(Distributed 07/11/06) The hot, summer months are a great time to enjoy fresh tomatoes. Enjoy them in green salads, chicken or shrimp salads, stuffed with tuna or simply on their own. They also make a wonderful addition to a heart-healthy and cancer-preventing diet, according to LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames.

We’ve heard it many times that a healthy diet should include plenty fruits and vegetables. Also, variety is very important to get all the vitamins and nutrients our bodies need to stay healthy.

Including folic acid in your diet is a key strategy for optimal health, according to LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames. This is her message during National Folic Acid Awareness week, Jan. 9-15.

Enjoy Louisiana blueberries. They can help protect against diseases, including certain cancers and heart disease, according to LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames.

As baby boomers age, many reach for herbal supplements in hopes of staying young. Supplements can be harmful, cautions LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Heli Roy.

It's easy to find herbs and other dietary supplements, but much more difficult to find accurate information about them and their side effects or benefits, says LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames.

Americans each eat more than 16 pounds of fresh tomatoes a year and consume the equivalent of 79 pounds in processed tomatoes annually. Tomatoes are a rich source of antioxidants, including vitamin C and lycopene, according to LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames.

Figs are nutrient-dense, versatile and very easy to pack and transport. They add nutrients and minerals to your diet without adding any fat.

Calcium is the most important mineral in your body. During growing years, calcium is important for bone growth. As we get older, it helps to keep our bones strong. What if you don’t get enough calcium? How much calcium do you need? How can you get calcium? Find these answers and more.

Following its recent consumer alert about ephedra, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will issue a rule to ban the sale of dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids. LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames says consumers should stop buying and using ephedra products now.