Health and Nutrition

Why Dr. Joe Likes His Cup of Joe

Joe Schwarcz PhD — Fri, 31 Oct 2025 18:37:49 +0000

This article was first published in The Montreal Gazette.

Obviously, the expression “a cup of joe” has some interest for me.

Organic Doesn’t Mean Clean: Here’s Why Washing Fruits and Vegetables Matters More Than You Think

Eva Kellner B.A.Sc. — Fri, 31 Oct 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Growing up, the arrival of apple season was always enough to get me through the back-to-school blues. The sweet aroma of apple cider doughnuts and the numerous haystacks provided necessary relief from the pungent smell that lingered in the city. While my siblings would fight over who got to use the long stick to reach the highest apple on the tree, I spent my time traversing the orchards searching for low-hanging fruit. There was something about picking an apple from the tree and taking a big ol' bite that just hit the spot.

The Killer Protein Bar That I’m Not Afraid of Trying

Joe Schwarcz PhD — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 17:06:52 +0000

This article was first published in The Montreal Gazette.

When it comes to scientific controversies, I’m not accustomed to sitting on the fence, but I find myself in that uncomfortable position about Joe Wicks’s “Killer Protein Bar.”

Oh, Those Micro and Nanoplastics!

Joe Schwarcz PhD — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 20:17:02 +0000

I sometimes have a Babybel cheese as a snack and I used to feel that the little cheese did not want to be eaten. It seemed to defy attempts to open the plastic in which it had sought refuge. But no more! The latest batch I got was wrapped in paper not plastic and yielded its contents without the slightest struggle. I assume the novel packaging is in deference to the exploding publicity about our overuse of plastics and its consequences on the environment and possibly on our health.

AGZ Is More Shaky Science from the Makers of AG1

Jonathan Jarry M.Sc. — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 10:00:00 +0000

“Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!” This famous line from Michael Corleone is apt here: our Office and others have been over the AG1 story, denouncing its flimsy scientific evidence.

Faster, Higher, Stronger… Enhanced?

Sophie Tseng Pellar BSc — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 10:00:00 +0000

For most people, track and field exists as a fleeting summer spectacle: ten days every four years when the fastest, strongest, and most gravity-defying humans wage war on a 400-metre oval. For me, this sport is much more. During my time as a varsity athlete, I was consumed by the oval: on it, I trained and competed; beyond it, I devoured every development in the professional track world.

Claims About Blue Spirulina Raise a Red Flag

Joe Schwarcz PhD — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 16:24:31 +0000

In the science communication business, we call them “weasel words.” Why? Because weasels have a reputation for being sneaky and tricky. We are talking about words like “may,” “suggest,” “possible” and “potential” that can trick the reader into forming a positive impression without making a specific commitment. What prompts this discussion about dodgy words? I just finished reading a short article, 850 or so words, about the health benefits of “blue spirulina” on “Healthline,” a reasonably reputable newsletter. I counted the number of times the word “may” appears. An astounding 21 times!

The Deadly Differences Between Poisons, Toxins and Venoms

Joe Schwarcz PhD — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 15:18:21 +0000

This article was first published in The Montreal Gazette.

The puffer fish is poisonous, but not venomous, while a rattlesnake is venomous but not poisonous. Both can kill you with their toxins. Sound confusing? Let’s try to clear it up.

Extracting Drugs from Nature Is Hard

Jonathan Jarry M.Sc. — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 10:00:00 +0000

A video on Facebook with

Apple Cider Vinegar…Again

Joe Schwarcz PhD — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 21:14:24 +0000

Apple cider vinegar has been on my radar since the 1970s when I was first asked about its purported miraculous properties on my radio show. The queries were triggered by the publication of a booklet with the enticing title “Apple Cider Vinegar, Miracle Healthy System,” by Drs. Paul C. Bragg and Patricia Bragg,” both with degrees from unaccredited naturopathic institutions. These food faddists promised weight loss, improved digestion, and enhanced energy levels by consuming apple cider vinegar.

The Sour Side of Our Love of Sweets

Joe Schwarcz PhD — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 17:36:46 +0000

This article was first published in The Montreal Gazette.

For the Love of Fibre

Sophie Tseng Pellar BSc — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Recently, while browsing the candy aisle (my natural habitat as a gummy connoisseur), I was confronted by a monstrosity: protein candy. Listen, I get it. This gummy abomination is merely a reflection of the cultural moment we are in right now.

It surprises exactly no one when I say that the wellness world is obsessed with protein. From Khloe Kardashian’s protein popcorn to TikTok-famous “David bars,” protein has infiltrated every snack imaginable. But amidst this protein craze, something essential has quietly slipped off the plate: fibre.

The What, Why and What to do about Hiccups

Ada McVean M.Sc. — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 10:00:00 +0000

We’re all familiar with the sensation- an uncontrollable jerk of our diaphragm and an involuntary noise, stifled or not, that gives the condition its name. Hiccups are ubiquitous amongst mammals of all ages, but it may surprise you to learn that even in 2024, our understanding of them is somewhat lacking.

Fill Your Stomach and Lose Weight? Not so fast.

Joe Schwarcz PhD — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 10:00:00 +0000

There have been many weapons used over the years in the “battle of the bulge.” There have been diets galore, medications to curb the appetite, and attempts to reduce hunger by filling the stomach with indigestible substances. Remember the cotton ball diet? It is best forgotten. It was a brief social media phenomenon in 2013 when model Bria Murphy, daughter of comedian Eddie Murphy, mentioned that she “heard” that other models were swallowing cotton balls soaked in juice and were losing weight. Not a smart thing to do.

From Oliver Twist’s Gruel to my Grandson’s Overnight Oats

Joe Schwarcz PhD — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 19:29:12 +0000

This article was first published in The Montreal Gazette.

Oatmeal was not part of my upbringing. My childhood breakfast in Hungary consisted of hot cocoa with a slice of buttered bread and, when the season permitted, green pepper.