Super food or expensive pond scum? Is this “green food” worth the greenbacks? Find out what nutritional benefits spirulina offers. Also, we review promising research on saffron for mental health and cognition.

Related listening:

Why You Need More (Not Less) Phytic Acid in Your Diet (Nutrition Diva #612)

Are powdered green supplements like AG1 worth the money? (Nutrition Diva #754)

Research references:

Safety and Efficacy of Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) for Treating Mild to Moderate Depression | National Library of Medicine | 2020 Apr (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

Effects of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) on cognitive function | National Library of Medicine | Epub 2020 May 23 (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

Blue-Green Algae (Medline Plus)

Antihypertensive and antihyperlipemic of spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) sauce on patients with hypertension | National Library of Medicine | Epub 2021 Sep 20 (nbci.nlm.nih.gov)

The effect of Spirulina supplementation on lipid profile | National Library of Medicine | Epub 2023 May 30 (nbci.nlm.nih.gov)

Effect of Microalgae Arthrospira on Biomarkers of Glycemic Control and Glucose Metabolism | National Library of Medicine | Epub 2021 Jul 24 (nbci.nlm.nih.gov)

Nutrition Diva is hosted by Monica Reinagel, MS, LDN. Transcripts are available at Simplecast.

Have a nutrition question? Send an email to nutrition@quickanddirtytips.com or leave a voicemail at 443-961-6206.

Follow Nutrition Diva on Facebook and subscribe to the newsletter for more diet and nutrition tips.

Find Monica's blog and other programs at Nutrition Over Easy.

Nutrition Diva is a part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network.

LINKS:

Transcripts: https://nutrition-diva.simplecast.com/episodes/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/QDTNutrition/

Newsletter: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/nutrition-diva-newsletter

Nutrition Over Easy: https://nutritionovereasy.com

Quick and Dirty Tips: https://quickanddirtytipscom

Learn how what you eat affects how you feel.

Related listening:

How Food Affects Mood (Part 1) (Nutrition Diva #282)

How Food Affects Mood (Part 2) (Nutrition Diva #283)

A provocative new study on ultra-processed foods (Nutrition Diva #735)

We need a better way to define ultra-processed food (Nutrition Diva #757 BONUS)

Research references:

Ketogenic Diet Intervention on Metabolic and Psychiatric Health in Bipolar and Schizophrenia: A Pilot Trial | Psychiatry Research | Volume 335, May 2024 (sciencedirect.com)

Association of Western and traditional diets with depression and anxiety in women | National Library of Medicine | Epub 2010 Jan 4 (nih.gov)

Vegetarianism and mental health: Evidence from the 1970 British Cohort Study | National Library of Medicine | Epub 2024 Jan 24 (nih.gov)

Ultra-processed food exposure and adverse health outcomes: umbrella review of epidemiological meta-analyses | British Medical Journal | 28 February 2024 (bmj.com)

Omega-3 Fatty Acids Supplementation in the Treatment of Depression: An Observational Study | Neuromodulation in the Clinical Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders | 27 January 2023 (mdpi.com)

Nutrition and mental health: A review of current knowledge about the impact of diet on mental health | Nutrition, Psychology and Brain Health | 22 August 2022 (frontiersin.org)

Nutrition Diva is hosted by Monica Reinagel, MS, LDN. Transcripts are available at Simplecast.

Have a nutrition question? Send an email to nutrition@quickanddirtytips.com or leave a voicemail at 443-961-6206.

Follow Nutrition Diva on Facebook and subscribe to the newsletter for more diet and nutrition tips.

Find Monica's blog and other programs at Nutrition Over Easy.

Nutrition Diva is a part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network.

LINKS:

Transcripts: https://nutrition-diva.simplecast.com/episodes/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/QDTNutrition/

Newsletter: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/nutrition-diva-newsletter

Nutrition Over Easy: https://nutritionovereasy.com

Quick and Dirty Tips: https://quickanddirtytipscom

A couple of recent news stories are causing concern about chemical exposure from foods that we would normally consider healthy. How does this affect your food choices?

Related listening:

What’s the Difference between hazard and risk? (Nutrition Diva #355)

Mentioned in this episode:

Produce Without Pesticides. (Consumer Reports)

Patterns of Seafood Consumption Among New Hampshire Residents Suggest Potential Exposure to Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances. (Exposure and Health)

Public Perceptions of Pesticides & Produce Consumption. (IFIC)

Preventable Cancer Burden Associated With Poor Diet in the United States (JNCI)

Nutrition Diva is hosted by Monica Reinagel, MS, LDN. Transcripts are available at Simplecast.

Have a nutrition question? Send an email to nutrition@quickanddirtytips.com or leave a voicemail at 443-961-6206.

Follow Nutrition Diva on Facebook and subscribe to the newsletter for more diet and nutrition tips.

Find Monica's blog and other programs at Nutrition Over Easy.

Nutrition Diva is a part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network.

LINKS:

Transcripts: https://nutrition-diva.simplecast.com/episodes/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/QDTNutrition/

Newsletter: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/nutrition-diva-newsletter

Nutrition Over Easy: https://nutritionovereasy.com

Quick and Dirty Tips: https://quickanddirtytipscom