My latest On Nutrition column in @seattletimes.com, looking at the recent exploration of the potential health risks of ultraprocessed food, and what to do about it from a food systems approach.

The Lancet takes a nuanced, big-picture look at ultraprocessed food

Columnist Carrie Dennett discusses a recent three-part series of articles from the scientific journal The Lancet about ultra-processed food.

seattletimes.com

Do you absorb less calcium from lactose-free milk? How can you wrestle winter squash without losing a finger? How can you keep a lunch salad habit going in the cooler months and stay satisfied? I answer those questions in my latest On Nutrition column in @seattletimes.com!

Answers to your questions on lactose-free milk, winter squash and more

Does lactose increase absorption of calcium? What's the best way to safely cut squash? Carrie Dennett dives into these inquiries and more.

seattletimes.com

In my latest On Nutrition column in The Seattle Times, I Iook at what the research has to say about the power of physical activity to lower blood sugar levels and possibly prevent type 2 diabetes.

Can physical activity help prevent diabetes? Yes, and here’s why

Columnist Carrie Dennett explains why physical activity can help prevent diabetes, and if increased sedentary time undoes the health effects of physical activity.

seattletimes.com

My latest blog post explores the all-to-common yearning to have our teenage bodies back...and why that desire is futile and counterproductive on so many levels.

“I won't be happy until I have my 19-year-old body back”  | Nutrition By Carrie

If you’ve ever said, "I want my teenage body back,"you’re not alone. But there is no universe in which you will have that body back.

nutritionbycarrie.com

In my latest On Nutrition column in @seattletimes.com, I talk with expert food allergy dietitian Sherry Coleman Collins about why food allergies are more common, and offer smart tips for navigating food allergies for both adults who have food allergies and for parents of kids with allergies.

Why are food allergies more common now?

To answer these questions, registered dietitian nutritionist Carrie Dennett spoke with Georgia-based dietitian Sherry Coleman Collins, MS, RDN.

seattletimes.com

My latest blog post looks at the potential risks and benefits of pursuing intentional weight loss, by whatever means.

Will weight loss make you healthier? Good question. | Nutrition By Carrie

Are you pursuing weight loss for appearance or because it will make you healthier? It's also important to consider the harms of weight loss.

nutritionbycarrie.com

My latest On Nutrition column in @seattletimes.com looks at the 2.0 version of the EAT-Lancet report on the "planetary health diet." Now, with a new focus on food insecurity.

A diet not only good for your health — but for our planet, too

Registered dietitian nutritionist Carrie Dennett discusses the updated EAT-Lancet Commission report that emphasizes a Planetary Health Diet.

seattletimes.com

My latest On Nutrition column in @seattletimes.com looks at the benefits of ancient grains (think nutrition, texture and flavor) and offers a tasty recipe that unites quinoa and black beans with a tasty lime-cumin vinaigrette.

Ancient grains: A win for nutrition, health, flavor anid sustainability

Registered dietitian nutritionist Carrie Dennett discusses the different types of ancient grains, tips for using them and shares a recipe.

seattletimes.com

I'm a supporter of nutrition research (obviously), but what annoys the bejeezus out of me is when research is communicated poorly, and almost falsely. In my latest ON Nutrition column in @seattletimes.com, I look at one recent and fairly egregious example of this spin-and-miscommunication.

Can a long weekend of ‘junk food’ really scramble your memory?

Registered dietitian nutritionist Carrie Dennett shares an example of how nutritional research studies are often inaccurately communicated.

seattletimes.com

My latest blog post, looking at the science behind long-time advice to "not eat past 7 p.m." or "close the kitchen after dinner."

Does eating at night cause weight gain? Good question! | Nutrition By Carrie

“Don’t eat after 7 p.m.,” “Close the kitchen after dinner.” This advice assumes that eating at night causes weight gain. But does it?

nutritionbycarrie.com

There's so much chatter online and elsewhere about "hormone-balancing diets" that when I came across a study looking at how diet patterns affect hormone levels and breast cancer risk in premenopausal women, I reached out to the lead researcher for my latest On Nutrition column in @seattletimes.com.

Can diet reduce breast cancer risk? Yes, but leave hormones out of it

While we can’t change some cancer risk factors, such as genetic susceptibility, we can make changes to diet, writes columnist Carrie Dennett.

seattletimes.com

In my latest On Nutrition column in @seattletimes.com, I look at why a "healthy" gut microbiome is not one-size-fits all, despite what some information floating around out there suggests. (Perfectionism and diet culture manage to creep in everywhere, unfortunately!)

What does a ‘healthy’ gut microbiome look like? The answer is unclear

As much research as we have on the gut microbiome, scientists are still figuring out the full complexity of these microbial communities, writes columnist Carrie Dennett.

seattletimes.com

The me from 2012 had a utopian ideal of what "healthy eating" meant that was frankly a bit elitist and healthiest. In my latest "Know Better, Do Better" post, I take that cringe-worthy 2012 post and dissect it, offering commentary on where I was then, and what I do and don't agree with now.

Are you really what you eat? Let's take a look | Nutrition By Carrie

I revisit a 2012 blog post, "Are you really what you eat?" that makes me cringe because my thinking has evolved substantially since then.

nutritionbycarrie.com

My latest On Nutrition column in @seattletimes.com looks at the "gut-heart axis," and some of the ways the health of your gut microbiome can influence your cardiovascular health.

The links between the health of your gut and the health of your heart

Registered dietitian nutritionist Carrie Dennett explains the gut-heart axis, the two-way communication between your gut microbiome and your heart.

seattletimes.com

How did berries and plants from faraway places get elevated to the pinnacle of 'superfood' status when so many foods available in your local grocery store or farmers market offer the same nutritional benefits? In my latest On Nutrition column in @seattletimes.com, I explore 'everyday superfoods.'

These everyday ‘superfoods’ offer super nutrition

If you’re looking for better nutrition and better health, you don’t need to look to distant rainforests or mountains for the next superfood.

seattletimes.com

Do you believe, ‘I’ll never be able to change’? When thinking about changing a habit or behavior, we can carry a lot of ambivalence. We see benefit in changing…but also in not changing. We see costs in sticking to the status quo, but also in making changes.    Learn more in my latest blog post!

‘I’ll never be able to change’ (lies we tell ourselves)  | Nutrition By Carrie

Do you believe “I’ll never be able to change”? Here's why that belief can become a self-fulfilling prophecy, and what to do about it.

nutritionbycarrie.com

My latest On Nutrition column in @seattletimes.com, I address some perpetual confusion about ounces and grams as they relate to protein, and answer questions about if fermented foods are more than a fad, and if reports that the Blue Zones are bunk are true.

Answers to your questions on protein, fermented foods and Blue Zones

Columnist Carrie Dennett clears up confusion about ounces and grams when it comes to protein, and answers questions about fermented foods and the Blue Zones.

seattletimes.com

My latest On Nutrition column in @seattletimes.com, in which I squeeze the 4,772 words of notes I took while watching the "Biggest Loser documentary" into about 585 words. I'm not gonna lie...it wasn't easy!

What the new ‘Biggest Loser’ documentary says about the show, and us

The producers, doctors and personal trainers on "The Biggest Loser" were playing fast and loose with contestants’ health and lives, writes Carrie Dennett.

seattletimes.com

In my latest blog post, I look at why becoming more self-compassionate isn't just some fluffy self-indulgent endeavor. It can have real benefit for both physical and mental health. I also offer tips and resources to cultivate more self compassion in your own life.

Why try cultivating self-compassion? It's one key to true health | Nutrition By Carrie

Research shows that cultivating self-compassion is important for mental, emotional and physical health and well-being. Here's how to start .

nutritionbycarrie.com

Are potatoes healthy? Not healthy? Does it "depend" on how you eat them? I explore the idea that potatoes are "unhealthy," along with some recent research, in my latest On Nutrition column in @seattletimes.com .

Breaking down myths about potatoes

The idea that potatoes are “unhealthy” is a myth born out of oversimplification that can partially be traced to a 2011 study, writes columnist Carrie Dennett.

seattletimes.com

My latest On Nutrition column in @seattletimes.com, looking at new research on preventing age-related cognitive decline.

New insights into how to keep your brain sharp as you age — maybe

Registered dietitian nutritionist Carrie Dennett discusses the results from a two-year intervention study that focused on age-related cognitive decline.

seattletimes.com

A conversation with a new client was the inspiration for my latest blog post, looking at some of the weight-based misconceptions that can get in the way of timely and appropriate eating disorder treatment. (I blame weight-centric healthcare and societal beliefs for much of this disconnect.)

Can you have an eating disorder if your weight is “OK”?  | Nutrition By Carrie

Eating disorders are mental health disorders that can cause serious medical complications. This is true even if someone is not underweight.

nutritionbycarrie.com

My latest On Nutrition in @seattletimes.com, talking about clickbait and influencer nonsense about protein recommendations. I also talk about what the, you know, actual SCIENCE says!

How much protein do we really need?

Registered dietitian nutritionist Carrie Dennett discusses the recent "pro-protein" trend and explains current protein intake recommendations.

seattletimes.com

What would your summer look like if you weren't concerned about your body's size, shape or ability? Heck, what would your whole YEAR look like? My latest blog post:

Are body concerns getting in the way of your life? | Nutrition By Carrie

Our bodies carry us through this world but they can also hold us back. Often, that’s t because of body concerns.

nutritionbycarrie.com

n my latest On Nutrition column for @seattletimes.com, I raise some questions about that new "it's diet not exercise that's making people fat" study that's getting attention everywhere. (I use the word fat as a neutral descriptor of body size, btw.)

My latest On Nutrition column in @seattletimes.com, looking at new data from the International Food Information Council suggesting that consumer confidence in the U.S. food supply is at an all-time low.

Is your food safe? Lots of us are worried

How confident are you that your food is safe to eat? A new survey suggests that concerns about the safety of the U.S. food supply are at a 20-year high.

seattletimes.com

Sometimes I get the stupidest emails right when I'm trying to decide what to write about for my next column in @seattletimes.com. This was one of those times. Thanks, stupid email!

No, there’s no such thing as ‘natural Ozempic’

GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs like Ozempic help people manage type 2 diabetes. Foods like Greek yogurt and avocados can't do that, writes columnist Carrie Dennett.

seattletimes.com

That quote’s from one of my clients, who is a gardener. We talked about how, as gardeners, it’s important to accept that a garden needs regular tending, and even vigilance. And how as humans seeking body liberation, it’s important to accept that this too needs regular tending, and even vigilance.

My On Nutrition column in @seattletimes.com last week, looking at (sigh) the return of the "Dirty Dozen" list. We need less fear, more fruits and veggies!

Health news not scary enough? The ‘Dirty Dozen’ list feeds us more fear

Registered dietitian nutritionist Carrie Dennett shares her thoughts on the most recent "Dirty Dozen" list from the Environmental Working Group.

seattletimes.com

I just can't even with the nonsense about personal responsibility for health when all of our health support systems and infrastructure are being dismantled and eroded at every turn. Get a clue, Bobby.