by Monica Reinagel, MS, LDN on May 8, 2012
Back when Hippocrates counseled his followers to let food be their medicine, he wasn’t really advising an alternative course; he was stating the obvious. Back then, dietary cures were about all that doctors had to offer. In today’s there’s-a-pill-for-that medical culture, of course, Hippocrates’ advice takes on a different tone. And although it’s not really how he originally meant it, it’s still pretty good advice–especially when most of today’s chronic illnesses are caused by dietary excesses and indiscretions.
Regular readers know that I always advise getting your nutrition from foods, not supplements. Case in point: a recent study finding that, while vitamin E-rich foods offer lots of benefits, vitamin E supplements are largely useless. On the What’s Cooking blog this week, I’ve got the top foods for vitamin E, along with some delicious ways to enjoy them. Meanwhile, following last week’s good news about nitrate-rich vegetables ability to lower your blood pressure, I included some additional information about how to put this research to work in this week’s Nutrition Diva newsletter.
For those taking blood-thinning medications, this week’s Nutrition Diva podcast explains why people taking these drugs are sometimes instructed to avoid broccoli, spinach, and other super-nutritious vegetables. I’ve also got tips on how to enjoy the benefits of these great foods without interfering with your anticoagulant therapy.
Of course, it’s also possible to over-estimate what foods can do for us. On the Quick and Dirty Blog, I respond to a reader who wonders whether she should be eating more brown rice in order to get the benefits. Can you guess what my answer is?
by Monica Reinagel, MS, LDN on May 3, 2012
by Monica Reinagel, MS, LDN on April 24, 2012
Can beets lower your blood pressure?
After some prominent Harvard scientists sniffed that the idea of an optimal ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 is “a myth with absolutely no data to support it,” I devoted an episode of the Nutrition Diva podcast to a quick review of this “non-existent” data. On the Quick and Dirty Blog, I check into rumors that foods high in choline might offer help for kids with ADD and in my weekly newsletter, I field questions about beets and blood pressure. On our monthly Smart Nutrition segment on WYPR-FM, Tom Hall and I unpack the Pink Slime controversy and on the What’s Cooking blog, I’ve got tips on foods that help protect your skin from UV damage without interfering with Vitamin D production.
by Monica Reinagel, MS, LDN on April 16, 2012
by Monica Reinagel, MS, LDN on April 10, 2012
by Monica Reinagel, MS, LDN on March 26, 2012
Some researchers believe that environmental pollutants and industrial chemicals are to blame for the obesity epidemic. This, of course, bucks the conventional wisdom that our increasing girth is simply the result of eating too much and exercising too little. What’s the evidence to support the idea that chemicals are the true cause of our ever-expanding waistlines? Find out in this week’s Nutrition Diva podcast.
by Monica Reinagel, MS, LDN on March 15, 2012
Is farm-raised fish safe?
Q. I have seen a lot of conflicting information about the safety of farmed-raised fish. I stopped buying farm-raised salmon years ago because of the concern. How does farm-raised trout stack up to other fish in terms of nutrition and safety? Where does most of the supply come from in USA?
A. Unfortunately, this issue is a moving target. Exponential growth in aquaculture and the pressure to control costs means that procedures are constantly evolving. If watchdog groups make enough noise about a safety or nutrition concern, the industry often changes practices in response. So, something that was a concern a few years ago may no longer be a problem. (See, for example: Farmed salmon gets an anti-inflammatory makeover.) However, newer concerns may have cropped up in the meantime.
The best resource I’ve found to keep up with these issues is Seafood Watch. These guys are working hard to stay on top of all of these issues and to provide up-to-date resources for consumers trying to make safe and responsible choices. They have a number of tools for consumers, including a mobile app for your smart phone or a low-tech wallet card, as well as in-depth reports on individual fish. According to the fact-sheet on farmed trout, most of the farm-raised trout in the U.S. is produced in Idaho, with a minimum of negative environmental impacts. They consider it an excellent choice.
by Monica Reinagel, MS, LDN on February 27, 2012
I’ve gotten half a dozen requests from readers to weigh in on krill oil, an omega-3 supplement that’s supposed to be even better for you than fish oil! Of course, it’s also more expensive. So let’s take a closer look at what advantages krill oil might (or might not) offer and whether it’s worth the premium price. Read or listen to it here.
Is weight loss a losing battle? Monica responds to Tara Parker-Pope's New York Times piece "The Fat Trap." 
Who says eating right has to break the bank? Monica tells financial writer Amy Fontinelle which foods offer the most nutrition for the money. 
Seven Good-For-You Foods: Why they're healthy and how to prepare them.
Are grains really essential to a healthy diet? Oxygen Magazine asks the Nutrition Diva for advice. 
How does an opera singer end up dishing out nutrition advice? Entrepreneur Magazine's SecondAct.com profiles the making of a Nutrition Diva. 
Moms have enough to worry about. Monica dishes on "Five Dumb Nutrition Rules Worth Breaking" on The Stir Blog on CafeMom.com 
