Latest Evidence in Foods
Does Turmeric help improve eyesight? Is Quinoa good for you? Should you be eating more Cacao powder? The internet is full of claims that eating this food or that one will incur special health benefits.
In the Foods section our academics and medical professionals investigate claims like these & provide answers according to the research. Armed with this information you can avoid hype, save money, and help friends and family make wiser decisions when it comes to their health.
Does Eating Mizuna Have Health Benefits? The Evidence Reviewed
When I was first asked to write an article about mizuna, I was a little embarrassed to admit that I had never actually heard of it. A quick WhatsApp group message to my foodie friends showed that I was not alone. Only one of these erudite ladies had ever heard of...
Does Eating Nectarine Have Health Benefits? Analyzing the Research
Introduction I came across a blog on nectarines recently which really annoyed me. My kids would say ‘Mom is triggered, keep away’. As an aside, I do find it interesting that after decades of meditation and mindfulness, there are still some seemingly innocuous things...
Do Blueberries Or Their Extract Have Health Benefits? Here’s The Research
Introduction Blueberries are trending in social media and the general media today following the publication of a brand new study on blueberries by researchers from Kings College, London (1). According to an editorial in the New York Times, the 'blue' in blueberries...
Why Celery Juice Has No Health Benefits, No Matter What Instagram Says
I was in a Pilates class a couple of weeks ago, when one of the women complained that Whole Foods was out of the organic celery she needed to juice. Another woman suggested that she try Wegman’s as she usually buys multiple bunches at a time there. After giving them...
Does Arugula or Its Supplements Have Any Health Benefits?
What Is Arugula? Arugula is an edible plant in the Brassicaceae family used as a leaf vegetable for its fresh peppery flavor. Its formal name is Eruca sativa, but it is also known as rocket (especially in British Commonwealth countries). Some additional names are...
Does Eating Apricot Seeds or Vitamin B17 Have Health Benefits?
Introduction Apricot seeds are surrounded by major controversy. Essentially, there are two diametrically opposed camps. People who passionately believe that apricot seeds have health benefits and should be freely available and especially to help people with cancer....
Does Essiac Tea or Its Capsules Have Any Health Benefits?
Introduction The issue of Essiac tea previously came up in one of our other articles on slippery elm. In that article, we limited our discussion on Essiac tea to its putative effects on cancer. While most interest in Essiac tea relates to cancer, it is has also been...
There Is Not Enough Research to Prove Citron Fruit Has Health Benefits
Introduction I was reading an article last week when I realized that there was a gross basic error (GBE) in my knowledge base. Maybe, it would be more accurate to say ‘another’ GBE in my knowledge of how the world works. I had thought that the terms ‘citron’ and...
Science Says Eating Maitake Mushrooms Doesn’t Have Health Benefits
Introduction I get to attend great medical conferences on health and wellness and have noticed that there is mushrooming interest in mushrooms (if you can excuse the pun). In particular, I notice that mushrooms are really popular in the over 50 year old...
Does Saturated Fat Have Health Benefits? 5 Health Claims Reviewed
Introduction As a doctor (or foodie), it is best to avoid being dogmatic. Partly, because we need to respect the views of our patients (or friends) but largely because the ‘dogma’ tends to change as new science emerges. Take saturated fat as an example. My grandmother...