Does the Vegan Diet Outshine the Mediterranean Diet for Weight Loss and Cardiovascular Health?

There is scant scientific evidence that compounds found in nightshade vegetables—such as tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, and eggplants—aggravate the pain and inflammation of arthritis. However, some people with arthritis feel that eating nightshades make their condition worse...and decades of research by a horticulture professor at Rutgers University may explain why. Listen in this week as Dee dives into the science behind the connection and examines whether nightshades truly contribute to inflammation and joint pain. References:Childers N.F., & Margoles M.S. (1993). An apparent relation of nightshades(Solanaceae) to arthritis. Journal of Neurological and Orthopedic MedicalSurgery, 12, 227-231.Krasowski, M. D., McGehee, D. S., & Moss, J. (1997). Natural inhibitors of cholinesterases: Implications for adverse drug reactions. Canadian Journal of Anaesthesia, 44(5 Pt 1), 525–534. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2877586/

Unlike cow milk, camel milk has low levels of lactose, fat, and cholesterol, and is naturally non allergenic. Once only available in the middle east and Africa, farmers in the U.S. are now supplying this nutritious mil to Americans. Listen in this week as Dee explores its unique nutritional profile, including essential vitamins, minerals, and its potential to boost immunity and improve digestion. References:Ombarak, R. A., Hussein, E. O. S., Suliman, G., Alhimaidi, A. R., Ammari, A. A., Ba-Awadh, H., Taha, A. E., El-Tarabily, K. A., & Abd El-Hack, M. E. (2021). Nutritional, antimicrobial and medicinal properties of camel’s milk: A review. Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences, 28(5), 3126–3136. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sjbs.2021.02.057

The FDA required food manufacturers to remove artificial trans fats from their products by June 18, 2018, due to their negative impact on health. Despite the ban, consumers should still be cautious of foods containing trans fats due to ingredients like mono- and diglycerides, which are not regulated as trans fats. Listen in this week as Dee discusses what mono- and diglycerides are, and why they are a concern for your health.References:Kalmus, S. (n.d.). What is bad about mono- & diglycerides? Livestrong.com. https://www.livestrong.com/article/445850-what-is-bad-about-mono-diglycerides/Sellem, L., Srour, B., Javaux, G., Chazelas, E., Chassaing, B., Viennois, É., Debras, C., Salamé, C., Druesne-Pecollo, N., Esseddik, Y., De Edelenyi, F. S., Agaësse, C., De Sa, A., Lutchia, R., Louveau, E., Huybrechts, I., Pierre, F. H., Coumoul, X., Fezeu, L. K., . . . Touvier, M. (2023). Food additive emulsifiers and risk of cardiovascular disease in the NutriNet-Santé cohort: Prospective cohort study. BMJ, 382, e076058. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2023-076058

Apeel is an edible coating made of fatty acids that is used on apples and other produce, both conventional and organically grown, designed to extend their shelf life, but there's no label on the produce to let you know it's there. How concerned should you be? Listen in this week as Dee discusses what Apeel is, why the fatty acids it's made of may be a concern, and where you can find produce not coated with Apeel.References:Apeel. (2024). Product information. https://www.apeel.com/product-informationCornucopia Institute. (2023, August 9). Apeel and edible coatings: Your questions answered. https://www.cornucopia.org/2023/07/apeel-and-edible-coatings-your-questions-answered/Get the free Apeel Wallet Guide: https://greensmoothiegirl.com/apeel/

A recent study found that dark chocolate and other cocoa products are contaminated with lead and cadmium, two neurotoxic metals associated with cancer, chronic diseases, and reproductive or developmental issues, especially in children. Surprisingly, even organic dark chocolate, grown with fewer pesticides, was found to have some of the highest concentrations of these harmful metals. Listen in this week as Dee discusses the findings of the study and whether it's still possible to enjoy the health benefits of dark chocolate.References: Hands, J. M., Anderson, M. L., Cooperman, T., Balsky, J. E., & Frame, L. A. (2024). A multi-year heavy metal analysis of 72 dark chocolate and cocoa products in the USA. Frontiers in Nutrition, 11. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2024.1366231/full

A new review study involving over 55,000 people showed that those who chose specific foods while following a Mediterranean Style Diet were less likely to contract Covid-19. Listen in this week as Dee discusses the findings of the study and which foods were the most effective at warding off the virus.References: Halim, C., Howen, M., Fitrisubroto, A. a. N. B., Pratama, T., Harahap, I. R., Ganesh, L. J., & Siahaan, A. M. P. (2024). Relevance of Mediterranean diet as a nutritional strategy in diminishing COVID-19 risk: A systematic review. PLoS ONE, 19(8), e0301564. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0301564

A recent study suggests that a low-fat vegan diet is more effective than a Mediterranean diet for reducing inflammation and promoting weight loss. Listen in this week as Dee discusses the methodology and results of the study, and what they mean for your health.References: Kahleova, H., Znayenko-Miller, T., Motoa, G., Eng, E., Prevost, A., Uribarri, J., Holubkov, R., & Barnard, N. D. (2024). Dietary advanced glycation end-products and their associations with body weight on a Mediterranean diet and low-fat vegan diet: A randomized, cross-over trial. Frontiers in Nutrition, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2024.1426642

The AGE Conundrum: Are Your Favorite Foods Harming You?Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs) are harmful compounds lurking in everyday foods that have been linked to inflammation, Alzheimer's, diabetes, heart disease, and kidney disease.  Listen in this week as Dee explains what foods AGE's are found in and how you can avoid their harmful effects.References: Uribarri, J., Woodruff, S., Goodman, S., Cai, W., Chen, X., Pyzik, R., Yong, A., Striker, G. E., & Vlassara, H. (2010). Advanced glycation end products in foods and a practical guide to their reduction in the diet. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 110(6), 911–16.e12. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3704564/

Erythritol is a common sweetener used in baked goods, beverages, gum, and candy, and is often found in keto-friendly and other reduced-sugar products. However, recent research suggests that consuming even typical amounts of erythritol may elevate the risk of blood clots and cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks and strokes. Listen in this week as Dee explores the findings of this study and why erythritol might not be the safest option for reducing sugar intake.References: Cleveland Clinic. (2024, August 8). Cleveland Clinic study adds to increasing evidence that sugar substitute erythritol raises cardiovascular risk. https://newsroom.clevelandclinic.org/2024/08/08/cleveland-clinic-study-adds-to-increasing-evidence-that-sugar-substitute-erythritol-raises-cardiovascular-riskWitkowski, M., Wilcox, J., Province, V., Wang, Z., Nemet, I., Tang, W. W., & Hazen, S. L. (2024). Ingestion of the non-nutritive sweetener erythritol, but not glucose, enhances platelet reactivity and thrombosis potential in healthy volunteers. Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology. https://doi.org/10.1161/atvbaha.124.321019. Retrieved from https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/epdf/10.1161/ATVBAHA.124.321019

A new study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association explores the effects of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) on cholesterol and heart health. Researchers found that both high and low usage of EVOO in the diet were linked to reductions in LDL-C, the "bad" cholesterol associated with heart disease. But during a 4-week carryover period, an interesting twist was revealed. Listen in this week as Dee discusses the results of the study, it's pros and cons, and how it could impact your health.Reference: Krenek, A. M., Mathews, A., Guo, J., Courville, A. B., Pepine, C. J., Chung, S. T., & Aggarwal, M. (2024). Recipe for heart health: A randomized crossover trial on cardiometabolic effects of extra virgin olive oil within a whole‐food plant‐based vegan diet. Journal of the American Heart Association, 13(15), e035034. https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.124.035034