/oss/taxonomy/term/4232/all en /oss/article/critical-thinking-health-and-nutrition/how-do-scientists-study-effects-diets <hr /> <p><em>This article was first published in <a href="https://montrealgazette.com/opinion/the-right-chemistry-how-do-scientists-study-the-effects-of-diets">The Montreal Gazette.</a></em></p> Fri, 19 Jul 2024 17:13:17 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 10006 at /oss /oss/article/medical-critical-thinking-health-and-nutrition/twisting-facts-about-cancer <p>Let’s start with some facts. Antiperspirants, cell phones, root canals or wired bras do not cause cancer. Sugar or dairy products do not “feed” the disease. You cannot cure cancer with an alkaline diet, crystals, juices, shark cartilage, apricot pits, magnets, mistletoe, soursop, chlorella, black walnuts, coconut oil, cesium chloride, reiki, psychic surgery, baking soda, antineoplastons, bioresonance machines, orgone accumulators, Rife frequency generators or coffee enemas.</p> Wed, 08 May 2024 19:16:23 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 9940 at /oss /oss/article/health-and-nutrition/food-thought-literally <p>What exactly should we eat? You would think that after literally thousands and thousands of studies that have been published on every aspect of nutrition, we would have an answer to that question. Actually, we do. Maybe not “exactly,” given that there is such a diversity of nutritional studies, some of which can be classified as good, some as bad, and most as mediocre. Nevertheless, with a bit of scientific sleuthing the chaff can be separated from the wheat.</p> Wed, 02 Mar 2022 22:39:30 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 9041 at /oss /oss/article/environment/greenwashing-should-not-be-whitewashed <p>“Greenwashing” is the term used to describe the promotion of a product based on misleading claims of superiority to other products in terms of environmental impact or safety. For example, many cleaning products these days advertise that they are “plant-based” with the implication that these are somehow more environmentally friendly than ones that are formulated with synthetic ingredients. There are several issues here. First, there is the bogus notion that natural substances are inherently safer.</p> Wed, 22 Jul 2020 21:04:25 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 8344 at /oss /oss/article/health-nutrition/will-game-changers-change-your-game <p>The documentary <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSpglxHTJVM">“The Game Changers”</a> has been picking up steam on Netflix. This is basically a two-hour promo for a vegan lifestyle focusing on a few athletes who attribute their high-level performance to a vegan diet. Before going further, let me say that I favour a diet that has lots of fruits, vegetables and nuts, but I think that some meat, mostly poultry and fish can be accommodated.</p> Wed, 11 Dec 2019 20:59:33 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 8048 at /oss