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RDN: Avoiding FODMAP foods may help ID causes of IBS symptoms

People with irritable bowel syndrome can use the list of FODMAP foods to help figure out what may be causing their digestive symptoms, said registered dietitian nutritionist Carrie Dennett. By avoiding foods in the FODMAP -- Fermentable Oligo-, Di-, and Monosaccharides and Polyols -- category, patients can reduce their consumption of highly fermentable sugars and fibers that the small intestine does not absorb well and can trigger their gastrointestinal problems.

The Seattle Times (4/13) 

Get the facts before switching from skim to whole milk, RD says

Before deciding to switch from skim milk to whole milk, which has more fat content and calories, people should know all of the nutrition differences between the two, said registered dietitian Bonnie Taub-Dix. Low-fat or skim milk is just as nutritious as whole milk, and even though saturated fat may not be as harmful as once believed, for people with a family history of heart disease, skim milk may be a better choice, Taub-Dix said.

U.S. News & World Report (4/13) 

San Francisco group seeks funding to improve local nutrition

More than $13 million will be needed over the next fiscal year to support local programs and work toward ensuring all San Francisco residents have access to nutritious food by 2020, according to a report from the City’s Food Security Task Force. The group asked city officials for $13.3 million, with $11.4 million going toward expanding home-delivered meals, grocery deliveries and served lunches at facilities such as senior centers.

The Examiner (San Francisco) (4/14) 

Policy paper says public health programs targeting obesity may not work

A UK policy paper in PLOS Medicine suggested public health programs such as "Let's Move" will not win the war on obesity because they rely too heavily on self-motivation. Interventions that limit choices, such as a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages, may be a better option, the paper suggested. Emily Dhurandhar of the Obesity Society commented that while it is true programs such as "Let's Move" seem to have only a small impact, the obesity epidemic is complex and requires a comprehensive approach.

MedPage Today (free registration) (4/12) 

High BMI in adolescence may increase CVD mortality risk in middle age

An Israeli study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that teenagers with a body mass index in the obesity or overweight range have a greater mortality risk due to cardiovascular conditions, compared to those with lower BMI. Researchers found that obese teens were 5 times more likely to die from coronary heart disease and 3 times more likely to die from any cardiovascular condition in middle-age than thin, but not underweight teens. Findings were based on over 40 years of data from 2.3 million teenagers.

HealthDay News (4/13) 

Higher vitamin D levels tied to lower cancer risk in older women

A study in PLOS ONE found that levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D higher than 40 nanograms per milliliter were linked to a 67% reduction in invasive cancer risk for women older than 55 years of age. The findings were based on two study cohorts involving 2,304 non-Hispanic white women without cancer at baseline.

Medscape (free registration) (4/12),  Healio (free registration)/HemOnc Today (4/12) 

Other News

§  Depression, metabolic dysregulation may increase type 2 diabetes risk, study finds    Endocrinology Advisor (4/13) 

How one district is changing the face of school lunches

Gathering student input and watching food trends are two ways school nutrition professionals in the Clovis Unified School District in California are making lunches more appealing to students. A registered dietitian and nutritionist have helped schools introduce new foods for students to try, such as pho, banh mi, chicken Alfredo and Cobb salad.

The Fresno Bee (Calif.) (free registration) (4/12)