In the News Archive 2004-2006 : News and Spotlights : Nutrition.gov

Dec 18, 2006	HHS Daily HealthBeat Tip Choose from a variety of health tips to listen to, and then visit the "Take the Next Step" link for more information to help you take action to improve your health. Also available as a Podcast.

Dec 04, 2006	HIV/AIDS Nutrition Tips at AIDS.GOV Find basic health and nutrition information and resources related to HIV/AIDs at a new Internet gateway, coordinated by the Department of Health and Human Services.

Dec 04, 2006	Be Food Safe Use this new program from USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service to learn more about preventing foodborne illness through the four easy lessons of Clean, Separate, Cook and Chill.

Nov 28, 2006	Holidays the Healthy Way Even holiday treats can fit into a healthy eating plan. The key is balance and moderation. Read more tips from the CDC on keeping the holidays healthy.

Nov 28, 2006	Making Wheat Flour More Nutritious USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and university scientists have identified a gene that can increase the protein, iron and zinc in wheat.

Nov 15, 2006	Make Your Calories Count: Use the Nutrition Facts Label Let the food label help plan your healthful diet while managing your calories. Check out a new interactive Web program and brochure " Nutrition Facts Label" (PDF\|350 KB) from FDA.

Nov 15, 2006	"Be Food Safe" This Thanksgiving Help reduce the risk of foodborne illness during the holidays with tips from USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service. Check out their Let's Talk Turkey fact sheet.

Nov 06, 2006	Steps to Keep Your Food Safe Advice from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to help you reduce the risk of getting sick from fresh produce, including buying, storage, and prepration tips.

Oct 21, 2006	Let's Eat Out - ERS Report A new report by USDA's Economic Research Service, indicates that Americans are eating more and more of their calories from full-service and fast-food restaurants, and want it convenient and enjoyable, but also healthy.

Oct 19, 2006	Celiac Disease Awareness Celiac disease, the inability to digest gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley, is estimated to affect 1% of all Americans. Read more about Celiac Disease.

Oct 19, 2006	New Partner for Steps to a HealthierUS Steps to a HealthierUS, helping Americans live longer, better, and healthier lives, has a new partner, the Cooperative State Research, Education, & Extension Service (CSREES), USDA. Find out if you are a Step Community.

Oct 16, 2006	Nationwide Study - Effect of Antioxidants and Fish Oil on Macular Degeneration The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is seeking participants for a study of vitamins, minerals, and fish oil effect on age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of vision loss in people 60+ in the US.

Oct 03, 2006	Blood Pressure is Focus of New Web Site Nearly 1 in 3 American adults have high blood pressure. The NIHSeniorHealth Web site ( www.NIHSeniorHealth.gov) now features updated information to help keep your blood pressure in check.

Oct 02, 2006	"Vote" for School Lunch 2006 National School Lunch Week is October 9-13, 2006. More than 29 million students served each day through the USDA Food and Nutrition Service Child Nutrition program.

Sep 22, 2006	*How Many Do You* Need?** Use the new fruit and vegetable calculator and then find delicious and healthy fall fruit and vegetable recipes at CDC's 5 A Day website.

Sep 16, 2006	E.coli O157:H7 Outbreak in Spinach - Latest News Read the latest updates from FDA on the E.coli outbreak in spinach. Or for general information visit National Library of Medicine's MedlinePlus E. coli webpage.

Sep 08, 2006	Versatile Vegetables Pack a Double Punch Find about new healthy varieties of ornamental peppers in the September Agricultural Research Magazine. And check out nutrition information about peppers from 5 A Day.

Aug 29, 2006	A Little TLC Goes a Long Way... ...toward reducing high cholesterol. September is National Cholesterol Education Month. Check out a new NHLBI booklet with tips to reduce heart disease risk.

Aug 29, 2006	New Study Shows That Being Overweight at Middle Age Can Be Harmful Read about the Diet and Health study conducted by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and AARP, and then find helpful resources at the Weight-control Information Network.

Aug 22, 2006	Update on Health Benefits of Mushrooms Seven varieties of mushrooms, including white button, have their own unique nutrient profiles. Find out which have significant amounts of copper and potassium.

Aug 10, 2006	A Bowl of (Bing) Cherries New research by ARS scientists and colleagues suggest these little red fruits may help fight the inflammation of arthritis, heart disease and cancer. Read more about cherries from 5 A Day.

Aug 02, 2006	Walnuts' Potential New Link to Heart Health Already shown in some studies to reduce "bad" (LDL) cholesterol, walnuts may have yet another way of enhancing cardiovascular health.

Jul 27, 2006	Eat Smart. Play Hard. Healthy Lifestyle From the UDSA Food and Nutrition Service, a new website designed for parents and caregivers with information to help you eat better, be more physically active and be a role model for your kids.

Jul 27, 2006	Eat Smart. Play Hard. for Kids! A fun new web page, from the USDA Food and Nutrition Sevice, that connects kids to healthy eating and physical activity experiences within their community.

Jul 25, 2006	Artificial Sweeteners: No Calories ... Sweet! Read the latest on approved sweeteners such as aspartame, saccharin, neotame, sucralose, and acesulfame-K in the July-August FDA Consumer magazine.

Jul 19, 2006	Fresh-Cut Fruits, Good to the Last Slice Convenient, packaged fresh-cut fruits and vegetables are showing up more and more in markets. Read more about the USDA Agricultural Research Service efforts.

Jul 19, 2006	Celiac Disease Awareness Campaign Celiac disease, the inability to digest gluten, a protein found in wheat and other grains, is estimated to effect 1% of all Americans. Check out a Fact Sheet (PDF\|171 KB) on this disease.

Jun 28, 2006	New Fruit Bar Captures Flavor & Nutrients USDA has invented a way to enjoy the flavor of fresh pomegranates, even when the fruit is out of season. Check out a pomegranate fact sheet from 5 A Day.

Jun 26, 2006	Safe Cooking and Food Handling Advice for Summer Grilling Season Backyard chefs may think they know best when it comes to grilling but unless key food safety practices are followed, friends and family may wish to think twice before taking a bite.

Jun 16, 2006	New Grape: Flavorful and Seedless! A new grape variety, developed by the USDA Agricultural Research Service, blends a Concord with a Thompson for a tasty seedless treat called "Thomcord".

Jun 08, 2006	FDA Affirms Position on Mercury in Fish FDA stands behind its 2004 advisory on safe levels of fish consumption for pregnant women and young children. Studies show that the health benefits of omega-3 fats found in fish outweigh any risk due to trace amounts of mercury.

Jun 05, 2006	Away-From-Home Foods: Opportunities for Preventing Weight Gain and Obesity A new report, funded by the FDA , may help the US food industry, restaurants, and consumers combat the nation's obesity problem.

May 30, 2006	June 6 is Hunger Awareness Day The USDA Food Stamp Program can help fight hunger. To find out more, read a fact sheet or listen to a PSA or call 1-800-221-5689.

May 30, 2006	Young African-Americans Low Vitamin D New research has found vitamin D, essential for strong bones and strong immune systems, especially low in young women. Good sources of vitamin D include fortified milk, fatty fish and sunshine.

May 22, 2006	Hurricane Preparedness Week - May 21-26, 2006 Find food safety information from the FDA for hurricanes, power outages, and floods - for consumers and industry.

May 15, 2006	A "Sweet" New Resource Interested in the amount of sugars added to your favorite foods? Check out the " USDA Database for the Added Sugars Content of Selected Foods" with over 2,000 common foods.

Apr 24, 2006	MyPyramid.gov Celebrates 1st Anniversary USDA's MyPyramid.gov website observed its first anniversary on April 19th, becoming one of the most popular websites in government with over 1.7 billion hits.

Apr 24, 2006	"The Biggest Generation" TV program A 30-minute TV program from CDC and Connect with Kids focusing on youth obesity began airing nationwide in March. Check out times and stations in your area.

Apr 17, 2006	Chicken Consumption Continues to Rise Chicken on the menu today? Consumption more than doubled from 1970 to 2004, 27.4 lbs. per person to 59.2 lbs. " A Healthier You" provides some delicious chicken recipes.

Apr 10, 2006	New Single Minimum Internal Temperature for Cooking Poultry Consumers can now use a 165º mininum internal temperature for cooking poultry safely. Watch an online video from FSIS for more information.

Apr 03, 2006	April is Alcohol Awareness Month Check out free publications from the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI) about the hazards of underage drinking and alcohol abuse.

Apr 03, 2006	Low Zinc May Take Your Breath Away ARS research indicates that lower-than-recommended levels of dietary zinc may take a toll during exercise. Audit your zinc intake with MyPyramid Tracker.

Mar 27, 2006	How to Use Fruits and Vegetables to Help Manage Your Weight Here are some simple ways from CDC to cut calories and eat fruits and vegetables throughout your day. Also in PDF\|707KB.

Mar 20, 2006	Health At Every Size Is a "health-centered" rather than "weight-centered" program new hope for obese Americans? Read more about ARS sponsored research. En español

Mar 13, 2006	Rack up the Greens For Better Health For St. Patrick's Day and every day, add green leafy vegetables such as spinach, romaine lettuce, collard greens, kale, and broccoli to your diet. Check out cooking tips for greens.

Mar 06, 2006	Tackling a Weighty Problem Check out the March 2006 issue of the ARS Agricultural Research Magazine for obesity and weight-related articles. Read about new research findings and novel tools to help avoid putting on those troublesome excess pounds.

Feb 28, 2006	National Nutrition Month - "Step Up to Nutrition & Health" March 2006 Let the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and MyPyramid help you "step up" everyday. Listen (MP3, 474kb) to a couple of moms stepping toward healthy snacking for their children.

Feb 28, 2006	Go Places with School Breakfast "Fueling up" with a good breakfast sets students on a day (and life) of going places. During National School Breakfast Week, March 6-10, learn more about this USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) program.

Feb 22, 2006	Eating Disorders Awareness Week - February 26 As many as 10 million girls and women and 1 million boys and men in the US struggle with eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia. Check out a fact sheet for more information.

Feb 13, 2006	Wondering About Fat in Your Diet? Fats and oils are part of a healthful diet, but type and total amount of fat makes a difference. Find out more from the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans ( PDF version). Or check out recent news and more from MedlinePlus: Dietary Fats.

Feb 06, 2006	The Food Stamp Program and Obesity? Food Stamps are a nutritional safety net for low-income households, but do they contribute to obesity? Though connected in the past, ERS analysis shows this does not appear to be so today. PDF Version

Feb 06, 2006	New Oat for Healthier Hearts Check out research on a new oat variety with higher beta-glucan, a soluble fiber, when combined with a healthy diet, may help lower so-called bad cholesterol, reducing risk for heart disease.

Feb 01, 2006	Having a Super Bowl Party? You might not know the difference between a wide receiver and a quarterback, but check out "A Football Fan's Guide to Food Safety" from FSIS, and some healthy tips from CDC for your Super Bowl celebrations.

Feb 01, 2006	Barley for Heart Health Month The FDA has approved barley for a health claim for reducing the risk of heart disease. Read more about barley and other whole grains, including a recipe for no-bake cookies.

Jan 26, 2006	For Optimal Health, Go With the Grains Research continues to show that increasing the amount of whole grains we eat, to 3 or more servings a day, is a good thing. Find out more about this ARS-funded study.

Jan 25, 2006	Group Support Benefits Dieting Support groups may help dieters have less stress and less "brainpower drain" than those who go it alone, suggests a study by USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS).

Jan 04, 2006	New Allergen Information on Food Labels Beginning January 1st, food labels must tell you if 8 major allergenic foods - milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, nuts, peanuts, wheat, or soybeans - are in the food. More from FDA.

Dec 19, 2005	Food Safety for Holiday Gatherings As you prepare for the holidays, check out tips from USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) to help avoid foodborne illness while enjoying seasonal feasts. Holiday Buffets Fact Sheet (PDF \| 129KB)

Dec 12, 2005	Check Out the Trans Fat Number on Food Labels Starting January 1, 2006, food manufacturers are required to list trans fat on the Nutrition Facts panel. Learn how this number can help you make heart-healthy choices at the supermarket.

Dec 09, 2005	MiPirámide: Pasos Hacia Una Mejor Salud “MyPyramid: Steps to a Healthier You", the Spanish-language MyPyramid from USDA is here! Or visit the original MyPyramid and MyPyramid for Kids.

Nov 17, 2005	US Food Consumption Up 16% Since 1970 USDA's Economic Research Service food consumption tracking suggests Americans are eating more every year, up from 1,675 pounds in 1970 to 1,950 in 2003. This is an average daily calorie increase of 523 calories.

Oct 31, 2005	Tips for Parents About Treats Halloween is fun for children. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has some tips to help make the holiday a safe and healthy one.

Oct 04, 2005	Helping Kids Make the Grade in Nutrition About 29 million children eat USDA National School Lunch everyday. Find out more about healthy school meals and the challenges. National School Lunch Week October 10-14.

Sep 28, 2005	MyPyramid for Kids! Child-friendly version of MyPyramid. Developed to help motivate children 6-11-years old make healthy food choices and be physically active every day. Includes an online interactive game.

Sep 26, 2005	Your Child's Weight: Help Your Child With Successful Weight Management New publication give common causes why children are overweight, and offers suggestions to deal with the weight problem as a family. In Spanish

Sep 22, 2005	Simple Steps to Help Reduce Your Risk September 2005 Cholesterol Awareness Month. Assess your risk, learn your BMI, and cook up some heart healthy recipes from the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP).

Sep 08, 2005	Consumer Disaster Assistance Advice Foodsafety.gov provides links to resources, important information, and tips to help those affected by Katrina protect their health and food supply.

Jul 26, 2005	New Healthy, Flavorful Wraps for Sushi Sushi wrapped in vegetables and fruits, a fresh alternative to traditional seaweed, are being developed by USDA's Agricultural Research Service and research partner, Origami Foods.

Jul 18, 2005	New Apricot Coming to Supermarkets Soon The "Kettleman" apricot, with deep-orange skin, pleasing taste, smooth texture and alluring aroma, will debut soon, courtesty of USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS).

Jul 11, 2005	FDA Alert for Dietary Supplement The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers not to take "Liqiang 4" Dietary Supplement Capsules because they are a potential health hazard to some people.

Jun 20, 2005	Will This Be the Year of the Whole Grain? The 2005 Dietary Guidelines have specific whole grain recommendations for your good health. According to the USDA's Economic Research Service (ERS), how are we doing?

Jun 06, 2005	Knowing What’s Best for Baby To Eat USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) has teamed with the American Dietetic Association and Gerber Foods to develop practical and useful recommendations for establishing healthy eating habits in infants and toddlers.

May 27, 2005	What Kind of Man Are You? Hopefully a healthy one. Take this "quiz". For National Men's Health Week, June 13-19 -and every day- try to eat 9 servings of fruits and vegetables.

May 11, 2005	The Mission: To Combat High Blood Pressure in America. Learn more about healthy lifestyle habits, including diet, for preventing and controlling high blood pressure. National High Blood Pressure Education Month May 2005

Apr 18, 2005	New USDA MyPyramid Food Guidance System Announced The MyPyramid food guidance system replaces the original Food Guide Pyramid. USDA Secretary Johanns released the new symbol and website.

Apr 01, 2005	April is Cancer Control Month Research shows that regularly eating of a variety of fruits and vegetables reduces the risk for a number of cancers. Remember, 7 to 9 servings everyday!

Mar 23, 2005	Passover Egg Food Safety Tips For hard-cooked eggs for Passover Seder or leftover from Easter, here are some food safety reminders from the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of USDA. View a video.

Mar 22, 2005	National Nutrition Month - Get a Taste of Nutrition with a Healthy Diet One of the most important things for overall health. But what is a “healthy diet”? Read more -- online, print, or Spanish.

Mar 16, 2005	National Nutrition Month: Get a Taste for Nutrition! Flavorful and colorful fruit and vegetable recipes to celebrate National Nutrition Month and help you get your 7-9 servings every day.

Feb 02, 2005	American Heart Month Spotlights Women Heart disease is the #1 killer of American women. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) is sponsoring The Heart Truth campaign to give women an urgent wake-up call about their risk of heart disease.

Jan 27, 2005	U.S. Surgeon General's “Year of the Healthy Child” Emphasizes Folic Acid Folic acid, a B vitamin that can reduce the risk for neural tube birth defects, is vital for women to have both before and during pregnancy. How much do you know about folic acid? Try this quiz.

Jan 05, 2005	DHHS and USDA announce release of the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans "These new Dietary Guidelines represent our best science-based advice to help Americans live healthier and longer lives"

Dec 29, 2004	USDA Secretary Announces Web Source of Reliable Information on Healthy Eating Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman announced the launch of Nutrition.gov, a comprehensive source of information on nutrition and dietary guidance.

Dec 24, 2004	What's Up Doc? A Rainbow of Carrots Red, yellow, purple and white. USDA scientists have bred carrots to bring more color and nutrition to your table.

Nov 24, 2004	Let's Talk Turkey—A Consumer Guide to Safely Roasting a Turkey Covers every step in getting your turkey from the supermarket to the dinner table - buying, safe thawing methods, stuffing, roasting and even storing and reheating leftovers.

Nov 24, 2004	Keep an Eye on Portion Size Learn how to avoid holiday weight gain by controlling portion sizes. Take the interactive Portion Distortion quizzes and find out how large portions may be keeping you from reaching your weight goal.

Nov 01, 2004	USDA Releases Updated Nutrient Information Download the database onto your personal digital assistant free of charge. You can search the database to find the nutrient content of thousands of foods as well as sort the foods by nutrient.

Oct 21, 2004	IOM Releases Final Report on Childhood Obesity The Committee on Prevention of Obesity in Children and Youth made recommendations to decrease the prevalence of obesity and identified promising methods for prevention. Further research opportunities were also suggested.

Oct 21, 2004	National Obesity Prevention Conference October 25-27 2004, Bethesda, MD Sponsored by the USDA, this conference will focus on research needs for preventing obesity and will have a practical orientation to help develop realistic strategies to prevent obesity.