Enlightened Eater

Processed foods  have a bad reputation. Some, though,  may offer nutritional benefit and convenience at the same time. But occasionally  you have to wonder just what is going on. This is the case with shelled or dehulled flaxseeds. Flaxseeds are a powerhouse of nutritional goodies:  omega-3s, both soluble and insoluble fibre and  anti-cancer lignans.  But […]

It’s buyer beware when it comes to natural health products in Canada. According to new research conducted at the University of Guelph, the majority of herbal products on the market contain ingredients not listed on the label, with most companies substituting cheaper alternatives and using fillers.  The scientists used new technology  – DNA barcoding to […]

“I’d love to see something about the latest hype out there. For example, I heard that Dr. Oz was telling people that red palm oil is a miracle weight loss food and now health food stores can’t keep it in stock. It would be interesting for you to sort out truth from fiction on some […]

It’s definitely time to clear up the confusion. In spite of what coconut oil  fans say, virgin versus virgin, coconut oil does not beat out olive oil when it comes to smoke point. An oil’s smoke point is that temperature where a heated oil will begin to smoke and degrade. The result can be the […]

As I mentioned in my last post on the Canadian Health Food Association Trade Show, CHFA East –making the connection, I did make some fabulous food finds as I ventured through the exhibits. Coconut  products were among the most popular and a definite trends in natural food offerings.  Firstly coconut oil was everywhere – if […]

“But just because bologna is unfashionable does not mean that it deserves its bad rap.” says Globe and Mail writer, Wency Leung in an article entitled, “Is the rap against bologna just a bunch of baloney?” She points to Dr. David Richardson, editor of the British Columbia Medical Journal, who states that he grew up […]

A Facebook fan asks to clear up the confusion when it comes to processed meats and cancer-causing nitrates. “Can you explain the hype over the new (Schneiders) non-nitrate meats? I’ve heard that they are cured with beet and celery juice or salt, and that they have just as many nitrates. Do some vegetables have cancer-causing […]