Preservatives have been used for years to extend the shelf-life of foods and to prevent the growth of bacteria and mold in food and cosmetics. I will focus on some of the most commonly used. BHA Butylated hydroxyanisole and BHT Butylated hydroxytoluene BHA is found in preserved and cured meats such as pepperoni and sausage. BHT is found in cereals such as Cap’n Crunch, Apple Jacks, and Fruit Loops to prolong shelf life. Years ago, General Mills removed BHT from Cinnamon

ANTIBIOTICS What most consumers do not know about meat dairy antibiotics hormones is alarming. Antibiotics have been used since the 1940s to treat diseases in farm animals. Over time, these drugs were given to promote growth and prevent infection. Many food growers add antibiotics to the livestock feed or water to prevent illness. This also stimulates weight gain in the animal. Colorful antibiotic capsules. The majority of antibiotics made are used in farm animals. The antib

What are obesogens? The shocking link between obesogens and appetite is something every family needs to understand. Obesogens are chemicals in our environment that are linked to obesity. They are thought to disrupt the actions of hormones in regulating our metabolism and appetite and are considered endocrine disruptors. (See previous articles on endocrine disruptors from March 15 and 22, 2023.) 3D model of a chemical compound. Obesogens are chemicals which act as endocrine

The dangers of raw unpasteurized milk children should never be given is a warning every parent needs to hear. I read a newspaper article last month regarding raw, unpasteurized milk and its potential benefits, but that it also can contain the bird flu virus. As a pediatrician, I wish to warn parents regarding unpasteurized products, whether milk, cheeses, or juices. Raw milk can come from cows, goats, sheep, or buffalo. Pasteurizing extends the freshness and shelf-life of m

Rows of colorful cans of soda. Understanding why sodas are among the sodas worst drink choices for your health starts with the shocking numbers. The average American household spends $850 annually on carbonated beverages, reported by Time Magazine. People in the US drank more Coca-Cola in 2024 than any other country, per World Population Review, totaling 39,300 million liters. The United States was the 4th highest consumer of sodas in the world. Billions of dollars are spe

You may have heard some bad press recently about seed oils. There has been concern that seed oils are unhealthy. Most recently, these have been linked to an increase in colorectal cancers, especially in young adults. This article will extract (no pun intended!) and sort through some of the information out there. What are Seed Oils? Pictured are a variety of seed oils and the seeds from which they came including sunflower, black sesame seeds, and safflower seeds. Seed oils are

Have you been as confused as I am regarding food labels and what the terms really mean? Do they even mean anything? Some do, some don’t. Unfortunately, much of the wording means absolutely nothing. Labels are used for marketing rather than relaying anything about the product and are tricky. Consumer beware! It pays to know which labels and descriptions you can rely on. I will help sort through the confusion! Woman grocery shopping reading label on milk bottle. Here is a lis

Last week, I reviewed GMOs, what they are, and their pros and cons. If you haven’t read it, you might start with that. Today, I focus on why and how to avoid them. Genetic engineering has made plants resistant to certain toxins (herbicides), environmental conditions (drought), and pests (insects). As a result, much higher amounts of herbicides are used to kill weeds since they no longer kill the crops. The herbicides, more than the foods, are the concern. The primary herbicid

This article on GMOs (genetically modified organisms) is a two-part series. Once I began researching this topic, the information was too much for a single article. Today’s article explains GMOs, what they are, their development, and their pros and cons. Next week, I will review how and why to avoid them. GMOs - What are They? A tomato being injected with needle and syringe. Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are made in the lab by changing its DNA. A GMO is a genetically m

Discovering the secret behind Japan low obesity rates started with a firsthand experience. I recently returned from a ski trip/medical meeting to Japan. We were on the island of Hokkaido, which receives the most snowfall in Japan. They set records this year, over 10 feet of snow! Besides the snow and powder, I was impressed by the lack of obesity where we traveled. Out of 8 days of travel and seeing thousands of people, I could count on one hand the number of obese people I

An assortment of red candies, all with red dye. If you haven’t heard, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently decided to ban Red Dye 3 in food. This occurred on January 15, 2025, based on the Delaney Clause. The Delaney Clause prohibits the use of cancer-causing chemicals in foods. This is exciting news, but it has taken far too long to occur. Red dye 3 was discovered to cause cancer in rats in the 1980s. Food manufacturers have until 2027 to reformulate their product

A healthy gut benefits the entire body. It improves brain health, the immune system, digestion, mood, energy, and helps prevent disease. Developing a healthy gut means developing a healthy gut microbiome. This is achieved through diet and lifestyle changes and can be done naturally. A plastic model of the internal organs of the human body, showing the gut and intestines. Dietary changes involve increasing specific foods while eliminating or decreasing others. I will focus on

You may have heard of the gut-brain connection or the gut-brain axis. Books have been written about this topic. This article will explain this interaction, how it works, what it controls, and why it is important. Picture of a brain inside a drawing of the head and neck. What It Is. The gut-brain connection is the communication between the central nervous system and the gastrointestinal system. These systems talk to each other. There are physical connections with ongoing signa

You may have heard the term leaky gut syndrome. Do you know what this means? To clarify, it is not an actual diagnosis. It is a hypothetical condition in which the gut becomes more permeable than it should and “leaks”. This leakage allows more than the usual nutrients and water to cross through the intestinal lining. Plastic model of the intestine showing the inside and outside. The lining of the intestines contains mucous and is designed to allow water and nutrients to pass

The gut gateway to health is one of the most exciting and rapidly growing areas of medical research today. Gut health and the microbiome have been a hot research topic for the past two decades with studies showing that the gut and its bacteria contribute to almost every organ system and many disease processes including autoimmune disease and mental health. The microorganisms living in our gut, the microbiota, can benefit our health or contribute to disease later. Understandi

Make 2025 the Year of Healthy Eating! Discovering easy ways to eat healthy this year starts with one simple step at a time. Eating healthy does not have to be difficult or expensive. Making simple substitutions goes a long way in improving the quality of what you eat. Swapping foods with healthy nutrients over ones that are less healthy is a great start. I am passing on information from my book - “Feed Your Child’s Future Health, Prevent Disease before It Starts” and from p

Merry, Merry Christmas! Wishing you the gift of health! Nutrition plays a role in maintaining your and your child’s health during the winter. There are ways you can use food to offer protection, in addition to frequent handwashing, covering your mouth with coughing and sneezing, and/or mask-wearing. Eating healthy during the colder months can be challenging for numerous reasons - The holidays offer too many appealing high-sugar, high-fat, and high-calorie treats Some of your

Young children love to spend time with their parents and do the things that they do. Cooking is a novel activity for them, even though the novelty may have worn off for the parent. Cooking with your child and giving them tasks helps you discover joy in a shared project. Father and young daughter cooking together. Studies show that when a child is involved in meal preparation, they are more likely to eat what they have helped to prepare. Having your child involved in cooking g

Sweet Healthy Treats: Eat Your Fruit & Veggies for Dessert! at your fruit & veggies for dessert! Homemade blueberry crisp ''Sweet healthy treats'' We all love our sweets! Sweet treats are satisfying but need not be full of sugar. I have put together a list of healthy desserts I have found that both satisfy that sweet craving and provide guilt-free nutritious options. What makes these desserts healthy is the use of fat substitutes, such as avocado, bananas and legumes, as well

Cancer trends in the young are deeply concerning. The National Cancer Institute estimates that 4.2% of all new cancer cases this year will occur in adolescents and young adults ages 15-39. The word cancer in colored letters between a stethoscope and a paper cutout of a person next to a pill bottle. Cancer is on the rise in young adults. Younger adults are the only age group showing an increase in cancer incidence from 1995 to 2020. The cancer rate in this age group has ri