Salt restriction in the normal diet has come under debate. While scientists are questioning the complex role of sodium in the body and the need for salt restriction, surveys have found that dietary sodium has not gone down well in large populations despite awareness on the risks of too much salt intake.

Scientists are reporting evidence that black rice a little-known variety of the grain that is the staple food for one-third of the world population may help soothe the inflammation involved in allergies, asthma, and other diseases.

Frank Cruz has been at the forefront of a campaign to stop the spread of obesity in America. In an effort to give people a chance to share their stories and struggles with weight, Frank began blogging on the website "Fat Man Unleashed," an online community of voices who have all battled with what Frank calls, "The Yo-yo Life."

Long term exposure to low-level air pollution may increase the risk of severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to researcher s in Denmark. While acute exposure of several days to high level air pollution was known to be a risk factor for exacerbation in pre-existing COPD, until now there had been no studies linking long-term air pollution exposure to the development or progression of the disease.

Autistic children with severely limited diets may be at risk for vision loss due to vitamin B12 deficiency, according to new research from The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Doctors should consider this deficiency when evaluating and treating children with autism and vision loss, the authors said.