Do Fruits and Vegetables Boost Our Mood? 

Do Fruits and Vegetables Boost Our Mood? 

A randomized controlled trial investigates diet and psychological well-being. “Psychological health can be broadly conceptualized as comprising 2 key components: mental health (i.e., the presence of absence of mental health disorders such as depression) and...
Taking Advantage of Sensory-Specific Satiety 

Taking Advantage of Sensory-Specific Satiety 

How can we use sensory-specific satiety to our advantage? When we eat the same foods over and over, we become habituated to them and end up liking them less. That’s why the “10th bite of chocolate, for example, is desired less than the first bite.” We have a built-in...
Dietary Diversity and Overeating 

Dietary Diversity and Overeating 

Big Food uses our hard-wired drive for dietary diversity against us. How did we evolve to solve the daunting task of selecting a diet that supplies all the essential nutrients? Dietary diversity. By eating a variety of foods, we increase our chances of hitting all the...
Hijacking Our Appetites 

Hijacking Our Appetites 

I debunk the myth of protein as the most satiating macronutrient. The importance of satiety is underscored by a rare genetic condition known as Prader-Willi syndrome. Children with the disorder are born with impaired signaling between their digestive system and their...
Lose 200 Lbs Without Feeling Hungry 

Lose 200 Lbs Without Feeling Hungry 

I dive into one of the most fascinating series of studies I’ve ever come across. Anyone can lose weight by eating less food. Anyone can be starved thin. Starvation diets are rarely sustainable, though, since hunger pangs drive us to eat. We feel unsatisfied and...
What Is “Pine Mouth Syndrome”? 

What Is “Pine Mouth Syndrome”? 

Why do some pine nuts cause a bad taste in your mouth that can last for weeks? The reason I make pesto with walnuts instead of the more traditional pine nuts isn’t only because walnuts are probably healthier with 20 times more polyphenols, but also because of a...