Healthy Gift Guide — 17 ideas for giving “the gift of health”

Shopping for holiday gifts is at the top of many people’s to-do lists. And while so-called “health nuts” used to be the primary recipients of wellness-boosting presents, the reality is that everyone can benefit from being given “the gift of health.” This holiday season, consider adopting a health theme for your holiday shopping. To help, … Continue reading “Healthy Gift Guide — 17 ideas for giving “the gift of health””

Prioritize Plants For Healthy Holiday Cooking

We created five nourishing dishes that add up to one healthy holiday meal, bursting with delicious flavor. Wow your guests with the variety of colors and flavors, all while serving them nutritious, vegetable-filled fare with minimal meat – better for both you and the environment. You can cook all of the recipes, or pick just … Continue reading “Prioritize Plants For Healthy Holiday Cooking”

2015 Dietary Guidelines will not include a focus on sustainability

The 2015 Dietary Guidelines will not include a focus on sustainability, according to a statement posted Tuesday on the USDA blog. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Secretary of Health and Human Services Sylvia Burwell wrote that sustainability – defined as evaluating the environmental impact of a food source – is beyond the scope of the … Continue reading “2015 Dietary Guidelines will not include a focus on sustainability”

How is heart disease risk affected when saturated fat is replaced by other nutrients?

In the recent Harvard Gazette article “Butter’s benefits melt away,” researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health debunk the controversy surrounding saturated fat and heart health. In a new study appearing online in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, senior author Frank Hu and colleagues found that people who replace saturated … Continue reading “How is heart disease risk affected when saturated fat is replaced by other nutrients?”

Q&A with Dr. David Eisenberg: On self-care skills, teaching kitchens & thinking outside of the box

In his recently published article, “Nutrition education in an era of global obesity and diabetes: Thinking outside of the box,” Dr. David Eisenberg asserts that self-care skills are key in battling lifestyle-related diseases such as obesity and diabetes. The heart of his message: Teach medical professionals about nutrition and self-care so that they will be … Continue reading “Q&A with Dr. David Eisenberg: On self-care skills, teaching kitchens & thinking outside of the box”

Healthy Heart Score uses lifestyle behaviors to estimate cardiovascular disease risk

An overall healthy lifestyle may prevent more than 80% of coronary artery disease (1) and 50% of ischemic strokes. (2) Yet most lifestyle behaviors aren’t included in existing prediction tools. The Healthy Heart Score was created by a team from the Department of Nutrition at Harvard School of Public Health to fill this gap. It … Continue reading “Healthy Heart Score uses lifestyle behaviors to estimate cardiovascular disease risk”

Dietary linoleic acid and risk of coronary heart disease

Swapping saturated fat and carbohydrates for linoleic acid – the main polyunsaturated fat found in vegetable oil, nuts, and seeds – lowers risk of coronary heart disease, according to a new study by Harvard School of Public Health researchers. We talked to lead author Maryam Farvid, a visiting scientist and Takemi fellow in the Department … Continue reading “Dietary linoleic acid and risk of coronary heart disease”