American Journal of Clinical Nutrition - June Highlights

• Reducing dietary energy density, particularly by combining increased fruit and vegetable intakes with decreased saturated fat intake, is an effective strategy for managing body weight while controlling hunger. Fruits and vegetables are water-rich foods that adds weight from water without adding energy and holding satiety.
  
  
• Snack chips fried with corn oil alleviate cardiovascular risk factors when substituted for low-fat or high fat snacks. We mentioned this study because even the most inane, skewed studies can appear in prestigious journals. This study was, of course, funded by Frito-Lay!
  
  
• Healthy men either consumed a high-fat, low carbohydrate diet (40% and 45%) or a low-fat, high carbohydrate diet (20% and 65%) to see how it would effect Lp(a) and triglycerides, both crucial cardiovascular risk markers. Only the low-fat, high carbohydrate diet increased these markers, showing that excess carbohydrate consumption (especially grains), exacerbates cardiac inflammation.
  
  
• Cinnamon reduces blood glucose and delays gastric emptying without affecting satiety.
  
  
• In two studies, a high intake of fresh fruit, root vegetables, and fruiting vegetables was associated with reduced mortality and lower blood pressure while aging, most likely as a result of antioxidants such as vitamin's C & A.