Susan Burke March

Reporting on nutritional news is fraught with misinterpretation. One recent example was coffee. Headlines pronounced that drinking coffee prevents heart disease and stroke. Happily for those who dislike coffee, the study never suggested that people who don’t drink coffee are at higher risk. There could be some significant lifestyle factors that strengthen the association between...

Bananas are some of the world’s most convenient health food.  They come in their own little snug jacket, protected from the elements, ready-to-eat whenever you are.  When they’re just ripe, they’re firm and mellow, but let them age a bit and they turn sweet and silky.  Full of vitamins and minerals, bananas fit into any...

Recently, a reader asked me to peel back the latest nutrition advice on eggs.  In particular, he requested some clarity on conflicting advice for people with diabetes. Let’s get crackin’! Dietary Cholesterol vs. Blood Cholesterol Following years of research and input from scientific studies, health expert’s advice has changed from limiting eggs to liberalizing them. ...

As reported in the Harvard Health Letter, deciphering media stories on diet and nutrition can be challenging.  Writers may report on a single preliminary story as if it’s a conclusive finding, or highlight one to gain some quick “clicks” just because it contradicts current health recommendations. This week I’m detailing three recent diet/nutrition stories that...

We all want to eat more naturally, and it would appear that the sweetener stevia, sourced from a plant, fits the bill. But, is it as natural as all that? First, a few facts about stevia fro­­m the Global Stevia Institute: Indigenous South Americans discovered stevia and chewed the leaves for the sweet taste. In...