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1,261 responses so far
Hello, Darya. It’s been a year since I started eating a whole foods diet. I avoid all processed foods and gluten. I’m still playing around with the macronutrient ratio since I still have some weight to lose. Lately I’ve been eating less whole grains and beans, but more sweet potatoes and even small servings of white potatoes for carbs. I sometimes eat lentils on my salads and occassionally indulge in organic popcorn made on the stove with coconut oil. I eat lots of veggies, moderate protien from eggs, fish, or grass-fed/pastured animals, a small amount of dairy, mainly from raw milk hard cheeses, and a couple of servings of fruit per day. I try to incorporate bone broth and occassional servings of liver for vitamins and minerals, but lately I’ve been a little woried about deficiencies. Within the last couple of months I’ve experienced occassional constipation, chronic muscle pain in my upper arms, anxiety, and fatigue. When I looked up my symptoms online, they all pointed to a magnesium deficiency. I want to supplement with 250 mg of chelated magnesium, but am not sure if that is a safe therapuetic dose. Do you have any advice or recommendations?
I can’t give specific medical recommendations. That said, you might try incorporating more magnesium rich foods, like nuts and shell fish.
Oh, and moderate amounts of fat, from olive oil, coconut oil, and butter.
At my office we have “Training Fridays” in which the company brings in lunch so we can have an hour to train in our prospective fields.
I’m in charge of ordering lunch, which usually boils down to pizza with large side salads. We have both a peanut and a shellfish allergy in our office, and we live in a small city where restaurants are limited.
What do you suggest as a healthy alternative for ordering in?
I use grocery or health food stores often. Alternatively, smaller local delis can sometimes have people behind them who really care.
I watched the video on Fructose that you suggest on your sight. Not I’m confused. He mentions fructose and sucrose several times and usually it seems that he is talking about HFC. Is all sugar bad? Fruits too. He specifically mentions fruit juice as being bad.
Then he mentions glucose as being good. The one form of sugar you can’t get in a store.
?????
From my understanding, all sugar is something you want to watch, especially in a purified form (ie white sugar or processed food vs fruit) because there’s no/very little fiber to slow down the absorption of the sugar, which is bad for insulin sensitivity (and contributes to weight gain and a whole bunch of problems). Not to mention the chemicals from processing.
Fruit juice is also not great because you’re taking away the fiber (and some vitamins possibly) that are found in the fruit and that help prevent your blood sugar from spiking. And 8 oz of fruit juice is more than one or two pieces of fruit, and that’s a lot of calories (that are all sugar and contain no fiber).
Fructose vs glucose: I want to point you to this video. I’m not sure if it’s accurate, but it’s a talk by a physican.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBnniua6-oM
Basically, what he says is fructose and glucose are processed differently by the body: glucose, as the universal sugar used by all living things, is used by every cell in the body. Fructose, on the other hand, has to be (or is mostly) processed by the liver, making the liver work harder and potentially activating signaling pathways (JNK for one) that can cause liver cell death. (He’s talking about lots of fructose consumption mind you, like a couple sodas a day.)
Wikipedia has an explanation of how the biochemistry works but it’s heavy for someone who isn’t familiar with sugar metabolism.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fructose#Fructose_metabolism
So, in summary, sugar is not bad per se, but should be eaten in moderation like everything else, and should be eaten in the form it naturally occurs (fruits and veggies) because that way you have automatic portion control, and the fiber (and possibly other properties of the fruit/veggie) helps your body utilize the sugar in the most efficient and productive way possible. Glucose and fructose are processed a little differently by the body, and importantly, fructose is not regulated by insulin, so it has a different effect on hunger.
Hi Patrick,
Glucose is technically a sugar, but it isn’t sweet like sucrose (half glucose, half fructose) or fructose alone (the sweetest). Glucose is what starches like rice and bread break down to in your body.
All sugars are bad in large doses (even glucose). Fruit juice isn’t ideal because it is a concentrated source of fructose (about 6-7 oranges per small glass of juice). We are adapted to eat much smaller doses. For instance, 200 years ago people ate about 6 pounds of added sugar a year. Now we eat around 200 pounds. That’s the problem.
So you don’t have to avoid sugar completely. But when possible keep concentrated doses (like desserts, juices, sodas, etc.) to small, infrequent occasions.
JM-
Thanks for your insight, but please refrain from answering questions for me on this thread. You posted the same video that made Patrick confused in the first place
oops, I didn’t realize that. I apologize!
Hi, where can I buy white pomegranate? Thanks
Hi Darya,
I stumbled onto your website last week and I am really enjoying it. I’m not sure if this is a quick question, if not then I understand. I have heard some (mostly anecdotal) things about microwaving food being harmful. I’ve heard it causes proteins to cross-link and denature (which cooking does anyway), degrade vitamins, etc. From what I understand all microwaving does is make the water molecules vibrate and generate heat, thereby warming up food, but I don’t have enough biochemistry, physics, or chemistry knowledge to really know. What do you think?
You’re in luck! I wrote this bad boy last year: https://blog.zocdoc.com/is-a-microwave-dangerous-fact-vs-myth/
Good to know! thank you!
Dear Darya:
Three months ago I had a Lipid Profile (Cholesterol) Test done. Yikes! I went Vegan (with some salmon, fish, turkey), plus exercise. My new results for Total, LDL, Triglicerides are about half (and “normal”) of the previous test. However my HDL didn’t move much. Partly, it is not exercising (I had an operation). I’m adding orange juice, cranberry juice, and cocoa to my diet. Any other suggestions?
Hi Craig,
I agree with Mary in that sugar is more likely to keep HDL low than raise it. I also agree that the reasons vegans have better blood numbers is because they eat less junk food, not because they don’t eat meat. In fact, low-fat diets are not healthier for the heart than diets with saturated fat in them. While saturated fat will raise LDL somewhat (how much depends on your genetics), it also raises HDL and doesn’t usually negatively impact the ratio.
Fat is necessary to raise HDL. To raise it without increasing LDL, focus on omega-3 fatty acids in fish, and things like olive oil, avocados, nuts and seeds. Coconut oil and grass fed meat fats are good too. Exercise and alcohol help as well.
Also, as a reference point, I eat meat regularly, consume lots of (pastured) eggs, exercise frequently, and eat very little sugar or refined grains. My HDL is in the 90s and LDL in 60s (tested last month).
Here’s some reading:
http://summertomato.com/how-to-raise-your-hdl-cholesterol/
http://summertomato.com/office-hours-sugar-toxicity-the-latest-on-saturated-fat-heart-disease-video/
Vegan, except with fish, turkey, etc.? That made me lol. Why do you think drinking sweet drinks will raise your HDL? I’ve read recently that increasing healthy saturated fats like coconut oil and grass-fed butter can help.
Dear Mary:
I will admit to being more “Vague” than Vegan, but the point is that Vegans do (usually) have “good” Lipid numbers.
I’ll check out coconut and grass fed butter. I do believe that eggs from chickens on the lose, are very different from “Industrial” chickens, so the grass fed butter may be likewise.
Oh, and I do mean “lose” because every time chickens are on the loose, they hide their nests, which means hidden eggs, which means; you lose!
WOW! Those are impressive numbers! Alcohol helps increase HDL? Awesome.
Hi Darya
I wondered if you had any ideas on how to get my son (nearly 13) to self monitor his intake of high calorie foods: he is a peanut butter monster! (I buy the pure natural stuff from the health food store) He gravitates to highly processed foods and seems to eat mindlessly. (When my husband does the grocery shopping he likes to buy ‘treats’ because he likes a bit of junk food too…I am the opposite!)
I feel like I am constantly being the food police around my son. Its not fun, and I suspect, counterproductive for a teenager.
Thanks Darya.
Hi Greta,
Unfortunately I don’t have a ton of experience with kids or preteens, but knowing a thing or two about psychology and reinforcement can help. I recommend checking out this article and browsing others in the psychology tag:
http://summertomato.com/11-proven-ways-to-get-kids-to-eat-more-vegetables/
http://summertomato.com/tag/psychology/
Hi, Darya. I eat a lot of eggs from pastured hens and typically eat two every day for breakfast. I read on Mark’s Daily Apple that you should not eat eggs every day because it can cause you to become allergic to eggs. Does that make any sense?
I’ve actually never heard that, do you have a link? I eat lots of eggs too.
It’s an older post. Here’s the link:
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/yolks/#axzz2K7ulNlCk
Oh, I see. Yes, eggs are one of those foods that are common for allergies, and some of those kinds of foods can develop into intolerances later in life. If you’re sensitive to eggs you may want to take it easy, but I think most of us would have to really go nuts to develop allergies from eating a particular food as adults.
You talk about only using intact grains. What do you use to thicken things like white sauces and gravies.
These require a small amount of processed grains, obviously. There’s no reason to be an absolutist, just keep in mind sauces and gravies are less healthy than other foods and make sure it’s worth it when you choose to include them in your healthstyle.
Hi Darya,
Thoughts about raw honey? I know your thoughts on sugar, but would a little raw honey have some extra nutrients compared to other kinds of sugar? Or is it just a bunch of hype and I should stick to regular (cheaper) grocery store honey in my greek yogurt?
Thanks,
Caitlin
I definitely think that real honey is worth the investment, if for no other reason than it tastes like god-nectar. It also contains enzymes and some other potent nutrients that may be beneficial, even in small quantities. Lastly, it just feels better to support small, local farmers, I think.
This is not a Question Darya, but I just wanted to thank you sooo much for your wonderful website, that I was lucky enough to come across yesterday. After reading the information on your website regarding setting up a pantry, you have inspired me to start eating healthy food, instead of all the processed muck we tend to eat for the sake of convenience. You are an inspiration, and I thank you for the time and knowledge you share with all of us.
Sincere Thanks
Gypsy
Thank you so much! And I love your name
Stay tuned, lots of exciting stuff coming very soon!
Hey Darya,
I have recently stumbled upon a youtube video making various health claims about virgin coconut oil (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qxuf10YicI8). This includes benefits for your hair, skin and aiding weight loss.
Other sources, among them wikipedia, dispute this and “advise against the consumption of high amounts of coconut oil due to its high levels of saturated fat”.
Now youtube and wikipedia aren’t very solid sources. I am not really sure what is true. So I thought I would turn to someone I believe has the knowledge to make a sound decision. What is your take on the matter?
Coconut oil is healthy, but as with most things there’s no reason to go nuts with it since you will not get any added benefit.
The saturated fat issue is exaggerated. Even unprocessed meats have been mostly exonerated from the heart disease equation (see video below), and saturated fat from coconuts has never, ever been shown to increase heart risk.
Remember that foods aren’t either good or bad. Most natural foods are good in reasonable quantities and bad at really high quantities.
http://summertomato.com/office-hours-sugar-toxicity-the-latest-on-saturated-fat-heart-disease-video/
Hi Darya,
I just found your site after hearing you mentioned on the Random Show Podcast and have read ~20 of your articles now.
I just read your “philosophies” page and I question the first two.
-Why are vegetables so good?
-Why are processed foods so bad?
I know these are good rules of thumb, and I don’t disagree. I only question whether you could get the benefit of vegetables in a more efficient manner (vitamin pills or extracts), or avoid the harms of processed foods by managing your weight.
I’m very interested in diet and health but I try to approach from the perspective of a person not worried about managing their weight. If high energy density is not a concern, are vegetables still so good and processed foods so bad?
First, the philosophy page will be changing in a few weeks, so keep a look out for the cleaner new version. Second, I have a book coming out in a couple months that answers these questions better, but I definitely don’t think it’s a nutrient density and calorie thing. Supplements are almost never beneficial, and processed foods are bad for a number of reasons. Here’s some videos with my thoughts:
http://summertomato.com/summer-tomato-live-episode-14/
http://summertomato.com/processed-foods-bread-cooking-healthy-food/
Thanks!
I watched some of the videos and I have some Michael Pollan audiobooks to listen to when I have more time.
On another note, do you like Omnivore’s Dilemma more than In Defense of Food?
Omnivore’s Dilemma for philosophy, In Defense of Food for actionable advice.
On a personal note Darya…..please give us some information about your gorgeous dog…..I looove the fact he/she wanders in at leisure, during the taping of your health segments….yes….I have fallen in love with it…..it looks like a poodle/cross of some description. It’s so nice to see you are an animal lover : ) Gypsy
Ha! Toaster is a mini labradoodle. He won cutest dog in SF in 2011. He even has a Twitter account with nearly 5K followers! https://twitter.com/toasterpup
Love it!….Magic! : )
Hi – new to your site – really like it. So, how does one get off sugar? Wondering what type of desserts are better and how often is too much. If you answer this topic in your upcoming book I will read more about it then – also – my partner and I raise nigerian milking goats on our farm http://www.wrenhillfarm.com – wondering what you think of raw/grass-fed goats milk – I drink it and make cheese/yogurt/and ice cream – sometimes…. Best – Greg
PS – smitten kitchen – I see you recommend – others?
Here’s my advice on sugar:
http://summertomato.com/how-to-break-a-sugar-addiction/
I share at least one great recipe site every Friday:
http://summertomato.com/category/news/link-love/
Oh, and goat milk is great
Hi Darya
Can you please explain the effect of monster zero on fasting blood insulin? Does it increase insulin?
What is monster zero?
Sorry oops, monster energy drink… Absolutely zero
http://www.monsterenergy.com/us/en/products/monster-energy/#!/products%3Aabsolutely-zero
Wow, that looks toxic. Its effect on insulin will be whatever is caused by the sugar substitute they use.
Hello, Darya!
I’d like to ask your opinion on Vegan diet?
I recently read 2 books: 1st advocates healthy animal fats and claims that vegetarian diet leads to disease:
http://www.amazon.com/Nourishing-Traditions-Challenges-Politically-Dictocrats/dp/0967089735/ref=sr_1_8?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1360961407&sr=1-8&keywords=traditional+naturals
But vegans claim that consuming meat and diary leads to cancer, heart and other diseases.
Of cause, both swear by research results.
What is your opinion?
I agree more with Sally Fallon than the vegans. Here’s a summary:
http://summertomato.com/healthy-vegetarian-vegan-diets-episode-4-summer-tomato-live-video/
Two separate questions:
1. Have you read 4 Hour Chef and what was your influence on it?
I just got it, haven’t had time to read much into it, but I did see your name recognized in one of the cover pages.
2. What do you know about foods causing flatulence? If I want to keep track of the effects of food on my system, how long after eating the food should I be look for the effects of the food?
I’ve heard that food can stay in your body for more than 24 hours so I’m never sure which food items cause which effects. I think I might be genetically predisposed to it, but I think I notice a connection between high protein consumption and farting. Also perhaps fiber. I’m not sure how to judge, though, because I’m not sure if farting will happen immediately after eating it, an hour after, a day after etc.
Tim Ferriss is a friend, and I attended his Thanksgiving dinner mentioned in the book. I had no other influence on it. Here is my review: http://summertomato.com/book-review-the-4-hour-chef/
Here’s my take on farting: http://summertomato.com/too-many-vegetables-how-to-prevent-gas-and-digestive-problems-caused-by-healthy-eating/
Hello, Darya!
I have a very specific question:
Could you please look at the ingredients in this product (press on “nutrition facts” on the page). I know, a coconut oil is back to be healthy and good for you, but is actually this product good or is it refined and not really healthy? My family likes it and would eat a lot of eat and I’m not sure whether I should let them!
http://www.earthbalancenatural.com/product/organic-coconut-butter/
Thank you in advance for all your advice and help!!!
Nataly
I don’t have a strong opinion. Seems somewhat processed, but not terribly bad. I don’t really understand what it is used for.
It is used mainly as a spread on a bread for sandwich etc.
Basically, it is a dairy free substitute for margarine. So it is not too bad? But not too good either?
I see. I’m just generally suspicious of anything that comes in a tub and has more than one ingredient. My choice for spreads are grass-fed butter or olive oil. If you’re vegan, coconut oil sounds like a viable option, but I’m not sure what they do to get it into that spreadable format. I think you’re right to be suspicious.
Got it! Thank you!
Hi Darya,
First off, to echo a lot of other commenters, thank you so much for such a wonderful site, and helpful recommendations.
I have two questions for you:
1. What suggestions do you have for someone who is forced to eat out? I recently started a job in consulting, and have to travel 4 days a week, and eat out for breakfast, lunch and dinner. What suggestions do you have for making this career with work with my health style?
2. What are you thoughts on sugar-free gum?
Thanks in advance for your input.
Very best,
Kira
I’ve written a few posts on travel, but there is a whole section on it in my new book coming in May.
I’m not a fan of sugar substitutes: http://summertomato.com/natural-sugar-substitutes-and-artificial-sweeteners-for-better-or-for-worse/
dp
Are prenatal vitamins absolutely necessary if you eat healthy, and try to get in more than enough of the same vitamins/nutrients that the pills are made up of? I’m not fond of medications.
Thanks!
Noa
That’s a question for your doctor. Personally, I would take them.
Hi Darya,
What’s the final verdict on breakfast (eating something within an hour of waking up)? Is it necessary? I’ve heard some say that it is absolutely necessary so that your metabolism doesn’t slow, and yet you have written an article on how fasting can help maintain your health. I personally have coffee with milk when I wake up, and I’m full for a few hours after that. When I do get hungry, I don’t, as many breakfast-proponents argue, reach for the first sugary thing I can find. Rather, I eat a balanced meal. Am I doing myself a disservice by not eating first thing in the morning?
Thanks,
Caitlin
There is definitely data that says breakfast eaters are thinner and healthier than non-breakfast eaters, but that doesn’t necessarily tell you what’s best for you personally. If you think you’re fine without breakfast, there’s no need to worry about it. If you’re having trouble with weight loss or other food-related issues, it’s something to consider changing.
Hi do you have any bread substitutes or recommendations…I love bread and quitting cold turkey might be hard and my son loves waffles
I’m not a fan of substitutions. They’re rarely much healthier than the real thing, and are often far less satisfying.
I don’t think anyone needs to quit bread cold turkey, unless you’re doing recalibration or something for a limited amount of time. Just keep in mind that portions should be small and it’s not a great idea to indulge daily. A couple times a week is fine.
That said, I actually like the quinoa pancakes out of Dr. Weil’s new cookbook better than regular pancakes.
Hi Darya,
I started making my own greek yogurt but when I compare it via online ingredient and nutrient calculators it shows about 8 grams of protein per 6 oz versus about 14-18 grams of protein in store bought greek yogurts (using same fat content in my milk and store yogurt). Does the incubation process create more protein that is showing in the calculators or do these store bought ones add something to boost the protein that is not showing in the ingredient list? I am using a store bought yogurt as a starter for my own yogurt.
Thanks!
I’m not sure what the difference could be. Are you sure you’re doing the math correctly? If you’re comparing 6oz of yogurt to 6oz of milk I would expect the milk to have less concentrated protein.
My 18yo daughter has been a picky eater her whole life, starting even with formulas. Without going into much detail, she is getting worse. She understands she has a problem and would like to get help. She has never been tested for any issues such as autism or anything. Other than her issues with food textures, food appearances, and taste, she seems normal. My question is what type of professional should she make an appointment with to start conquering this issue? Psychiatrist? Psychologist? Neuropsychiatrist? Speech therapist? Any suggestions? Thanks so much.
Jeez, I’m not sure. In either case I’m sure you’ll need someone who specializes in eating problems. Good luck!
Hi Darya,
Have you ever read The Gospel of Food by Barry Glassner? I think it provides a really interesting perspective on how we think of food. What I found particularly pertinent was the “gospel of naught”, or the way we separate foods into good (=eat) and bad (=avoid) based on whether we view them as healthy or not. I’d love to know your thoughts.
Caitlin
I’ve never heard of it, but it sounds fascinating. I definitely think the “good” vs “bad” foods is a big problem, and is something I used to do as a dieter.
Ironically, for me the biggest problem for me was always the “good” foods, which I believed I could eat in any quantity without consequences. Occasionally I’d eat a lot of “bad” foods too, but that was less of an issue.
Darya,
I know a staple in your healthstyle is to eat the freshest in season ingredients from local farmers. You say you do this based on how good this produce tastes, but when it comes down to it, a radish is still a radish, and a baguette is still a baguette. So if you’re faced with delicious home-made goods, what leads you to pick the healthy stuff over the unhealthy stuff?
Caitlin
After quitting dieting I have a lot more willpower for things like this, and I do my best to make value-based decisions. What I mean by that is I mentally weigh the value of the taste of the food versus the impact on my health, mood and overall happiness, and try to keep these in balance.
Most of the time this means I choose the healthier option, or only have a small amount of an unhealthier option. Occasionally I decide I don’t care as much about health and eat something less healthy. No matter what my choice, I make sure it’s always worth it.
Hi Darya, what’s your advice on overcoming binges?
I stopped binging when I stopped restricting my eating for the sake of weight loss. Funny how that works. I talk about this in Foodist quite a bit.
Also I did purchase the book – the power of habit…. But I realize your link only leads to the hard copy… Would you still get the commission, even if I bought my copy on kindle?
You’re so sweet. Yes, all purchase count if you use a link from Summer Tomato. Will answer your other question next week.
Hi Darya,
So many questions! Sorry.
I am trying to eat until I’m satisfied, not full, but I find I get hungry too soon after (even with a healthy, filling meal). Can you recommend any other tips apart from your mindful eating tricks to understand when you’re satisfied and stay satisfied? Do you ever “eat more for later” when you know you won’t have access to food for longer than normal?
Thanks,
Caitlin
My opinion on this:
Firstly, are you more active than average? Are you as lean as you want to be?
Maybe your hunger is in line with your body’s need for energy and it’s not bad to eat more. I assume this is not the case, though, since you’re asking about it here.
Assuming you’re interested in being lean, I’d say focus on foods with low energy density, and low glycemic load. Basically, try and live the slow carb diet (similar to paleo, “mediterranean”, etc).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slow-Carb_Diet
I get hungry very often, because as Matt pointed out, my energy needs are high.
When I eat I’m pretty good about not stuffing myself, but I do need to get full otherwise I know I’ll be hungry soon. I also carry around small quantities of almonds or trail mix for emergencies.
Hi Darya!
I have a couple more questions:
-Is “potassium salt” any better than standard salt (primarily sodium chloride)?
I bought some “salt free” seasoning that actually just uses potassium salt and I’m wondering if it’s any less high blood pressure inducing.
-Do you have opinions on mind/focus enhancing drugs?
A friend of mine (both of us are Tim Ferriss fans) has been experimenting with choline and piracetam and I’m curious if it’s as safe as he thinks. I know Tim qualifies usage with the statement “there’s no such thing as a biological free lunch”. Do you agree with that view?
PS: I love the new philosophy page! It’s nicely worded and I agree with all statements.
And when can I read your book???
I just saw your facebook post
Potassium salt has the opposite effect of sodium salt, and is known to lower blood pressure.
I don’t know specifically about focus enhancing supplements, but I agree with the “no free lunch” statement. I’m wary of all supplements, even those that have been tested extensively. More on this in Foodist, dropping May 7
Hi Darya,
Love the new website! I saw on one of your posts that you use a sous vide for cooking. I’d love to try it but am freaked out by the plastic coming in contact with food while being heated. Is it safe? What are your thoughts?
I was freaked out about that too at first. A few thoughts:
The plastic bags you’re supposed to use for the vacuum seal are BPA free.
Sous vide heats at relatively low temperatures, so any unknown chemicals aren’t likely to leach as quickly.
That said, you do cook things for long periods of time in sous vide, and no one can guarantee that something toxic isn’t happening. Whether or not this is significant enough to worry about is up to you.
I still use it
Wondering your stance on vaccines and fluoride. Not looking to start controversy, and I’ve researched both for a number of years so I don’t need an extensive answer, just wondering where you stand and your basic answer as to why.
Thanks!
I haven’t been convinced on the dangers of either, and if pressed I’d say I’m a supporter of both.
hi Darya,
Thanks for publishing such a great blog! when your email arrives I stop what I’m doing to read it, I really appreciate the science-based food info.
I drink a green smoothie every day and have been wondering if there’s a difference in the nutritional value I get out of it depending on whether I drink it on an empty stomach or not. If you have any thoughts on this I’d love to hear them.
Thanks,
Skky
That’s an interesting question. The only thing I could think would impact the nutritional value is if you weren’t taking in any fat at all, some fat soluble nutrients may not absorb as readily. I doubt it’s much to worry about though, since vegetables are mostly low in fat soluble vitamins anyway.
Hi Darya, my father has a condition called peripheral neuropathy and just had surgery to alleviate the pain associated with it. Unfortunately, the surgery did not go as well as planned and the pain is back x2. I was wondering if you can offer any advice for treatment. (If I need to pay the $12.99 I would be *happy* to.) I was also wondering if you knew of bedding that is good for people with nerve damage. Everything is irritating to the touch, but I was wondering if there was a fabric that could be less irritating…even a little bit would help. Maybe you know of a good recommendation? Any help you can give would be much appreciated, thank you!
Unfortunately this is way out of the area of my expertise. Even $12 won’t fix that. Sorry and good luck
Hey Darya, what is your opinion on this new “Raw” diet I’ve been hearing about?
In case you haven’t heard about it, it’s basically eating a bunch of raw fruit and vegetables and cutting out meat and carbs (other than the carbs you get from fruit vegetables and nuts/seeds)
Raw food diets are pretty silly, in my opinion. The argument is that nutrients and enzymes are depleted when cooked. This is true of some nutrients, like vitamin C, but the opposite is true for other nutrients, like lycopene, that are more available when cooked. My advice is to eat a delicious mix of raw and cooked foods.
Hey Darya,
You mention BPA and plastic a lot. How worried do I need to be about keeping my whole foods in plastic? In other words, do I need to buy my grains as bulk items and then store them in glass containers, and keep my veggies in some sort of non-plastic bag to put in the fridge? Would plastic even be avoidable for something like cheese?
Thanks in advance for your help! Cheers, Amber
You can’t completely keep BPA out of your body, and I don’t think there’s any reason to panic. Generally soaking liquids and warm plastic are the things you want to avoid most. I still use plastic to store many things in the fridge and pantry, and haven’t seen evidence that this is a huge problem.
I have followed you ever since I came across your website via nutrition diva’s website. You are a joy to listen to, and your love for quality food (especially vegetables) is inspirational. So thank you!
I am on a lower carb diet, but now, because of you I eat beans. Do you think it’s best to only eat beans once a day, or is it fine to eat them more frequently?
Are some beans that are healthier than others (e.g. navy beans, black, pinto,etc)?
I think low carb diets are a great start for people, especially for those that are insulin resistant. That said, once you’ve restored insulin sensitivity it can be helpful to add back some carbs to help improve metabolism. Beans are a great place to start, and I find that the more I eat them the better I do. Twice a day works for me, but you can always experiment on yourself. I wouldn’t say any bean is healthier than another, but they are different so you should try to mix it up as often as possible.
Hey Darya, what do you think about drinking aloe Vera juice as part of dietary habit? – say once per week
I was wondering the same thing. I asked at the garden center but they didn’t want to say it was OK to buy Aloe Vera and eat it.
I think it’s fine if you juice it yourself. I’d be wary of anything that comes in a container.
Darya,
I’ve been studying food and nutrition in all aspects for some time now. I started and never kept up with a blog – adamstable.blogspot.com
I recently listened to the book Skinny Bitch. I was a bit taken aback by the ‘vegan agenda’ (?). I did some research and found that there are quite a few vegan sites and books that spread disinformation about animal products. For example the Skinny Bitch FB page tells people they can’t compost animal products. In my opinion this is irresponsible at best. It’s none of my business if someone wants to be vegan but to spread this disinformation affects us all (we want to divert all compostable material away from landfill regardless of where it comes from).
I’ve called out the authors of Skinny Bitch but haven’t heard back from them.
My question is, have you found the same thing? Have you come across this in your work? Is this new?
Thanks for your time.
Dave Taddeo
Yep, there are all sorts of dietary agendas out there, some bordering on religious fanaticism. It can be incredibly frustrating. One of the reasons I started this site is to help people make sense of all the nonsense and conflicting information.
Hi Darya,
I was recently put on a restrictive Paleo diet to deal with some stomach issues and potential allergies I’ve been dealing with. I would like, as a side effect from temporarily overhauling my eating habits, to lose weight.
However, the more I learn about the Paleo diet the more confused I am. A lot of people report losing weight despite eating a whole lot of high-saturated fat foods. My problem with this is that in my mind, high-saturated fat foods = high calories. Is the golden rule of weight loss not to lower the amount of calories consumed (and move more)? I’m so confused, especially when people start talking about ketosis (achieved by eating high fat, moderate to low protein and low carbs)as a way of quickly losing weight.
Caitlin
Hi Caitlin,
Yep, it can be confusing. High fat foods do tend to be higher in calories, however I’ve found that I (and others) lose weight easier with more fat in my diet.
I explain this in greater detail in my new book. Generally calories do count but there are a lot of other factors, like how full you feel after eating some kinds of calories versus others–refined carbs tend to make your more hungry by messing with your insulin signaling. Low carb diets are great for improving insulin sensitivity, but different things work for different people.
Hi Darya,
I’m travelling to Italy in the next three weeks. While I am super excited to be going, I know that in Italy a lot of refined carbs (pasta etc.) and sugar (gelato) is common. I hope to read your book before I go, but how would you maintain your healthstyle when you are exposed to yummy bad food every day?
Thanks,
Caitlin
Don’t worry about it! You’re on vacation and you should enjoy yourself.
That said, I think you’ll find that the portions in Italy make it much easier to keep your daily calories in a healthy range, even if it includes some pasta and gelato. Also, I’m sure you’ll be walking a lot! That will make a huge difference in balancing it out.
Hope this helps!
Hi Darya,
Have you read the book Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat by Michelle May? It seems similar to your eating philosophy in that it incorporates mindfulness, but I think it targets the guilt involved in eating “bad” foods, which is interesting. I feel like she would be an awesome guest for your web stuff. Excited for Foodist!
Caitlin
Haven’t read it, but I like the title
Hi Darya,
Can’t wait for your book to come out!
I would like to know your thoughts on yogurt. I have read so much about it…one side says it’s good for you and your waistline, the other side discusses how bad dairy for you is in general. I do believe everything should be consumed in moderation. However, how can organic yogurt be so bad for you? The french eat it every day…
Thanks!
Mandy
Yogurt is tricky, because there are so many issues at play. Plain yogurt from hormone free (preferably grass-fed) cows is healthy and delicious. The problem is that most industrial yogurt is filled with sugars, chemicals, and contains little of the helpful probiotics. Stick to the real stuff and you’ll be fine. This is explained in more detail in Foodist.
Hey, I just pre-ordered your book after reading the story, on fourhourworkweek.com, about how your father lost weight and changed his life.
My problem has always been changing my eating habits & forcing myself to learn to cook at the same time. I’m both struggling with fighting off the addiction to the bad food I had been eating & serving myself crappy food because I stink at cooking.
My question is where can someone like me gather hard-to-mess up recipes, like the Beets recipe you shared at the end of your father’s story?
There are a few idiot-proof (tested and proven on me!) recipes in Foodist. I also really like Cook’s Illustrated as a resource.
The key is finding a few simple recipes you can make quickly and enjoy. In Foodist I call these “Home Court Recipes.” Once you have those down you can expand from there, but you’ll always have those go-tos. I’ve been reluctant to do a cookbook, but maybe I should….
Thanks Darya.
Any reason for the reluctance?
I enjoy cooking, but it isn’t my passion. I’m worried a cookbook would burn me out. I’ve been wrong before though
Hi Darya,
I’m reading Foodist right now and it is unreal. Pretty much the best lifestyle book for foodies and average laypeople alike. It encapsulates and goes above and beyond your blog and makes it easy enough for the most inept person to follow, all at the same time.
As I was reading through your example of a food diary though, a question came to mind. From reading your book and your blog, it seems that you eat 3 meals a day pretty consistently (emphasizing the importance of eating breakfast), however you’ve also brought up the benefits of fasting in the past.
Though it might not be appropriate for someone just beginning their healthstyle, what role do you think fasting could/should play in a healthy lifestyle?
Caitlin
Thanks Caitlin! If you have a second, please head to Amazon to share your kind thoughts on a review
As for fasting, it may have some health benefits, but long-term hasn’t been proven. I think it’s too painful to do regularly, but I keep in mind that if I’m stuck somewhere without a good food option for a few hours it probably won’t kill me, and may do me some good to just wait it out. Hope this helps
Related to the post above, how do you feel about fasting everyday (nothing extreme, but maybe eating a late brunch instead of a first-thing breakfast?
Oops. Just saw your response. Ok thanks!
All the data I’ve seen suggests people who eat breakfast are healthier and thinner than people who skip it. That said, everyone needs to find what works for them.
Hi Darya
You are an awesome source of inspiration and I look forward to reading your posts each week. I have a question regarding the steps you took when you initially started reading about health and decided to change your diet. What were the initial steps you took? Did you suddenly change all your exercise and diet, or did you do each separately.I am on my way to changing my healthstyle and your advice will be very helpful:)Thanks!
I started slow, adding things like breakfast, grains and beans (I was super low carb before) and eating more vegetables. It was scary at first, but once I realized it wasn’t going to make me fat I started getting more adventurous and doing more self experiments. That how Foodist came to be
Hi Darya,
I have an office coworker who doesn’t eat any kind of vegetable at all. She eats mostly rice, meat and the usual stuff from fast foods and supermarkets. But she appears to be healthy. She has clear, smooth skin, is skinny and have no health problems whatsover. She’s 30 years old. I’m just left wondering what gives?
Thank you in advance.
Some people are genetically gifted, but most of us aren’t. I hope for your friend’s sake that it isn’t all on the surface, and she’s healthy within too.
Thanks a bunch-you are awesome!
I am trying to cut added sugar out of my diet and I know a big culprit is my daily morning coffee. I look forward to my coffee every morning, but I don’t like it black and I don’t think using a sugar substitute is any better. Do you have any recommendations? Do I just have to give up my morning coffee and deal with the withdrawal headaches? Even when pregnant, I couldn’t give it up completely (just switched to half caf, half decaf).
Hi Darya, I have a problem reading your blog because of the tiny font size. No matter how much I squint, I cannot see. Using the “zoom” feature in my browser (Chrome) has no effect in the case of summertomato-dot-com. Can you please modify your settings so that the text iz magnifiable, or else write in bigger font. Thanks.
–Roman Korol
That’s strange. In my browser (also Chrome), ST font is as big as or bigger than other sites, and when I hit “command +” on my MacBook it zooms no problem. Not sure what to say….
Hi Darya,
I usually bring roasted peanuts to work as a snack. I get a lot of reaction from coworkers that it causes arthritis/gout because of its high uric acid content according to them. Is this true? I’ve done some research on the web but the results are mostly conflicting. Some literature says to avoid if you have arthritis but some makes no mention of it at all.
Thank you again! And I just want to add that you are an inspiration to many readers out there.
Hi Darya,
I just got Foodist as a Mother’s Day present to myself based on Nutrition Diva’s recommendation on facebook. I am inhaling it with highlighter in hand! Such great information that completely resonates and I feel as though I have finally found the answer to my nutrition obsession! I have looked into becoming a Heath Coach through the Institute of Integrative Nutrition. Do you endorse any particular program to become a Health Coach or Food/Nutrition Coach? It would be wonderful if you started one yourself.
Do you have any information about food combining? Like eating foods that digest at similar rates.
Hey Darya,
Really sorry if you’ve already received this question a billion times, but what are your thoughts on sweet potato? I’ve really gotten into making my own sweet potato chips (baked and sometimes fried).
Hi Darya,
I am a Registered Dietitian in Cochrane Ontario Canada (very north). I just needed to thank you for writting such a wonderful book and blog! I work mostly in Diabetes and am so thankful for the term “intact grain” I must say it 100x per day and it resonates so well with my clients! You rock!
Kim
Woo hoo! Thanks Kim!
Hi Darya,
So I’ve read your book and as I’ve said before, I’m a huge fan. I’m now trying to incorporate more healthy habits into my lifestyle. I am having trouble letting go of the dieter’s mindset, however, but for an odd reason.
I know that in your book that you are against dieting (duh), but I have been diagnosed with allergies to eggs, wheat, and whey that manifest their effects overtime (aka not celiac or anything like that). So I’m supposed to eliminate these foods for health reasons, and it seems like it’s almost forcing me to adopt the dieter’s mindset because the problem foods are ubiquitous and in so many yummy things. If I eat any of the foods I’m sensitive to I don’t feel terrible as one with a more severe allergy would, so there isn’t any immediate deterrent effect from eating it. So, I end up adopting the what the hell effect for the day because I’ve already eaten a food that has screwed up my system.
In short, any words of advice on avoiding the what the hell effect for someone who is forced to avoid some of the typically yummy foods?
Thanks,
Caitlin
Hi Darya,
Can you recommend some books on mindfulness?
Thanks,
Caitlin
Hi Darya- can you tell me what farmers market you buy your tamarillos from? I live in berkeley thx!
Hi Darya! I’m brand new here and want your opinion on juicing, for detoxing, rebooting and weight loss. I have just started and prior to juicing, I took many vitamins. I would like to know…is it possible to overdose on vitamins if I continue to take them along with all of the veggies and fruits I use for juicing.
Thank you and I am SO looking forward to your sit now. Changing my lifestyle! Rose
How do you prevent lentil bloat?
Hi Darya!
I just read on a website that consuming foods cured with sodium nitrite and/or sodium nitrate pose no health threat, as the amounts of these substances in food are negligible. Is this true?
Hi Darya,
I’m a huge fan of your blog and your book, and I really agree with your food philosophy. However, I find that the more I focus on healthy eating and cooking, the more I run into two problems:
1) Searching for healthy recipes, cooking techniques (for newbies like me) and the healthiest foods leads me down a rabbit hole that results in hours per week spent sitting at the computer reading blogs & websites when I’m not otherwise very sedentary. Obviously the easiest solution to this is just setting a limit, but I’m curious if this is something people like yourself who do this for a living struggle with.
2) It seems like the more I read about food and think about the food I’m putting in my body, the hungrier I am and the more I eat. It seems to be legit hunger, too- my stomach actually starts to growl. Even if I’m eating healthier food, I tend to gain weight when I’m constantly thinking about what I’m eating vs. just going about my daily life eating whatever I want (I often forget to eat if I’m busy).
My question is: have you noticed this with yourself or others you’ve coached, and are there techniques to find a healthy balance with food/cooking education and “research” without going overboard into full on food obsession?
Thanks!
P.S. I’m happy to do the donation to Charity Water if this question requires a longer response, I just couldn’t figure out how to fit the question in that box to submit. Thanks.