Somewhere in your cupboard, chances are you have a can of baking soda and a box of baking powder. But do you really know the difference between these two products? While both are leavening agents, they are used for entirely different purposes in recipes.

Schools may be able to teach adolescents more than reading, writing and arithmetic: Diet and exercise may soon be the new math. According to a study in the June 2007 issue of the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, short-term, school-based weight gain interventions may help “tweens” achieve a healthy weight.

Researchers in Cologne, Germany, recently conducted a meta-analysis of randomized, controlled trials to determine whether cocoa and tea had any effect on blood pressure. The goal of the research review was to see if these beverages caused changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

While delicious, French cassoulets are traditionally high in calories and animal fat, owing to the inclusion of sausages, duck and pork. This low-calorie version substitutes chicken breasts for those fatty meats. The recipe gets its great taste from using bone-in chicken breasts with the skin left on (but later removed), which yields a rich broth.

Fitness professionals who work with clients with high blood pressure can now access a free online recipe book that conforms to the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) meal plan. The DASH diet is naturally low in saturated and total fat and high in nutrients like calcium, potassium and magnesium, which are linked to decreasing the risk of hypertension and stroke.

The best way to ensure that your utensils are squeaky clean is to load forks, spoons and knives individually before running your dishwasher.

On June 22, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a final rule that establishes regulations requiring manufacturers of dietary supplements to adopt “current good manufacturing practices (cGMP),” a move that many hail as a right baby step in protecting consumers.

Do you often rely on a sandwich when you need a quick meal? You are not alone.

Are you raising picky eaters? Do you want to encourage your children to eat healthily and adopt good food habits? Well, parents, the onus is on you to set the right example, according to nutrition experts.

A new website developed by the FDA provides a single, user-friendly resource where consumers can find a variety of health and nutrition information.

When it comes to weight loss, the news about soy is somewhat sorry. According to a study published in the March 2007 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, there is no basis for manufacturers’ contentions that soy protein products can help people lose weight.

In many parts of the country, autumn is giving way to winter, a time when fresh vegetables are harder to come by. However, this is the season to celebrate the arrival of winter greens on store shelves. Winter greens come in many varieties, including collards, escarole, kale and mustard greens.