Another five years have gone by and thus the new 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines have been released jointly by the Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). You may think that the guidelines don’t really have much to do with you; but by understanding them, your own diet can be improved. […]

I want to start today’s article with an example of why we need to pay attention to how much sugar is in our food – especially our processed food. On November 10, 2015 ABC News reported on a class action lawsuit against General Mills. The lawsuit has to do with the fact that General Mills […]

I love science – that’s no surprise to those who know me. But having said that I also recognize that I’m not the most patient person and nutritional science is relatively a young field. I wish we could learn; and learn fast, but alas, good methodical science frequently doesn’t happen quickly. What’s brought me to […]

This past week has provided some sobering news. Lamar Odom stopped breathing and went into a coma. And although the owner of the “Love Ranch” (brothel) wants to protect the reputation of his business, the doctors found more than the natural (????) product “Reload” implicated in his blood. So the crack cocaine probably was adding […]

On September 14, 2015 the Wall Street Journal published an article called: Eye Candy? Scientists Debate the Value of Lutein Supplements: A role in limiting a chronic eye disease. The article and the studies, upon which the article was based, were to my mind, like opening the proverbial can of worms. At a quick glance […]

I was watching a movie a couple of days ago, and the lead female actor said something about kidney stones causing pain worse that childbirth. It sent me back about three decades when I experienced kidney stones. After the ordeal, I told my friends that I would rather have another baby natural childbirth than go […]

My fourth hint for permanently improving your eating style is to switch to whole grains. (Hint 1: An Apple a Day; Hint 2: A Nutty Little Change; Hint 3: Whittling Away at Meat Consumption.) With a little information, this 4th one, like the other hints is do-able and not too tough. And like the other […]

For several years, I planted basil in our herb garden; it never flourished. Then for several more years I struggled to keep it healthy and happy in pots on the shelf outside my kitchen window – only moderate success! Basil wants just the right amount of water; I never got it just right. In addition, […]

It is such a pervasive and appealing fairly tale.  A small handful of pills, taken daily, can substitute for the thousands of nutrients in fruits and vegetables. The pills are not cheap, but they are ever so much faster to prepare and get down than the whole foods.  Whole foods need to be shopped for, […]

Mary Ireland discusses foods that will help you lower your stress levels.