Calories

The article on how to slice calories from sweets was informative from the baker's point of view, but from a health point of view it was quite disappointing ("Slicing calories from cake," Nov. 10). For this article not to include the health implications of artificial sweeteners does a big disservice to those who might consume them. I realize that this article was placed in the "Taste" section and not the "Health" section, but information like this should be more sensitive to health implications that may exist, as we should not be just concerned about caloric intake.

There are a number of reasons why the bottle tax should be passed. The obvious one is to bring in more tax revenue for which the city so desperately needs. Secondly, it may cause a child or an adult to think twice about buying one of those sugary beverages that add more calories to their diet — calories they do not need. The argument that such a city tax would drive consumers to the county for those purchases doesn't make much sense — the cost of gasoline for the round trip would most likely exceed the small savings on tax-free beverages.

A nd now they're coming after our Chicken McNuggets Happy Meals (520 calories), our Venti Double Chocolatey Chip Frappuccinos with whipped cream (670 calories), our Unlimited Soup, Salad and Breadsticks (600 to infinity). Is there no end to the government takeover of our health system? Apparently not, because there it is, in the massive health care reform bill that was just passed, hidden amid other abominations like banning insurance companies from denying coverage to sick children and closing a gap in the prescription drug program for the elderly: In the case of food that is a standard menu item that is offered for sale in a restaurant ... that is part of a chain with 20 or more locations ... the restaurant or similar food establishment shall disclose in a clear and conspicuous manner ... the number of calories contained in the standard menu item.

Lara DiPaola makes brownies with applesauce instead of oil, sneaks shredded carrots into her son's macaroni and cheese and gets her four children to tend to the pears, squash and tomatoes in the family garden. But when she's in her home office, grinding out work on deadline, she has been known to tell her kids to grab a Pop-Tart for a snack. "When you're busy, it's whatever's available," said DiPaola, a freelance writer from Severn. "Any parent, whether you've got four kids or just one, you are so inundated with so many things you have to do. Nutrition sometimes falls by the wayside, and we need to get back to that."

Last week, I testified in the Maryland Senate and House of Delegates in support of legislation that would require restaurants to post calories alongside prices on menu boards, similar to the laws in New York City and elsewhere. Polls show that customers want this information, and studies show consumers will use it to make healthier choices. Now even the restaurant industry claims to support calorie-disclosure requirements. That's why I doubt the Maryland bill will pass. Let me explain.

Americans spend millions each year searching for the right diet or exercise program - all in an effort to shed some fat. But there's one type of fat that most would probably like to hold on to: brown fat. Instead of storing excess energy from food in lumps and bumps throughout the body - like its well-known sister, white fat - brown fat helps burn incoming calories. Because its primary purpose is temperature regulation, brown fat cells are packed with mitochondria, the powerhouses of cells.

For a country in which about 200 million people are overweight or obese, scientists have discouraging news: Even those who maintain a healthy weight probably should be eating less. Evidence has been mounting that the practice of caloric restriction - essentially, going on a permanent diet - greatly reduces the risk of age-related diseases and even postpones death. It has been shown to extend the lives of yeast, worms, flies, spiders, fish, mice and rats. Now, in a study funded by the National Institutes of Health and released today, many of the same benefits have been demonstrated in primates, the best evidence yet that caloric restriction would help people.

What's the best way to lose weight - load up on proteins and cut carbohydrates? Keep the good carbs and just trim fats? Or build "healthful" fats into your diet? Scientists now say it doesn't matter as long as you consume fewer calories. A new study in The New England Journal of Medicine tested four different diets and found that participants lost similar amounts of weight on each of them. In the extensive two-year study, investigators randomly assigned more than 800 overweight participants to follow one of four heart-healthy diets, each emphasizing a different combination of carbohydrates, protein and fat. All replaced saturated with unsaturated fat and emphasized whole grains, fruits and vegetables.

To cut calories on your eggnog, consider taking the "egg" out - and going for the vegan version. Half a cup of Silk Soymilk Natural Nog has fewer than half the calories of Southern Comfort Vanilla Spice Egg Nog, and also saves you 7 grams fat, 5 grams saturated fat and 15 grams carbohydrate. (That's before you add any hooch.) Kate Shatzkin Southern Comfort Vanilla Spice Egg Nog Per serving ( 1/2 cup) 220 calories 5 grams protein 9 grams fat 5 grams saturated fat 30 grams carbohydrate 0 grams fiber 65 milligrams cholesterol 100 milligrams sodium Silk Soymilk Natural Nog Per serving ( 1/2 cup)