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Karen Collins, MS, RD, CDN
American Institute for Cancer Research
Q: My doctor told me that I should stay away from caffeine. Does that mean I need to give up chocolate?
A: Usually when people need to cut down on caffeine for heart health or to sleep better, they need only cut down on major sources of caffeine. A six-ounce cup of regular coffee typically has about 100 milligrams (mg) of caffeine, although it can range from 60 to 180 mg. A six-ounce cup of brewed tea contains the equivalent of 40 to 60 mg of caffeine. A 12-ounce can of most caffeinated soft drinks gives you 30 to 90 mg. Soft drinks designed to provide large bolts of caffeine can contain up to 160 mg. Check nonprescription cold remedies, pain relievers and weight-control aids, since they may contain 30 to 200 mg of caffeine. Compared to these beverages, the 2 to 6 mg of caffeine from one cup of decaffeinated coffee or tea, a cup of cocoa, or a 1-ounce bar of chocolate is often too little to worry about. You might be a little more careful of dark chocolate since one ounce contains about 20 mg of caffeine. For some cases of acid reflux disease, medication interactions, or other problems, even a little caffeine causes problems. Check with your physician to clarify whether minor sources of caffeine are safe to consume in limited amounts, or if you should avoid caffeine completely.
Q: Why don?t the different types of fat on food labels add up to equal ?total fat??
A: These numbers don?t always add up as you?d expect, even if content of saturated, trans, polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids (building blocks of fat) are all listed. Total fat also includes a substance called ?glycerol,? which is one of the building blocks for fats that itself does not act like a fat at all. The way that figures are rounded up or down slightly for use on food labels can also send the total off a bit.
Q: Does someone?s blood type indicate the kind of diet that?s best for him or her?
A: No. You may have heard of a diet based on the idea that blood type indicates whether your genetic ancestors were hunters, farmers or nomads, which in turn tells you whether or not you should eat specific foods, such as meat, dairy foods and wheat. Supposedly, eating appropriately for your ?type? helps control weight and prevents cancer and other health problems. Reports providing details of vague references to research have still not appeared in scientific journals for review by scientists. Any weight loss that results from such a diet is probably due to low-calorie menus and to the fact that many foods are restricted. However, most experts recommend that long-term weight control is best achieved by unrestricted access to a variety of foods, with emphasis on portion control, nutritional balance and regular exercise. Studies now suggest that people may differ in how much their risk of cancer is affected by various aspects of healthy foods, but this relates to differences in genes?not blood type. Since cancer-protective eating also lowers risk of many different health problems, for now the best diet for all of us is one that emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains and beans, with portion control for a healthy weight.
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Diets 
