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

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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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,...

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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

...

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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...

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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...

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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!&...

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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...

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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...

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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....

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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 ...

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Influencers are sounding the alarm about the many alleged dangers of seed oils. Let’s look at the evidence.

Related listening:

Does the Ratio of Omega-6 Fats Really Matter? (Nutrition Diva #185)

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 Diabetes and Gut Health! A...

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Studies suggest that common ingredient combinations can reduce nutrient absorption. But don’t abandon your smoothie routine just yet. 

 

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! Al...

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Do the new anti-obesity medications treat a metabolic disease or a psychological one? 

 

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 series, S...

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Monica revisits The Dirty Dozen list and whether or not these foods with the highest level of pesticides are, in fact, unsafe to consume. This is a reissue of an episode that aired in 2024, and remains relevant, as the 2025 Dirty Dozen was recently released. 

Related listening:

What exactly are the advantages of eating seasonally? (Nutrition Diva #761)

Pesticides on Our Plates: Is Our Food Safe to Eat? (Nutrition Diva #499)

Mentioned i...

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Former FDA Commissioner David Kessler believes it’s time to treat certain foods the way we treat cigarettes. But food is not tobacco. 

Dr. Kessler's new book Diet, Drugs, and Dopamine

Related Episodes:

A provocative new study on ultra-processed foods | Nutrition Diva

The surprising links between UPFs and diet quality | Nutrition Diva

 

 

New to Nutrition Diva? Check out our special Spotify playlist for a collection of the best episodes c...

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