GET SMART

Debunking myths about warm-ups, eggs

There are so many things to worry about these days. Wouldn't it be nice to cross something off the list? Turns out you can. Researchers have been busy debunking some common medical myths that have been repeated so many times, people assume them to be true. Here are five misconceptions you can stop biting your nails over now:

NUTRITION

A taste of help to keep cancer patients' pounds up

The statistic is shocking: Severe malnutrition and weight loss play a role in at least one in five cancer deaths. Yet nutrition too often is an afterthought until someone's already in trouble.

NUTRITION QUIZ

Do you know beans about beans?

The latest issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association reports that only 7.9 percent of adults consume dry beans, peas and lentils on any given day. Learn all about the bean in our true/false nutrition quiz:

HEALTH DRINKS

Need a new drug? Focus is on L-theanine

Loaded with caffeine and taurine to stimulate the central nervous system, energy drinks have become the go-to solution when you need a quick, energizing pick-me-up.

EATING WISELY

You can cheat, just do it wisely

Almost everyone needs to indulge once in a while, even people on a diet. Here are some ways to limit the damage, nutritionists say:

NUTRITION QUIZ

Do cooked vegetables lose nutrients?

One reason the raw-food movement is gaining in popularity is the belief that vegetables lose their wonderful antioxidant-building nutrients during the cooking process. But a recent study published in the Journal of Food Science disputes that contention. Take our quiz about some of the findings in that report.

CHEW ON THIS

Soy's back in good graces

If put on a pedestal, you can only go down. That's what happened to soy foods, which were once touted, then controversial, and now more greatly understood.

WLRN-MIAMI HERALD AUDIO REPORT

Surgeon general promotes childhood obesity awareness

The nation's Surgeon General made a stop in Miami to promote awareness of childhood obesity, focusing on the Latino community. WLRN Miami Herald reporter Jacqueline Fernandez was at the discussion.

LOSING WEIGHT IN 2008

Dieters report progress at 59 lbs. and counting

It's been more than a month since these six people have vowed to lose weight in 2008. So far, they have lost a collective 59 pounds by changing their eating habits and exercising. Today, Terrence Thomas, a holistic lifestyle coach, offers some advice tailored to each: Dwaine Simpson, 74; Glenn Terry, 60; Thelma Kirlew, 50; Janet Carabelli, 48; Gustavo Lumer, 38; and Marina Lumer, 35.

Losing weight in 2008

Can six determined dieters do it? Follow their progress each month in Tropical Life and at MiamiHerald.com

10 rules of permanent weight loss

Over the last 14 years, I have had the pleasure of working with a wide variety of people with many of them wanting to lose weight. With all of the weight loss clients that I have worked with, one or more of the 10 Rules for Permanent Weight Loss were implemented to achieve long lasting results. If you can implement just one of the 10 strategies that you will learn in this report, you will greatly improve your chances of maintaining a healthy and ideal body weight. We will go through the rules in...