Consumption Index: What's "In"

What's "in" on your grocery list. Also, how to diagnose and control Celiac disease.

By Willow Lawson, Kirsten Vala, published on May 01, 2006 - last reviewed on May 31, 2006

To Eat Or Not To Eat

If keeping up with the latest nutritional research is enough to make you reach for a chocolate bar, we've got good news. PT recaps the latest findings to help you choose wisely in the grocery aisle.

What's "Out"

Potatoes
Spud-induced carbohydrate highs may increase your risk of diabetes.
Calcium supplements
Turns out those pills don't prevent fractures and won't help you lose weight.
White bread
Low-carb isn't dead yet. Boosting exercise while cutting refined carbohydrates can help dieters lose weight and burn body fat.
Red meat
More than a daily serving may alter DNA in the bowel, increasing the risk of colon cancer.

What's "In"

Eggs
The pigment zeaxanthin may fight macular degeneration, an increasingly common eye disease. Plus the cholesterol isn't so bad after all.

Avocados

Dig in to the guacamole. The unsaturated fat is good for your heart.

School lunch

The average brown-bag lunch isn't healthier than what the school cafeteria dishes out.

Chocolate

Full of healthy antioxidants. Hot cocoa helps lower blood pressure.

A Shadowy Ailment

It often masquerades as depression, a learning problem or even ADHD. Celiac disease is one of the most common and most underdiagnosed autoimmune disorders in the United States. A recent study found it affects twice as many Americans as previously thought—nearly 3 million people.

Celiac is a genetic disorder that causes the immune system to attack gluten, a protein found in grain, in the small intestine. Damage to the gut causes malnutrition, which can manifest as psychological ailments, says Peter Green, director of the Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University. The average patient is misdiagnosed for 11 years. Early treatment is crucial, as the disease can do permanent damage.

Check Yourself

Celiac disease affects 1 percent of the population. Its symptoms are varied, making it difficult to detect. It is often mistaken for irritable bowel syndrome. symptoms include: