- Are Vegetarian or Vegan Diets Healthier?
- Is Multi-Grain the Same as Whole Grain?
- Which is Healthier—Butter or Margarine?
- Are Foods Labeled "Low-Fat" Healthy?
- What are Good Sources of Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids?
- What are the Concerns about Seafood and Mercury?
Q: Are Low-Carbohydrate Diets Healthy?
A: One of the most recent trends in dieting is the low-carbohydrate or "low-carb" diet. Examples of these diets are the Atkins' diet and the South Beach diet. Low-carb diets dramatically restrict the number of calories from foods such as bread, pasta, potatoes, rice, cereals, and sweets.
In the short term, these diets may provide positive results. However, studies have shown that after 6 months, low-carb diets are no more effective than other diets for weight loss. Although studies have also shown that, in most cases, these diets are relatively safe for up to 1 year, long-term studies are not yet available.
Because many low-carb diets restrict fruits and vegetables, most health care professionals recommended that people on these diets take a daily multi-vitamin and fiber supplement.
Before beginning any weight loss program, it is important to talk to a qualified health care provider. Possible side effects of a low-carb diet include constipation, diarrhea, dizziness, bad breath, headaches, sleeping problems, and nausea. Women who are pregnant and people who have diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, kidney stones, or a history of stroke should be cautious about trying a low-carb diet.
Q: Are Nutrition Drinks, Bars, and Meal Substitutes Healthy?
A: A well-balanced meal prepared with fresh foods is generally considered the healthiest way to eat. However, because people may not always have time to prepare such meals, healthy substitutes are another option.
In the past few years, many different varieties of energy bars and drinks have been developed. Some are geared toward dieters, some toward serious athletes, and some toward busy people.
Some of these products provide a good balance of calories, fiber, and nutrients. However, others are basically expensive candy bars or milk shakes. As with any food, always check the Nutrition Facts label, paying attention to the serving size and sugar content, as well as the fat and sodium content.
Per serving, a healthy meal replacement product has the following:
- Less than 250 calories
- Less than 5 grams of fat
- 3-5 grams of fiber
- 10-15 grams of protein
- 30% of the Daily Value for vitamins and minerals
In most cases, meal replacements should not be used more than once or twice a week. As with other weight loss programs, talk to a qualified health care provider before beginning a meal replacement program.
Q: What are the Risks and Benefits of Alcohol Consumption?
A: Although there are potential benefits to moderate drinking, there are also risks. Benefits are cancelled out by anything more than moderate alcohol consumption.
For women (and men over age 65) moderate drinking is defined as one drink per day. For men under age 65, moderate drinking is defined as two drinks per day. One drink consists of 12 oz. of beer, 5 oz. of wine, or 1.5 oz. of 80 proof distilled spirits.
The verified benefits of moderate drinking apply mainly to men over the age of 45, and to women over 55 years of age. These benefits include a reduced risk for heart disease, fatal heart attack, and
Excessive drinking carries substantial health risks. Alcohol can damage the brain, heart, pancreas, liver, and can increase the risk for certain types of cancer. Alcohol can also interact with many prescription and over-the-counter medications. Combining alcohol with certain medications can cause serious health problems, even death. Make sure to check with a qualified health care provider to determine if medications are affected by alcohol.
Some people should not drink alcohol at all, including the following:
- Patients with a history of stroke, liver disease, pancreatic disease, or evidence of pre-cancer of the mouth or throat region
- People under age 21
- People who are planning to drive, or use tools or machinery
- Women who are pregnant or may become pregnant
People with a family history of alcohol abuse or alcoholism are at increased risk for this disease and should be very cautious about drinking.
Physician-developed and -monitored.
Original Date of Publication: 15 Feb 2007
Reviewed by: Stanley J. Swierzewski, III, M.D.
Last Reviewed: 15 Feb 2007
Nutrition, FAQs reprinted with permission from womenshealthchannel.com
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