Category: Medical and Health Studies

  • Diet soda increases risk for strokes and other vascular events

    A study of more than 2500 people showed that drinking diet soda on a daily basis increased the risk for ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke by 61%.  This is the first study to demonstrate a relationship between diet soda and vascular events, although other studies have also shown a link between diet soda and metabolic syndrome and […]

  • Gross! Watch out for fake bluberries in your food

    Watch this YouTube video to see a pretty telling expose on blueberries in processed foods.  Muffins, cereals, even “health” food bars like FiberOne use fake blueberries instead of real ones to save cash.  Nothing like a healthy side of “blueberry crunchie bits” that contain nothing but sweeteners, low-grade starches and artificial colors…

  • New Energy-Boosting Tea, NO Caffeine Buzz!

    Have you heard of yerba mate yet?  It’s the new kid on the block in tea-land.  I first heard of it this summer while at Phoenix on Lee, where they had an iced version blended with lemonade (delicious).  The nice lady at Phoenix explained that it has energy-boosting properties that are slightly different from caffeine. Upon […]

  • How does bottled iced tea compare to home-brewed? Read on to find out..

    Tea is a pretty fantastic beverage.  Green, black, herbal, white, red, and my latest favorite – yerba mate, all have their own arsenal of health benefits that come in a huge variety of tasty flavors.  With the exception of black tea, which can be a little high in caffeine for some people, these teas, these teas […]

  • Early Puberty in Girls – Are Hormones or Chemicals to Blame?

    NPR recently ran a story about how the average onset of puberty in girls is coming at younger and younger ages.  I caught the tail end of the conversation, and since that time have had at least 4 or 5 people ask me about my thoughts – specifically whether I think it’s due to the increasing quantity […]

  • "Secondhand" chemo causing cancer in healthcare workers

    This article hits close to home for me, as I have serveral close friends who work in healthcare.  If you or someone you know is a nurse, pharmacist, doctor, or other healthcare worker that mixes, administers, or otherwise handles chemotherapy drugs, take the time to read this article in the Seattle Times about “secondhand” chemo […]

  • EWG's Shopper's Guide to Pesticides

    I get a lot of questions about pesticides, commonly things like:  “How bad are they really?”, “I heard that they’re not worth the money, is that true?”, and “Which are the most important items to buy organic?”.  Well, it can be difficult to maneuver the information in the media, because there are many studies out […]

  • Study links common pesticides to ADHD in children

    This weekend I sent my husband out early on Saturday morning to buy berries (I may have said it was a pregnancy-related craving).  Now he didn’t used to be on the organic bandwagon, but in the last several years he’s really gained interest in sustainability and green living, and without even asking he went out […]

  • Plastic food containers: toxic or harmless?

    I hear a lot of questions from clients and friends who are concerned about the potential dangers of plastics.  Parents of young kids tend to be the most concerned, and for good reason, as developing bodies are more susceptible to chemical exposure. What we hear via various media outlets about plastic food containers is all over the […]