How much salt is too much? Why don’t diets work? Can drinking too much beer cause weight gain? Have we been taken on a wheat free ride?
This collection of some of the Listener’s ‘best of 2024′ features nutritionist Jennifer Bowden answering questions about eating well and for health.
Why weight-loss diets don’t work long-term
I am elderly and after struggling all my life to keep my weight at a reasonable level, I succeeded with the help of a diet company. So I know all about healthy eating, the importance of exercising regularly and my psychology. But successive Covid lockdowns sent my resolutions out the window: I’ve put on weight, none of my clothes fit, and I hate how I look. How do I lose weight safely?
Is intermittent fasting bad for your heart? New study raises concerns
I try to stay active and eat well. I’ve followed Dr Michael Mosley’s advice on intermittent fasting and time-restricted eating to improve my health. However, I recently read of research linking intermittent fasting to cardiovascular problems. What is the latest advice?
Feeling salty? How to manage your iodine intake
My GP recommended about 30 years ago that I cut out salt and salty foods from my diet, which I did. Now I don’t like the taste of salty foods. Am I at risk of not having enough iodine in my diet?
Beef to beets: How to move the family to eat less meat without a battle
I want to change my family’s diet to be more sustainable and have fewer meat-based meals but I’m unsure how to start. What easy steps can I take to make this change?
Farmed or wild salmon - what’s better for you?
How do farmed salmon get their pink flesh? Do the producers add colouring to their diet? Also, as salmon in the wild make their omega oils from eating other sea creatures, how can farmed salmon make the same quality and quantity of omega 3 from eating a pellet containing mainly vegetable and animal oils, grains and land animals?
Myth busters: Protein power - how much do you really need?
In the world of nutrition, protein often takes the spotlight as the hero of the diet. It’s praised for everything from building muscle to boosting energy. But is more protein always better, or are we overestimating its benefits? Research suggests there is more to the topic than the marketing slogans promise.
Myth-busters: Why it’s time to reclaim carbs as vital to a healthy diet
Carbohydrates have earned a rather dark reputation in recent years, thanks largely to the proliferation of high-carb ultra-processed foods, confusing health headlines and a culture of online influencers peddling miraculous low-carb life stories.
From trendy low-carb plans to widespread fear of weight gain, the idea that carbs are inherently bad has led to confusion about their role in nutrition. In reality, not all carbohydrates are created equal. Far from being the moral downfall of our lives, the right carbohydrates are essential for providing energy, supporting brain function, and promoting overall wellbeing. So, it’s time to reclaim carbs as a vital player in a balanced, healthy diet.
Myth-busters: When it comes to gluten, are we being taken on a wild wheat-free ride?
Gluten has become the dietary villain of our time, sending thousands of health-conscious adults scurrying down the supermarket gluten-free aisle. But is gluten really the problem it’s made out to be?
Myth-busters: Beer belly or beer myth - can alcohol cause weight gain?
Alcohol claimed the lives of 901 New Zealanders, caused 1250 cases of cancer and was responsible for nearly 30,000 hospitalisations and more than 128,000 ACC claims in 2018 alone.
These sobering statistics, revealed by new University of Otago research, underscore the hidden dangers lurking in every pint, including the notorious “beer belly” and its heavy toll on our health. But is beer really to blame for the super-sized bellies found on some men or is something else brewing beneath the surface?
Myth busters: Was the fat-free food craze a mistake?
For decades, fat was considered the root of all dietary evils, sparking the emergence of fat-free products that still dominate supermarket shelves. Yet, in recent years, full-fat foods have returned to the spotlight, praised for their flavour and potential health benefits. This shift raises important questions: Was the fat-free craze based on sound science, and are full-fat options genuinely better for your health?
