Healthier eating could save the United States more than $50 billion a year in health care costs associated with heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and related illnesses, according to a new study. An unhealthy diet is one of the leading risk factors for poor health and accounts for up to 45% of all deaths from these cardiometabolic diseases, the researchers noted. But the economic cost of illnesses caused by poor eating habits hadn’t been tallied. In this study, researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Tufts University in Massachusetts created a model to measure the impact of 10 food and nutrient groups on cardiometabolic disease costs for Americans aged 35 to 85 years. Those 10 groups were fruits, vegetables, nuts/seeds, whole grains, unprocessed red meats, processed meats, sugar-sweetened beverages, polyunsaturated fats, seafood omega-3 fats and sodium. The researchers first looked at the effects of current eating habits and then did a recalculation if Americans ate the healthiest amounts of the 10 food/nutrient groups. The study authors concluded that poor eating habits cost the United States about $300 per person, or $50 billion, a year and accounted for 18% of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes costs. Of those costs, 84% was for acute care, the researchers reported. Costs were highest for people with Medicare ($481 per person) and for those who were eligible…  read on >

You can enjoy guilt-free holiday desserts by making some simple ingredient changes, a nutrition expert says. “I succeeded in making a healthier cheesecake that was a rich and creamy dessert that pleased even the most discerning taste buds,” said registered dietitian Libby Mills, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. “Making some substitutions from the traditional cheesecake recipe, I swapped plain low-fat yogurt for the sour cream. I made the crust by crushing equal parts high-fiber cereal and graham crackers and substituted the butter for lemon juice to bind the crumbs together,” Mills said in an academy news release. “My family loved it.” Healthy eating includes limiting the amount of calories from added sugars and saturated fats to less than 10% of your total daily calories. Mills offered other tips on making healthier desserts: Cut fats. Use applesauce instead of oil, margarine or butter in muffins and quick breads such as banana bread. Substitute a small amount at first because too much may change the texture of the muffins or quick bread. Reduce the amount of cholesterol by using two egg whites in place of one whole egg. Reduce the sugar. You can cut the amount of sugar in many recipes by 25% and no one will notice the difference. For example, use 3 tablespoons of sugar instead of 4. You might need…  read on >

Elegant holiday dishes are surprisingly easy to pull off when you stick to only a few ingredients. Try this delicious pork loin roast flavored with fragrant dried herbs and the perfect accompaniment — apples and sweet potatoes. Roasted Pork Loin 2-pound pork loin 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 1/4 cup Dijon mustard 2 teaspoons mixed herbs, such as thyme, rosemary and sage Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Sprinkle pork with salt and pepper, then brown in a large, oven-proof skillet with the oil over medium-high heat for about 4 to 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and coat with the Dijon mustard and herbs. Cover loosely with aluminum foil and bake 35 to 40 minutes. Remove from oven and allow roast to rest 8 to 10 minutes so the juices can redistribute. Slice against the grain and serve. Yield: 4 to 6 servings Apple and Sweet Potato Bake 3 large sweet potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced 3 medium apples, thinly sliced 1 medium orange, zested and juiced 1/4 cup dark brown sugar, packed 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice 1/4 cup walnut pieces or chopped walnuts Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, toss sweet potatoes, apples, orange zest and juice, sugar and spice. Transfer to a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Cover with foil and bake…  read on >

Levels of the widely used chemical bisphenol A (BPA) in people’s bodies are much higher than once thought, according to scientists who say they’ve created a more accurate way to measure them. BPA is used in many plastic products, including food and drink containers, and animal studies have shown that it can interfere with hormones. Exposure to BPA in the womb has been linked to growth, metabolism, behavior and fertility problems, as well an increased risk of cancer. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, however, contends human exposure to BPA is at very low, and therefore, safe levels. The new method developed by researchers and outlined in their study suggests that the measurements used by the FDA and other regulatory agencies underestimate BPA exposure by as much as 44 times. “This study raises serious concerns about whether we’ve been careful enough about the safety of this chemical,” said study co-author Patricia Hunt, a professor in the School of Molecular Biosciences at Washington State University. “What it comes down to is that the conclusions federal agencies have come to about how to regulate BPA may have been based on inaccurate measurements,” Hunt said in a university news release. Co-author Roy Gerona is an assistant professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. He said he hoped the findings would prompt other experts and labs…  read on >

More Americans have been sickened with E. coli after eating romaine lettuce thought to be grown in Salinas, Calif., federal health officials said Tuesday. Twenty-seven new cases have been reported over the past few days, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That brings the total to 67 across 19 states. In 39 cases, illnesses have been so severe as to require hospitalization, although no deaths have yet been reported. Late Friday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning to consumers to avoid all romaine lettuce grown in Salinas, Calif., due to possible contamination with E. coli bacteria. The goal “is to limit exposure and help prevent additional people from becoming sick,” FDA Deputy Commissioner for Food Policy and Response Frank Yiannas said in an agency news release at the time. “Our investigation has led us to farms in Salinas, California, and while the FDA is sending investigators there to look for the source of contamination, we are updating our advice today to help protect the public health and to help ensure we contain this outbreak,” he said. “Consumers should not eat any romaine lettuce harvested from Salinas, California.” Romaine lettuce harvested elsewhere is thought to be safe to eat, Yiannas added. He added that the latest advisory extends to packaged salads included in a U.S. Department of Agriculture advisory…  read on >

The turkey, stuffing, cranberries, green bean casserole and mashed potatoes on the Thanksgiving table may look tempting, but if you have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) you should proceed with caution, experts say. GERD is often called chronic heartburn or acid reflux. “When it comes to what we eat and drink over the holidays, it is important to remember the saying: everything in moderation,” said Dr. Robert Kavitt, director of the University of Chicago Medicine Center for Esophageal Diseases. A common digestive disorder, GERD occurs when stomach acid flows back into the esophagus, which is the tube that connects the mouth and stomach. It’s important for people with GERD to eat slowly and avoid overeating, Kavitt said. Eating slowly gives you time to feel full, which decreases your risk of overeating. Overeating puts pressure on the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) muscle, a ring-like muscle that acts as a valve between the esophagus and stomach. When that muscle is weakened, acid can flow back into the esophagus and trigger a GERD episode. Eat at least an hour or two before going to bed. It’s more difficult to digest your food when you’re lying down, so eating earlier and staying upright for a bit will allow your food time to break down. Drink more water and limit carbonated beverages and alcohol. “Carbonated beverages and alcohol can cause relaxation…  read on >