There is neither a single food nor single group of foods that can be consumed that offer optimal health. Balance and variety are an important aspect of diet. If we want not only to be healthy, but also to enjoy our meals, then we should remember balance and variety. We should be very mindful of […]

When I speak to college students, especially non-science majors, I often encourage them to take some science classes; like say, physiology. The reason for this seemingly bizarre suggestion is that I’ve found it so upsetting over the years to see how the food processors, commodities companies and their organizations can effectively distort science. I believe […]

When I was a young woman, I really wanted to be fashionable and cool. Two things that I thought would help convert a somewhat bookwormish woman to being cool were if I would drink alcohol and smoke cigarettes. I started with the goal to smoke cigarettes. My sister tried several times to help me, but […]

I love surprises; no on second thought I only love pleasant surprises. Having said that, I must share a recent very pleasant one. I’d have to say it was almost a pleasant shock. I received my master’s degree in public health in 1985; so it’s been almost 30 years of the joys (and sorrows) of […]

On May 6, 2014, Nina Teicholz’s article, The Questionable Link Between Saturated Fat and Heart Disease was published in the Wall Street Journal (WSJ). I frequently like the articles in the WSJ, this one ….  not so much. My rationale is that it has the potential of driving people to eat in unhealthy ways, like […]

Today I’m celebrating differences. I must admit that there have been times that I wished that some of my friends loved science and math as much as I do. I wished that I could share with them the beauty that I see in both science and math. But today I’ve reminded myself that the reason […]

Sometimes we’re plugging along trying to do our best and there’s one of those little invisible trip lines near our feet and our stride lurches and falters, but hopefully we don’t stumble and fall. Because nutrition is in its infancy or pre-teen at the very best, we have to expect the lurches and falters in […]

After writing last week’s Apple a Day (keeps the statins away) article, I found a nice piece that may help convince you that making small changes instead of the all-encompassing ‘I’m going to become healthier’ type of change. It’s an LA Time article by Mary MacVean called; With New Year’s resolutions, it’s best to think […]

According to a Wells Fargo analysis published in October 2013, sales of regular sugar-sweetened soda dropped another 1.7% during the month of September. It seems that sluggish sales of sweetened soda have been reported quarter after quarter for Coca-Cola, Pepsi and Dr. Pepper for quite a few years now. I’m trying to be compassionate for […]

On Thursday, November 7, 2013, the FDA finally got around to saying that trans fats aren’t safe in foods. Ya think? The FDA gave notice that trans fats will be removed from the GRAS (generally recognized as safe) list. It will be the second item to be removed from the list since the list was […]