Men who consume the recommended amount of vitamin D are somewhat less likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke than those who get little of the vitamin in their diets.
Among consumers, sodium has earned a bad, although somewhat undeserved, reputation. In fact, sodium is a crucial mineral in a multitude of metabolic processes.
For a number of products in need of a sweetener, it seems like everything old is becoming new again, particularly in beverages. Just this summer, Dr Pepper launched a limited run of its signature beverage "made with real sugar," and Dr Pepper Snapple Group was mulling sugar-sweetened versions of others in its stable, including Canada Dry, 7-Up and A&W Root Beer.
Sodium reduction will be a hot topic for 2010. Media, as well as consumers, will be asking food companies, “What are you doing to lower salt in foods?”