Expert Column
Christine Salazar, RD 
Christine Salazar, RD, has been a practicing dietitian since 1998. She is a consulting...read more
Articles In This Column
- The Facts About Fat: How Fat Affects Cholesterol & Cardiovascular Disease
- Food Labels: What Does It All Mean?
- Straight Talk: How Important is Calcium, Anyway?
- Too Much or Too Little: Get the Right Amount of Salt for a Healthy Diet
- The Nutrient That Can Help You Lose Weight, Lower Cholesterol and Reduce Your Risk of Colon Cancer
- Food Safety: 10 Guidelines for the Elderly
- Undernutrition and Overnutrition: How To Prevent and Treat Through Diet
Nutrition & Wellness
The Facts About Fat: How Fat Affects Cholesterol & Cardiovascular Disease
There were a lot of fads in the nineties, but one of the biggest was the fat-free diet (or a diet with the least amount of fat possible). By now, we all know that didn’t work. But do you know why? Fat is an important nutrient that helps the body absorb the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K. It also provides our brains with a sense of satiety. How does any of this relate to cardiovascular disease? Research...Read entire article » Related Articles
Food Labels: What Does It All Mean?
The federal government sets legal guidelines on the labels food manufacturers put on their products. The guidelines are supposed to regulate the claims made by these manufacturers and are meant to make it easier for the average consumer to make smart, healthy decisions. For example, if a label shows a claim about heart disease, then that food is low in cholesterol, fat or saturated fat. Why is the manufacturer of that product allowed to make such a claim? Research...Read entire article » Related Articles
Straight Talk: How Important is Calcium, Anyway?
As we age, the need for calcium is even more important. The skeleton is used as a calcium reserve, and has been designed to be drawn upon in times of reduced intake or excessive loss of calcium. These withdrawals are then replaced during times of adequate intake. Calcium is stored as bony tissue, not in bone, which is a popular misconception. The body maintains only as much bone as it needs to support current mechanical loads. So if you’re...Read entire article » Related Articles
Too Much or Too Little: Get the Right Amount of Salt for a Healthy Diet
The average amount of salt in the American diet is twice the necessary DV (daily value). A key to eating healthy is choosing foods lower in sodium and salt, which is a mixture of sodium and chloride. The current DV is less than 2,400 mg of sodium a day. That is one teaspoon of salt! Too Little Salt A diet low in sodium may put people with chronic illness or the elderly at risk for hyponatremia. Hyponatremia, also known...Read entire article » Related Articles
The Nutrient That Can Help You Lose Weight, Lower Cholesterol and Reduce Your Risk of Colon Cancer
What Is Dietary Fiber? Dietary fiber comes from the portion of plants that is not digested by enzymes in the intestinal tract. Different types of plants have varying amounts and kinds of fiber. Pectin and gum are water-soluble fibers found inside plant cells. They slow the passage of food through the intestines but do nothing to increase fecal bulk. Beans, oat bran, fruit and vegetables contain soluble fiber. In contrast, fibers in cell walls are water insoluble. Such fibers...Read entire article » 
