Look in the mirror. A lot of what you see came from your parents, grandparents and on down the line. And a lot of what goes on inside our bodies -- including our risk for disease and how we utilize nutrients -- comes from inherited traits as well.

For example, my dad developed type 2 diabetes in his later years. We know there is a genetic link ...Read more

My daughter called to tell me she was sent home from work when she told her boss she was not feeling well. "I hope I don't have the 'virus'," she said. (She doesn't.) Still, in motherly fashion, I reminded her to follow her physician's instructions to stay home until she was well.

During this coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. Centers for Disease ...Read more

A column I wrote last May about whole milk dairy foods generated quite a response from a reader in Illinois:

"Wow. Telling people that high fat foods are good for their heart is a travesty. The one study you mentioned is greatly flawed. Hundreds of other studies show the exact opposite. You need to do some more research before recommending ...Read more

Yay, it's March! I even heard birds chirping this morning. And it is also National Nutrition Month, an annual campaign created by the largest organization of nutrition professionals in the world -- the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. This year's theme: "Eat Right, Bite by Bite." Let's concentrate on that as I clean out my inbox this month to...Read more

My recent column on carrots brought these letters. And they piqued my curiosity to get more information:

Q: I just finished a column by you about carrots in the Fredericksburg Virginia Free Lance Star. I always wondered about baby carrots. Now that you have confirmed that they are cut regular carrots, I am wondering how the cut and packaging ...Read more

February brings us to Valentine's Day. And it's also American Heart Month. Quick, it's time to give something special to someone you love this week. And surprise, some of our favorite Valentine treats can also be good to our hearts.

Chocolate: There is room for chocolate in a healthy diet, says the American Heart Association. Yay! Dark ...Read more

These questions came in from a student journalist in Canada:

1. What are the health benefits/differences of grass-fed meat compared to regular meat? (I understand from reading some studies, grass-fed meat is higher in omega-3.)

First I think it's important to clarify what these terms mean. Grass-fed does not mean these are the only cows that ...Read more

Some people are funny about sharing recipes. And I get that, especially if it's something special. So l was extremely pleased when I asked Gabe Georis from Pescadero restaurant in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, if I could share his yummy guacamole recipe with my readers. He said, "Go ahead and share it. Our pleasure."

Yay! But first you have to...Read more

How do you know when a carrot is dehydrated? Why should we care? I found the answer plus other interesting facts about my favorite vegetable in a recent article by registered dietitian Bethany Oxender in Food & Nutrition magazine, a publication of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. I've highlighted a few here:

Carrots were not always ...Read more

Gary from Carmel writes, "You have helped me out in the past so thought I'd get your opinion on this. On a recent show, a doctor was talking about which foods to eat and which to avoid. He said that you should be eating nuts, but don't eat cashews, as they are not a nut, but rather a seed, and contain high levels of lectin. I always thought that...Read more

Now that I'm living on a ranch, I've realized something. It's all about nutrition! Yesterday, I walked my horse into the barn to feed him some extra nourishment for these colder days. There to greet us were seven hungry barn cats ... anxious for their breakfast as well.

Maybe it's just my perspective but it certainly seems as if everything on ...Read more