Nutrition Diva

Nutrition Diva

Every week, Monica Reinagel peels back the layers of nutrition news and research, answers listener questions, and helps you feel more confident about your food and nutrition choices.

Episodes

November 19, 2025 10 mins

840. Eating healthy is usually understood to mean eating less. So, what happens when you actually need to eat more—and everything you’ve learned about ‘good choices’ suddenly works against you?

Related episodes:

702, Nutrient dense vs energy dense

New to Nutrition Diva? Check out our special Spotify playlist for a collection of the best episodes curated by our team and Monica herself! 

We've also curated some great playlists on s...

Mark as Played

839. Lots of us rely on powders and shakes to meet our protein goals. A new report suggests that this could be exposing us to “concerning” levels of lead.

Resources:

Protein intake calculator

FDA Resource on Lead in Food

New to Nutrition Diva? Check out our special Spotify playlist for a collection of the best episodes curated by our team and Monica herself! 

We've also curated some great playlists on specific episode topics inclu...

Mark as Played

838. Are manufacturers using a regulatory loophole to sneak untested chemicals into our food? In this episode, we break down what GRAS really means, why it exists, and how the process works. 

Resources:

GRAS database

Database of substances added to foods

Find a full transcript here

New to Nutrition Diva? Check out our special Spotify playlist for a collection of the best episodes curated by our team and Monica herself! 

We've als...

Mark as Played

837. Regenerative farming focuses on improving the health of the soil. How does this translate into improved human health? It’s a bit more complex than you might think.

Resources:

Soil Health Academy 

Regenerative Farmers of America

Find regenerative farms near you

References:

Changes in USDA food composition data for 43 garden crops, 1950 to 1999 - PubMed

Declining Fruit and Vegetable Nutrient Composition: What Is the Evidence? -  HortSc...

Mark as Played

673. Can daily blueberry consumption actually improve your brain health? A 2022 study finds that daily blueberry consumption may help improve your cognitive abilities. But the researchers left one important question unanswered.

Find a transcript here. 

New to Nutrition Diva? Check out our special Spotify playlist for a collection of the best episodes curated by our team and Monica herself! 

We've also curated some great playlist...

Mark as Played
October 15, 2025 11 mins

836. Fast-food chains are frying their French fries in beef tallow instead of vegetable oil. Is this actually a healthier choice—or just clever marketing? 

Episodes mentioned in this episode: 

185: Does the Ratio of Omega 6 Really Matter?

763: What’s the problem with seed oils

Find a transcript here

New to Nutrition Diva? Check out our special Spotify playlist for a collection of the best episodes curated by our team and Monica herse...

Mark as Played
Mark as Played
October 1, 2025 11 mins

834. Is stress really to blame for stubborn belly fat—or is this just the latest internet hype? Let’s look at the science behind cortisol, belly fat, and what truly works.

References 

Effects of Withania somnifera on Cortisol Levels in Stressed Human Subjects: A Systematic Review - PubMed

A soy-based phosphatidylserine/ phosphatidic acid complex (PAS) normalizes the stress reactivity of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal-axis in chronical...

Mark as Played

833. From broccoli to red wine, certain foods are promoted as natural estrogen blockers. Is there any science to support the claims?

References 

Aromatase Inhibitors Plus Weight Loss Improves the Hormonal Profile of Obese Hypogonadal Men Without Causing Major Side Effects - PMC

A traditional Mediterranean diet decreases endogenous estrogens in healthy postmenopausal women - PubMed

Find a full transcript here.

New to Nutrition Diva? Che...

Mark as Played

831. Food emulsifiers are everywhere—from ice cream to peanut butter to bread. How do they affect gut health, inflammation, and chronic disease risk? 

Find a full transcript here.

New to Nutrition Diva? Check out our special Spotify playlist for a collection of the best episodes curated by our team and Monica herself! 

We've also curated some great playlists on specific episode topics including Staying Strong as We Age, Diabetes...

Mark as Played

In this episode, we separate fact from fiction, explain who might truly be sensitive to nightshades, and why most of us shouldn’t avoid these nutritious foods.

Find a full transcript here.

New to Nutrition Diva? Check out our special Spotify playlist for a collection of the best episodes curated by our team and Monica herself! 

We've also curated some great playlists on specific episode topics including Staying Strong as We Age,...

Mark as Played

Answers to listener questions about coffee and cholesterol, “natural” nitrites from celery powder, hazards of home-frying, and whether ketone energy drinks are a smart choice for athletes.

Find a full transcript here.

Additional episodes mentioned in this episode:

029 ND Looking for Mr. Goodbar

096 Nutrition Month: Fuel for Young Athletes

139 ND Do B Vitamins Give You Energy?

343 ND Fat or Carbs: Which Is the Body's Preferred Fuel Source

...

Mark as Played
August 20, 2025 15 mins

The pasta aisle has become increasingly crowded with new, protein-enhanced options. Are they worth the premium price? 

Find a full transcript here.

Additional episodes mentioned in this episode:

Resistant starch: Your questions answered

New to Nutrition Diva? Check out our special Spotify playlist for a collection of the best episodes curated by our team and Monica herself! 

We've also curated some great playlists on specific epis...

Mark as Played
August 13, 2025 13 mins

Once again, the internet is warning us that a healthy habit might actually be harming us. The latest scare is about tea. Are you actually brewing up a cup of microplastics, heavy metals, and chemical additives? 

Find a full transcript here.

Additional episodes mentioned in this episode:

What's the difference between hazard and risk?

Research mentioned in this episode: 

2013 analysis of commercial teas

Additional resources from this episo...

Mark as Played
August 6, 2025 15 mins

How to find out what’s in your water and find the best water filter for your situation.

Find a full transcript here. 

Other Nutrition Diva episodes mentioned in this episode: 

Dirty Dozen - Much Ado About Nothing?

Research mentioned in this episode: 

EPA’s CCR Finder 

NSF’s website

Tap Water Database

New to Nutrition Diva? Check out our special Spotify playlist for a collection of the best episodes curated by our team and Monica herself!&...

Mark as Played

A shockingly high percentage of fish oil supplements are actually rancid–which means they may be doing more harm than good.

Additional episodes mentioned in this episode:

Fish oil and omega 3 fats

Fish oil and prostate cancer risk

Is it time to stop taking fish oil?

Could fish oil actually increase your risk of cardiovascular events?

Are omega-3 eggs as good as eating fish?

Research mentioned in this episode: 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.g...

Mark as Played

A new meta-analysis evaluates the potential benefits of this muscle-building supplement. Can it make a significant difference? 

Find our new Staying Strong as We Age playlist on these topics.

References from this episode:
Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between body flexibility and sarcopenia - PubMed

Effects of protein supplementation on muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical performance in older adults with physical...

Mark as Played

Resistant starch acts more like fiber than starch—and may offer unique benefits for blood sugar, gut health, and more. In this episode, we break down the different types, where to find them, and how they compare to other sources of fiber.

Transcript: https://nutrition-diva.simplecast.com/episodes/resistant-starch-your-questions-answered/transcript

Mentioned in this episode: 

Episode 915, Multi-grain vs whole grain

Episode 560, Fiber 2....

Mark as Played

Are protein powders as filling—or as effective—as whole food sources like meat, fish, or tofu? 

 

New to Nutrition Diva? Check out our special Spotify playlist for a collection of the best episodes curated by our team and Monica herself! 

We've also curated some great playlists on specific episode topics including Staying Strong as We Age, Diabetes, Weight Loss That Lasts and Gut Health! Also, find a playlist of our bone health ...

Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.

    Crime Junkie

    Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.

    Stuff You Should Know

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

    The Breakfast Club

    The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.