Did you know that many additives, preservatives and dyes that are used in food in the US are banned in other countries? For example, the use of artificial dyes and colors in processed foods is banned in Norway and Austria. In 2009, the British government promised to stop using dyes by the end of the year and the EU requires warnings on most foods made with these ingredients. I find it so interesting (disturbing?) that in the US, McDonald’s makes their strawberry milkshake with dozens of artificial ingredients and flavors but no actual strawberries. Yet in Europe, they use real strawberries because so many of those ingredients are banned. CSPI names a few stark differences in foods served i
Green smoothies are a trend that is still going strong. It's easy to hide spinach or kale in a smoothie and get those greens in at breakfast, packing a powerful nutritional punch. However, as creatures of habit, I find that most women use the same green every day- a handful of spinach, or a handful of kale. Are you guilty of this? Instead, you should vary the greens you take in every day, for multiple reasons. First, some greens, including spinach, swiss chard and beet greens, are high in oxalates, which bind to minerals and make it difficult to absorb the iron and calcium, and have also been linked to kidney stones. Don't stop eating them- but avoid them every single day. Spacing these g
