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3 hot nutrition trends: Healthy or gimmicky?

By WTOP Staff

When I attended the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo in Atlanta earlier this week, I was on a mission. Sure, I wanted to network with my friends and colleagues, eat and drink at fun restaurants, go to a karaoke bar (yes, karaoke) and learn something new at a lecture. But my real mission was to discover new products and trends that I could tell my patients about. So walking aisle after aisle — in stilettos, no less — looking at more than 350 exhibitors, these three trends really called out to me:

Ancient Grains

Move over, quinoa, and say hello to sorghum, teff, millet, buckwheat, chia, kamut, bulgar and amaranth. All ancient grains are making a comeback. Not familiar with them? They’ve been around for centuries, some dating as far back as 6,000 B.C. Most are high in fiber and may help prevent certain cancers, heart disease and high blood pressure.

It seems like a lot of the hoopla around ancient grains is because most, but not all, are gluten-free. And with gluten-free diets being so trendy at the moment, this comeback shouldn’t be surprising. Also, a lot of people do not want to consume genetically modified foods (a conversation for another time) and supposedly, these grains are true to their origin.

However, many companies are simply adding ancient grains to their existing products to jump on the bandwagon — and their products aren’t necessarily healthy products. That’s why it’s important to read the entire ingredient nutrition facts label to see exactly what you’re getting.

Going Natural

Many brands I saw at the expo were proud to announce they removed everything “artificial” from their products. Specifically, they advertised no artificial sweeteners or preservatives, touting them as “all-natural.” According to Pittsburgh nutritionist Heather Mangieri, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, “Companies are trying to reduce their ingredients based on consumer demand.” Who could argue with that?

However, the Food and Drug Administration does not define the claim “all-natural.” At this point, those words might appear on a product or be part of a company’s marketing plan, but it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s good for you. For example, replacing a soda’s artificial sweeteners with stevia doesn’t make it a healthy product.

But I did find many products on the expo floor that made me smile. They had minimal ingredients and were packed with nutrition — deserving of an “all-natural” claim. “Consumers want to open up their refrigerators and find foods that they grew up on,” said Joan Salge Blake, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and a nutrition professor at Boston University. I concur, but it depends how you look at that: Not everyone grew up with healthy foods.

Protein Power

All companies were more than eager to tell me how much protein was in their products, including cottage cheese, yogurt, cereal and crackers. “We need protein for many different reasons,” Mangieri said. “It helps to build and repair our muscles, aids in satiety and is also important in weight management.”

“It’s all about snacking, and companies are adding protein to just about everything,” Blake said. I guess there’s a reason for that. I always tell my patients if they are hungry 30 minutes after they ate a snack, chances are they didn’t have enough protein with it. But, Blake pointed out, “When companies start adding protein to water, that is just ridiculous.” Oh, yeah. Water is for hydration — leave the protein for real snack foods.

More to Come

There were also many trends that I couldn’t quite get a handle on yet. Fermentation was a hot word. As Mangieri told me, “There is a lot of talk about prebiotics and probiotics for gut health.” And phytonutrients, such as flavonols and polyphenols, were front and center in many products.

Honestly, it’s hard to keep up with all the food trends, just like it is in fashion. Some trends will look good on you; others won’t. And if you wait long enough, an old trend just may reappear.

More from U.S. News

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3 Hot Nutrition Trends: Healthy or Gimmicky? originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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