Newswise — Low-carb diets are the current rage, but the message on MayoClinic.com still is: calories count. A calorie is still a calorie, and too many calories from any source lead to weight gain.

Uncertain how many calories you need to maintain a healthy weight? A new "calorie counter" on MayoClinic.com can help. Find more information, go to MayoClinic.com and enter "calorie calculator" in the search box or click on the link below. http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?objectid=6BF26F70-98E1-4790-A27F32250C0B0DE1

If the daily calorie calculator indicates that you're consuming too many calories, the MayoClinic.com Food and Nutrition Center can help you improve your diet. The center offers:

*Quick and healthy recipes, for everything from appetizers to main courses and desserts*Tips from registered dieticians on making your favorite family recipe healthier by reducing calories, fat and salt -- but not taste*The lowdown on low-carbohydrate diets, such as the Atkins and South Beach diets*An interactive quiz that addresses common myths about weight loss and nutrition*Shopping strategies, including tips for reading food labels

You'll also get the scoop on various food pyramids; in-depth information about herbs, vitamins and minerals; and overall guidelines for good nutrition. Finally, you can explore the food and health connection and begin to understand how it relates to disease prevention, weight control and special diets.

The mission of MayoClinic.com is to empower people to manage their health by providing useful and up-to-date information and tools that reflect the expertise of the more than 2,000 physicians and scientists at Mayo Clinic. The site is owned by Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

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