In recent weeks I have had to reduce my dairy intake due to a previously unidentified dairy intolerance. This decision, coupled with an unfortunate hip fracture in a family member has got me thinking a lot about calcium, bone health and osteoporosis prevention and detection. This is the first of a few posts that will explore all of these topics in detail, starting with calcium metabolism.

Only five months ago the USDA released their 2010 Guidelines, but they were complicated and long. Most people will never flip through the document let alone be able to work out what changes they need to make. This week the USDA released a new website and simpler guidelines for you and I.

In November 2010 the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declared the Mediterranean diet to be an intangible cultural heritage of Italy, Greece, Spain and Morocco. I keep hearing about the diet left right and center, but what exactly is it and what is it based on?

When my DH and father came down with a cold late last week I started taking zinc to prevent getting one myself. Personally, taking supplements is not something that I would recommend doing long-term (unless directed by your Doctor) because really, we don’t really know how much is too much of any vitamin or mineral. And we don’t know what else we might be missing out on by relying on manufactured supplements to cover our needs.

While making a delicious chocolate cake last night I wondered how much of a difference it would make if I used brown sugar instead of white sugar. Having recently written a post comparing the nutrient profile of white vs. wholegrain flour, I was intrigued by the idea that I could add more vitamins and minerals with a simple substitution.