One of the few food contaminants found at higher levels in those eating plant-based diets are mycotoxins, fungal toxins in moldy food ingredients, such as oats. In France, exposure to dietary contaminants was compared between vegetarians and meat-eaters, and the results showed that exposures to persistent organic pollutants like PCBs and dioxins were dramatically lower among those eating more plant-based foods. This was due to their avoidance of foods of animal origin, thoug

Here's what you need to know. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced a recall on more than 4,000 cases of condiment products produced by Ventura Foods due to a potential foreign object contamination, specifically plastic material. Salad dressings and sauces sold at store delis and food courts, including those at Costco and Publix, are impacted by this recall. The recalled products were distributed to 27 states. How To Identify the Recalled Sauces and Dres

Food recalls are on the rise. Here’s why. If you feel like you’re hearing more about recalled food these days, you’re not wrong—the total number of food recalls increased by 20 percent between 2020 and 2023—and in recent months, we’ve seen massive recalls involving everything from baby formula to deli meat. Just as there are certain foods that are recalled more often than others, there are also specific reasons why these foods are frequently recalled. According to new data fr

Did the five randomized controlled trials of reishi mushrooms in cancer patients show benefits in terms of tumor response rate, survival time, or quality of life? Can mushrooms be medicinal? Mushroom-based products make up a sizable chunk of the $50 billion supplement market. “This profitable trade provides a powerful incentive for companies to test the credulity of their customers and unsupported assertions have come to define the medical mushroom business.” For example, comp

What can reishi mushrooms, shiitake mushroom extracts, and whole, powdered white mushrooms do for cancer patients? “A regular intake of mushrooms can make us healthier, fitter, and happier, and help us live longer,” but what is the evidence for all that? “Mushrooms are widely cited for their medicinal qualities, yet very few human intervention studies have been done using contemporary guidelines.” There is a compound called lentinan, extracted from shiitake mushrooms. To g

Published By Alexandra Pierce, MD As a gynecologist with over 25 years of experience, I’ve seen firsthand how menopause affects women’s lives.  It’s not just about hot flashes and mood swings – there’s a hidden factor that many overlook when trying to lose weight during this time: Cortisol . Cortisol, the stress hormone, plays a much larger role in menopausal weight gain than most people realize.  It can be the reason you’re still carrying extra pounds, no matter how many di

KEY POINTS Freezing lemons helps preserve their fresh flavor and usefulness for months, making it easy to enjoy citrus year-round. Whole lemons, juice, and zest each freeze well with simple prep steps, maintaining taste and versatility in drinks, cooking, and desserts. Proper handling—washing fruit, avoiding temperature swings, and using airtight containers—keeps frozen citrus bright, flavorful, and safe to use. Everyone loves a bowl of sunny lemons on the counter—not just fo

The American Medical Association passed a resolution encouraging hospitals to offer healthy plant-based food options. “Globally, 11 million deaths annually are attributable to dietary factors, placing poor diet ahead of any other risk factor for death in the world.” Given that diet is our leading killer, you’d think that nutrition education would be emphasized during medical school and training, but there is a deficiency. A systematic review found that, “despite the centra

Here’s What to Know. Drinking more than one soda daily may increase liver disease risk by 50% to 60%. Replacing soda with water could reduce liver disease risk by up to 15%. Both sugary and diet sodas were linked to higher liver fat and liver-related deaths. Many people reach for a diet soda as a healthier choice, especially when compared to a regular, sugary drink. However, a new study suggests that both artificially sweetened drinks and their sugary counterparts could sign

Tilapia: It’s mild, inexpensive, and easy to cook. But does it have a place in a healthy diet?  This humble seafood has a way of dividing the Paleo community. Some people love it and can’t stop raving about the health benefits. Others think it’s dangerous, and they do everything they can to avoid it. The truth? Like so many things, it lies somewhere in between. Keep reading to find out what you need to know about tilapia before deciding to make it a regular part of your diet.