Toward a science-based classification of processed foods to support meaningful research and effective health policies.

Processed foods have been part of the American diet for decades, with key roles in providing a safe, available, affordable, and nutritious food supply. The USDA Food Guides beginning in 1916 and the US Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) since 1980 have included various types of commonly consumed processed foods (e.g.

Beyond blood pressure: new paradigms in sodium intake reduction and health outcomes.

Since 1980, when inaugural national dietary guidance was to “avoid too much sodium,” recommendations have evolved to the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans’ quantified guidance of 2300 and 1500 mg/d [USDA and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Popcorn is more satiating than potato chips in normal-weight adults.

Background: Strategies that may increase compliance to reduced energy intakes are needed to reduce the health burden of obesity. Conflicting evidence exists regarding the effects of snacking on satiety and energy intake.

Methods: This study compared short-term satiety from two common snack foods, low fat popcorn or potato chips.

Predicted national productivity implications of calorie and sodium reductions in the American diet.

Purpose: To model the potential long-term national productivity benefits from reduced daily intake of calories and sodium.

Design: Simulation based on secondary data analysis; quantitative research. Measures include absenteeism, presenteeism, disability, and premature mortality under various hypothetical dietary changes.

Potential health benefits and medical cost savings from calorie, sodium, and saturated fat reductions in the American diet.

Purpose: Model the potential national health benefits and medical savings from reduced daily intake of calories, sodium, and saturated fat among the U.S. adult population.

Popcorn consumption and dietary and physiological parameters of US children and adults: analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2002 dietary survey data.

Popcorn is a whole-grain food/snack that is included among foods recommended in the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and MyPyramid to increase whole-grain consumption. The purpose of the present study was to use 1999-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 24-hour dietary recall data to determine the average popcorn intake among Americans, and whether popcorn consumers exhibited different dietary intake patterns or physiological biomarkers of cardiovascular disease compared with popcorn non-consumers. Mean intake among consumers of popcorn was 38.

Hydration: issues for the 21st century.

Historically, hydration research reflected critical issues of the day. War, illness, surviving a shipwreck or time in the dessert, supplying fall-out shelters, and space exploration drove hydration research in the first half of the 20th century. The fitness revolution of the 1970s spurred research on dehydration in physically active people and athletes.

The effect on hydration of two diets, one with and one without plain water.

Objective: To measure the effect on hydration of two regimens, one that included drinking water as part of the dietary beverages and one that did not.

Methods: In healthy, sedentary subjects, two different diets were evaluated for their effect on hydration. Trial A provided plain water to drink as part of the beverages served.