Health and Nutrition

Ripples of Discovery Created a New Wave of Weight-loss Medications

Joe Schwarcz PhD — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 11:00:00 +0000

This article was first published in The Montreal Gazette.

When it comes to pharmacology, the big story these days is the development of the “glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) mimics,” the first truly effective medications to treat obesity. It’s a fascinating story to be sure, but get set for a bumpy ride. We are not playing Tiddlywinks here.

Dr. Michael Greger’s Bias Is Food for Thought

Jonathan Jarry M.Sc. — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 11:00:00 +0000

How can we distinguish between a sufficiently objective science communicator and an advocate? Communicating science to the public means choosing scientific papers, reading them, and appraising their worth before synthesizing all of this knowledge. We try to do it as impartially as we can… but what if we are ideologically biased?

The Costco Hot Dog….Decisions….Decisions

Joe Schwarcz PhD — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 21:36:43 +0000

So, there I was at Costco looking at their special of a quarter pound hot dog and soft drink for $1.50. A good deal financially to be sure. These days I have hot dogs rarely, but I still have fond memories of the toasted hot dogs at the Forum and the steamies at the Montreal Pool Room. To try or not to try the Costco dog, that was the question. I was aware of course about the high salt and fat content, but I also knew that I didn’t have to worry about being struck down by botulism. That’s because the meat is cured with sodium nitrite. And therein lies a story.

“Food Preservative Linked to Cancer,” Shrieked Many a Headline

Joe Schwarcz PhD — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 23:23:20 +0000

It isn’t surprising that a paper published in the prestigious British Medical Journal linking food preservatives to cancer roused much media attention. After all, preservatives in food are not rare and cancer is frightening. But just how much should our eyebrows furrow? That depends on whether you look at the headlines that scream about preservatives increasing cancer rates by 16% or you delve deeply into the data that gave rise to these numbers. Let’s delve!

Grilling the Science Behind the Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Joe Schwarcz PhD — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 11:00:00 +0000

This article was first published in The Montreal Gazette.

A Virus Most of Us Have Causes Multiple Sclerosis

Jonathan Jarry M.Sc. — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 22:29:21 +0000

Multiple sclerosis is a big deal in Canada.

A Cultural History of Yogurt

Joe Schwarcz PhD — Fri, 09 Jan 2026 11:00:00 +0000

This article was first published in The Montreal Gazette.

There are some stories so good to tell that one hesitates to check their accuracy. Like the one about King Francis I of France (1494-1547) being cured of his digestive problems by eating yogurt.

Taking off the Rose Coloured Glasses: The Pink Himalayan Salt Grift

Sophie Tseng Pellar BSc — Fri, 09 Jan 2026 11:00:00 +0000

Open Instagram and you’ll see it within minutes: a wellness influencer solemnly instructing you to ditch your “toxic” white table salt for pink Himalayan salt, preferably scooped from a minimalist ceramic jar. Even Tom Brady’s TB12 diet insists on the rosy stuff. The implication is clear: this salt is purer, healthier, and possibly spiritually aligned with your chakras.

There’s just one problem. It’s mostly nonsense.

Fishing for the Benefits of Fish Oil Supplements

Joe Schwarcz PhD — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 13:29:29 +0000

It is estimated that there are more than 100,000 different dietary supplements on the market in North America. Some of these, like “detox” supplements are totally useless, others such as immune boosters and megadoses of antioxidants have insignificant evidence while multivitamins mostly amount to an expensive soothing of nutritional anxieties without any evidence of reducing the risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline or all-cause mortality in the general population. However, there are some supplements that are supported by clinical evidence in some situations.

Is it Time to Cut Mouthwash from Your Oral Health Routine?

Eva Kellner B.A.Sc. — Fri, 26 Dec 2025 11:00:00 +0000

I find that I always go in and out of “mouthwash phases.” Sometimes I convince myself that it is an absolutely necessary component of my oral health routine, while in other moments in life I concede that a two-minute brush and a good flossing will suffice. However, I recently have been finding the mouthwash section of the pharmacy less appealing. I figure now is as good a time as ever to answer a reader’s query: What’s the scoop on using mouthwash? Will it deplete my nitrous oxide?

Pizza, Lizards, Electrified Chopsticks and Weight Loss With Teflon

Joe Schwarcz PhD — Fri, 19 Dec 2025 21:02:34 +0000

This article was written for publication in The Montreal Gazette.

It is said to be the world’s most popular food. We are talking pizza! Although I’m a fan, and know all about “four-cheese pizza,” I’ve never come across “pizza quattro stagioni,” or “four-seasons pizza,” that is divided into four sections with each section representing one season of the year. Prosciutto and olives represent winter, artichokes spring, basil and tomatoes summer, and mushrooms represent autumn. Of course, there is always a base of tomato sauce and cheese.

Nutritional Studies Can Drive One Batty

Joe Schwarcz PhD — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 18:21:57 +0000

Just about every day we are confronted with some report about some food that is going to extend our life or accelerate our demise. Sometimes it’s even the same food! One day we are urged to use vegetable oils instead of animal fats, and the next day may bring a study informing us that soybean oil is linked with obesity. Coffee is a villain one day, a hero the next. Ditto for eggs, red wine or dairy Worried about depression? A study tells us that individuals with the highest consumption of ultra processed foods have a significantly higher risk of depression.

Searching for the Elusive Fountain of Youth

Joe Schwarcz PhD — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 22:46:23 +0000

This article was first published in The Montreal Gazette.

Best Before but Not Bad After

Cat Wang MScPH — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 19:13:00 +0000

From grocery stores to our medicine cabinets, dates stamped on products carry a subtle authority. These "best before" or "expiration" dates guide our consumption, influence our purchasing decisions, and, in some cases, shape the ingredients list on our favourite food products. But what do these dates really mean? Who decides them, and how are they determined?

Are Levitating Trains a Health Hazard?

Haleh Cohn BSc — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 11:00:00 +0000

For anyone who flies into Shanghai Pudong International Airport, it’s a rite-of-passage to take the Maglev -- short for magnetic levitation -- train into the city. The railway is as much a tourist attraction as it is a transportation system.

I was on board the train this summer, gleefully watching the speed climb to over 300 km/hour, when I overheard the woman beside me ask if the magnetic field emissions posed a health risk.