Nutrition Diva

871. Your doctor says your LDL is too high and you'd rather change your diet than take a pill. The Portfolio Diet promises results that rival statin drugs -- but wait until you hear what it actually takes to follow it. Nutrition Diva breaks down the science, the evidence, and the real-world catch. 

References:

• Effects of a Dietary Portfolio of Cholesterol-Lowering Foods vs Lovastatin on Serum Lipids and C-Reactive Protein | Cardiology | JAMA | JAMA Network 
• Assessment of the longer-term effects of a dietary portfolio of cholesterol-lowering foods in hypercholesterolemia - ScienceDirect 

Related Episodes:

• 560 - Fiber 2.0—Fiber's New Science of Health-Boosting Benefits
• 592 - Is Soy Healthy or Harmful?
• 260 - What Are Phytosterols?

Nutrition Diva is a Quick and Dirty Tips podcast, hosted by Monica Reinegal.

New to Nutrition Diva? Check out our special Spotify playlist for a collection of the best episodes curated by our team and Monica herself! 

We've also curated some great playlists on specific episode topics including Staying Strong as We Age, Diabetes, Weight Loss That Lasts and Gut Health! Also, find a playlist of our bone health series, Stronger Bones at Every Age. 

Have a question for Nutrition Diva? Email: [email protected]

Find Monica at wellnessworkshere.com

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Transcripts available at QuickandDirtyTips.com.

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870. Parasite cleanses are all over social media right now -- promising to explain your bloating, brain fog, and fatigue. But do they actually work? Monica digs into the science behind these trending protocols, what parasites really look like (spoiler: not what the influencers are showing you), and when you might actually need to worry. 

References:

• Effective Laboratory Diagnosis of Parasitic Infections of the Gastrointestinal Tract: Where, When, How, and What Should We Look For? - PMC 
• Diagnosis of Parasitic Diseases | Parasites | CDC 
• Ivermectin for preventing and treating COVID‐19 - PMC 
• Can ivermectin be used to treat COVID-19? 

Nutrition Diva is a Quick and Dirty Tips podcast, hosted by Monica Reinagel.

New to Nutrition Diva? Check out our special Spotify playlist for a collection of the best episodes curated by our team and Monica herself! 

We've also curated some great playlists on specific episode topics including Staying Strong as We Age, Diabetes, Weight Loss That Lasts and Gut Health! Also, find a playlist of our bone health series, Stronger Bones at Every Age. 

Have a question for Nutrition Diva? Email: [email protected]

Find Monica at wellnessworkshere.com

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Transcripts available at QuickandDirtyTips.com.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

869. Beans are gut health gold -- but the same compounds that feed your microbiome are also what cause the gas. So when you take an enzyme supplement like Beano to tame the bloat, are you undermining the benefit? Monica has a more reassuring answer than you might expect. 

References:

• A randomized double‐blind placebo‐controlled crossover pilot study: Acute effects of the enzyme α‐galactosidase on gastrointestinal symptoms in IBS patients - Neurogastroenterology & Motility 
• Effects of Low FODMAP Diet on Symptoms, Fecal Microbiome, and Markers of Inflammation in Patients With Quiescent Inflammatory Bowel Disease in a Randomized Trial - PubMed 

Nutrition Diva is a Quick and Dirty Tips podcast, hosted by Monica Reinagel.

New to Nutrition Diva? Check out our special Spotify playlist for a collection of the best episodes curated by our team and Monica herself! 

We've also curated some great playlists on specific episode topics including Staying Strong as We Age, Diabetes, Weight Loss That Lasts and Gut Health! Also, find a playlist of our bone health series, Stronger Bones at Every Age. 

Have a question for Nutrition Diva? Email: [email protected]

Find Monica at wellnessworkshere.com

Discover more from Nutrition Diva:

Facebook 

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Transcripts available at QuickandDirtyTips.com.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

School's out, the days are long, and summer should be the healthiest time of year for kids — more time outside, more fresh produce, more freedom to move. So why do so many children actually gain excess weight during summer vacation?

In this episode, Monica breaks down a counterintuitive but increasingly well-documented trend: for many kids, especially those who are already overweight, summer is actually the riskiest season for unhealthy weight gain. And she walks through five practical, family-friendly strategies to turn that around before the school bell rings again.

Encore Episode: This episode originally aired on June 24, 2015.

Nutrition Diva is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips Network.

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868. Aluminum foil is a kitchen staple most of us reach for without a second thought — but should we be more careful about how we use it? This week, Monica breaks down what actually happens when aluminum foil comes into contact with your food, which cooking conditions increase leaching, and whether the aluminum-Alzheimer's connection holds up under scientific scrutiny. Plus, find out whether the shiny side vs. dull side of foil really matters, whether aluminum water bottles are any better than plastic, and simple ways to reduce both your aluminum exposure and your environmental footprint. 

Nutrition Diva is a Quick and Dirty Tips podcast, hosted by Monica Reinagel.

New to Nutrition Diva? Check out our special Spotify playlist for a collection of the best episodes curated by our team and Monica herself! 

We've also curated some great playlists on specific episode topics including Staying Strong as We Age, Diabetes, Weight Loss That Lasts and Gut Health! Also, find a playlist of our bone health series, Stronger Bones at Every Age. 

Have a question for Nutrition Diva? Email: [email protected]

Find Monica at wellnessworkshere.com

Discover more from Nutrition Diva:

Facebook 

LinkedIn

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Transcripts available at QuickandDirtyTips.com.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In light of Summer BBQ season, let’s take a look at the latest formulations and how they compare to each other and to real beef. Since their wildly successful introduction in 2019, plant-based burgers like Beyond and Impossible have continued to evolve.

Encore Episode: This episode originally aired on Wednesday, March 6, 2024.

Mentioned in this episode:

Nutritional Comparison of Plant-Based Burgers (Nutrition Over Easy blog)

New to Nutrition Diva? Check out our special Spotify playlist for a collection of the best episodes curated by the Quick and Dirty Tips Network.

Have a nutrition question? Send an email to [email protected].

Follow Nutrition Diva on Facebook and subscribe to the newsletter for more diet and nutrition tips. 

Find out about Monica's keynotes and other programs at WellnessWorksHere.com

Learn more at Quick and Dirty Tips.

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867. Information about food and nutrition has never been easier to come by. But as more and more people turn to TikTok, YouTube, or ChatGPT for health advice, it's important to consider whether you're looking for inspiration or authority. Monica breaks down how to tell the difference between a good lunch idea and a real health claim, when AI tools can genuinely help, and when you need a qualified professional instead. 

Expert advice for navigating life after graduation — for new grads and the people cheering them on. From finances and freelancing to nutrition and knowing when to ask for help, find it all in our "Life After Graduation" playlist on Spotify.

Nutrition Diva is a Quick and Dirty Tips podcast, hosted by Monica Reinagel.

New to Nutrition Diva? Check out our special Spotify playlist for a collection of the best episodes curated by our team and Monica herself! 

We've also curated some great playlists on specific episode topics including Staying Strong as We Age, Diabetes, Weight Loss That Lasts and Gut Health! Also, find a playlist of our bone health series, Stronger Bones at Every Age. 

Have a question for Nutrition Diva? Email: [email protected]

Find Monica at wellnessworkshere.com

Discover more from Nutrition Diva:

Facebook 

LinkedIn

Newsletter

Transcripts available at QuickandDirtyTips.com.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

866. The market is suddenly full of products claiming to prevent or even reverse gray hair — not by dyeing it, but by actually changing what's happening inside the hair follicle. Some of these serums, supplements, and "anti-gray systems" are backed by genuinely interesting science. Others are getting way ahead of the evidence. Today, Monica breaks down the biology of why hair goes gray, what ingredients show the most promise (and for whom), and which products are banking more on your hope than on clinical proof.   

Nutrition Diva is a Quick and Dirty Tips podcast, hosted by Monica Reinagel.

New to Nutrition Diva? Check out our special Spotify playlist for a collection of the best episodes curated by our team and Monica herself! 

We've also curated some great playlists on specific episode topics including Staying Strong as We Age, Diabetes, Weight Loss That Lasts and Gut Health! Also, find a playlist of our bone health series, Stronger Bones at Every Age. 

Have a question for Nutrition Diva? Email: [email protected]

Find Monica at wellnessworkshere.com

Discover more from Nutrition Diva:

Facebook 

LinkedIn

Newsletter

Transcripts available at QuickandDirtyTips.com.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

865. The USDA unveiled the 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and the "Inverted Pyramid" has been sparking a lot of discussion. After a decade of MyPlate, why is the government returning to a pyramid visual—and why is it upside down?

In this episode, Monica breaks down the major shifts in the new US guidance, including:

• The protein pivot: Why protein is taking center stage and what it means for your health.
• The plant-based omission: Why beans and legumes were left out of the new visuals despite the scientific evidence.
• The global gap: How the new US pyramid compares to the UK’s Eatwell Guide and Canada’s food plate.
• AHA vs. USDA: Why the American Heart Association is issuing its own "course correction" on salt and saturated fat.

This episode will help you navigate these changes without losing sight of common-sense nutrition.

Nutrition Diva is a Quick and Dirty Tips podcast, hosted by Monica Reinagel.

New to Nutrition Diva? Check out our special Spotify playlist for a collection of the best episodes curated by our team and Monica herself! 

We've also curated some great playlists on specific episode topics including Staying Strong as We Age, Diabetes, Weight Loss That Lasts and Gut Health! Also, find a playlist of our bone health series, Stronger Bones at Every Age. 

Have a question for Nutrition Diva? Email: [email protected]

Find Monica at wellnessworkshere.com

Discover more from Nutrition Diva:

Facebook 

LinkedIn

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Transcripts available at QuickandDirtyTips.com.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

864.Does putting spinach in your smoothie cancel out the calcium? Will your morning cup of tea prevent you from absorbing iron? In this episode, Monica looks into the science of mineral absorption and explores the truth behind "anti-nutrients" like oxalates, tannins, and fiber.

While certain compounds in food can bind to minerals—like the oxalates in spinach or tannins in tea—the body has built-in buffers to keep you healthy. In this episode, we discuss:

• The Spinach paradox: Why the calcium in greens isn't always bioavailable.
• Iron inhibitors: How coffee and tea affect iron levels (and how Vitamin C can help).
• The fiber myth: Why a high-fiber diet won't lead to mineral deficiencies.
• Fortified foods vs. supplements: Is calcium-fortified orange juice or soymilk better than a pill?

The good news is the RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowance) already accounts for these interactions. Tune in to learn why a varied diet is your best defense and why you probably don't need to micromanage your meals to get the minerals you need.

Nutrition Diva is a Quick and Dirty Tips podcast, hosted by Monica Reinagel.

New to Nutrition Diva? Check out our special Spotify playlist for a collection of the best episodes curated by our team and Monica herself! 

We've also curated some great playlists on specific episode topics including Staying Strong as We Age, Diabetes, Weight Loss That Lasts and Gut Health! Also, find a playlist of our bone health series, Stronger Bones at Every Age. 

Have a question for Nutrition Diva? Email: [email protected]

Find Monica at wellnessworkshere.com

Discover more from Nutrition Diva:

Facebook 

LinkedIn

Newsletter

Transcripts available at QuickandDirtyTips.com.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.