The fact that a study has been funded by a private interest suggests that we need to take a closer look at how it was conducted and reported. However, it not automatically invalidate the results. And publicly funded research is not immune to bias. Read more about the different types of bias that affect scientific research in this week’s show.
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Fresh Figs, Four Ways
The other day, I received a beautiful crate of fresh figs, compliments of the California Fig Advisory Board. Apparently, cool rainy weather slightly delayed the harvest of fresh figs this year. But these were perfectly ripe, and ripe figs don’t last long. The clock was ticking so I invited a bunch of friends and started planning a menu, with each course featuring fresh figs.
Next: Appetizers
Product Review: Hodgson Mill Bulgur with Soy
I’m not sure whether this is a new product or just new to me, but I recently came across this in the “healthy foods” aisle at my local grocery store and was intrigued enough to put it in my cart.
Continue reading “Product Review: Hodgson Mill Bulgur with Soy”
Vitamins for Those Who Need Them
As most of you know, I am not overly enthusiastic about vitamin supplements. I think people are better off getting their nutrients from foods rather than pills and—with a couple of exceptions—meeting your nutritional requirements from diet alone is not difficult. After all, most of us live in countries were food is plentiful. (Too plentiful, by the looks of things.)
See also: Do you Need a Multivitamin?
However, there are places where food is scarce and children go hungry. There, a basic multivitamin is more than just an inexpensive insurance policy—it can literally make the difference between barely surviving and thriving. According to a global task force, providing multivitamins to at-risk infants and children is one of the most cost effective ways to combat disease and poverty.
A charitable organization called Vitamin Angels partners with corporate sponsors and local aid organizations to provide free vitamins to malnourished and undernourished children, helping to break the cycle of poverty, disease, and disability. To learn more about this wonderful program or to join me in supporting them, please visit VitaminAngels.org
What Are Nightshades and Do You Need to Avoid Them?
People with arthritis are sometimes advised to avoid tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants (the so-called “nightshade” plants) because they are said to cause inflammation. But this advice really only applies to certain people. Find out how to tell if you’re one of them in this week’s show.
3 Ways to Fight Childhood Obesity
Today, one in every 5 kids is obese and a great many more are overweight. Not only is this a cruddy way to spend your childhood, but overweight kids are highly likely to become overweight adults, battling both their weight and the associated health problems for a lifetime. In this week’s podcast, I outline three simple things you can do to help your kids maintain a healthy weight. Read or listen to it here.
Is Goat Milk Better for You than Cows Milk?
In recent years, goat milk has gone from a fairly rare specialty item to one that’s available in most large grocery stores. And whenever you see an exotic, costly alternative to a mainstream food item, it’s easy to assume that it must be either better—or better for you. In this week’s show, I take a closer look at the differences between goat milk and cow milk and what nutritional advantages, if any, goat milk might offer.
How Nutritious is 100% Fruit Juice? Not Very.
Q. What should I look for when buying fruit juice? For example the “100% pure and natural orange juice” says it contains 0% Vitamin C. How is that possible? Another one provides 100% Vitamin C but from the list of ingredients we see that Vitamin C is actually added.
A. The USDA considers a half cup of fruit juice equivalent to a serving of fruit but I have my doubts. Processed fruit juice–even 100% juice–is a distant second to fresh whole fruit in terms of its nutritional value. For one thing, fruit juice is a very concentrated source of sugar and calories. All the fiber, which slows the absorption of the sugars in whole fruit, has been removed.
Secondly, many (most?) of the naturally-occurring nutrients are lost during processing, pasteurization, and storage. As you found, manufacturers may compensate for this by adding nutrients back to the juice after the fact. You could get the same benefit from taking a vitamin C capsule.
See also: Juicing for Health and Nutrition
Juice and Diabetes Risk
Nutritionally, I’d rank processed fruit juice only slightly higher than soda and other sweetened beverages. In fact, a large study conducted in China found that people who drink two or more servings of juice a week are 25% more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes compared to those who rarely drink juice. This is consistent with another large 2008 study, which also found that increased juice consumption led to an increased risk of Type 2 diabetes–but that eating more whole fruit decreased diabetes risk.
My Advice?
Eat Fruit; Drink Water. (Same for your kids!)
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My newest book, Secrets for a Healthy Diet: What to Eat, What to Avoid, and What to Stop Worrying About is my essential guide to all the food choices you make every day. Read a sample chapter here.