Christy Brissette
Washington Post
Toronto, ON, Canada
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Past articles by Christy:
Is alkaline water really better for you?
Manufacturers claim the product makes your body less acidic. But your body does a good job of keeping your pH levels where they need to be. → Read More
What are ‘hormone diets’ — and can they really help you lose weight quickly?
No evidence supports this fad’s claims that you can adjust your hormones through what you eat, or that doing so will lead to weight loss. → Read More
What is inulin, and why is it suddenly in so many food products?
Fiber is "the new protein," according to market research firms. But it could also be the new pain in your stomach. If you're like most Americans, you're trying to add more fiber to your diet. That's a good thing, because the average American gets only half the recommended amount of fiber each day. Manufacturers are responding to consumers' wishes by adding fiber to a plethora of foods and… → Read More
Inulin is being added to a lot of food products. And that could be bothering your stomach.
With consumers trying to add fiber to their diets, manufacturers are turning to chicory root. → Read More
Canada’s new dietary advice is to avoid sugar substitutes. Will U.S. follow suit?
Guidelines find no benefit to sweeteners, say people should get used to unsweetened food. → Read More
As zero-calorie natural sweeteners surge in popularity, here's what you need to know
"Natural" reigns when it comes to food and beverage trends, and the low- and no-calorie sweetener category is no exception. → Read More
As zero-calorie natural sweeteners such as stevia surge in popularity, here’s what you need to know
Artificial sweeteners seem to be falling out of favor. → Read More
Don’t throw away your vitamin D supplements yet
Although there’s debate about whether higher dosages prevent diseases, most Americans still aren’t getting enough of this important nutrient. → Read More
Be wary of newer, unregulated digestive enzyme supplements
Many people are trying a fairly new but growing category of supplements called digestive enzymes, which may help the body break down compounds in food. → Read More
Why you should be wary of some digestive enzyme supplements
While some supplements, such as Beano, have been around a long time and studied, newer unregulated formulations are raising concerns. → Read More
Morning or night? With food or without? Answers to your questions about taking supplements
A breakdown of when to take some of the most common dietary supplements and why. → Read More
Morning or night? With food or without? Answers to your questions about taking supplements.
Absorption can be affected by the time of day and the foods taken with your pills. → Read More
Coming to grocery shelves in 2019: Mushroom/meat mixes, pea protein and banana milk
New products also will include those designed for special diets, such as low-FODMAP or Whole30. → Read More
Your 'grass-fed' beef may have not have come from a cow grazing in a pasture
The jury is still out on whether grass fed beef is better for the environment, but we know it's only slightly better nutritionally. → Read More
Your ‘grass-fed’ beef may have not have come from a cow grazing in a pasture. Here’s why.
How to decipher labels such as grass fed, grass finished and pasture raised. → Read More
A healthy snack needs these three nutrients, plus proper planning
Are you continuously snacking? Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey shows that Americans have gone from eating an average of 3.9 times a day in the 1970s to eating 5.6 times a day in 2010. The percentage of daily calories coming from snacks has doubled, with snacking providing about 500 calories a day. If added to meals already consumed, such a snacking habit could lead… → Read More
A healthy snack needs these three nutrients, plus proper planning
To avoid mindless munching, put together whole-food snacks ahead of time, in the right portions. → Read More
Carb cycling adds a new spin to a low-carbohydrate diet
More middle-of-the-road approach alternates low-carb and high-carb consumption days. → Read More
Jury is still out on the magic of mushroom tea
It wasn't that long ago that mushrooms were for pizza, and portobellos were considered exotic. Now purveyors of chaga, lion's mane and reishi mushrooms are promoting them as enhancements to beverages, not to food. And they're making hefty health claims in the process. These fungi are becoming increasingly popular in the form of powdered extracts, which are typically used to make mushroom teas… → Read More
There’s not enough evidence that mushroom tea is magic
Chaga, lion’s mane and reishi are being promoted as ways to ease stress. But research so far is scant. → Read More