Myth: Detox diets remove toxins from your body
TRUTH: If you google search for “detox diet”, you’ll get a range of results from fasting to strict meal plans. Most of these use quasi-science and make extremely overblown claims touting the benefits of detoxing. So what’s the science based perspective? Here are the basics: Natural detox mainly happens in the liver (though other systems [...]
Myth: Cutting carbs will make you lose weight
TRUTH: Oh, KGN readers. You know this one isn’t true! I know because you’re intelligent, savvy readers (and I’ve taught you well). As you probably know, any extra calories are stored as fat. It doesn’t matter if those calories enter your body as carbs, fat, or protein, they’re all stored as fat. So, there are [...]
Top Food, Nutrition and Wine Apps in 2013
I’m an iphone user and I have very few apps on my phone, mostly because I’m so overwhelmed with the choices that I can’t decide. I need someone to tell me which I should use. While I may not know the best games or media apps, I can form my own opinions about the food [...]
5 ways the government could improve our food system (and health)
As you probably know, the US is at a fiscal critical moment. One of the major discussions in this year’s election debates is what programs should or should not be cut from the federal budget. The Farm Bill costs the federal government about $300 billion dollars – 15% of which (aka $45 billion) is spent [...]
Myth: Food stamp recipients are looking for handouts
TRUTH: Recently inspired by a facebook post from a woman I admire (and am proud to call a friend) and in the wake of President Obama’s re-election, I want to provide some information about food stamp (SNAP) recipients. Obama has been dubbed the ‘food stamp president’, given the increase in the number of recipients since [...]
Myth: Energy drinks boost energy
TRUTH: Most energy drinks contain a lot of caffeine or a lot of sugar (or both) – which can provide a short burst of energy, but generally isn’t worth it because you’ll crash afterwards. Depending on the drink, it may contain one or more of these other classes of ingredients: Stimulants– they stimulate the central [...]
Product Spotlight: Holy Crap, Dragon’s Blend
Why have I chosen Holy Crap Cereal for the product spotlight? (Isn’t it obvious?!) This cereal claims to be the worlds most amazing breakfast cereal. Plus, it’s the Dragon’s blend. And, clearly, they’re well fed, so since this is their blend, I’m in. Here are the nutritional claims on the package (including the back), [...]
Product Spotlight: Nabisco’s Honey Maid Graham Crackers
Here’s the first in a series of ‘Product Spotlights’. If you have a specific product you’d like to request for the spotlight, please e-mail me! Here’s an interesting food story: In 1829, Presbyterian minister Sylvester Graham created an unsweetened cracker (from graham flour), intended to be a bland health food. Why set out to create [...]
GM Crops: the results are in and you’re probably going to die
If you read my blog regularly, you know I hate extreme claims like “you’re going to die” (which is why I inserted ‘probably’), but I’m not joking. The first long term (lifetime) study examining the effects of long term GM Crop consumption is complete and the results are dismal. I have one more qualification before [...]
Myth: You are very healthy
TRUTH: How can I even make such a claim?! Though this isn’t an attempt to insult your intelligence, it’s very likely that you overestimate how healthy you are. We’ve all heard the statistic that about two thirds of Americans are overweight, right? On top of that, consider the less common (but nonetheless rampant) thin but [...]
