Women ages 70 and older who ate the most cruciferous vegetables had thinner carotid artery walls than women who ate the fewest, researchers reported in the Journal of the American Heart Association. A 0.1% decrease in carotid wall thickness was associated with a 10% to 18% lower risk of heart attack and stroke, and each additional half-ounce of vegetables consumed was associated with an almost 1% thinner artery wall.

Dietitians do not get formal training on how to handle brief, casual conversations about nutrition and diet, says registered dietitian nutritionist Andrea Lobene. People may describe their weight loss experiences, ask nutrition questions or take a defensive posture about their diet, Lobene says, so it is important for dietitians to "meet them where they're at, provide an evidence-based response and reserve any judgment."

The aim of the ketogenic diet is to reduce carbohydrates to a level that forces the body into ketosis, but it is not clear whether any weight loss is due to the body being in a fat-burning state or if people are just eating fewer calories, said registered dietitian nutritionist Kristi King. The diet, used mainly to help control epilepsy seizures, has been associated with fatigue, headache, kidney stones, nutrient deficiencies and possible weight gain if carbohydrate intake increases, King said.

CMS rules issued this week expand the definition of "primarily health-related" benefits under Medicare Advantage policies to include services such as home-delivered meals and transportation to medical appointments. The CMS said it would permit coverage of care and devices that treat or prevent illness or injury, reduce utilization of emergency care, compensate for physical impairments or address the psychological effects of injuries or conditions.

Men who were overweight at age 7 but maintained normal weight from age 13 to early adulthood had similar odds of developing type 2 diabetes as those who had never been overweight, according to a Danish study in The New England Journal of Medicine. However, the findings showed that adult-onset type 2 diabetes was 51% more likely among those who were overweight at ages 7 and 13 but not in early adulthood, 3.24 times more likely among those who only became overweight in early adulthood, and four times more likely among those who were overweight from childhood into early adulthood.

Consumption of yogurt with added whey protein, calcium and vitamin D resulted in higher 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and greater decreases in waist circumference and body fat in overweight or obese adults with metabolic syndrome, compared with adults who ate regular low-fat yogurt, according to a study in Nutrition, Metabolism & Cardiovascular Diseases. There was no significant weight loss difference between the two groups.

A study in Health Affairs that analyzed Hamilton County, Ohio, which includes Cincinnati, found poverty is associated with higher rates of pediatric inpatient hospital stays. Researchers at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center targeted one hot-spot neighborhood and started an initiative to improve population health and create stronger community partnerships.

Colleges and universities seeking to generate more meal plan revenue are making it easier for students to get dining hall food by creating apps for ordering and offering dorm delivery services. The University of Massachusetts has UMass Fresh dinners, a heat-and-eat meal delivery service that also offers holiday meal kits full of locally sourced foods.

This crispy, savory snack has less fat than traditional bagged chips. Food & Nutrition Magazine

Magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in the body, with the majority found in the skeleton and the rest in muscle, soft tissue and blood. Learn more in the current issue of Food & Nutrition Magazine®.

Learn about the most recent population data from USRDS and NHANES and recently revised recommendations for sodium intake and blood pressure control. Find more information on the Chronic Kidney Disease Nutrition Management modules.