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Tiny plastics pose huge problems

Tiny plastics pose huge problems

Microplastics can enter the human body in a variety of ways — through the foods we eat, the clothes we wear, and the packaging we use. The health risks have been well documented, but here's how to mimimize the impact.

Food Safety, Health

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The Ins & Outs of Mushroom Products

The Ins & Outs of Mushroom Products

Mushrooms have gained a lot of attention for a reported array of benefits. We're delving into how to assess supplement quality and the role of third-party verifiers in ensuring their authenticity and effectiveness.

Food Ingredients, Health

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Eat these foods to boost your mood

Eat these foods to boost your mood

In today's fast-paced and stressful world, adequate serotonin levels are crucial for maintaining mental and emotional health, among many other benefits. We pinpoint which foods can help boost this mood-regulating hormone.

Health

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Are You Deficient in Key Nutrients?

Are You Deficient in Key Nutrients?

Many of us in the U.S. suffer from nutrient deficiencies, leading to increased risk of various life-threatening diseases. Here are five common nutritional deficiencies and what you can do to boost your intake.

Diet, Health

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5 Nutrients Meat Has that Plants Don't

5 Nutrients Meat Has that Plants Don't

It’s no secret that many consumers are integrating a plant-based option into their diets. And, although increasing your vegetable intake is never a bad thing, it’s important to know what nutrients you may lack without meat in your diet.

Diet, Health

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How Much Protein Should We Eat?

How Much Protein Should We Eat?

With supplements and bars filling the shelves, it made us wonder: how much protein should we consume? Here's what we found out...

Diet, Food Ingredients, Health

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Can Stretching Help Nutrient Intake?

Can Stretching Help Nutrient Intake?

Stretching can help your body absorb nutrients from the foods you eat. You’ll have a whole new appreciation for touching your toes when you hear about all the benefits it can have on your nutrient intake!

Health

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Food as Protection from Air Pollution

Food as Protection from Air Pollution

Recent scientific research has revealed that diet may play a crucial role in mitigating the adverse effects of air pollution, including smoke from forest fires, on human health.

Health

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Digging in with Dr. Jim Joachim, Internist & Clinical Nutritionist

Digging in with Dr. Jim Joachim, Internist & Clinical Nutritionist

On this episode of Digging In, we're fortunate to have nutrition expert, Dr. Jim Joachim, MD, FACN. Listen in as we dig into the role nutrition and supplements play in meeting our individual health needs!

Health

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Dirty Tactics from EWG’s Dirty Dozen

Dirty Tactics from EWG’s Dirty Dozen

EWG recently released its annual “Dirty Dozen” produce list, which stokes fears of eating produce with pesticide residues...as if we don't already have enough to fear with COVID. But is EWG right? Or do the benefits of eating produce to maintain our health far outweigh these concerns?

Food Safety, Health, Soil and Crop Management

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Suffer from allergies? Eat these foods!

Suffer from allergies? Eat these foods!

Many of us keep our seasonal allergies at bay with over-the-counter meds. What if you could eat certain foods to help fight your symptoms? Put down the decongestant and update your grocery list with these items...

Health

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Digging into Heavy Metals with Isabel Smith, R.D.

Digging into Heavy Metals with Isabel Smith, R.D.

Nutrition expert, Isabel Smith, R.D., shares with us some ways to avoid heavy metal accumulations. You don't want to miss this episode of Digging In!

Health

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A Guide to Time-Restricted Eating

A Guide to Time-Restricted Eating

We’ve compiled a list of the latest studies surrounding time-restricted eating covering sleep, brain health, chronic illness reduction, and weight loss research. Take a look to see if it's something you should consider!

Diet, Health

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Are snacks masking your body's protein needs?

Are snacks masking your body's protein needs?

Our bodies crave protein, so why do we try to satisfy this innate need with processed foods? A new study suggests we overeat because our protein needs are unmet. Could this be true?

Diet, Health

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Not All Fiber is Created Equal

Not All Fiber is Created Equal

Most of us are fiber deficient, which is a pity: fiber helps maintain digestive health, lowers cholesterol, and controls blood sugar levels. But we can't just add any fiber to our diets to reap all these benefits; we need to consider a few other things...

Diet, Health

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How does alcohol affect our health?

How does alcohol affect our health?

We wondered to what degree drinking alcohol detracts from our health. So we're digging into alcohol's effect on our brain & body so we can make informed lifestyle decisions.

Health

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Omega 3 & 6: What’s the difference?

Omega 3 & 6: What’s the difference?

Are omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids healthy? The science is conflicting. Some say we should not limit our intake, while others say we should avoid Omega 6s at all costs. We talked to an expert to uncover the truth.

Diet, Health

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Milk: Should you go 'alternative'?

Milk: Should you go 'alternative'?

With so many substitutes for milk to choose from, it can be difficult to know which is best. How do mainstream milk alternatives compare nutritionally?

Food Ingredients, Health

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Should MCT Oil be in your diet?

Should MCT Oil be in your diet?

With a new influx of research surrounding MCT oil, we can now evaluate the claims and myths surrounding this fatty acid. Should you try it?

Food Ingredients, Health

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Does alcohol stop us from burning fat?

Does alcohol stop us from burning fat?

We were ready to start enjoying our summer cocktails until we heard a rumor that alcohol stops the body from burning fat for up to 36 hours after drinking. Let’s find out if this should have us all dropping our cocktails!

Health

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Eating for Healthy Mitochondria

Eating for Healthy Mitochondria

Our cells' mitochondria create energy to keep our hearts beating, recognize pathogens, and program cellular activity. Our diet has a direct effect on our mitochondrial function, impacting not only our immunity but our long-term health.

Diet, Health

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Heavy metal exposure: what to know

Heavy metal exposure: what to know

Heavy metals are present in everyday items and, if overexposed, can cause a variety of health problems. Knowing what foods to eat to fortify your body can provide a protective mechanism to combat these inevitable exposures.

Health

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Plant-based chicken: should you switch?

Plant-based chicken: should you switch?

Move over Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat beef burgers, there’s a new plant-based option in town. Let’s look at plant-based chicken and how it compares nutritionally to traditional poultry.

Food Ingredients, Health

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Would a ‘traffic light’ label help prioritize your nutrition?

Would a ‘traffic light’ label help prioritize your nutrition?

A new food label proves European food manufacturers' commitment to consumer health. This stoplight-like label helps shoppers quickly determine a product's overall nutrition. How will U.S. food producers react?

Health

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Goodbye “GMO”, Hello “Bioengineered”

Goodbye “GMO”, Hello “Bioengineered”

Have you seen the new GMO labels? As of January 1st, the USDA requires food companies to label products as “bioengineered” if any ingredients are genetically modified. What will this mean for GMOs and consumer acceptance?    

Food Regulations & Policy, Health

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How does fasting prevent disease?

How does fasting prevent disease?

I tried a fast-mimicking diet and learned it's so good for your health. But how many days do you need to fast for it to be effective?

Diet, Health

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What's healthier: protein bar or burger?

What's healthier: protein bar or burger?

How is sugar sneaking into your diet? Many of us turn to protein bars as an alternative to sugary snacks. But many of these “healthy” snacks have more sugar than a candy bar. Are we getting fooled?

Diet, Health

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How Smart People Change Their Minds

How Smart People Change Their Minds

It's easy to see when the choices others make are bad for them. However, our brains try to protect us from disappointing or conflicting info, resulting in overconfidence with our own abilities and beliefs than we should have.

Health

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Supplements: Health solution or illusion?

Supplements: Health solution or illusion?

Most of us take a supplemental nutrient to ease joint pain, make our digestive system happy, or get veggie nutrients we may have missed during the day. But do they really make us healthier? Or are they just a bandage over a bigger problem?

Health

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The Caveman Diet: Should Our Diets Really Evolve?

The Caveman Diet: Should Our Diets Really Evolve?

We all care about diet and the important role it plays in our health. But how do we know what choices to make when our heads tell us one thing and our natural instincts might say something very different?

Diet, Health

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We've got questions for you, 2022...

We've got questions for you, 2022...

Governments and companies are changing the way we address food security, the environment, and consumer health. At D2D, we have covered some of these subjects previously but are now looking harder at how the future will be shaped by those who grow, trade, process, and consume food.

Food Production, Food Technology, Food Trade, Health, Soil and Crop Management

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Study shows dairy's effect on heart health

Study shows dairy's effect on heart health

A long-term study just released results contradictory to previous guidance on dairy intake. This study, coupled with others of its kind, has provided new food for thought: cutting down on dairy might not be the best choice for your heart health.

Health

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Are fermented foods key to our health?

Are fermented foods key to our health?

You want to prevent disease? Then consider fermented foods. Fermentation is a chemical reaction that’s responsible for some of our most favorite food and drinks that not only taste great – they can be great for you. 

Health

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A Stick or a Carrot to Help Us Eat Healthy?

A Stick or a Carrot to Help Us Eat Healthy?

What if your baking ingredients cost double this holiday season? A tax aimed at sugary products could have these effects, but will this make us healthier?

Health

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White Fat's Effect on Chronic Illness

White Fat's Effect on Chronic Illness

Our bodies need fat to function, but some types are better than others. This discovery can change our treatments for chronic issues like obesity and diabetes while improving health.

Health

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Getting nutrition info from social media? Think again...

Getting nutrition info from social media? Think again...

Should we listen to social media for nutrition and health information? Although many people would say yes, following the diets and trends of influencers and celebrities may be more harmful than helpful.

Health

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Is Liquid Chlorophyll Beneficial or Just a TikTok Craze?

Is Liquid Chlorophyll Beneficial or Just a TikTok Craze?

Another green drink has entered the world – liquid chlorophyll. The trend, which went viral on TikTok, has users drinking chlorophyll to obtain its supposed ‘benefits.’ What’s the science, if any, behind this new phenomenon?

Health

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Postbiotics: You Are What You Digest

Postbiotics: You Are What You Digest

You've probably heard of probiotics, but what about postbiotics? And what role do these components play in the relationship between our gut and our immune system? It turns out - a big one...

Health

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I Tried Intuitive Eating for a Month - Here’s What I Learned

I Tried Intuitive Eating for a Month - Here’s What I Learned

“Intuitive eating” is gaining a lot of momentum. It consists of listening to your body and thinking about food as a part of an overall lifestyle choice, rather than a restrictive diet. I decided to try it out to see if I actually eat healthier and feel better.

Diet, Health

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Why Do We Make Bad Food Choices?

Why Do We Make Bad Food Choices?

Before reading Jack Bobo's new book, I assumed I was making good choices to stay healthy. But after reading "Why Smart People Make Bad Food Choices", I questioned everything. Are social media and grocery store marketing tactics hijacking my decision-making? Apparently so...

Food Production, Health

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EWG's “Dirty” Little Secret: There’s No Science Behind It

EWG's “Dirty” Little Secret: There’s No Science Behind It

Lucy Stitzer, D2D's founder, believes we should have a choice on whether to buy organic or conventional produce - but wants science to drive the decision, not fear...

Food Safety, Health

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What Should I Eat in a Day?

What Should I Eat in a Day?

The USDA just released its new dietary guidelines. What does that mean for our diet and what exactly must we eat every day to get all the nutrients we need?

Diet, Health

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Blue Zones: Long & Healthy Living

Blue Zones: Long & Healthy Living

We all want to live long, healthy, happy lives…but how? “Blue Zones” are regions where populations live longer and healthier than the rest of the world. So what can we learn from them to improve our health?

Food Regulations & Policy, Health

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Functional Water: All fun, no function?

Functional Water: All fun, no function?

Marketing can obscure our sense of good science, especially at the grocery store. Let’s get to the bottom of what functional waters can achieve...and what they really can’t.

Diet, Health

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Epicor: Strengthening our Immune Response

Epicor: Strengthening our Immune Response

As we approach winter, we're pursuing ways to strengthen our immune system. Some of us have recently added EpiCor, a postbiotic, to our balanced diets and have felt its benefits. Let's take a closer look at this supplement...

Animal Welfare and Health, Health

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5 Healthier Candies To Enjoy This Halloween

5 Healthier Candies To Enjoy This Halloween

Halloween is here! So how can you indulge in a little candy without totally ruining your health and fitness goals? We list 5 healthier candies that you can eat in moderation this Halloween!

Health

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Farmer & Rancher Election Survey Results

Farmer & Rancher Election Survey Results

D2D set out with a goal to better understand the issues affecting American farmers - their concerns, hopes, and thoughts about the next four years. Here are our results...

Food Regulations & Policy, Food Trade, Health, Soil and Crop Management

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Nootropics: How to Eat for a Better Brain

Nootropics: How to Eat for a Better Brain

What if you could think better, faster, and have a stronger memory? Nootropics, found in foods and supplements, are believed to have a positive effect on our mental capabilities and brain health. Let’s see how they work and find some natural sources.

Diet, Health

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Protein Quality: Animal vs. Plant-based

Protein Quality: Animal vs. Plant-based

Recent films and fantastical food documentaries have confounded us about proteins by vilifying meat and painting a story of plants as the superior source. Are you as confused as we are? Let’s see what the science says about the quality of plant vs. animal protein.

Diet, Health

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5 Foods to Fight Off COVID-19

5 Foods to Fight Off COVID-19

Wear a mask. Wash your hands. Don’t touch your face. What about feeding our body with the right foods that will help us fight off any infections that come in our path? Here are 5 foods to eat to fight off COVID-19!

Health

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5 Benefits of Blueberries

5 Benefits of Blueberries

They’re known as a superfood for their high nutritional benefits. We know they’re good for us, but what’s going on in those tiny berries? We’re here to tell you!

Health

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5 Sunscreen Ingredients to Avoid

5 Sunscreen Ingredients to Avoid

Did you know that there are ingredients used in some sunscreens that may be more harmful than they are beneficial? We’re here to tell you which ones to avoid!

Health

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Demanding Health: A Federal Call to Action

Demanding Health: A Federal Call to Action

We are a nation struggling with health. Almost 75% of us are overweight, a contributing factor to heart disease, the #1 killer in the U.S. A recent report from Tufts says this could be prevented with government intervention. But is it too late?

Health

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Are We Eating Away our Covid Fears?

Are We Eating Away our Covid Fears?

COVID-19 has reshaped many things about our daily habits, including how we eat. So are we snacking more because we’re home all the time, or we’re stressed out, or a bit of both? And will these seemingly inconsequential shifts in our eating behavior affect our long-term health?

Diet, Health

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Cortisol: Our Body's Stress Response

Cortisol: Our Body's Stress Response

As stress levels rise from Covid and school reopenings, so do our cortisol levels. And too much can cause weight gain, high-blood pressure, diabetes, and insomnia. But don't fear: our diet can help manage these levels.

Health

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Does Red Meat Cause Cancer?

Does Red Meat Cause Cancer?

We regularly hear that eating red meat causes cancer, but isn't meat a good source of protein and micronutrients? There are a few studies that, while not in total agreement, are well accepted by the overall community as being plausible, if not probable about meat's relation to cancer.

Food Ingredients, Health

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Does Intermittent Fasting Make Us Healthier?

Does Intermittent Fasting Make Us Healthier?

Can time-restricted feeding, or just eating during an 8 to 10-hour period during the day, offer just as many long-term health benefits as other intermittent fasting practices? And how hard is it to keep up?

Diet, Health

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A Vitamin D-lemma: Sunscreen vs. Healthy Sun Exposure

A Vitamin D-lemma: Sunscreen vs. Healthy Sun Exposure

How can we get our much-needed vitamin D while protecting our bodies from the sun and potentially harmful chemicals in sunscreens?

Health

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Do I Eat it if I Can’t Pronounce It?

Do I Eat it if I Can’t Pronounce It?

We are told that steering clear of scary-sounding ingredients is a simple, healthy way to avoid potentially toxic chemicals. But it’s important now more than ever to understand how food can affect us, because myths like this bolster unneeded fear during an anxious time.

Food Ingredients, Health

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Finding My COVID-19 Silver Lining

Finding My COVID-19 Silver Lining

As this virus infects the U.S., it’s taking a major toll on our everyday lives – employees being furloughed or laid off, the cancellation of all major sporting events, and, for me, a college senior at Cornell University getting ready to graduate, my world being totally flipped upside down.

Health

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Why are we buying so much toilet paper?!

Why are we buying so much toilet paper?!

We've all witnessed panic-buying in the grocery aisles and maybe did some ourselves. The empty shelves reveal how we try to find control as coronavirus fears grow more rampant. But how do we control our fears and our carts?

Food Security, Health

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Boosting Your Health with Mushrooms

Boosting Your Health with Mushrooms

Boost your immune system during COVID-19 with your diet. Mushrooms can strengthen your immunity, while also improving brain health and inhibiting cancer growth.

Food Ingredients, Health

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Personalized Nutrition & Our Unique Health Needs

Personalized Nutrition & Our Unique Health Needs

Which foods are best for you? Personalizing your diet can optimize your health and prevent illnesses like cancer and obesity. These programs create customized diets based on our personal data...but do they really work?

Diet, Health

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Epigenetics: Can We Control our Health?

Epigenetics: Can We Control our Health?

Epigenetics is the study of how our DNA can be triggered by our lifestyle, which includes food, sleep, stress, and our relationships. But can we really change our genetic predispositions affecting our health?

Health

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An Interview with Gabrielle Reece: Ask Yourself

An Interview with Gabrielle Reece: Ask Yourself "Why?"

As we begin the new year, many of us aspire to be healthier, stronger and leaner. So we turned to a professional who has dedicated her life to healthy living. Enter Gabrielle Reece and her approach to whole-body health.

Health

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D2D's

D2D's "Nice List" for the Holidays

Here's our "nice list" of helpful posts to keep you healthy, happy and in-the-know through the holidays and into the new year. Everything from delicious, low sugar recipes to global trade and alternative proteins, we've got you covered!

Food Regulations & Policy, Health, Soil and Crop Management

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'Tis the Season for Sugar

'Tis the Season for Sugar

As the holidays approach, sweets are everywhere! Most of us consume two to three times more sugar than we should. Further compounding the problem are foods with hidden sugars. So what does this excess sugar mean for our health?

Diet, Food Ingredients, Health

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Superfoods: Super Healthy or Super Hype?

Superfoods: Super Healthy or Super Hype?

Blueberries, kale, and chia seeds are examples of "superfoods" -- magical foods believed to make us instantly healthier and stronger while getting rid of toxins. But can superfoods actually deliver? Or are we just being fooled?

Food Ingredients, Health

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Comparing Traditional & Alternative Burgers

Comparing Traditional & Alternative Burgers

Plant-based burgers are popping up everywhere! And while we've heard about their positive impact on our planet, what about the nutritional value? What are the differences between alt meat, beef, and veggie burgers?

Food Ingredients, Health

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Can I Get Sick from Animals Fed GMOs?

Can I Get Sick from Animals Fed GMOs?

If I eat meat or dairy and those animals have eaten GMO corn or soybeans, am I ingesting GMOs, too? Will I get sick? And what about the animals...is GMO feed harmful to them?

Food Safety, Health

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Manuka Honey: Life Changer or Money Waster?

Manuka Honey: Life Changer or Money Waster?

Manuka honey’s antibacterial properties are said to help cure everything from wounds to tooth decay and even infections from cystic fibrosis. Can this supposed superfood really provide relief from these ailments?

Food Ingredients, Health

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Can GMOs Make Me Sick?

Can GMOs Make Me Sick?

Concerned if GMOs are harmful to your health? We dug into exactly what happens in our bodies when we eat food that has been grown with a GMO.

Agricultural Technology, Food Safety, Health

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Electromagnetic Fields: Protecting Yourself through Nutrition

Electromagnetic Fields: Protecting Yourself through Nutrition

Did you know the devices we depend on all day emit electromagnetic fields? We're taking a look at what these fields do to our bodies and which foods help us combat any ill effects.

Health

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Pet Food for Thought

Pet Food for Thought

The FDA recently stated that several specialty dog food formulations have led to canine heart disease. With so many food choices today, what should we feed our pets?

Food Ingredients, Food Production, Health

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#CeleryJuice: Based on Facts or Followers?

#CeleryJuice: Based on Facts or Followers?

What is the deal with celery juice? How did it become a viral sensation overnight? Is its rapid gain in popularity attributed to any scientific research, or is this an example of society's demand for quick fixes and social acceptance?

Diet, Food Ingredients, Health

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The MIND Diet: Healthy Eating for a Healthy Brain

The MIND Diet: Healthy Eating for a Healthy Brain

Every 65 seconds, someone in the United States develops Alzheimer’s. That means that in the time it takes you to read this article, five people will have developed the disease. Alarming? Yes, but what if there was a diet that could help slow cognitive decline by targeting brain protective foods that combat the causes of dementia-related diseases?

Diet, Health

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Coming Soon to Your Favorite Foods: The New Nutrition Facts Label

Coming Soon to Your Favorite Foods: The New Nutrition Facts Label

After 25 years, the nutrition facts panel is getting an update! Many businesses have already converted to the new label, which begs the question: what changes have been made and what do they mean to me?

Health

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Milk: From Cow to Carton

Milk: From Cow to Carton

The journey of milk -- from a dairy farm to a processing plant to your grocery store.

Diet, Food Production, Health

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Why Take a Vitamin?

Why Take a Vitamin?

It can be next to impossible to get all the micronutrients you need in your diet, which is where supplements can help.

Diet, Health

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