Tag: Diet and Health

Posted on

It’s The Olive Oil! (well, partially)

When the conversation centers on finding the next “miracle ingredient,” we risk losing sight of what truly matters: filling our plates with fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, and other minimally processed plant foods.

Health rarely depends on a single food. Rather, it depends on the overall dietary pattern and the synergistic interaction between thousands of compounds in whole foods. When we stop searching for the next “superfood” and instead begin building our meals around whole foods, we move closer to the way human biology actually works

Olive oil may be a better choice than butter or other sources of fat, but that does not mean it is preferable, much less essential, for achieving optimal cardiovascular health. Collectively, we could do a much better job of assessing and reporting on the research involving oil. Despite catching so many headlines, it does not need to be the central character in our health stories. In those stories, the true hero has always been the overall dietary pattern. Is Olive Oil Really a “Superfood”? What the Science Says about Olive Oil and Heart Health – https://nutritionstudies.org/is-olive-oil-really-a-superfood-what-the-science-says-about-olive-oil-and-heart-health/?

And is it really olive oil?

It’s reliably reported that 80% of the Italian olive oil on the market is fraudulent.

The Olive Oil Scam: If 80% Is Fake, Why Do You Keep Buying It? – https://www.forbes.com/sites/ceciliarodriguez/2016/02/10/the-olive-oil-scam-if-80-is-fake-why-do-you-keep-buying-it/

You’re welcome.

Posted on

There’s Another Possible Blue Zone (NOT in the US)

The study estimates that 13.8% of women in Bolotana who reach 70 will survive to 100, versus approximately 3.6% of U.S. women, roughly one in seven compared with one in 28. At 70, women in Bolotana were estimated to have nearly 21 years of life remaining. Bolotana also differs from the original Sardinian blue zones region, which is especially known for male longevity. Civil records, parish archives, and family histories allowed scientists to reliably validate birth and death dates in Bolotana and other blue zones, countering recent unsubstantiated claims that centenarians do not exist anywhere in the world because of fraudulent records.

Bolotana, Sardinia Identified as a New Blue Zones Candidate –https://www.bluezones.com/news/bolotana-sardinia-identified-as-a-new-blue-zones-candidate/

The National Geographic article here (paywall) – https://www.nationalgeographic.com/health/article/dan-buettner-blue-zone-bolotana-sardinia

The study is here – https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/aging/articles/10.3389/fragi.2026.1951042/full

Pictures and biographies here – https://www.orminas.it/i-centenari/

They don’t go to gyms or workout. There’s no fast food in the village. They don’t eat a lot of meat and do drink wine.

I feel better now about not going to the Y.

Posted on

The Illnesses Are Not in the Plant. They Are in the Water.

Cyclospora cayetanensis lives only in people. It reaches a lettuce field exactly one way, which is human waste getting into the irrigation water or onto the ground. That is not something lettuce does. It is something we do upstream of lettuce, and the record says so every time. FDA’s advisory changed this month from an onsite inspection at the processing plant to onsite inspections at iceberg lettuce growers in Mexico, which is the agency saying in public that the problem sits upstream of the plant. The 2018 romaine outbreak was traced to an irrigation canal in the Yuma growing region. In 2020 FDA found Cyclospora in a canal serving an Indiana farm that supplied a salad processor, though the agency said its genetic typing could not establish that the canal parasite caused the illnesses. The same Guanajuato facility sat at the center of a Cyclospora outbreak in 2013, and FDA’s environmental assessment then told the firm to determine whether the parasite was a reasonably likely hazard in that growing region and to re-evaluate the wash step. Stop eating lettuce tomorrow and every one of those water sources is still there, still running onto something somebody eats.

The Washington Post Says We Should Stop Eating Lettuce. I Have Sued Lettuce Companies Since 2000, and I Still Think That Is the Wrong Answer. The Illnesses Are Not in the Plant. They Are in the Water. https://www.marlerblog.com/case-news/the-washington-post-says-we-should-stop-eating-lettuce-i-have-sued-lettuce-companies-since-2000-and-i-still-think-that-is-the-wrong-answer-the-illnesses-are-not-in-the-plant-they-are-in-the-water/

Lettuce think about this.

Posted on

It’s Not Just the Lettuce

The North Carolina cyclospora outbreak is linked to parsley and cilantro, as well as lettuce, according to an update by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDHHS). While parsley and cilantro have been mentioned as possible vectors in this huge outbreak, this is the first time they have been linked to illnesses. North Carolina Cyclospora Outbreak Linked to Parsley and Cilantro – https://foodpoisoningbulletin.com/2026/north-carolina-cyclospora-outbreak-linked-to-parsley-and-cilantro/

Cyclospora is different from other foodborne pathogens.  It comes from human waste and cannot be removed by washing (although that helps some) or killed by chlorine.  It can only be removed by microfiltration or killed by heat or, maybe, ultra-violet radiation.

It needs to prevented from getting into irrigation water.

Lettuce producers have known about the Cyclospora hazard for more than a decade.  They have not acted, and neither has the government. The Cyclospora outbreak: an everyone-is-at-fault system failure: “LettuceGate” https://www.foodpolitics.com/2026/07/the-cyclospora-outbreak-an-everyone-is-at-fault-system-failure/

Posted on

Diet and Dementia

Findings  In this cohort study of 1865 older adults without dementia followed up for up to 15 years, higher diet quality was associated with lower dementia risk. Among participants at higher risk, only a dietary pattern with lower inflammatory potential showed consistent inverse associations. Diet Quality and Dementia Risk in Older Adults With Alzheimer Pathology – https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2850780

This morning I lowered my risk for dementia with a bowl of berries, banana, and Greek yogurt.

Last Night

Smoked Pulled Pork, Mac & Cheese, Bacon, Cheddar-Jack, Sweet & Smokey BBQ Sauce and Green Onions.

At least the potato didn’t do any damage.

Posted on

Eat Ice Cream With NO Guilt

Sugar-Free Diet Linked to Metabolic Changes

“Completely removing sucrose from a low-fat diet may unexpectedly disrupt gut health and promote inflammation and metabolic dysfunction, highlighting that balanced nutrition is more important than simply eliminating sugar,” said Rasheed Ahmad, Ph.D., principal scientist and head of the Immunology & Microbiology Department at the Dasman Diabetes Institute, in Kuwait City, Kuwait

To evaluate the effects of eliminating sucrose, the researchers measured glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, circulating metabolic hormones, the gut microbiome, and inflammation in both the colon and liver.

Despite maintaining similar body weights, mice on the sucrose-free diet experienced several negative health changes compared with the control group. These included poorer glucose control, insulin resistance, imbalances in gut microbes, intestinal inflammation, and changes associated with fatty liver disease. Scientists found a surprising problem with sugar-free diets – https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260614011843.htm The Endocrine Society. “Scientists found a surprising problem with sugar-free diets.” ScienceDaily (accessed June 14, 2026).

Today, we eat ice cream!

Posted on

Eat More Eggs

Researchers at Loma Linda University Health report that eating eggs may be linked to a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease in adults age 65 and older. Their findings suggest that regular egg consumption could play a role in supporting long-term brain health. Loma Linda University Adventist Health Sciences Center. “Eating eggs could cut Alzheimer’s risk by 27%.” https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260506225214.htm (accessed May 7, 2026).

Eggs are a rich source of nutrients relevant to brain health. They provide choline, a precursor to acetylcholine and phosphatidylcholine, both of which are critical for memory and synaptic function [11]. Eggs also contain lutein and zeaxanthin-carotenoids that accumulate in brain tissue and are associated with improved cognitive performance and reduced oxidative stress [9,11]. Other key nutrients in eggs include high-quality protein rich in tryptophan (a serotonin precursor involved in mood regulation, cognition, and melatonin synthesis) and DHA [21], an omega-3 (n–3) fatty acid important for synaptic plasticity, neurogenesis, and neuronal membrane integrity [9,11,21]. Emerging evidence also highlights the role of egg-derived tryptophan peptides in enhancing attention, reducing stress reactivity, and improving executive function in older adults [11]. These nutrients may act synergistically to support cognitive resilience and mitigate neurodegenerative processes. Notably, deficiencies in choline and DHA have been documented in the brains of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease [21,22]. Jisoo Oh, Keiji Oda, Gabriela Chiriac, Gary E Fraser, Rawiwan Sirirat, Joan Sabaté. Egg Intake and the Incidence of Alzheimer’s Disease in the Adventist Health Study-2 Cohort Linked with Medicare Data. The Journal of Nutrition, 2026; 101541 DOI: 10.1016/j.tjnut.2026.101541

It’s funny to note most of my posts about eggs were rants about the cost.

https://garyskitchen.net/tag/eggs/

Posted on

Eating whole grains can improve longevity

The two new meta analysis reviews (studies of studies) found that consuming whole grains reduces your risk of diseases that shorten your life. One published in BMJ analyzed 45 studies and concluded that whole grains can help you live longer by cutting your risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, respiratory disease, and infectious diseases. The other report, published in the journal Circulation, reviewed the data in 14 studies that combined had more than 786,000 participants. It noted that for every 16-gram (about a slice of bread) increase in whole grain consumption, mortality risk is cut by 7 percent. 5 Things To Know About Whole Grains – https://www.bluezones.com/2016/12/5-things-know-whole-grains/