Monthly Insights
Red Yeast Rice: What is it? Is it safe to take to reduce your total cholesterol? (August 2024)
Red yeast rice is a product created by fermenting rice with the yeast Monascus purpureus, or other derivatives of the same fungal family, which turns the rice red. This “traditional” medicine has been used in China for many years to lower cholesterol, improve blood circulation and improve digestion. Fermentation with some Monascus strains produce substances […]
What is Agave Nectar? (October 2009)
I hear clients share with me how they add Agave Nectar to their tea, cereal, and fruit or use it in baking, but is it any better than sugar? Agave Nectar is somewhat sweeter than sugar, so use between a quarter and an eighth less agave nectar than if you were cooking with regular […]
Facts on Sugar (September 2009)
Did you know there are 142 pounds of added sugar and sweeteners that the average American eats per year? Did you know that there are 16 calories in a teaspoon of sugar? Did you know there are 26 numbers of different sweeteners on the market, including artificial ones? Did you know there are 30 […]
Clarifying Myths about Sugar (August 2009)
In my private practice about 40% of my clients have diabetes. It seems to be a misconception that eating sugar or having a craving for sweet foods is what has caused their blood sugar problem. One of the hallmarks of the disease is elevated blood sugar, so many people assume what they are eating […]
What is the Best Produce to Buy Organic? (July 2009)
To buy or not buy organic, that is the question. Produce are the foods that can contain trace levels of pesticides. According to the FDA’s pesticide Residue Monitoring Program, which collects and tests random samples of domestic and imported foods, fruits and vegetables it is known that they have 54.9 percent of fruit and […]
Eating to Burn Fat (June 2009)
Research has shown that bodies of overweight people don’t burn fat as efficiently as those of thin people, but a new study found that eating high-protein breakfast and lunch may level the playing field. Protein-packed meals seemed to boost the fat-burning capacity in obese individuals. The opposite effect was seen in lean people, in whom […]
The Truth about Probiotics (May 2009)
You have probably seen the word on containers of yogurt, but what exactly are probiotics? They are “good” bacteria that aid digestion and help us aid fight off “bad” bacteria that cause illness. A few probiotic enhanced food products may settle the occasional stomachache. A reputable website which tells the consumer which supplements are […]
What is the difference between “Sugar Free” and “Sugar Alcohols”? Are there better choices than food sweetened with sugar? (April 2009)
Sugar alcohols (also called polyols) such as sorbitol, polydextrose, isomalt, and hydrogenated starch hydrolysates are not technically sugar, but they provide sweetness in foods just as sugars do. Sugar alcohols are only partially absorbed in the small intestine, so they supply only about half the calories as equal amounts of regular sugar while sometimes […]
The Incredible Cranberry (March 2009)
Cranberries have a lot more to offer than holiday tradition, Diane McKay, Ph.D, a nutrition expert at Tuft University in Boston, says preliminary studies suggest phytonutrients, including antioxidants, in cranberry products may improve heart health by helping to: Increase HDL (good) cholesterol Lower LDL (bad) and total cholesterol Minimize plaque in your arteries Limit […]
When Fruit and Meds Don’t Mix (February 2009)
If you want to get rid of a sinus infection, don’t wash those antibiotics with a glass of juice. Researchers from Canada’s University of Western Ontario found that orange, grapefruit and apple juices can decrease the effectiveness of certain medicines, such as those for allergies (antihistamines), high blood pressure (beta-blockers), and infections (antibiotics). “These juices […]
Fuller Fat
Researchers at the University of California, Irvine, have discovered why avocados, nuts and olive oil are more filling than other foods. Their unsaturated fats trigger the release of a compound called oleoylethanolamide (OEA) in our small intestine, activating a brain circuit that makes us feel more satisfied for longer.