
Ask Darya
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I absolutely love helping people find answers to their food and health questions. The only problem is that there are so many of you I can’t keep up.
If your question can be answered with Google or using the search bar at the top of the page, please try those options first.
If you have a quick question about your own healthstyle that I can answer easily in a few sentences, feel free to ask in the comments to the right and I’ll try to get to it in the next few weeks.
Thank you for helping keep my inbox manageable.
Cheers,
Darya
1,842 responses so far

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I know there’s been a back and forth on controversy surrounding microwaving food, but in an office, unless I only want to eat cold foods, I do nuke my leftovers or veggies. This experiment unnerved me a bit. Is the science sound?
http://employsnews.org/2011/12/11/microwave-test-an-eye-opener/
This is a far, far cry from a real scientific experiment. A good scientist always measures their findings and presents clear numbers in graphical form in order to understand the magnitude of what they are seeing. They repeat the experiment several times to make sure the process is replicable, and they do a statistical analysis to make sure what they are seeing is not due to chance.
Here’s the best evidence I’ve found about the impact of microwave cooking (I wrote this for ZocDoc a couple months ago):
http://blog.zocdoc.com/is-a-microwave-dangerous-fact-vs-myth/
Great article but I read it ten minutes too late. I had just microwaved mahi mahi, peas, and quinoa here at work. I sat down, searched summer tomoato for any info on quinoa, and as I was just starting to read your article from 2008 on quinoa, I took a big bite and burned the ever loving crap out of the roof of my mouth and tongue (we’re talking surface of the sun hot). Fish was fine, peas were fine, quinoa somehow heats much more unevenly than the other stuff. I was going to post as a comment but then I saw this thing on microwaving foods, clicked it, and lo and behold, torching your pie hole was the biggest danger you listed. Great info in both the quinoa post and the microwave article….I just should have read before I ate.
Hi Darya!
i just went to the farmers market and picked up some carrots (with carrot tops) and was excited to try using the carrot greens, but upon looking for recipes, i saw some articles about how it might be toxic.
Do you know if carrot greens are safe to eat?
Sorry for the late reply, I’ve never eaten or heard of eating carrot greens. I compost mine.
can weak immune system be made stronger after the age of 35 in females?
Healthy eating and vitamin D can strengthen any immune system.
This may take research, but I’m asking in case its one you have already looked into or written about before. I have heard a lot of debating lately on the merits of certain salts-namely Kosher and Himalayan. And for years we have all heard sea salt trumps plain on table salt. Is this all just hype, or is there any one that is better than the others?
They both have advantages. Sea salt has more trace minerals and tastes better. Table salt has added iodine, an essential nutrient. I use sea salt for flavor and table salt for boiling and soups.
you can buy iodized sea salt too
How do you feel about living a healthy lifestyle in regards to things like barefoot running or minimalist style shoes?
I have a pair and found they gave me terrible blisters while just walking slowly. They’re also hideous. That said, if they get you excited about fitness go nuts, I know some people love them.
Is dark rye bread healthy? I’ve heard mixed comments about how much fibre it has and how healthy it is because it usually contains white flour. Which is more healthy, dark rye or whole grain bread?
The healthy ones are the super dense, small loaves that often have Eastern European labels. The fluffy Oroweat versions, not so much.
Since you are a scientist, can you tell me how much truth there is to this rumor about the contents of commercial bread?
http://www.naturalnews.com/032718_L-cysteine_commercial_bread.html
I don’t know if that specific article is true, but I do know that Natural News is run by quacks and most of their sources cannot be trusted. That said, L-cysteine is a naturally occurring amino acid that is not dangerous, so unless it was extracted with hazardous chemicals that may be present in trace amounts I think you have bigger things to worry about as far as food contamination goes.
I read your article on juicing. I have a VitaMix and try to juice every day–mostly green vegetables (kale, chard), along with a carrot, small piece of lemon and fresh ginger, green tea for liquid, and some fruit (apple, orange, frozen berries, etc). Since the VitaMix blends the entire vegetable/fruit, isn’t it much better and healthier than just using a juicer which discards the fiber? I usually make 16 oz and drink a glass one day and the other the next. Are vitamins lost by keeping it in the refrigerator a day?
Yes, vitamix is probably a little better, but you’re still drinking a lot of calories. Some nutrients are definitely lost the next day, but the difference is probably irrelevant to you if you’re juicing so regularly.
Hello! I have found your articles on healthy eating to be really useful, but was wondering what your thoughts on spin classes are? I have heard some people say that they don’t help with weight loss. Do you have any experience with this?
Thanks!
I definitely would not rely on exercise for weight loss. It’s important for looking good, but generally the more you workout the more you’ll eat.
Hi Darya,
I just found your site and really love it – thanks for your simple and straight-forward articles. I am re-inspired to cut sugar and also to try to cut processed grains. However, I’d still love to hear your advice/tips for people who love to bake desserts. The science and health advice behind cutting sugar and processed foods/grains makes a lot of sense to me, and I want to do it, but I really do love baking. Any advice?
Thanks!
Baking isn’t a problem so long as you don’t eat it all yourself 😉
I love all your helpful advice! I hear what you’re saying about all the benefits to eating more fish, but I really can’t figure out how to cook it. I mean I will eat the occasional can of tuna, plain or in pasta, but what about other fish? Do you have any advice or any links to help me out?
Thanks!
(P.S. Congrats on your engagement!)
Cooking fish is really easy because it’s almost impossible to undercook it. Just salt it well and pan fry it in a little olive oil. Garnish however you like. If you want to get fancy you can marinate it in a little soy sauce, lemon juice and green onion. Cook’s Illustrated is my favorite cooking resource, but it requires a yearly subscription. Worth it IMO.
are there any health benefits to eating cactus?
Probably. Edible plants are almost always good for you, but rarely is any one food enough to make/break health.
Hi Darya! Love your blog, just stumbled upon it a few days ago and i’m zipping through your pages, all the content is so great! I’m overhauling my lifestyle to be more natural and only whole grain and hopefully mostly organic (fingers crossed for a good planting season this summer in IL, we’ve planted alot of our own stuff but the intermittent frost has been bad).
My question though, is that as a dog owner, I avoid buying any treats for my dog that are made in China, however do you recommend going all the way to making your own dog treats? If we eat cleanly, should we help our dogs to do that too? Do you make treats for Toaster, and if you do, could you share some recipes? (My dog enjoys apple slices and veggies, but his biggest love is beggin strips – maybe I should just fry him real bacon? Or is that worse??)
Thank you!
Cute question. I don’t make Toaster treats but do buy the expensive, less processed treats from the boutique dog stores when I can. He loves freeze dried liver.
I love avocados. But they are so high in fat. Healthy fat, but high in fat. I was wondering if, even though it’s good fat, eating half an avocado a day may be over doing it?
Avocados are so rich it is hard to overeat them. Honestly I don’t see what the problem is if you acknowledge that they are healthy; you have to get your calories from somewhere and a satisfying, nutrient rich source is a great option. One time when I lost a substantial amount of weight whole avocados were a staple of my diet, so even if you are trying to lose weight I don’t think you have much to worry about.
I am newly pregnant and trying to figure out the eating for two thing. If I eat diet rich in veggies, proteins, and legumes, but low in grains and fruits, will I still consume enough folate? I am also taking a prenatal- I haven’t had my first dr appt yet so right now I’m taking a raw food prenatal. I really have a hard time believing that eating cereal is the best way to ensure I get enough folate, but I don’t know if I’m missing out by not eating it at all.
You should be fine with a prenatal vitamin, that’s what they’re for.
Hey Darya,
I am thinking about buying a Keurig, and was wondering if you had any thoughts on the effects of brewing coffee through a plastic (?) cup. I know you don’t recommend microwaving tuppers.
Thanks, and I continue to read & love your blog!
-Pamela
Plastic wouldn’t be my first choice. I’d check with the manufacturer and see if they make any specific claims about it being BPA(and other toxins)-free. If they aren’t bragging about it they’re probably using dangerous chemicals. Keep in mind though that there could be dangerous chemicals we don’t know about yet.
Hey
I like your blog and your background. Considering your experience in this healthy eating arena and the books you have so far read in life. Which top 3-4 books would you recommend on health, fitness and diet ?
thanks
rob
In Defense of Food, Michael Pollan
What To Eat, Marion Nestle
Eat, Drink and Be Healthy, Walter Willett
Mindless Eating, Brian Wansink
Why We Get Fat, Gary Taubes
I’ve reviewed some of these here:
http://summertomato.com/category/thought/reviews/
You can find more of my recommendations here: http://summertomato.com/shop/
And here: http://www.shelfari.com/daryapino
Hi Darya,
I have looked around a bit to find out more about what you consider to be refined, processed grains but can’t find the answer to this so I thought I’d try here. What about corn products? I just Googled it and ended up on Mark’s Daily Apple where he says it’s the most unhealthy grain there is. Thoughts? I assume then that tortilla chips are right at the top of the list of unhealthy, refined/processed grains?
Thanks!
Christa
I don’t think corn is that bad, honestly. I don’t guzzle it, but it’s doesn’t make me feel as icky as wheat products. Look at the ingredients on your tortilla chips compared to a loaf of Oroweat. No contest, right?
Here’s more on my grain opinion: http://summertomato.com/intact-grains-vs-whole-grains/
PS – And what about things such as brown rice flour, coconut flour, etc? I assume these are still not good since they’re very processed, but I thought I’d ask. I’m not even sure what category coconut flour falls into, since I assume it’s not a grain…?
Hi Darya, I love your blog… I read that beef is a good source of carnitine – along with all the bad stuff. Would cooking beef with bok choy Detoxify the negative of beef e.g heteroCyclic amines? Make healthier to eat? Would that work…
Most of the “bad stuff” in meat comes from the chemicals used in industrial agriculture that accumulate in the fat. (Here’s my thoughts on saturated fat in red meat).
Cooking meat with bok choy wouldn’t necessarily have more benefits than just eating a diet rich in vegetables. Heterocyclic amines are mostly caused by cooking, so I’d definitely avoid overcooking meats.
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/cooked-meats
You talk a lot about “special occasion foods”, what do you suggest as every day foods?
Everything else I write about: veggies, beans, fish, intact grains, non-industrial meats, fruit, etc.
Hey
How do you remain up to date on scientific research on health, fitness and diet ? You subscribe to special rss blogs ? You got a list ?
thanks
rob
http://summertomato.com/my-favorite-healthy-eating-blogs-resources-what-are-yours/
What do you think of this
http://www.naturalnews.com/035691_dieticians_free_speech_nutrition_advice.html
That’s a little scary, but imagine it is more scary for the quacks who run Natural News.
In some of your recipes you talk about heirloom beans. Where do you suggest buying the best dried beans if you can’t get them at a farmer’s market and which beans are the best for you?
I love Rancho Gordo beans and Zursun beans and lentils. All of them are good for you 🙂
Hi Darya,
Old you point me to the articles that describes what your body does with carbs and how it burns fat etc…. I read it once before , I thought it was good, now I can’t find it.
Regards
Dee
I think you’re referring to this one, but keep in mind this is really oversimplified.
Yes! Thank You
What are your thoughts on the Ketogenic diet? It claims that sugar is the source of our obesity epidemic, and dietary fat has a negligible effect on our weight gain.
Well that’s true, but you don’t need to go into ketosis to get the benefits of less sugar and more fat. You might enjoy some of my book reviews: http://summertomato.com/category/thought/reviews/
I’ve read recently that too much Vitamin A can make your hair fall out. Five days a week I eat a large salad with lots of vegetables, including at least one carrot, lots of baby lettuce (mostly romaine), and red or yellow bell pepper. I also regularly eat cantaloupe, spinach, and other foods rich in vitamin A. In addition I take a half dose of a multivitamin, which provides 2,500 IU daily. Could this be causing my hair to thin?
I think that’s unlikely. Vitamin overdose comes from extremely high levels, and can rarely be achieved with a healthy diet and basic multivitamin. If you were eating 40 pounds of carrots a day (or lots of cod liver oil) I’d be worried, but not with what you describe.
Hair loss is more likely to be associated with hormonal changes, specifically higher testosterone (low estrogen). Some people have the opposite reaction though. Personally I’ve found higher estrogen levels thin my hair (I think my body over compensates by creating more testosterone). At any rate, I’d look into possible hormonal changes you experienced recently including hormone therapy, birth control pills, child birth, etc. I’ve found that products containing lavender and tea tree can also impact my hormones in a negative way.
Thanks. In the past few months, I’ve lost quite a bit of weight by eating only whole healthy foods. The weight came off faster than I expected, my thyroid med had to be adjusted down twice, and I’m entering menopause. The perfect storm for hairloss. I was just concerned that something I was eating was contributing to the problem. I’ve had my testosterone tested. It was low normal. I’m not shedding abnormally, btw, but I think new hair is slow to grow. Hopefully, it will recover. Several people have suggested biotin, but I’ve read It can cause cystic acne in some people. That doesn’t sound fun.
Best of luck. I used to have very thin hair but it’s thick and shiny now. I definitely eat more veggies, but I also eat more protein and fat than I ever used to (especially eggs, fish and pastured meats). But I still think hormones are the biggest issue.
iTunes doesn’t seem to be updating with newer episodes of Summer Tomato live, I thought you hadn’t done any in a while but it seems iTunes just stopped at Ep 15!
Love listening to your podcast while I go food shopping as it stops me from buying bad stuff, if it could be fixed that’d be great!
Thanks Darya
Sorry, I haven’t been able to keep up with the editing. I need to clone myself.
Ah sorry, I didn’t know you had to edit them. No worries!
Hi Darya,
I struggle with sugar and general junk cravings. When faced with these foods, I find it fairly easy to not partake when in public settings, but when there is stuff left at home, it’s all I can think about.
My family members keep junk in the house that I can’t get rid of. Do you have similar experiences? How do I try to cut down on sugar when I have ice cream and such staring me down (I’m also studying for my LSAT….helloooooo procrastination eating)?
Thanks,
CK
Hi, i just want to share my experience. I was an all sweet girl… I wold prefer chocolate cake over food… I feel my body was constantly producing insulin, I reached 180lbs… Then I changed my mind about food…. I no longer keep sweets in my home, if my daughter wants cookies, she bakes them. It was very difficult at first, I do eat desserts once in a while though. But for me what worked is that I’ve changed m mind about food, I drink 11 glasses of water per day, I include at least one vegetable at every meal, I snack on nuts if I must (and I am not a fan of nuts)
I used to have sweets cravings too. I got rid of them by eating more intact grains, like oats and farro. I’ve found if I have my morning muesli with rolled grains, raisins, cinnamon and hemp milk (unsweetened) it’s plenty sweet to keep me satisfied all day, even without added sugar.
The other thing that helps is beans/lentils with dinner.
I love to bake my own bread and realize from reading on your website that the “white stuff” (flour and sugar) is not the best choice. Also … you said earlier in this post that you eat a morning muesli with rolled grains, raisins, cinnamon and hemp milk (unsweetened) … is there a bread recipe that you or your readers know of that would come close to this combination as a healthy morning alternative and also satisfy my bread baking interests?
Also, I find that even the most store-bought, processed foods taste super good sometimes, even though I thoroughly appreciate fine foods.
I have gone out to many ridiculously amazing restaurants in Toronto, albeit on my parents’ dime usually; I consider myself a foodie in training. Any suggestions on how to (further) refine my palate?
CK
Sounds like you really need to cut back on your sugar intake, and reacclimate your palate to normal sweetness levels. This will probably involve going cold turkey on sugar for awhile. I’d also recommend avoiding artificial sweeteners.
Final question: I read your Diet History, and what exactly happened in terms of physique after you rediscovered whole grains? Did your grandma stop staying you looked like JLo?
CK
Haha, I lost about 10 more pounds effortlessly. My legs slimmed down, and what was previously my least favorite feature (the booty), became my best. Also I found I have a much better tolerance when I do indulge in the occasional bread or sweet food. I used to blow up like a balloon with a few bites, now I can handle them fine.
I met with a dietician who said that because I don’t eat a lot of dairy (just some nice cheese on occasion and maybe yogurt once in a while), that I should take calcium supplements. My diet is mostly plant-based. What would you suggest I ask her at our follow up to see if she knows what she’s talking about or if I need a new dietician? How can a person actually know if they are calcium deficient?
well, I’m not darya but I’d say get a dietician who’s training is beyond the “food pyramid”. sounds like this dietician is not aware that there is more digestible calcium in a handful of almonds and leafy greens than cows milk. My daughter hasn’t had dairy her whole life but has never had a dental cavity (and trust me, having autism she is not a great tooth brusher) and the dentist always comments on her strong teeth and enamel. she also grew to be 5’9″ tall. I say skip the dairy unless its raw and its something you really enjoy. maybe darya has some more ideas.
Sorry for the late reply, but I agree with Joey. Getting your calcium tested is easy, requires just a simple blood test. They should test for that stuff when you get your cholesterol, etc. checked. Remember that the majority of the world is lactose intolerant and doesn’t eat dairy at all. You can get all the calcium you need from vegetables, beans, etc. If you’re eating a varied, whole foods-based diet of mostly plants you should be fine (but you should check). There’s also a decent amount of calcium in fish and other meats.
Thanks Darya (and Joey)!
And no worries for the delayed response. Just keep up the amazing blogging.
You always suggest going to farmer’s markets to get fresh foods in season. What do you suggest to someone who lives in a small town in Canada, where farmer’s markets are few and far between? Also there are not a lot of fresh local foods in the harsh winters, what can I do so I still get the benefit of fresh foods?
If you have a grocery store that carries fresh foods from California or other warmer climates that works just fine. Generally I recommend avoiding foods from the other hemisphere, like Chilean strawberries in December. But imports aren’t necessarily bad. I think farm fresh tastes better, but if you can’t get it make do with what you have.
I’ve heard different information regarding raw vs. synthetic vitamins, and that even some “raw” vitamins are still synthetic. It’s frustrating for me, being pregnant, to know what to take because right now it’s critical that I do take something. Are the prescription kind from my doctor the best bet, or something else? What would you take if you were pregnant?
Depending on your condition your doctor would normally recommend the vitamin supplements and or diet recommendations. I took materna during pregnancies. As I said some may recommend extra calcium, folic acid, vitamin C , iron, aspirin, depending on your health status.
Prenatal vitamins are designed to prevent specific deficiencies, such as neural tube defects caused by too little folic acid. For these issues that standard vitamins are proven to work fine.
Hi Darya,
If you had to pick one snack to munch on that wasn’t veggies or nuts, what would you pick?
Caitlin
I eat a lot of fruit. Also hardboiled eggs, kimchi, sauerkraut, etc. Every now and then I snack on this mineral crunch stuff I found at Whole Foods that is basically just pressed seeds and nuts, with a bit of seaweed. I like it because it tastes good and is filling and healthy. But it doesn’t taste good enough to gorge myself on it 🙂
I’ve recently changed how I eat to be more healthful and I feel really great! I’ve lost 10 pounds just from cutting out processed, unwholesome foods and, after eating better, I seriously never crave the junk that I used to eat. I’ve been getting compliments but I’ve also noticed some negative backlash from those closest to me. They say that they’re happy for me, but I can tell that they’re not – making snide remarks about my body, my eating habits, that I don’t eat junk food anymore etc. I know that a couple of these people have been trying to lose weight and, when they ask me things like how I lost weight, I try to help by sharing what I know about eating mindfully and nutritiously – but I’m always weary that I might come across to preacher-like so I don’t OD the advice giving. At the end of the day, I can only really pin it down to envy/jealousy and I don’t really know what to do to help the situation – what does everyone think? can anyone share some insight?
Yeah, people are like that, don’t study them.
Continue to Do what is right for you. When people ask me I tell them I did it through very hard work. I say it’s more exercise than diet…. And leave it like that…
Sometimes they ask more …depends who it is then I talk about my experience in losing weight naturally. There are some fat rolling people here that I wish I can tell to go and lose weight
Hi Haley,
I know it’s tough, but don’t worry it won’t last forever. Once enough time has passed that this is just “who you are” and people can no longer compare you to the old Haley they’ll forget and move on. Sounds like you’re handling it the best you can for now.
One last thought: while people always say you can tell who your real friends are when things get tough and they’re still around, I’ve found that I learned a lot about who my real friends are when things are going good for me. You can tell those who are legitimately happy for you and those who would prefer you were still down in the trenches with them. No one is perfect, but at a certain point you have to ask who really has your back and who just wants to commiserate. Best of luck.
Darya,
I’m thinking of eliminating/ minimizing flour, bread , pasta and other grains from my diet….
Which do you think is the better of the carbohydrates to consume (my goal is weight loss)
1. Grains – bread, pasta, rice, cereal….
Or 2. Ground provisions – yams, sweet potatoes, dasheen, cassava etc
Roots are healthier.
Darya,
I’m thinking of eliminating/ minimizing flour, bread , pasta and other grains from my diet….
Which do you think is the better of the carbohydrates to consume (my goal is weight loss)
1. Grains – bread, pasta, rice, cereal….
Or 2. Ground provisions – yams, sweet potatoes, dasheen, cassava etc
Do you consider that an equivalent substitute?
Hi Darya!
I’m currently an Australian high school senior, and university preferences are coming up and I don’t know what to do after school and as my career. Going onto your site daily amongst many other foodie sites made me realise how much I love nutrition, food and health. I’m already a bit of a science lover at school too! But I’ve been thinking of careers associated with these things, and it only seems to be either a dietitian or a researcher? 🙁 I was hoping you could give me some insight.
Thanks so much!
Kate
I’d recommend diving deep into the nitty gritty of different careers and finding out about the quality of life for those people. Call people with different jobs (not just one person from each, but several) and see what their day is like. You’ll start to get a feel for what you’re cut out for and what you aren’t. If you aren’t happy with any of the options, you could always just invent your own career like I did. I never took a class on how to become a professional blogger 😉
How would you answer those who claim all grains are toxins?
http://chriskresser.com/beyond-paleo-2
I think we should eat fresh in-season produce and less grains but some claim any grain is a bad grain.
Everything I’ve read (and that’s a lot) suggests the anti-nutrients in grains aren’t a serious issue for people with diverse diets. http://summertomato.com/is-it-healthier-to-eat-like-a-caveman/
Hey Darya.
Do you think it’s possible to have too much fibre? After eating so many fruits and vegetables I feel that’s possibly a problem for me and likely for you too. How do you deal with it?
Hi Larissa, Apparently it is possible to have too much fibre! A few years ago, I was averaging 50 to 55 g a day, and was constantly tired. I’m anaemic anyway, but iron transfusions etc. had no effect, and it was only when I went for nutrition counselling that I was told my fibre intake was too high, and that this was impeding the absorption of iron from the food I was consuming. I was eating enough foods containing iron, but the problem was my high fibre intake. Hope this helps! 🙂 Liz
Hi Larissa,
Not sure exactly what your issue is, but maybe this will help?
http://summertomato.com/too-many-vegetables-how-to-prevent-gas-and-digestive-problems-caused-by-healthy-eating/
Hi Darya,
I hope I haven’t missed the answer to my question on your blog somewhere, excuse me if I have.
With regards a “healthy weight”, what should it be? and do you think we calculating your BMI through weight and height is an accurate measure of one’s body index.
I think most people have a range of weights that are healthy for them, and can tell intuitively when they are in it. BMI can give you a ballpark range, but it is not a particularly good measure.
I have a Bionutrition 101 question. When you eat a processed carbohydrate like flour, does the processing (like milling in the case of flour) take the place of digestive work your body would have to do if it was unprocessed? Seems like an obvious assumption, but our bodies are pretty complicated and sometimes things aren’t as straightforward as they seem. I am presuming our digestive system has to work harder in a good way when we eat unprocessed food.
That is one way to view food processing, and it causes blood sugar to rise more rapidly when you eat it. This is bad. Another issue with processing is it often destroys some of the more delicate (and essential) nutrients in the food. Sometimes the molecules of the food are fundamentally changed by the processing method, as is the case with the creation of trans fats. Also too, chemicals are sometimes used to aid the processing, which can be harmful in their own right. There are probably issues we don’t know about as well.
Hey
I follow a vegetarian diet, is it okay to get protein from nuts during summer ? I heard that almonds, pistachio have hot effect and should only be taken in winters. They are not good in summers.
Is this true ? Where can I get my protein and fats on vegetarian diet ?
Btw I try to avoid dairy and eggs.
There are plenty of good vegetarian sources of proteins and fats.
Check out this: http://summertomato.com/healthy-vegetable-sources-of-protein-and-iron/
and this:
http://summertomato.com/healthy-vegetarian-vegan-diets-episode-4-summer-tomato-live-video/
You have not answered my question. Do you know if eating nuts daily in summer is good or bad ?
I’ve never heard that.
I hear so much about a “cup” of coffee is good/bad for etc…Is a “cup” of coffee 8oz or 6oz as I’ve been told in most of the studies. When I think of a cup of coffee I always think of my coffee mug which is more than 6oz. Thanks Mike
I don’t think it matters. Here’s an article I wrote on coffee’s health benefits:
http://blog.zocdoc.com/too-much-coffee-is-bad-for-you-fact-vs-myth/
Hey Darya,
I’m a university student which often means meeting friends for a pitcher of cheap beer and some mass-produced, unhealthy pub food. This aspect of socializing with my friends is inescapable.
1) What is your take exactly on alcohol that isn’t red wine?
2) How would you deal in the situation above? I find not ordering any food or drink at all awkward.
Caitlin
I think beer is fine in reasonable quantities. I used to go to pubs all the time with friends in college. Mine actually had a decent salad on the menu, which I ate often. In cases like that I usually just order the healthiest thing I can find on the menu (don’t hesitate to ask the wait staff for substitutions) since I know the food won’t taste that great anyway.
What’s the deal with chobani greek yogurt? Is this something that is actually healthy or is it an overmarketed “health food” that people can get the same nutrition benefits from by consuming a variety of meats, fish, vegetables and unprocessed grains?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/darya-pino/health-food_b_1391375.html
Yep, what Sonya said.
I was wondering if you had any thoughts on Thermolon. I shy away from Teflon because of all the supposed chemicals. And I just happened to notice Thermolon while in a West Elm store the other day.
Here is my official opinion on non-stick cookware:
http://blog.zocdoc.com/is-non-stick-cookware-dangerous-fact-vs-myth/
I don’t know about Thermolon specifically. I just bought a few of these Scanpans and love them.
Darya,
My sis’ was diagnosed with MS last year, might you have any links to research studies about foods to battle this particular neurodegenerative disease? (Whether or not you were a part of the study) Thanks! =)
Hope this helps
The video liv shared is a great place to start. I’d also recommend vitamin D3 supplements.
Liv, Darya,
Thanks so much =)