Eating For Health

Carbonated waters are everywhere — from the grocery aisle to airplane drink carts — and many people reach for them as a refreshing alternative to soda. But are seltzer, club soda, and tonic water equally healthy choices? They’re all fizzy, but what’s inside each one varies more than you might expect. Understanding those differences can help you choose the right drink for your health goals. 🫙 What Each One Actually Is Seltzer Water — Just Bubbles and Water Seltzer is simply water infused with carbon dioxide. It contains no added minerals and has a clean, neutral taste. Many brands offer flavored versions without sugar. Club Soda — Carbonated Water with Minerals Club soda starts as carbonated water, but manufacturers add minerals such as sodium bicarbonate, potassium sulfate, or sodium chloride , giving it a slightly salty or “crisp” taste. It’s a common cocktail mixer. Tonic Water — Bitter, Sweet, and Distinct Tonic water contains quinine , which gives it a bitter flav...

The Hidden Problem in Your Kitchen Plastic cutting boards are popular for their lightweight design, affordability, and dishwasher-safe convenience. But recent studies reveal a troubling downside: every knife stroke can release hundreds of microplastic particles into your food . ( Time )   One study found that chopping carrots on a plastic board left behind over 1,000 microplastic fragments per use , adding up to about 50 grams of plastic per year—the equivalent of eating 10 credit cards . Microplastics are not just an environmental issue. They’ve been detected in human blood, lungs, liver, kidneys, heart and even in breast milk, raising concerns about long-term health effects. While research is still emerging, evidence suggests microplastics may “be linked to cancer, heart attacks ( Stanford ) and contribute to inflammation, oxidative stress, and even neurological risks . ( Medical Express )   Why Plastic Cutting Boards Are Riskier Over Time Ø   Knife marks : Onc...

Who doesn’t love eggs?   In an omelet or scrambled for breakfast or egg salad sandwiches for lunch or hard-boiled eggs for a snack.   For many years eggs were given a bad rap because of cholesterol.   At one time even the American Heart Association recommended limiting egg consumption.   With newer research we can enjoy eggs once again.   🥚 What about eggs and cholesterol?   New research has not found a link between egg consumption and heart disease, even among men at genetic risk for heart disease.   It seems high blood cholesterol levels are more linked to the saturated fat in meat and trans fats rather than the cholesterol in eggs.   In one Finnish study , over 1,000 men were followed for 21 years.   They found egg consumption and dietary cholesterol did not significantly increase risk of heart disease.   Harvard notes , “For most people, an egg a day does not increase your risk of a heart attack, a stroke, or any other type of c...

How much ultra-processed foods are Americans eating?   A lot, according to a CDC study released this week.   This is concern not only for health reasons but also because Americans youth are consuming even more ultra-processed foods.   How much ultra-processed foods are Americans eating? Although young children aged 1-5 consume fewer calories from ultra-processed foods, those ages 6-11 and 12-18 consume well over 50% of their calories from ultra-processed foods as the chart indicates.   (See: Ultra-processed Foods, Chemicals, and Chronic Illness:   RFK Jr.’s MAHA Report About Children’s Health in America .)   But even older adults, those 60 and over consume over 50% of their calories from ultra-processed foods. 🧪 What Counts as Ultra-Processed Food? There is no one standard definition of ultra-processed foods, but most experts relay on the NOVA classification system .   Basically, ultra-processed foods are: ·      ...