Eating For Health

Who doesn’t love foods cooked on the grill?   Steaks, hamburgers, vegetables, fruit, all taste better when grilled.   Years ago, I directed a research lab at a university.   Almost every day smells of grilled steak and hamburger came from the research lab next door.   I had to ask them what they were researching.   They said they were studying the effect of grilling on cancer risk.   What is this risk and how can you reduce this risk and still enjoy all those wonderful grilled foods? What is the risk of grilling and cancer? Apparently, grilling meat   at high temperatures can burn the fat in the meat and generate 2 cancer causing substances, called heterocyclic amines (HCAs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).   Extended exposure to these substances can alter DNA and lead to an increase risk of cancer. How big of a problem is this? According to UCLA Health , isn’t a problem for occasional grilling but grilling every weekend for years, they noted 30 years.   We don’t g

Yogurt was in the news this week.   Why?   Because the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will let yogurt companies put a new health claim on yogurt.   One company, Danone North America requested the FDA let them put a health claim on yogurt that eating yogurt reduces one’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes.     What evidence did the Danone North America company submit to FDA related to yogurt and type 2 diabetes? Amanda Blechman, a registered dietitian with the company, stated that Danone filed a petition with the FDA reviewing 32 research studies on yogurt and type 2 diabetes.   These studies show that eating some yogurt may help reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.   A Harvard study “found that a daily serving of yogurt was linked to an 18% lower risk of type 2 diabetes”.       What did FDA decide? FDA noted “there is some credible evidence supporting a relationship between yogurt intake and reduced risk of type 2 diabetes”, however “this evidence is limited”.

So easy to grab a protein bar and think you are “eating healthy”.   But are protein bars really good for your health?   Are some protein bars better than others?   What should you look for when choosing a protein bar?   Many of my relatives eat protein bars and my sister sent me a great article, Are protein bars good for you?   Dietitians reveal the healthiest options .   This article notes proteins bars “can be a filling snack, or a “glorified candy bar.”   Which one are you eating?   Do you need a protein bar? Most Americans are already getting more protein than they need.   When I had students track their diet and calculate their protein intake all were eating many more grams of protein a day than they needed.   There are great ways to add protein to your diet without eating protein bars.   Do you know which 2 foods have higher quality protein than a steak?   Eggs are the gold standard for protein quality and next is cow’s milk and yogurt made from cow’s milk.   Thus, grabbing