By Angela A. Farris BPA has been in the news for years. Articles focus on potential harm and health dangers of using products containing BPA. Should we really be worried? BPA, or Bisphenol A, is an organic compound with properties used to produce clear durable plastics and strong hold resins. Current research reviewed by the National Toxicology Program at the National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration found that low levels of BPA exposure could have potentially harmful effects on the brain, prostate gland, and fetuses, infants and young children.   BPA mimics the sex hormone estrogen found naturally in our bodies and can alter our hormonal balance. Disrupting this balance could affect a range of functions like reproduction, development, and metabolism.   Individual state governments are working to ban BPA in baby bottles, but it is not currently banned on a federal level. The FDA is taking precautionary steps to reduce the exposure of BPA in ...

A multi-center study including 351 people took a good look at dietary intervention and the ability to decrease LDL cholesterol.   David J. A. Jenkins of St. Michael’s Hospital and the University of Toronto and colleagues compared dietary interventions of a control diet and a portfolio diet for six months.   The control diet emphasized high fiber and whole grains and the portfolio diet emphasized soy protein, plant sterols, viscous fibers, and nuts.   Diets were randomized from June 2007 to January 2009 and counseling was delivered at routine dietary portfolio (two visits in six months) or an intensive dietary portfolio (seven visits in six months).   Results showed that the control diet decreased LDL Cholesterol numbers by 8.0 mg/dL and the Portfolio diet decreased LDL Cholesterol by 24 mg/dL for the routine counseling and 26 mg/dL for the intensive counseling. This research study proves a relationship with food, dietary adherence, and reduction of LDL Cholester...

As most of you know I am a big  fan of guest bloggers and am always looking for a way to communicate the right information to the Kindred Community.  I am feeling really excited to be able to introduce a new guest blogger.   Recently I met Angela Farris, a dietetic intern at the University of Maryland at College Park. I am excited for you to get to know her just as I have.  Angela will be appearing in guest blogs and helping out with some other very neat things with Kindred Nutrition and The Center for Intuitive Eating.  Check out her bio below and look for her first guest post September 29th. Angela A. Farris Biosketch Angela is a dietetic intern with the University of Maryland College Park. Her program emphasizes information management and communication enabling her to visit a variety of sites over the next year; including IT rotations at the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion and the International Food Information Council. Prior to starting he...

I was asked this specific question a lot in the last two weeks from clients, friends, and a physician group I work with.   We’ve all heard that our children are the first generation that will not outlive their parents.   Fifteen percent of children in the United States are considered overweight and another fifteen percent are at risk of being overweight.   There’s a lot of scary statistics out there and it's starting to cause some panic. Here are my thoughts.   I feel strongly that it’s important to catch irregular eating, unhealthy habits, or weight gain in kids earlier than later.   When I say early I mean as early as two believe it or not. There’s a reason that pediatricians and dietitians recommend changing from whole milk to skim after the age of two, as brains no longer require the extra fat intake for development.   If your child is in the toddler years or beyond and eats multiple servings of food, is ‘addicted’ to junk food, or there is co...

I hope you all had a great labor day.  I had a wonderful one filled with friends and family.  I was especially excited when I was notified at the end of the weekend that my Ask Amy's blog was awarded Nutrition Expert of the Year AND Blog of the year through Around the Plate.  Have you checked out Around the Plate ?  It's a great blog that consists of many Nutrition Experts, Healthy Eating Champions, and Recipe Guru's. Check out the other winners in each category here . As always thanks to all of my fans who follow Kindred Nutrition's Ask Amy blog.  It's a passion of  mine and I especially love to compile blogs based off of your suggestions.  Have any nutrition questions that have been on your mind?  Email me at agoldsmith@kindrednutrition.com  and I'll get you the answers. I hope everyone has a fantastic week!