True of False?

1. Corn is just as nutritious as whole wheat.

2. Shrimp are rich in cholesterol and don't belong in a healthy diet.

3. The more salt you eat, the greater your chances of getting high blood pressure.

ANSWERS:

1. FACT: Yellow corn, which is also a "whole grain", is just as nutritious as whole wheat. Yellow corn is rich in carotenoids, such as lutein and zeaxanthin, which may help keep your eyes healthy. Popcorn made from yellow corn has these same nutrients (just don't add all the butter to it!) However, white corn, while tasty, is less nutritious.

2. FICTION: Although shrimp has more cholesterol than any other shellfish except squid, the cholesterol in shrimp has not been shown to be as much of a problem as cholesterol in other foods. Also, shrimp are very low in saturated fat, which has been shown to raise blood cholesterol more than dietary cholesterol. Furthermore, shrimp contains heart healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Therefore, shrimp can be included in a heart healthy diet.

3. FICTION: A high sodium intake may not lead to high blood pressure, unless you are sodium sensitive. However, since it is impossible to know who is sodium-sensitive and who isn't in advance, it makes sense to err on the safe side and consume less than 2,400mg/day, which is equivalent to about a teaspoon of table salt. This means avoiding highly salted processed foods such as chips, canned soups, tv dinners, and canned vegetables.