Healthy happy you.
Since the FDA is considering regulating sodium in processed foods, I have been hearing more and more about the reasons why. Here are five things to ponder about the sodium content in your diet. Seventy-five percent of the salt we consume comes from processed food and food from restaurants, not from the salt shaker. Your tongue cannot adequately discern how much salt is in your food. If the salt Read more
According to researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, sugar is as dangerous as alcohol and tobacco. And just like other legal vices, they think regulators should put restrictions on its sale and availability by taxing any processed foods that have added sugar, including soda, some juices, chocolate milk, and sugared cereal, as well as proposing age limits when it comes to Read more
Raw milk and cookies, anyone? Dairy is a major component to most tots' diets, and in the US, almost all dairy products are only available in pasteurized form, as regulated by the FDA. Yet, even though the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the FDA, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, and numerous other health organizations are unanimous in their position that raw milk should not be Read more
Just in time for Summer, the FDA has released new regulations for sunscreen. The changes are the first in over 30 years and include new wording and mandatory labeling that the organization hopes will make it easier for all of us to stay safe in the sun. And while we won't be seeing the new labels on shelves this season — manufacturers have a year to comply — it's never too soon to take the Read more
While sunscreen companies work on rolling out their new bottle labels — thanks to the new regulations put into place by the FDA — there are still some basic sunscreen terms that are confusing to many. For instance, what's the difference between UVA and UVB? And is water-resistant just as effective as waterproof? Let's get all of our "burning" sunscreen questions answered! SPF: SPF stands Read more
A day at the beach sounds like the perfect way to spend a Summer day – that is until mama thinks about everything her lil one needs to make it through the day. Just the thought of pulling it all together is enough to make some moms abandon the sun and surf until their tots become teens. Before jumping ship, take respite in knowing that we've thought it through for you. You remember the umbrella Read more
DrSugar is in the house! This week she's debunking a couple of cancer myths centered in the kitchen. Based on a few questions we have received, I will be discussing two popular myths about cancer risks in the kitchen, the first regarding cooking with nonstick pans and, the second, microwaving plastic containers. I must admit, doing the research for this week’s column was a real eye-opener for Read more
High heels, over-sized purses, skinny jeans, and heavy hoop earrings aren't the kindest to our bodies, but many women don them in the name of fashion. These days, the dangerous cutting edge fashion trend is all about the eyes, a la Lady Gaga's enlarged pupils in her "Bad Romance" video. Even though Gaga's eyes in the video are mostly computer-generated, many woman aim for that big-eyed effect Read more
DrSugar is in the house! And she's answering your health-related questions. Dear DrSugar, I am on antibiotics (Clindamycin) to clear up an infected tooth before having a root canal. Good times, I know. I haven’t taken antibiotics in years, but know that they give me a serious yeast infection. I have upped my yogurt intake to twice daily and have been taking a probiotics pill twice a day too. Is Read more
In the locker room at my gym last week, I overheard a woman talking to her friend about replacing all her plastic food containers with glass ones. She said that she doesn't want plastic leaching into her or her family's food. Plastics have been getting a bad rap ever since the whole Nalgene BPA fiasco. I know water bottles containing BPA are bad news, but is it necessary to ditch all reusable Read more
