Wellness Foods
Ask the Experts: Sweet Potato vs. Yam?
Q. What’s the difference between a sweet potato and a yam? I see these names used interchangeably at the supermarket. What are often referred to as yams are actually sweet...
More VITAL News
To the growing list of health problems that aren’t likely to be eased or prevented by taking vitamin D supplements (provided you aren’t deficient in the vitamin), you can...
Coconut Oil: Back Off the Menu?
Over the past four decades, coconut oil has been on what you might call a reputation roller coaster. Once favored by manufacturers of processed foods because of its creamy...
Soy Foods and Heart Health
More evidence that soy foods may be good for the heart comes from an observational study in the journal Circulation that analyzed data collected from more than 200,000 people...
Pasta That’s More Nutritious Than Nonna’s
There’s nothing wrong with plain old pasta made from refined wheat flour—on occasion. With about 180 to 200 calories per cup, cooked (2 ounces, dry), it contains some protein,...
Sea Salt vs. Regular Salt
Sea salt is not more nutritious or any healthier than regular (table) salt, despite how it may be marketed. Made by evaporating ocean water, unrefined sea salt contains trace...
Coffee Gets a Boost
Coffee used to be blamed for everything from high blood pressure and high cholesterol (and thus heart disease) to pancreatic cancer, fibrocystic breasts, and bone loss. But better studies...
Navigating the Bottled Water Aisle
Sales of bottled water are higher than ever, with U.S. per capita consumption increasing from 31 gallons in 2012 to more than 43 gallons in 2019. People choose bottled...
Ask the Experts: Farmer Cheese
Q. What is farmer cheese, and why does it have little or no calcium? Also known as dry curd cottage cheese or baker cheese, this soft cheese is made from...
A Berry Good Time of Year
Our early human ancestors ate berries at least as far back as the Stone Age. There is evidence that in Siberia, prehistoric people stored berries in icy pits, presumably...