Entries by Chet Zelasko

Cysteine for Gut Health

The science behind the treatments of tomorrow lies with basic research today. There have been a couple of studies published recently that use building blocks of food to treat specific conditions. Let’s take a look at the first one today. Researchers at MIT conducted a study to see if a specific amino acid could help […]

The Secret Ingredient

The paper on the physics of fluids was interesting, although the math was way beyond my ability. Researchers from four European countries took part in the research study on Cacio e Pepe to find the precise texture of the pasta, starch content of the water, and temperature of the water to get the perfect sauce […]

Cheesy Pasta: My Gooey Mess

Last Saturday I said that with all the heavy health news going on, it was time to change it up and talk about something a little lighter. Nothing could be lighter than cooking with just three ingredients to get a magnificent pasta dish. The dish is called Cacio e Pepe (Cheese and Pepper in English), […]

Folinic Acid and Autism

The other news related to autism was talk about the potential benefits of a pharmacological form of folate called folinic acid, an active form of vitamin B9; it’s being described as a cure for autism. In fact, the new CDC administration is fast-tracking a change in label use for the drug so it can be […]

Acetaminophen and Pregnancy

There have been statements circulating in the health news related to autism in the past couple of weeks, and I want to provide some perspective on both. Today it’s about a link between autism and acetaminophen, the generic name for Tylenol, also known in other countries as paracetamol. Acetaminophen is also an ingredient in OTC […]

BMI: Still Relevant

The study I reviewed on Tuesday was trying to establish that body fat as assessed by BIA was a better predictor of the 25-year death rate than BMI. Researchers made their case by using data collected in the 1999–2000 NHANES wave to establish that a measure of body fat that can be collected with a […]

Are We Done with BMI?

Body mass index has been used for decades as a way to assess whether someone is at a healthy body weight for their height. For just about as long, it’s been under attack for the people who feel it was not representative of their body composition; high muscle mass and bigger bones were two of […]

Forever Chemicals: Maybe Not Forever

The issue with forever chemicals, particularly PFAS, is that we can’t avoid exposure, especially because they are found in the water supply. That’s why a couple of recent studies provide some hope that a solution can be found in the foods we eat, specifically fiber. Study One: Oat Fiber, Cholesterol, and PFAS Canadian researchers examined […]

Should You Worry About Forever Chemicals?

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS for short) are found in water to the extent that 100% of the population has measurable PFAS in their blood. PFAS are synthetic chemicals that are used in many products such as fire and heat retardants and oil- and stain-resistant products. Teflon coating in cookware is the best example of […]

Artificial Sweeteners—Still Your Choice

The use of artificial sweeteners is always a contentious topic in the health field. Some people hate them, other people love them. I use them occasionally, but when it comes to benefits versus harms, I stick to the research. In this case, it’s what wasn’t stated in the headlines about the study that is important, […]