Thoughts & Observations

Self-reflection and other musings.

Ultra-Processed Food: Broccoli vs. Chips Ahoy

Do you know the difference between processed and ULTRA-processed?

We know the United States has a problem with ultra-processed foods, and we can point to the well-documented health effects of overconsuming these foods. If the food industry wants to hijack and reframe the dialogue on processed foods, it is important for health advocates to have an alternate strategy that clearly communicates the importance of making room for whole, unprocessed foods. Continue Reading Do you know the difference between processed and ULTRA-processed?

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While You Go Unprocessed, Consider Changing Your Chicken, Too

If you’re cutting out processed foods in October you are part of a growing movement of people who care deeply about what is going into their bodies. In September the ASPCA launched a national challenge asking people to make the welfare-conscious choice. The Change Your Chicken campaign challenges consumers to avoid all factory-farmed chicken products for 30 days and instead purchase only products bearing meaningful animal welfare certifications. Continue Reading While You Go Unprocessed, Consider Changing Your Chicken, Too

Listerine Naturals is not natural

Further proof that “Natural” is a meaningless marketing term

Upon my doctor’s recommendation, I went to our neighborhood pharmacy to pick up some Listerine mouthwash. I was excited to find the bottle of “Listerine Naturals.” Inside the bottle was a clear liquid, a noticeable contrast to the impossibly blue “Cool Mint” version sitting on the shelf next to it. Eager to figure out the difference between the regular stuff and the “natural” version, I started comparing the labels. Continue Reading Further proof that “Natural” is a meaningless marketing term