Food for Thought

  1. Health & Medicine

    Fooling the Satiety Meter (with recipe)

    New studies in portion control reveal that diluted calories are far more effective at satisfying hunger than energy-dense ones are.

    By Janet Raloff
  2. Earth

    Wind Makes Food Retailers Greener

    Green grocers are among food companies turning ever greener owing to huge investments in wind power.

    By Janet Raloff
  3. Health & Medicine

    Born to Love Salt

    A growing body of research hints that some type of biological programming may occur in the womb to foster a preference for salty foods.

    By Janet Raloff
  4. Health & Medicine

    Caffeinated Liver Defense

    Caffeinated beverages appear to protect beleaguered livers.

    By Janet Raloff
  5. Health & Medicine

    Cancer and Soft Drinks? Oops, Never Mind

    When it comes to cancer, soft drinks are not the villains implied by recent news accounts.

    By Janet Raloff
  6. Health & Medicine

    Breathing Easier with Vitamin D

    Making sure that our bodies have ample vitamin D slows or limits a number of degenerative changes, including diminished lung function.

    By Janet Raloff
  7. Health & Medicine

    Academic Cost of Food Insecurity

    Grade school children who come from households where food supplies are not always adequate exhibit more behavioral problems and poorer reading and math skills than do kids who have ample access to nutritious food.

    By Janet Raloff
  8. Health & Medicine

    Fruits and Veggies Limit Inflammatory Protein (with recipe)

    Diets rich in fruits and vegetables reduce signs of chronic inflammation, which has been linked to heart disease and other serious health problems.

    By Janet Raloff
  9. Agriculture

    Organic Doesn’t Mean Free of Pesticides

    Even organic produce, especially root crops, can carry trace residues of long-banned pesticides.

    By Janet Raloff
  10. Health & Medicine

    Vitamin D Boosts Calcium Potency

    Women whose diets are rich in vitamin D appear to need less calcium to preserve their bones' health.

    By Janet Raloff
  11. Health & Medicine

    Leaden Chocolates

    Chocolates have a dark secret, lead contamination, which generally correlates with a product's cocoa concentrations.

    By Janet Raloff
  12. Health & Medicine

    Inflammation-Fighting Fat

    A constituent of dairy fat may one day serve as a substitute for aspirin and other inflammation-fighting agents.

    By Janet Raloff