Soy products used to confuse me.
As a nurse, I worked with breast cancer patients. At the time there was confusion about whether women with breast cancer, or at a high risk of getting breast cancer, could safely eat soy.
That’s because soy contains an abundance of isoflavones. Isoflavones are phytoestrogens or plant compounds that mimic estrogen and bind to estrogen receptors in our bodies.
Because most breast cancers … read on
A young relative of mine has a 4-month-old baby. She asked me about peanut allergies and the best way to introduce her infant to peanuts. She had already talked to her pediatrician, but wanted more reassurance that she was doing the right thing.
Her anxiety is shared by lots of new parents who are terrified of peanut allergies.
Who can blame them? Peanut allergies among children have been on the … read on
September is Fruits & Veggies—More Matters Month, a nutrition awareness program sponsored by the USDA.
The program is mostly targeted at parents of young children. After all, if we teach kids from an early age to enjoy healthy foods and understand how what they eat affects their health, they are much more likely to grow up to be healthy adults.
But any adult can benefit from the information … read on
There have been recent news reports that the over-the-counter heartburn drug, Zantac (ranitidine), contains trace amounts of a carcinogen, NDMA. That sounds scary, but the drug HAS NOT been recalled, and patients are not being told to stop taking it. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is working to figure out why NDMA is present in ranitidine, and whether or not it’s a health risk.
In the meantime, I’m … read on
I just ran across another article in a health magazine touting the benefits of tart cherry supplements or juice.
This particular article suggested tart cherries “significantly” reduced systolic blood pressure (the upper number). The author also wrote that tart cherries were linked to arthritis relief and exercise recovery.
Are they? Or are you better off saving your money?
Tart cherries … read on
OK, this title is a little misleading. I don’t think we should eat these foods just for their alleged anti-inflammatory properties.
Inflammation, after all, is part of a healthy body’s healing process. It’s what helps us fight infection and heal wounds.
The real culprit to poor health is chronic inflammation, which has been associated with all kinds of diseases including diabetes, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular disease, allergies, and cancer.… read on
I was flipping pages in a health magazine recently and ran across an ad for Eggland’s Best nutrient-fortified eggs.
The ad claims these eggs are superior because they “have more of the delicious, farm-fresh taste you and your family love,” plus “6 times more vitamin D, 10 times more vitamin E, and 25% less saturated fat than ordinary eggs.”
Are these statements true? And if they are, is the … read on
I’ve always preferred the taste and texture of green bananas; my husband likes bananas best when they have brown spots all over.
So when we split a banana on our breakfast granola or oatmeal, one of us is usually happy. 😂
But recently I’ve learned that green bananas are actually better for us, or at least better for our gut health.
That’s because the ratio of healthy fiber and unhealthy … read on
Kidney stones are more common in the summerThe kidneys’ job is to filter and clean our blood. They need to be well hydrated to do that!
That’s why summer heat and dehydration are big risk factors for developing kidney stones.
Related post: 10 tips to prevent heat exhaustion
What are other common risk factors?
Enjoy that morning cup of coffeeI’ve been a coffee drinker my entire adult life.
A couple cups of coffee in the morning make me more alert and ready to start the day.
And I enjoy hanging out in coffee shops and inhaling the fragrance of freshly-ground beans.
Over the years there have been many small studies showing coffee in moderation can be good for you.
Yay! ☕😍
More recently … read on