Pickling is a time honored way to preserve foods with no refrigeration. But what happens to the nutritional quality of vegetables when you pickle them? It depends on the method. Find out which kinds of pickles are super good for you and which aren’t in this week’s episode of the Nutrition Diva Podcast.
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Coffee: Health Boon or Bust? | Video
This Week’s Podcast | Foods to Avoid When Pregnant
Do you really need to avoid sushi, cheese, or peanuts when you’re pregnant? Rules for what is safe to eat during pregnancy are different in various parts of the world. How seriously should women should take bans on various foods? Read or listen to this week’s podcast here.
Silken Asparagus Soup
Serves 4
You’d never guess that this elegantly creamy soup is completely dairy-free! For a more substantial dish, add 3 or 4 peeled cooked shrimp to each bowl before serving. The hot soup will warm the shrimp without overcooking them.
2 shallots or 1 medium onion, chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound very slender asparagus spears, tough ends discarded
2 14 ounce cans low sodium chicken stock, or 3 1/2 cups homemade stock
1 bay leaf
1 spring fresh thyme (or 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme)
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
6 ounces (1/2 package) extra firm silken tofu Continue reading “Silken Asparagus Soup”
The Antidote to Fructose Fears
For as long as Gary Taubes and Robert Lustig have been sounding the alarm about sugar (in general) and fructose (in particular) being the fall of Western civilization, I have been attempting to inject some much-needed perspective into the discussion. (See the bottom of the post for links to my articles dating back to 2007).
In my opinion, the black-and-white view promoted by Taubes and Lustig is counter-productive. Instead of helping people set reasonable limits on their sugar intake, they’ve got people afraid to have an apple for fear of the fructose it contains.
If you eat large quantities of sugar–say, 25% or more of your daily calories for an extended period of time–you may well experience the doomsday scenario that Taubes and Lustig depict–fatty liver, altered metabolism, increased appetite, diabetes, obesity, and reduced life expectancy. On the other hand, these effects have not been seen in people (or rats) who consume sugar in moderate quantities.
How Much Water Do You Need to Drink? | Video
This Week’s Podcast | Health Benefits of Fasting
I’ve gotten a lot of questions from listeners about fasting: Is it safe? Is it beneficial? In this week’s podcast, I take a look at the potential health benefits of fasting, the pros and cons of fasting as a weight loss strategy, and offer some tips on how to fast safely. Read or listen to the podcast here.
Can Certain Foods Protect You from Food Poisoning?
Q. I tend to get food poisoning about once a year. Often, however, I am the only person in a group that gets it. Is there anything I can eat that would make my GI tract more resistant? Would probiotics help?
A. It’s true that some people seem to be more resistant to food-borne pathogens than others. So, how can you strengthen your own resistance? Continue reading “Can Certain Foods Protect You from Food Poisoning?”