Author: Monica Reinagel, MS, LD/N, CNS

A listener writes: “I have recurrent problems with candida or yeast. I have seen articles stating that I should eat less sugar and avoid foods that contain yeast, such as bread. How accurate is this advice?” I’m so glad you asked! There is a confusing mix of true and false information about candida diet and nutrition. Let’s sort fact from fiction. Candida albicans is a type of yeast that is commonly found both on and in the human body, where it generally causes no problems. Certain conditions, however, can lead to an overgrowth of this benign organism.The resulting infection is…

A recent survey by the American Psychiatric Association found that we are more anxious than ever, about health, finances, relationships, politics…you name it. On a scale of 1 to 100, this year’s national anxiety score is 51, which is a 5-point increase from 2017. There’s surely plenty to worry about these days. But anxious people tend not to be great problem-solvers. So, let’s at least make sure we’re not stressing out about things that we don’t actually need to worry about. As my contribution to the general well-being, here are ten nutrition concerns that you can probably cross off your…

When we think about taking nutrients into our bodies, we usually think about swallowing them, in the form of pills, powders, or that radical format known as food. For that matter, when we talk about nutrient absorption, we’re usually talking about the absorption of nutrients from the digestive system into the bloodstream. But a handful of companies are trying to change the way we think about nutritional supplementation. Instead of swallowing a handful of pills and worrying about whether or not they are being absorbed, why not bypass the digestive tract altogether and apply them directly to your skin? Nicotine,…

Turmeric is all the rage for its purported health benefits. Most of us know turmeric as a brilliant orange powder used in Indian and Southeast Asian cooking. It’s one of the primary ingredients in curry powder. And lately, “golden milk”—a sort of spicy turmeric tea—is trending in everyone’s Instagram feed. From a culinary perspective, turmeric adds a warm spiciness and a vivid hue to food. On the health front, turmeric’s big claim to fame is its anti-inflammatory properties. It’s also being studied as a natural hedge against Alzheimer’s disease. From a culinary perspective, turmeric adds a warm spiciness and a…

Coconut milk has become one of the most popular nondairy milk options, and it’s one that wasn’t even on the radar when I did my original comparison of non-dairy milks back in 2009. So, today, I’m going to do a head-to-head comparison between cow’s milk and coconut milk.  As you’ll see, it’s impossible to declare one as the clear winner—which one is best for you will depend on what your priorities and individual needs are. How Is Coconut Milk Made? All coconut milk products, whether in cans or cartons, are made by grating the meat of the coconut and pressing…

Once upon a time, the only people who might have had a canister of protein powder in the kitchen were body-builders and dieters on liquid meal replacement programs. Now, it’s become a relatively standard household ingredient. People are increasingly aware of the advantages of getting more protein in their diet. I’ve also talked about the benefits of spreading your protein intake out more evenly throughout the day.  And protein powder can be an easy way to bump up the protein content of breakfast and lunch, which tend to be much lower in protein than dinner.  This post includes suggestions for…

Whenever I talk about foods that can help control your hunger, I’m aware  of the fact that hunger is only one if the things that drive us to eat. Frequently, we eat simply because it’s time to eat, or because food is present, or because we’re bored, or blue, or procrastinating.  I’d even go so far as to say that, for many of us, hunger is only rarely our primary motivation for eating. If we only ate when we were hungry, then choosing foods that are good at satisfying hunger (such as those that are high in protein, fiber, and…

Sustainability is a very hot topic in the food and nutrition world these days and for good reason.  Every year, we have about 80 million more people to feed than we did the year before. But of course, the amount of land and water we have to grow food—on this planet anyway—is fixed.  In order to meet the ever-increasing demand for food, we’re going to need to make the best possible use of our finite natural resources. We need to develop ways to produce food more efficiently. And we need to preserve the long-term health and viability of the environment…

A couple of months ago, I addressed the question of whether eating meat affects your hormone levels. Since then, several of you have written to ask the same question about cow’s milk. All milk (whether from cows, goats, humans, or porpoises) naturally contains small amounts of various hormones, including estrogen and progesterone. Because hormones like estrogen are fat-soluble, the level of hormones is higher in whole milk than in skim milk. Organic milk, however, contains about the same amount of hormones as conventionally produced milk. Does Dairy Promote Breast Cancer? Some worry that the hormones in cow’s milk could cause…

Anita writes: When is the best time to eat dessert? I’ve heard it is better to eat it immediately following a meal because the protein in the meal will help stabilize the blood sugar. But I’m often too full after my meal to enjoy dessert. I’d prefer to wait a couple of hours. In fact, I often crave a sweet bite a couple of hours after eating. Is that my blood sugar plummeting? How does dessert affect your blood sugar? Our blood sugar does go up after we eat, but that’s not necessarily a problem—it’s actually how the system is…