Monthly Insights
Lifting the curtain on the peptide craze (April 2026)
By Carrie Dennett, MPH, RDN Peptides are a hot topic in the wellness/anti-aging space, especially among biohackers and others who want to increase longevity and prevent chronic disease. The claims—many coming from celebrities and wellness influencers—are that peptides are something of a magic elixir, a fast track to improving cognition, memory, muscle strength, sexual function, […]
Yes, males get eating disorders, too (June 2025)
By Carrie Dennett, MPH, RDN The thing about stereotypes is that there’s usually a nugget of truth in there somewhere. But taking what’s true for a few and generalizing it to everyone is still a problem, no matter what we’re talking about. So right now, let’s talk about eating disorders. Even though we should know […]
How to eat and move for healthy bones (May 2025)
By Carrie Dennett, MPH, RDN It’s estimated that 10 million Americans have osteoporosis, and another 44 million have low bone density, according to the Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation (BHOF). While 1 in 2 women and up to 1 in 4 men will break a bone due to osteoporosis after age 50, the stage is […]
Attitude is everything. (April 2025)
When I was a child, I watched my father struggle with heart issues and other medical conditions. He was ahead of his time, always striving to meditate and be positive. He would attend yoga and meditation retreats—being the only man on these retreats—and I watched him work on calming down his “inner critic” by learning […]
Why does body positivity feel hard? (March 2025)
Carrie Dennett, MPH, RDN What thoughts come to mind when you hear or read the words “body positivity? Maybe, “It’s wonderful! It changed my life!” or “It’s an idea I’m working on incorporating into my life…and some days are better than others” or “Feel positive about THIS body? Yeah, right” or even, “If I feel […]
Does sugar cause cancer? The truth is far more complicated (February 2025)
By Carrie Dennett, MPH, RDN If you want to reduce your risk of cancer — or increase your odds of surviving it—should you avoid sugar? If you go looking for information on the internet, or even in certain books, you might think the answer is a definite “Yes.” However, while there is a connection between […]
New Year, New Values… (January 2025)
As we start 2025, we’re bombarded with the usual messages about New Year’s resolutions—particularly around weight and exercise. The diet and weight loss industries capitalize on New Year’s resolutions, using this annual ritual to perpetuate diet culture messaging. Have you considered pushing back against this by doing something different this year? Could you revisit your […]
Are fermented foods “probiotic”? (December 2024)
—Carrie Dennett, MPH, RDN Do you make your own yogurt or have a sourdough starter you’ve been nurturing for years? Maybe you frequently add kombucha and kimchi to your shopping list? If so, you’re in good company. These and other fermented foods have a long and illustrious history—fermentation was a biological method of food preservation […]
What to know about SIBO (November 2024)
—Carrie Dennett, MPH, RDN With increasing interest in the gut microbiota and its role in health and disease, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, or SIBO, is also getting more attention. And, like many things related to gut health, there’s both reliable and not-so-reliable information to be found online. Here’s what you need to know. First, SIBO […]
How to talk to your kids about food (October 2024)
—Carrie Dennett, MPH, RDN Parents want their kids to grow up happy and healthy. A healthy, uncomplicated relationship with food is a gift that will serve them well for decades, possibly even inoculating them against the food myths and misinformation they’ll inevitably encounter from friends, the media, and society at large. So how do you […]
Why fiber matters, and how to get enough (September 2024)
Do you get enough fiber in your diet? If not, you are certainly not alone. It’s estimated that more than 90 percent of women and 97 percent of men don’t get the recommended amounts. But being in good company doesn’t change the fact that getting enough fiber is important for health—and not just for digestive […]