Category Archives: Food

FDA Regulations for Gluten-Free Labels Take Effect

Posted on August 5, 2014 by Greg Asseff

Before today, foods labeled “gluten-free” were not subject to any regulations or standards ensuring that the claim was true. Now, FDA regulations state that gluten-free products must be packaged in a “truthful and not misleading manner.” This means that such foods can only use the label if they contain gluten in a ratio of less than 20 parts per million. The news is particularly good for those suffering from celiac disease, who can get very ill after eating food that contains even a small amount of gluten. The protein is most often found in wheat, rye and barley. Some people that do not have celiac disease claim to suffer from a sensitivity to gluten that can cause intestinal issues, headaches, and respiratory problems. The existence of a “gluten sensitivity” from a scientific standpoint is up for debate, however. Further, some claim that gluten is not the culprit at all, but rather other elements in wheat that make people sick.

Posted in Diet, Food, Health, Medical, News, Nutrition | 1,583 Comments

Unhealthiest Restaurant Meals of 2014 Revealed

Posted on July 31, 2014 by Greg Asseff

Last year, we reported that the Big Catch with Onion Rings at Long John Silver’s topped the list of unhealthiest restaurant meals in the nation. The main ingredient of the meal was fish, which is generally considered to be healthy. However, the way in which it was prepared led to it containing a startling 33 grams of trans fat, which is well-known to raise LDL levels and therefore contribute to a higher risk of heart disease. After the damning report came out, Long John Silver’s announced that it would be removing all trans fats from its food.

So, with trans fats no longer being in the Big Catch, what meals are considered to be the least healthy? According to the Center for Science and the Public Interest, The Cheesecake Factory and Red Robin are coming out as the worst offenders. The amount of exercise you’ll need to work off the meals is astonishing.

Posted in Diet, Food, Health Facts, News, Nutrition, Weight Loss | 1 Comment

Nationwide Fruit Recall Issued for Peaches, Necatarines, Plums

Posted on July 22, 2014 by Greg Asseff

Anybody that has purchased fruit recently from Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club, Trader Joe’s, BJ’s or Costco may want to review their purchase and possibly discard their produce. Wawona Packing, a packaging company headquartered in California, has issued a voluntary recall on both organic and conventional varieties of: white peaches and nectarines, yellow peaches and nectarines, black plums, pluots (a hybrid of plums and apricots). The fruit recall was issued due to possible Listeria contamination during packaging that occurred between June 1 and July 12. Regional supermarket chain Wegmans also recalled pies that may have been made with the contaminated fruit.

Posted in Food, Health, Medical, News | 100 Comments

Latest Research Touts Benefits of Organic Foods

Posted on July 17, 2014 by Greg Asseff

At the moment, there is perhaps no issue more confusing to the average food shopper than whether or not to buy organic. For the most part, people believe that organic foods are generally healthier and more nutritious. At the same time, several studies seen to indicate that foods labeled organic have not proven to be any more beneficial than their non-organic counterparts. To make matters worse, many consumers have incorrect notions about the term “organic,” often relating it to “local” or the ever-dubious “all natural.” In fact, one team of researchers recently conducted a study in which 23 percent of participants incorrectly assumed that produce labeled “local” indicated that it was also organic. Seventeen percent incorrectly thought that organic produce is always grown locally. Amid all this confusion, however, a new study shows that organic food may indeed be healthier.

Posted in Diet, Food, Health, News, Nutrition, Studies | 3,984 Comments

Put the Red Wine Down: Alcohol and Heart Health Link Refuted

Posted on July 12, 2014 by Greg Asseff

The results of a new study indicate that it might be time to add red wine to the list of foods such as milk and eggs whose health benefits are famously debated. It’s been generally thought for years that a positive link between alcohol and heart health can exist when alcohol is consumed in moderation. We’ve been told that some forms of alcohol, especially red wine, can reduce the risk of certain types of stroke, heart attack and vascular disease, leading to the thought that a daily glass of wine could be healthy.

In fact, the Harvard School of Public Health claims that over 100 studies have shown a link between small amounts of alcohol and heart health, often concluding that the risk of certain conditions can be reduced by anywhere from 25 to 40 percent. Now, however, a new study published in the British Medical Journal is throwing a wrench in the gears.