My daughter — who loves doughnuts — forwarded an article to me titled “12 Reasons Doughnuts are Good for You” (www.thrivegloable.com). I chuckled and promised her I’d do some “research” on it.

She responded with a link to another piece, “Do Donuts Really Make Me Happy? Mental health and the gut microbiome” (www.businessgrit....Read more

“Fructose is a simple sugar with a bad reputation,” says registered dietitian Carrie Dennett, MPH, in a recent review of this sometimes confusing topic. Here are some fructose facts.

Fructose is a component of table sugar (aka sucrose). In fact, the sugar we use in most sweetened foods — including those labeled “pure cane sugar” — ...Read more

I keep coming upon this statistic that states livestock are responsible for 14.5% of global gas emissions.

Some designate ruminant animals — cows, sheep and goats — as the biggest contributors to greenhouse gases. Others then go on to offer a solution: Switch from beef and lamb to chicken and pork … and consume fewer dairy products.

Not...Read more

Food fads come on and go. Remember the cabbage soup diet? The macrobiotic diet? Or my favorite: drinking man’s diet?

Many fad diets have been debunked as lacking in vital nutrients or just plain not sustainable for the long term. Some, however, are based on solid research and actually work. Good examples include the DASH diet (Dietary ...Read more

Ann K., who reads this column in the Monterey Herald, writes:

"Dear Barbara, I read your column on vitamin K. I am a 75-year-old woman who takes warfarin daily because of an arterial clot. I have been told not to take vitamin K. Here is my question: Can I take vitamin K2 for bone health and not worry about it having an adverse impact on my INR...Read more

Ron from Corvallis, Oregon, writes this in response to a recent column on lectins: “I am a biochemist, used to work with immunologists at Sloan Kettering. The main reason I'm writing is to ask you to explore the toxicity of nuts' lectins and the best way to prepare nuts without getting sick. My wife loves pecans, I am fondest of cashews and ...Read more

Deborah T. writes:

"I enjoy reading your columns in our local newspaper, as they are informative and relevant. Would you do a column on when to take probiotics? The bottles say to take according to the advice of your practitioner. I have asked a dentist, an endocrinologist, a nurse practitioner, and numerous friends. Everybody has a different ...Read more

What is sustainability? It has become a huge buzzword but I like this definition: supplying a growing world with food, fuel, feed and fiber — while safeguarding its resources for future generations.

Although a program I attended was sponsored by Undeniably Dairy, an education partnership between the National Dairy Council and America’s ...Read more

Reader Kari B from Lincoln, Nebraska writes:

“Would you be able to review vitamin K2 sometime in your nutrition column? I was researching bone health online and came upon an article that discusses how important this vitamin is in bone health. It states that vitamin K2 is part of the bone health package that includes magnesium, calcium, weight...Read more

In my eyes, he’s the perfect man. A rancher who takes exquisite care of the Angus cattle in the pastures surrounding our home. He relishes every meal I prepare and tells me he loves my cooking. And he probably eats more vegetables than I do … even at restaurants when he orders a salad and I sometimes give in to french fries.

Cowboys are an ...Read more

Reader Susan S. writes, in part: “Gut health is finally being brought up in mainstream more often. But almost never this: there are grains, nuts, fruits, and vegetables that have LECTINS that poke tiny holes in our intestines. I thought you might want to check this out so that you can inform your readers. I realize it's not a simple subject..�...Read more

In response to a recent column about the food games we play, I got these delightful letters:

Hello Barbara,

I usually scan the newspaper but recently your article ("Food games we play") caught my attention. I'll tell you mine.

This habit started in high school. Whenever cake or a cookie was served at the table, I would cut the cake slice in ...Read more

I’ve been reading the back of cereal boxes since I was a kid. They entertained me with games or puzzles while I munched on breakfast. Last week, my cereal box got me thinking about whole grains.

Besides being crunchy good, researchers report that whole grains may reduce the risk for certain cancers — colon cancer in particular — and they ...Read more