The Internet has opened up a world of scientific information previously inaccessible to most people. I frequently pour through dozens upon dozens of medical journals that I couldn’t possibly subscribe to, and would otherwise have to access through an academic library. Quite simply, the Internet makes the consulting and written work I do much, much Related posts: Plastic Chemical Danger Plastic Danger Revisited Tea Thyroid Danger Agave Danger! Food Chemistry News

Also: A study shows chain restaurants largely don’t meet U.S. government nutritional guidelines; an antibiotic is linked with rare, but fatal, heart risk; and two paralyzed people moved a robot arm with their thoughts.

Healthy food isn’t necessarily more expensive than junk food, according to a new government report.

Coffee drinkers are getting a bit more reassurance that their beverage of choice may not be bad for them, and might even be linked to living longer.

If you’re a frequent traveler, you know how challenging it can be to remain on a healthy diet. Often times you don’t have control over what time you eat, where you eat or your dining companions. Changes in time zones, exposure to recirculated air on planes and the general stress of being in unfamiliar circumstances Related posts: Anti-Aging Nutrition Travel Nutrition Best Of The Anti-Heart Attack Diet The Anti-Heart Attack Diet Herbal Tips and Updates

Programming note:   This weekend on " Sanjay Gupta MD ," Dr. Gupta takes a critical look at sugar and the impact it has on our bodies. Don't miss the in-depth investigation Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET, and Sunday at 7:30 a.m. ET, on CNN. Sweet tooth? You’re not alone. Sugary foods and beverages are delicious. But we’ve also learned they can be highly addictive and, too much of them, can take a serious toll on our health. Today some of our favorite drinks, gum, baked goods, and candy are available in sugar-free versions. But that got me thinking…  are sugar substitutes any better for you than the real thing? I was not alone on this issue. I’ve received dozens of tweets and emails wondering if fake sugar can harm us, or worse, crave more food! For some answers I turned to internist and physician nutrition specialist, Dr. Melina Jampolis . Her specialty is practiced by only 200 physicians in the United States. She focuses exclusively on nutrition for weight loss and disease prevention and treatment. CNN: First of all – are all sugar substitutes pretty much the same? Dr. Jampolis: It is important to understand that there are both natural and artificial substitutes. Most of the concerns people have are around the five FDA-approved artificial sweeteners: Acesulfame potassium (Sunett, Sweet One), Aspartame (Equal, NutraSweet), Neotame, Saccharin (SugarTwin, Sweet'N Low), and Sucralose (Splenda). But it is important to point out that these sweeteners are all different. They all have different chemical make-ups and they are handled differently in the body – some are completely broken down, some are not. So you can’t just lump them into one thing if you do have concerns about them. CNN: How are natural sweeteners – like stevia – different? And are they a healthier option compared to artificial sweeteners? Dr. Jampolis:  Stevia is a natural sweetener from South America that has no calories but is 250 times sweeter than sugar.  It has seen a huge surge in popularity since its clearance as GRAS (generally regarded as safe) as a food additive in 2008.  Stevia has been proven safe and effective by the FDA. Many nutrition experts prefer it since it is natural, but just because something is natural does not always mean that it is safer. I tell my patients that if you prefer the taste of a natural sweetener, then I think it is a very good option but there isn’t evidence that it is a healthier option compared to artificial sweeteners. CNN: There is always a lot of buzz linking sugar substitutes and cancer. Is there any reason for people to be worried? Dr. Jampolis: The studies that I have seen, and the studies the National Cancer Institute have reviewed, all point to the fact that in humans there is no compelling evidence. It is really more of just a few animal studies. In the 1960s there was a study of saccharin in rats, which found an increase in bladder cancer and caused a great deal of fear. However, it was later found that the mechanism by which it caused cancer in rats was not even possible in humans. Animal studies do not always reflect human response and saccharin is a great example of this. Aspartame is also often anecdotally linked to brain disorders based on small animal studies, but human studies have not shown an association. I think that at this point, we don’t have convincing research. It is more hype and really just a little bit blown out of proportion. CNN: I’ve also heard that sugar-free foods and drinks can make you crave more food and calories. It sort of tricks your body. Any truth to that? Dr. Jampolis: This is an interesting question which has not been answered definitely.  The taste of sweet does cause the release of insulin, which lowers blood sugar , and if carbohydrates are not consumed,  it causes a drop in blood sugar which triggers hunger and cravings for sugar.  So if an artificial sweetener is consumed alone, it could theoretically increase hunger.  However in the context of a meal, it is not known if it causes an increase in hunger and if so, it's not known if this outweighs the decrease in calories consumed. We know that some artificial sweeteners do cause a release of insulin which could drop your blood sugar and make you crave more sugar actually. And they also seem to trigger the same addition like pathways in the brain. CNN: Okay – so would I be better off eating one small piece of candy made with real sugar, or a larger portion that is sugar-free? Dr. Jampolis: Honestly I don’t think there is a correct answer.  In my opinion, if you consume it after a meal (not on an empty stomach), I would go by preference.  If you really enjoy a piece of chocolate with real sugar, having a small amount is fine. If you like the taste of sugar-free cherry candy, that’s OK.  As long as we consume things in moderation, I don’t think either option is harmful. When we start talking about beverages (soda versus diet soda) it becomes more of an issue. Sugar-sweetened beverages can contribute hundreds of extra calories to the diet that we don’t fully compensate for. And many experts, including myself, feel that it significantly contributes to weight gain, especially metabolically toxic weight gain and metabolic abnormalities. CNN: I remember a study a few years back that found people who drink diet soda tend to weigh more than people who don’t.  Why do you think that is? Dr. Jampolis:  A lot of studies show that diet soda is linked with being overweight but there isn’t a clear answer as to why. Is it because they drink diet soda that they are overweight? Or is it because it actually causes weight gain? We all know people who drink diet sodas all day long, but then go home in the evening and have a large serving of ice cream. However, there is some evidence suggesting an increased risk of metabolic syndrome with diet soda intake. So I think the best advice is probably to limit both regular and diet soda consumption for optimal health, especially with children. CNN: Bottom line: if I want to cut down my sugar consumption, are sugar substitutes a safe option for me? Dr. Jampolis:   I don’t think that they are a good idea for children since we don’t fully understand the potential metabolic/programming effects. If there is even the possibility of an increased risk of any disease, a lifetime of exposure would increase that risk. In adults, I think they can be safely consumed in moderation if you are diabetic and are trying to reduce sugar and/or trying to lose weight and reducing caloric intake as they help reduce the calorie density of foods – which is one of the most important components of permanent weight loss. If you feel like you are dependent on sugar, I suggest limiting consumption, particularly in beverages, as the high intensity of their sweetness could contribute to dependency. In general, I like to see people trying to decrease the overall sweetness of their diet over time – adding fresh fruit to water instead of sugar-sweetened beverages or substituting things like applesauce for some of the sugar in baked goods can boost nutrients while reducing calories and sugar. I don’t recommend using "healthier-sounding" alternatives to sugar – like honey – unless you prefer the taste, as they contain the same amount of sugar as table sugar. Filed under: Addiction , Food Safety , Healthy Eating , Longevity , Men’s Health , Nutrition , Obesity , Weight loss , Women’s Health Tagged: Danielle Dellorto – CNN Medical Senior Producer

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Childhood obesity continues to be a major problem in the United States. David DiPlasquale of Coconut Creek battled obesity and bullying as a child. But he changed his life and has now created a program to help kids, men and women to lose weight and get back on track. “I was always tormented for being overweight,” said DiPlasquale. He keeps old pictures of himself as a reminder of what he used to look like as a kid. “I really didn’t care at that young of an age, but it was in the back of my mind that I really didn’t like being overweight, but boy, I really enjoyed eating those foods,” said DiPlasquale. Growing up, DiPlasquale remembers being picked on his size. “Always bullied, yeah. There was always someone doing something not nice to me. And my nickname because I’m DiPlasquale, I was Depot. Depot meaning a large individual.” DiPlasquale is no longer looked at as “depot” for his size. He used the nickname and bullying as fuel to work and study health and fitness to change his body. He would go on to win body building competition after competition. His trophies and pictures are reminders of his own personal journey and rewards of overcoming obesity. “I was powerless you know, when I was struggling trying to figure things out. But with my brain and studying and taking in information from everywhere that I learned, I gave myself empowerment, I studied nutrition on my own, plus what I learned and created the most amazing way to get in shape,” said DiPlasquale. His plan is called “Get On Track Fitness” and it has changed the lives of thousands of people especially kids who, like him, battle weight issues. “ “I’m trying to help young kids in schools now that was like I was when I was a kid. Changing lives, I mean crazy changing lives of young and old people that are retiring getting healthy,” said DiPlasquale. DiPlasquale’s program includes a unique nutritional routine that doesn’t require the person to stop eating tasty food. “It’s effortless, it’s just a plan of action,” said DiPlasquale. “There’s a science to it that I studied. But every year, I refined and refined how to get in better shape without feeling restricted in foods that we should be eating.” His plan does require exercise of at least an hour a day walking on the treadmill up and down an incline. And it’s a program DiPlasquale believes anyone can transform their body no matter what age. “You have to be dedicated to change your life. The older you get, the harder it is to accept change. But if you do accept change, behind change is hidden opportunity and this is where we are successful.”

Seaweed is a familiar component in traditional Asian diets. Historical accounts indicate that the use of seaweeds such as gim (Porphyra sp.), kombu (Laminaria japonica) and miyeok (Undaria pinnatifida) in Japanese and Korean recipes have both a culinary and medicinal rationale. In recent years, scientists in the U.S. and abroad have begun to investigate the Related posts: Preventing Breast Cancer Breast Cancer Protection Breast Cancer and Iron Grapefruit and Breast Cancer Breast and Prostate Cancer News

Is there "Arsenic in Our Chicken?" That's the title of a recent article by New York times columnist Nicholas Kristof that has caused an online feeding frenzy, so to speak. The answer is yes – sort of. The claim of arsenic appears largely based on a study co-authored by Keeve E. Nachman in the journal Science of the Total Environment . The study found levels of arsenic in feather meal which is made from chicken feathers and used as feed for poultry, hogs and fish, among other things. It turns out there are different kinds of arsenic, not all of which are considered poisonous. And, as the study's authors themselves point out in their paper, "There’s no evidence that such low levels of arsenic harm either chickens or the people eating them." The National Chicken Council responded in a statement that "chickens in the United States produced for meat are not given 'arsenic' as an additive in chicken feed, or any of the other compounds mentioned in this study." However, the council admits that some feed used to contain a product called Roxarsone, which is a molecule that includes organic arsenic, not the inorganic type that is considered a poison. The product was removed from market last year and is no longer used in raising U.S. chickens, according to the council. It's not surprising to find arsenic on bird feathers because organic arsenic is naturally present in the air, soil and water, they said, adding that the testing methods used in the study are extremely sensitive and can detect a chemical or compound that hasn't been used in years, or was never used. So why all the hullabaloo? Most likely because arsenic, like the ammonia-infused pink slime recently exposed in school and grocery store hamburger meat, does not sound like something we'd like to eat. And because arsenic is something most often associated with poison! But every substance is poisonous in the right dose – even water . Read: Arsenic levels in apple and grape juice "It's a question of concentration," saidTom Neuhaus, professor emeritus of food science at Cal Poly's Food Science and Nutrition Department. Though Neuhaus is highly critical of mainstream chicken-farming practices,  he is wary of condemning them on the basis of safe levels of arsenic found in feather meal. "There's arsenic in chocolate and there's arsenic in every every breath of air you breathe, in every drop of water you drink," said Neuhaus who teaches about chocolate among other things at Cal Poly. "It's not like cesium-137 (a deadly radioactive isotope) – you really don't want to have a single atom." Filed under: Food Safety , Toxic America Tagged: CNN’s Paul Frysh

We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from Prevention here on FitSugar! Even the most nutrition-savvy women can get lost in the headlines. Here’s what you really need to know. By Sharon Liao, Prevention You heard that eggs can be high in cholesterol , so you dutifully switched to whole grains for breakfast. Next, you swapped out red meat for fish – only to later learn that fish can contain dangerous levels of mercury . . . and eggs may not harm your heart after all. “With all of the different reports and headlines, it’s no wonder that many people get confused,” says Angela Ginn, RD, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and owner of Real Talk Real Food in Baltimore, MD. To help you make sense of these and other health head-scratchers, we consulted our experts and sifted through the research. Here, the new bottom line on a few “health” foods . 1. Potatoes This starchy veggie has a bad rap among dieters, but that’s because people tend to consume it in the form of greasy french fries, chips, and buttery mashed potatoes, says Melissa Joy Dobbins, RD, of NorthShore University HealthSystem in Evanston, IL. “When prepared the right way, potatoes are a nutritious food,” she says. One medium potato, for instance, delivers five grams of fiber and nearly 20 percent of your daily quota for heart-healthy potassium. Bottom line: Skip the fried versions and opt for baked or boiled potatoes. For an even healthier option, choose vitamin A-rich sweet potatoes or purple potatoes, which can help lower blood pressure. Ten Healthy Ways to Splurge 2. Cheese Hold the cheese? There’s no need if you eat it in moderation. A one-ounce serving delivers 20 percent of all the bone-building calcium that you need in a day, as well as plenty of protein and phosphorus. “The problem is that many people eat much more than one serving in one sitting,” explains Sharon Richter , RD, a dietitian in New York City. And at 100 to 125 calories per ounce, that can add up. Learn how to keep cheese, eggs, and beer in your diet after the break.