Category: Health and ethical consumerism

These posts take a look at the connection between ethical consumerism and health, two topics that are often connected. The good news is that there is often a pretty good correlation between the two: The foods that are best for our planet often rank as the healthiest foods, and vice versa.

Sometimes, however, fad diets and industry-sponsored misinformation send us in the wrong direction. I examine a few of these topics, such as campaigns to misinform the public on two of the most sustainable categories of food that our population currently relies on: carbohydrate-rich foods and legumes.

Ultimately there is an alignment between ethical consumerism and our health, and that (as Gandalf would say) is an encouraging thought. See also the Ethical Shopping Guide category for many more posts on the ethics of food, including a series on plant-based meat substitutes.
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On the left is a close up photo of the bright yellow Rapeseed plant (Brassica napus) and on the right is a field of yellow rapeseed. Rapeseed oil has a good balance of omega-3, 6, and 9 fats.
Ethical shopping guide, Health and ethical consumerism

Cooking oil drama! Is this seed oil blend actually ideal?

There has been a lot of scare mongering about seed oils from social media influencers, but they are not all equal. Some cooking oils have a very high ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fats, which may be problematic, but there’s one notable exception: canola or rapeseed oil. A mix of canola oil and olive oil actually looks like a great choice from the three perspectives of value, health, and sustainability. Continue reading Cooking oil drama! Is this seed oil blend actually ideal?

Unknown's avatarjkaybay4 Comments
As described in the caption, the image is a composite of food images. The left side shows the composition of the actual diet consumed in the Lancet study, dominated by white bread, cake, cookies, confectionery, pizza, soda, etc. A logo for Quorn occupies a tiny portion of the image, annotated with "In reality, plant-based meat substitutes represented only 0.2% of caloric intake!" On the right is a selection of images of plant-based meat products such as Quorn and Beyond Meat, representing a plant-based diet implied in the Lancet paper.
Health and ethical consumerism, Social and environmental issues

Ultra-processed food: How meat and dairy are co-opting the narrative

This is the first of two posts detailing how the UPF conversation is a front line in the war against plant-based food. As a case study, I take a look at a high-profile research paper, published in The Lancet last month, and the media coverage that delivers a very misleading message. Continue reading Ultra-processed food: How meat and dairy are co-opting the narrative

Unknown's avatarjkaybay5 Comments
Chemical structures of the drug hydroxychloroquine and the natural product quercetin
Health and ethical consumerism

Quercetin – a treatment for coronavirus?

Hey readers. Hope you are well, physically and mentally. Here are some tentative ideas about the link between coronavirus, zinc, and a natural product called quercetin, which is a flavonoid found in food. You’ve probably heard by now of the drug hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) that has been under investigation for treatment of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Recommendations from Chinese doctors to employ it (the initial recommendation, … Continue reading Quercetin – a treatment for coronavirus?

Unknown's avatarjkaybay26 Comments
Why are legumes banned by the Paleo Diet? The image shows six types of legumes in wooden spoons, against a black background.
Health and ethical consumerism

Why are legumes banned by the Paleo Diet?

Hey Folks! You would think that I’m finished critiquing the Paleo diet after the last post, but I want to focus on one major issue in this post: why are legumes banned by the Paleo Diet? Legumes (peas, beans, lentils, chickpeas, peanuts, etc.) are widely considered to be sustainable and healthy sources of protein, fiber, minerals, B-vitamins, folic acid, and other nutrients. They are unique … Continue reading Why are legumes banned by the Paleo Diet?

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Is the Paleo Diet heathy? A 20th century painting of two hunter-gatherers hunting a glyptodon in the Paleolithic era.
Health and ethical consumerism

The Paleo Diet: science, health, and sustainability

In this post I’m going to take a look at the “Paleo Diet” from a few perspectives: Is it based on solid science? Is it healthy? Is it good for the planet? In the last post I reviewed the scientific literature on the impact of low-carb diets on health and found that the evidence overwhelmingly showed that a low-carb diet reduces the human lifespan. The … Continue reading The Paleo Diet: science, health, and sustainability

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Are low-carb diets good for you? A photo of various varieties of potatoes in crates.
Health and ethical consumerism

Are low-carb diets good for you? Sustainability and health benefits of carbs

Continuing on the theme of ethical consumerism and health, I’m going to take a look at the sustainability and health benefits of carbohydrates, and especially on the question of whether low-carb diets are good for you. But there’s a lot of material to cover, so I’m going to first look at scientific studies on low-carb diets and health.. Then, in the next couple of posts … Continue reading Are low-carb diets good for you? Sustainability and health benefits of carbs

Unknown's avatarjkaybay9 Comments
The left image shows the red seaweed dulse growing in blue ocean water. The right image shows crispy dulse on a wooden board.
Health and ethical consumerism

Why you should eat seaweed: sustainability and health benefits

In this first post on the relationship between ethical consumerism and health I’m going to take a look at the sustainability and health benefits of… seaweed! First I’ll cover the sustainability of seaweed and then the health benefits – and one health benefit in particular that made science headlines this month. Sustainability of seaweed I touched upon seaweed before, in a post on potato chips … Continue reading Why you should eat seaweed: sustainability and health benefits

Unknown's avatarjkaybay18 Comments
Health and ethical consumerism, Social and environmental issues

Proteinaholic / Integrity in Science

Diet Books! How many do we need, really? I have to admit though, when I see a shiny new hardback in the local bookstore with an eye-catching image (a big stack of sinister-looking bagels, or a piece of broccoli in the shape of a brain) and an author with credentials – Dr. Mitch Somebody, M.D. – it’s hard not to get sucked in. Especially when … Continue reading Proteinaholic / Integrity in Science

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