Nutrition Diva – Details, episodes & analysis

856. According to the internet, your morning brew might be hiding "mold toxins" that cause brain fog, fatigue, and digestive issues. But is mold-free coffee a bona fide health breakthrough, or just a clever marketing play?

This week, Monica takes a closer look at the science of mycotoxins in coffee, specifically Ochratoxin A (OTA). We separate food safety facts from "wellness guru" fiction to find out if standard coffee beans are actually undermining your health.

• What Mycotoxins Are: Understanding the difference between visible mold and chemical compounds like Aflatoxin and Ochratoxin A.
• The Roasting Defense: Why the roasting process is your best protection against toxins and why "green coffee" products carry different risks.
• Hazard vs. Risk: A crucial distinction in food safety—is the presence of a toxin the same thing as a threat to your health?
• Practical Prevention: 4 simple steps to minimize exposure—from checking "roasted on" dates to proper home storage—without paying a premium for specialty brands.
• The Big Picture: How coffee compares to tea, herbal infusions, and cocoa when it comes to OTA levels.

Related Episodes:

• Episode #517: Aflatoxins in Peanuts
• Episode #355: The Difference Between Hazard and Risk

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 nutrition question? Send an email to nutrition@quickanddirtytips.com.

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

Nutrition Diva is a part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network.  

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

855. Is your "healthy" breakfast actually setting you up for a mid-morning crash? Many of us reach for 100-calorie yogurt cups or fiber bars thinking we’re making the right choice, only to find ourselves eyeing the office donut box by 10:00 AM.

This week, the Nutrition Diva breaks down 9 essential tips to transform your morning meal from a nutritional afterthought into a powerhouse that fuels your brain and body. Whether you’re a cereal lover or a fan of leftovers, Monica explains how to strike the perfect balance between protein, fiber, and healthy fats.

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 nutrition question? Send an email to nutrition@quickanddirtytips.com.

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

Nutrition Diva is a part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network.  

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

846. The internet has lots to say about how coffee affects your stomach. Unfortunately, most of it is wrong.

References:

Addition of milk to coffee beverages; the effect on functional, nutritional, and sensorial properties - PubMed

A dark brown roast coffee blend is less effective at stimulating gastric acid secretion in healthy volunteers compared to a medium roast market blend - Rubach

Effect of coffee on gastro-oesophageal reflux in patients with reflux disease and healthy controls - PubMed

Effects of Coffee and Its Components on the Gastrointestinal Tract and the Brain–Gut Axis - PMC

Effects of Coffee on the Gastro-Intestinal Tract: A Narrative Review and Literature Update

Multi‐parametric approach to identify coffee components that regulate mechanisms of gastric acid secretion

Pharmacology of caffeine and its effects on the human body - ScienceDirect

Related episodes

786 - How to beat acid reflux for good

841 - How long does caffeine really stay in your system?

Find a transcript here.

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 nutrition question? Send an email to nutrition@quickanddirtytips.com.

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

Nutrition Diva is a part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network.  

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

Magnesium may or may not help prevent muscle cramps. Here’s why.

References:

Magnesium for muscle cramps | Cochrane

An Evidence-Based Review of the Pathophysiology, Treatment, and Prevention of Exercise-Associated Muscle Cramps | Journal of Athletic Training (allenpress.com)

Cause of Exercise Associated Muscle Cramps (EAMC) — altered neuromuscular control, dehydration or electrolyte depletion? | British Journal of Sports Medicine (bmj.com)

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 nutrition question? Send an email to nutrition@quickanddirtytips.com.

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

Nutrition Diva is a part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network.  

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

Bloggers recommend everything from bleach to baking soda. Food safety experts insist that tap water is all you need. What’s the best way to kill germs on fresh produce?

Related listening:

We’re losing the sodium wars—but potassium could help turn the tide (Nutrition Diva #708)

Research references:

Antibacterial action of vinegar against food-borne pathogenic bacteria including Escherichia coli | National Library of Medicine | 1998 Aug (nih.gov)

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 nutrition question? Send an email to nutrition@quickanddirtytips.com.

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

Nutrition Diva is a part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network.  

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

Super food or expensive pond scum? Is this “green food” worth the greenbacks? Find out what nutritional benefits spirulina offers. Also, we review promising research on saffron for mental health and cognition.

Related listening:

Why You Need More (Not Less) Phytic Acid in Your Diet (Nutrition Diva #612)

Are powdered green supplements like AG1 worth the money? (Nutrition Diva #754)

Research references:

Safety and Efficacy of Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) for Treating Mild to Moderate Depression | National Library of Medicine | 2020 Apr (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

Effects of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) on cognitive function | National Library of Medicine | Epub 2020 May 23 (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

Blue-Green Algae (Medline Plus)

Antihypertensive and antihyperlipemic of spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) sauce on patients with hypertension | National Library of Medicine | Epub 2021 Sep 20 (nbci.nlm.nih.gov)

The effect of Spirulina supplementation on lipid profile | National Library of Medicine | Epub 2023 May 30 (nbci.nlm.nih.gov)

Effect of Microalgae Arthrospira on Biomarkers of Glycemic Control and Glucose Metabolism | National Library of Medicine | Epub 2021 Jul 24 (nbci.nlm.nih.gov)

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 nutrition question? Send an email to nutrition@quickanddirtytips.com.

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

Nutrition Diva is a part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network.  

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

Learn how what you eat affects how you feel.

Related listening:  

How Food Affects Mood (Part 1) (Nutrition Diva #282)

How Food Affects Mood (Part 2) (Nutrition Diva #283)

A provocative new study on ultra-processed foods (Nutrition Diva #735)

We need a better way to define ultra-processed food (Nutrition Diva #757 BONUS)

Research references:

Ketogenic Diet Intervention on Metabolic and Psychiatric Health in Bipolar and Schizophrenia: A Pilot Trial | Psychiatry Research | Volume 335, May 2024 (sciencedirect.com)

Association of Western and traditional diets with depression and anxiety in women | National Library of Medicine | Epub 2010 Jan 4 (nih.gov)

Vegetarianism and mental health: Evidence from the 1970 British Cohort Study | National Library of Medicine | Epub 2024 Jan 24 (nih.gov)

Ultra-processed food exposure and adverse health outcomes: umbrella review of epidemiological meta-analyses | British Medical Journal | 28 February 2024 (bmj.com)

Omega-3 Fatty Acids Supplementation in the Treatment of Depression: An Observational Study | Neuromodulation in the Clinical Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders | 27 January 2023 (mdpi.com)

Nutrition and mental health: A review of current knowledge about the impact of diet on mental health | Nutrition, Psychology and Brain Health | 22 August 2022 (frontiersin.org)

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 nutrition question? Send an email to nutrition@quickanddirtytips.com.

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

Nutrition Diva is a part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network.  

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

A couple of recent news stories are causing concern about chemical exposure from foods that we would normally consider healthy. How does this affect your food choices? 

Related listening:

What’s the Difference between hazard and risk? (Nutrition Diva #355)

Mentioned in this episode:

Produce Without Pesticides. (Consumer Reports)

Patterns of Seafood Consumption Among New Hampshire Residents Suggest Potential Exposure to Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances. (Exposure and Health)

Public Perceptions of Pesticides & Produce Consumption. (IFIC)

Preventable Cancer Burden Associated With Poor Diet in the United States (JNCI)

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 nutrition question? Send an email to nutrition@quickanddirtytips.com.

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

Nutrition Diva is a part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network.  

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

Sea moss supplements are promoted as being good for thyroid, digestive, skin and immune health. What’s the evidence to support the claims?

Related listening:

The Carrageenan Controversy (Nutrition Diva #276)

Research references:

Review of harmful gastrointestinal effects of carrageenan in animal experiments. | Environmental Health Perspectives | Vol. 109, No. 10 (nih.gov)

Effects of kelp supplementation on thyroid function in euthyroid subjects - PubMed (nih.gov)

Risks and benefits of consuming edible seaweeds | Nutrition Reviews | Oxford Academic (oup.com)

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 nutrition question? Send an email to nutrition@quickanddirtytips.com.

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

Nutrition Diva is a part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network.  

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

Some argue that obesity does not necessarily increase your health risks. Science suggests otherwise.

Related listening:

Turning down the food noise, with Dr. Nina Crowley (Nutrition Diva #760)

Ozempic plateaus, muscle loss, and more (Nutrition Diva #738)

Why Weight Loss Is Harder for Some than Others (Nutrition Diva #616)

Mentioned in this episode:

Separate and combined associations of obesity and metabolic health with coronary heart disease

Cardiovascular risk of metabolically healthy obesity in two european populations

Effects of a new intervention based on the Health at Every Size approach for the management of obesity

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 nutrition question? Send an email to nutrition@quickanddirtytips.com.

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

Nutrition Diva is a part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network.  

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