CaulfieldTim

Love this topic! And so controversial. Lots of passion. Wrote a brief piece about it here: http://policyoptions.irpp.org/issues/policyflix/caulfield/ Can summarize the science like this: 1) No evidence organic is significantly more nutritious; 2) slightly less certainty around pesticide issue, but still no evidence of clear harm; 3) data cutting both ways on impact on environment. This last issue is tough... I think we need to set aside our ideological biases, learn from the best practices of conventional and organic farming, and figure out how to grow healthy food in a sustainable manner ... and in a way that can feed the world.

BTW, also interesting research that has found little/no taste difference! But freshness key...

There are individuals that, for clinical reasons, need meal replacement products. However, for healthy individuals, we should strive to get our nutrients and calories from real food. Food is complicated stuff. It is hard to pull out the good stuff and put it in a pill or supplement. Eat the apple.

I am, in general, a vitamin and supplement skeptic (but trying to keep an open mind!). History and most of the available data suggests that there is little or no health benefit for most.... unless you have a clinically identified deficiency. I don't take any. That said, interesting work on vitamin D, for sure. Data very mixed. Here is a study we did on media representations of vitamin D. Has a nice review of data... but area evolving quickly!

Shailene Woodley big on eating clay idea. Don't get it! There is a believe that it helps detoxify your body. 1) don't need to detoxify your body with these kind of gimmicks; and 2) no evidence clay helps! Plus... yuck.

This kind of back and forth is so interesting. The same thing has happened with eggs, coffee ... and bacon! Some data suggests that this is one reason people tune out health advice. Nutrition research is tough! Need big numbers to deal with variables. And, as you note, observational data not the best... I do think it has value, for sure. Particularly when huge N and lots of other evidence signally in same direction (as with fruit and veggies).