iron

QUESTION: I know women's bodies go through lots of changes during menopause, but I don't hear much about how that affects my diet. What should I be getting more of? Less of? Are there any foods I should avoid altogether? ANSWER: When a woman reaches menopause, dietary requirements do change, but the changes aren't dramatic. Iron needs are lower, since iron is no longer lost in menstrual blood, Read more...

The key to eating healthily lies not in pursuing the latest dieting fad. Instead, experts say, we should simply eat according to our age and gender. They believe the key to good health and therefore a healthy weight lies in tailoring our food to our particular circumstances. "There isn't a one-size-fits-all diet," said food scientist Dr. Sian Astley. "But we Read more...

The glorious apricot -- good for you anyway you slice it. But fans of the golden fruit say it's unappreciated. This small delicate fruit is a great source of beta carotene. And, one small apricot, weighing about an ounce, will provide 18 percent of daily requirement of vitamin A, while supplying you with potassium, vitamin C and iron -- all that with only 18 calories. Apricots Read more...

Two golfers are paired for a charity tournament, and one is a minister. At a short hole the minister asks the other man, "What are you going to use on this hole?" "An eight iron, reverend. How about you?" "I'm going to hit a soft seven and pray," the minister says. The young man hits his eight iron and puts the ball on the green. The priest tops Read more...

A young couple got married and left on their honeymoon. When they got back, the bride immediately called her mother. "Well," asked her mother, "how was the honeymoon?" "Oh, mama," the daughter replied, "the honeymoon was wonderful! So romantic ..." Suddenly, she burst out crying. "But mama, as soon as we returned, Sam started using the Read more...

By Sheldon Margen and Dale A. Ogar Chickpeas have been cultivated since 7,000 B.C. and are best known in India, the Mediterranean and the Middle East. However, they are also very popular in Latin America, where they are known as garbanzo beans, and in Italy, where they are called ceci. Chickpeas are a real nutritional bargain. A half cup of cooked peas gives you 7 grams of protein, Read more...

Most households have long since replaced their iron pots and skillets with high-conductivity copper or lightweight aluminum utensils. But new scientific research indicates that we may have lost something in the process -- iron that is necessary to proper nutrition. The British Nutrition Foundation says a return to the use of iron cookware could help solve the iron deficiency problem that Read more...

People who give blood aren't only helping others, they're also doing themselves a power of good. New research indicates men who donate blood on a regular basis are less likely to suffer from heart disease than those who don't give regularly. The study, published in New Scientist magazine, surveyed the medical records of 2,862 Finnish men over a nine-year period. Of the 153 who donated blood Read more...

Overly fond of that morning -- or midday or evening -- cup of coffee? If you're one of the 25 percent of Americans estimated to be "addicted" to caffeine, you might want to know the health risks. The National Institutes of Health says caffeine addiction has been linked to heartburn, interrupted sleep, stomach upsets and psychological disorders such as anxiety and depression. Caffeine Read more...