Sutter Delta - Index

Sutter Delta - spring2008magazine - Index

Fad or Fact?
Boost your nutrition knowledge
Spicy foods increase metabolism and speed weight loss.
FACT: Capsaicin, the compound that gives red chili pepper its
heat, has been reported by some studies to boost heat generation
by the body, which means people burn slightly more
energy. Black pepper, ginger, turmeric and cumin may also
have an impact on metabolism. So adding these foods to a
healthy diet may help with weight maintenance. But eating a
balanced diet and getting regular exercise are still the most
important ways to maintain a healthy weight.
Eating breakfast is a healthy way to start the day.
FACT: After eight to 10 sleep-filled hours without a meal or
snack, your body needs food to replenish its glucose, or blood
sugar, the main energy source for the brain. Several studies suggest
that eating early in the day may also help you eat fewer
calories throughout the day. And having breakfast increases
your metabolism, makes you more alert and improves memory.
Taking a vitamin supplement is vital to good health.
FACT: The best way to get adequate vitamins and other nutrients
is by eating a balanced diet from a variety of foods, not
from taking a pill. If you choose to take a supplement, take one
that has a balanced multivitamin and mineral formula that provides
about 100 percent of the Daily Value for most nutrients.
Don’t depend on large doses of any one nutrient or food to
protect against disease.
Read two different articles about dieting, and you’ll get two
different approaches. How do you know what to believe? To help
sort the fads from the facts, Kim Vagt, M.S., R.D., CDE, director of
clinical nutrition services and outpatient diabetes education at Sutter
Amador Hospital, weighs in on these diet-related topics.
Eating dairy or drinking milk burns fat and helps with weight loss.
FACT: There is increasing evidence that calcium from dairy and
vitamin D together may help break down fat cells and suppress
the development of new ones. While research continues,
cutting calories and getting daily exercise remain the key tools
for weight management.
Low-carbohydrate diets are the best way to lose weight.
FACT: People often shed pounds on low-carbohydrate diets, but
it’s not the best way to lose weight. Our bodies need carbohydrates
for fuel. A lack of carbohydrates leaves us feeling weak
and fatigued. The best way to lose weight is to eat a healthful,
balanced diet while cutting back on calories and including a
moderate amount of exercise every day.
Sea salt is healthier than table salt.
FACT: The taste and texture may be different between the two,
but nutritionally, both sea salt and table salt are the same. And
regardless of the source, consuming too much salt may cause
high blood pressure in some people. If you prefer sea salt, it’s
fine to use it in moderation. Just remember that the recommended
salt intake for healthy adults is no more than 2,300
milligrams a day. That’s equal to 1 teaspoon a day or less.
10 yourhealth spring 2008 Get a FREE subscription to Your Health! E-mail your contact info to lombaa2@sutterhealth.org.