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Q: I’ve read that
asparagus can fight cancer: Is that true?
A: You may have read a story circulating on the Internet
that suggests a daily dose of pureed asparagus can cure cancer.
That story has no support in peer-reviewed research journals,
and I’ve been unable to find any information on prior publications
or background on the expert source of the story. On the other
hand, asparagus certainly has value as one part of a plant-based
diet that reduces cancer risk. It’s a good source of folate
(a B vitamin essential to maintain healthy DNA) and vitamins
C and A, as well as antioxidant compounds like glutathione and
rutin. Asparagus is low in calories (as long as you don’t
smother it in high-fat cheese sauce or butter), so like most
other vegetables, it can help to satisfy hunger while promoting
a healthy weight, which research now says has major impact on
reducing risk of several common cancers. |
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Q: I’ve heard that
farro is a super-nutritious whole grain, but can’t find
it in my grocery store. Does it go by another name?
A: Farro is also called emmer. It’s an ancient
strain of wheat from the Middle East that became popular in Italy
and is now gaining popularity throughout the world. In the United
States, farro is usually sold in a form called semi-pearled (sometimes
labeled semiperlato), indicating some of the bran layer has been
removed to allow faster cooking. Still highly nutritious, it
cooks in 20 to 25 minutes. The completely whole grain farro needs
to be soaked in water overnight and then cooked for 30 to 45
minutes. Farro’s chewy texture and hearty, nutty flavor
are traditionally favored for use in soups and stews, but it
can also be great as a side dish, as a meatless main dish mixed
with beans or as a change from rice dishes. Farro’s nutritional
value is similar to other wheat grains like spelt and wheat berries;
it’s slightly higher in fiber and protein than barley and
brown rice, and not quite as high-protein as quinoa. Unfortunately,
it’s no bargain and usually sold only at specialty stores
and over the Internet for three to four times the cost of brown
rice. But if you want to add variety to meatless or plant-based
meals, you might divert money formerly spent on high-fat meat
to grains like this.
Q: I only drink beer
two nights a week but can that be causing my weight gain?
A: When looking for eating habits that can lead to
weight gain, it’s usually best to look at what you eat and
drink on a daily basis, but once or twice weekly treats can have
an impact if they’re really high-calorie. How many beers
do you drink on each of those twice weekly beer-drinking nights?
If you have one or two 12-ounce beers, that totals 300 to 600
calories weekly. That could be responsible for slow creeping
weight gain (less than a pound a month), but is unlikely to be
responsible for a more rapid gain.
However, larger amounts even twice a week certainly could produce
larger weight gain. For example, if each of those nights you
have five 12-ounce beers (or one 60-ounce pitcher), that’s
enough calories to produce nearly a half-pound of extra body
fat each week. If those beers are accompanied by snacks like
chips, nachos, pizza or chicken wings, your evening can easily
add from a few hundred to a thousand extra calories – then
those beer-drinking nights could make you gain a few pounds every
month. |
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