Out with the Pyramid, In with the Plate

The US government has scrapped the much-maligned food pyramid icon and replaced it with a fruit- and vegetable-rich plate, seeking a simpler way to show Americans how to eat right. While it’s a major improvement, the new icon still falls short on giving people the nutrition advice they need to choose the healthiest diets. The new … Continue reading “Out with the Pyramid, In with the Plate”

New U.S. Dietary Guidelines 2010: Progress, Not Perfection

The long-awaited new U.S. dietary guidelines are a step in the right direction, but they don’t go quite far enough to spell out what Americans need to do to stay healthy—not a surprise, some critics say, given the strong influence of the food industry on U.S. food policy. The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, released … Continue reading “New U.S. Dietary Guidelines 2010: Progress, Not Perfection”

Faculty in the Media 2009

The Good-for-You Gimlet? — coverage from Newsweek.com, December 30, 2009 featuring Eric Rimm Fishing for Facts — coverage from The Boston Globe, December 14, 2009 featuring Eric Rimm Soy Foods Could Help Breast Cancer Survivors — coverage from USA Today, December 10, 2009 featuring Walter Willett Knowing What’s Worth Paying For in Vitamins — coverage … Continue reading “Faculty in the Media 2009”

Ask the expert: Omega-3 fatty acids

The Expert: Dr. Frank Sacks Professor of Cardiovascular Disease Prevention, Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health 1. What are omega-3 fatty acids, and why should I make sure to include them in my diet? Omega-3 fatty acids (also known as n-3 fatty acids) are polyunsaturated fatty acids that are essential nutrients for health. We … Continue reading “Ask the expert: Omega-3 fatty acids”

Ask the expert: Controlling your weight

 The Expert: Dr. Walter Willett Fredrick John Stare Professor of Epidemiology and Nutrition, Departments of Nutrition and Epidemiology, and Chair, Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health   1. How much control do we have over our body weight? And how much of our weight is controlled by our genes? Genes do play a role … Continue reading “Ask the expert: Controlling your weight”

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005: Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

Several of the recommendations in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005 (1) represented important steps in the right direction: The guidelines emphasized the importance of controlling weight, which was not adequately addressed in previous versions. And they continued to stress the importance of physical activity. The recommendation on dietary fats made a clear break from … Continue reading “The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005: Two Steps Forward, One Step Back”