Appreciate the Food Supply
Thanks to American farmers and ranchers, you enjoy the most abundant, safe, nutritious and affordable food in the world. The affordable food you enjoy is from people who care about what they do, the animals they raise and the land in their care. Many agriculture groups have created and continually improve animal welfare and food safety guidelines that U.S. producers must follow. Today, agriculture is facing many issues that affect you, the consumer. The next time you hear someone criticizing what you eat, or the folks who produce your meat, milk and eggs, take a second to stand up for the American farmer and rancher ... they give a lifetime for you and your family.

Appreciate Your Body
Moderation is key to a happy and healthy you, especially when it comes to what you eat. Make sure you and your loved ones get the right balance of meat, milk, eggs, vegetables, fruits and grains, and get plenty of exercise. Political causes and trendy diets aren't always healthy diets. Moderation and balance are the keys to a healthy diet. There's no such thing as 'good' food or 'bad' food - just a lot of different foods available to eat. Do your homework. Talk to your doctor. Listen to the pros.

A Peek at Protein and Weight Loss
Food Insight - July 2009
New studies suggest that there are some emerging and unique health benefits of protein that deserve to be explored. Protein may have an effect on an individual's ability to manage their weight in a variety of ways, by: 1) increasing levels of satiety; 2) maintaining lean body mass thus possibly increasing energy expenditure; and, 3) overall dietary compliance. (More)

Are you getting enough protein?
CNN - May 29, 2009
Researchers are discovering the hidden health potential of protein. New data shows that protein levels that are closer to the optimal range recommended by experts could curb appetite, improve heart health, and lower the risk of a range of diseases. MyPyramid recommends eating about 15 percent of daily calories from protein, but the Institute of Medicine suggests that as much as 35 percent of calories from lean protein could be even more beneficial. (More)

The Power of Protein
Food Insight - May 2009
The 2010 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee is deliberating a change in recommendations for daily protein intake. According to current guidelines, a person weighing 160 pounds needs 58 grams of protein a day, but this figure may be increased. Protein is thought to play an expanded role in a person's overall diet when its relationship with carbohydrates and amino acids are considered. (More)

Beef Provides 'Good' Calories
Feedstuffs - April 20, 2009
Once again, the concept of a balanced diet in which beverages and foods are ingested in moderation has been shown to be beneficial to an individual's health and well-being. Going overboard to avoid some foods -- such as beef and other red meat -- and to instead focus one's diet on other foods -- such as carbohydrates -- is not recommended. A balance of carbohydrates and proteins, consumed in moderation, is more the ideal. (More)

Calorie Counters Have It Right, Diet Study Says
Wall Street Journal - February 26, 2009
A two-year National Institutes of Health-funded study that assigned 811 overweight people to one of four reduced-calorie diets, found that all trimmed pounds just the same. It didn't matter what foods participants ate, but rather how many calories they consumed. (More)

Meat: It does a body good, scientists say
Meatingplace - September 16, 2008
Oxford University scientists believe that a meat-free diet may be bad for your brain. Vegans and vegetarians are six times more likely to sustain brain shrinkage due to a lack of Vitamin B-12, which is found in meat, fish and dairy products. Researchers say that a diet rich in meat, fish, fortified cereals and milk may prevent memory loss. (More)

Kids' and Teens' Eating Habits Somewhat Better Than Expected
Mintel - October 21, 2008
Kids and teens are reaching for healthier food choices than adults may have expected, according to a recent study. "Eat fresh" may ring truer than "Run for the border." The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the level of obesity in children has leveled off, with no significant increases from 1999 to 2006. Survey responses from teens indicate that they are especially receptive to messages about healthy eating. (More)

Protein-rich eggs increase diet weight loss, study finds
A new study published in the International Journal of Obesity found that eating two eggs for breakfast helps overweight adults lose more weight and feel more energetic than those who eat a bagel breakfast of equal calories. Compared to the subjects who ate a bagel breakfast, men and women who consumed two eggs for breakfast as part of a reduced-calorie diet lost 65 percent more weight, showed a 61 percent greater reduction in their Body Mass Index, and reported higher energy levels than their dieting counterparts who consumed a bagel breakfast. (More)

Low-fat diet not tops for weight loss, study finds
Los Angeles Times - July 17, 2008
A long-running comparison of three diet plans found that the low-carbohydrate Atkins regimen and a Mediterranean diet rich in fish and nuts produced slightly greater weight loss than a low-fat program modeled on American Heart Association dietary guidelines. Though some experts thought the study indicated good results for low-carb diets, others remain concerned about relatively high levels of saturated fats typically found in those diets. (More)

Postponing cow's milk may not prevent allergy
Reuters Health - July 8, 2008
One of the most widely recommended allergy prevention strategies is delaying the introduction of milk and solid foods into the infant's diet. However researchers reported that delaying the introduction of cow's milk may increase, rather than decrease, the risk that a child will develop allergies in the first 2 years of life. "Although breastfeeding remains definitely favorable for the infant's health," they add, the value of withholding other foods to prevent allergies "is questionable." (More)

American Academy of Pediatrics Releases New Statement Regarding Children and Heart Health
Health News Digest - July 7, 2008
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines recommending cholesterol screening of children and adolescents with a family history of high cholesterol or heart disease were published in the July 2008 issue of Pediatrics. The guidelines recommend dietary changes for certain children and reemphasize the importance of a proper diet and exercise. Milk is more than just an important source of calcium for children; it also contains eight other essential nutrients that help build and maintain strong bones, muscles and teeth. (More)

Little milk, exercise hurts kids' bones
Associated Press - November 26, 2007
Bone specialists think that possibly millions of children aren't building up as much strong bone as they should, leaving them vulnerable to bowed legs from rickets and osteoporosis. The main causes? Not getting enough milk, sunshine and exercise. Physicians fear that some kids (and their parents) won't learn their bones are weak until it is too late. (More)

Study says nitrite/nitrate-rich foods may help in heart attack survival
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston - November 12, 2007
A pre-clinical study conducted by the University of Texas shows that the nitrite/nitrate found in vegetables, cured meats and drinking water may help individuals survive a heart attack and recover faster. Nitrite forms nitric oxide gas during a heart attack, reopening clogged arteries. Scientists also believe that nitrate/nitrate could help stroke or peripheral vascular patients. This comes in stark contrast to false reports from the 1960s that linked nitrite to cancer. (More)

Americans' Dairy Consumption Below Recommendations
Amber Waves November 2007
Americans are consuming more dairy products than in 1970, but the average American diet still falls short of the daily recommendations for milk and milk products. The good news is that many Americans are taking other dietary messages to heart and have switched to lower fat milks and cheeses. (More, PDF, 110 KB)

Unzipping Zinc's Secrets
Agricultural Research June 2005
We know that zinc is an essential mineral and that it is an essential component of about 400 proteins, but there is a lot about zinc that we don't know. This article highlights ongoing research to determine zinc's extensive interactions with cells and molecules. (More, PDF, 630 KB)

Low Zinc Levels Could Take Your Breath Away
Agricultural Research April 2006
This article discussed important research into zinc's affect on how red blood cells work during exercise. The article also offers information on how to access a personalized nutrient intake assessment. (More, PDF, 2.62 MB)

Vegetarian petfoods: Can they be 'complete and balanced'?
In the June 2005 issue of Petfood Industry, David Dzanis, DVM, PhD, discusses the results of a recent study on the nutritional adequacy of commercial vegetarian petfoods (specifically, vegan cat foods) and the industry's response to the study's findings. (More, PDF, 46 KB)