Swedish flag, windy day.
What’s good around the web is a weekly series where I share some of what I’ve been reading around the web. Each week I’ll be posting links to five nutrition related articles, good recipes, and just general good reads. I hope you enjoy it! If you’ve got at article or recipe you’d like to see featured,please email me.
1. Aspartame freaks me out. This is a good article explaining the aspartame pathway.
2. While we're on the subject of aspartame, did you know the dairy industry is petitioning the FDA to allow aspartame in milk? Yuck!
3. I kind of file this information in the 'no duh' category, but apparently the research is groundbreaking. Dietary sugar has a direct effect on diabetes risk.
4. When a calorie isn't a calorie. Very interesting read.
5. Strong language warning! Some genius combined two of my favourite things: food, and swearing. Don't click if you find cussing offensive! I'm sorry (and you're welcome!).
All text and photos © The Muffin Myth 2013
Jess
That aspartame stuff really worries me. I've always avoided it in yogurt - you used to really be able to taste it, but I feel like they're hiding it in more and more things now....as you've pointed to here. Why on earth are we using so much of this fake stuff when the real thing in moderation is much more satisfying. I was given the book "French Women Don't Get Fat" as part of a stack of books from a friend who was headed back to the States, and was interested in her anecdotal observations that French women have a much higher appreciation of good, real food in small portions than Americans who now have so many additives in so many foods. I really think there's something to that argument.
themuffinmyth
I know what you mean about aspartame in yoghurt. I once even accidentally bought bran cereal with aspartame in it, which I could taste right away. But in milk? What?! I haven't read that book, but I agree with the philosophy. Really good stuff in moderation.
Oh My Veggies (@ohmyveggies)
Aspartame in milk?! But... why? (Well, I just clicked to open the link a new window, so I guess I will find out why in a minute!) I've always avoided artificial sweeteners--I'd rather just have the real thing now and then as opposed to the artificial stuff everyday.
themuffinmyth
They want to sell more milk because school milk consumption is down and kids like sweet stuff. Gross.
erika
Baha. #5 totally made my morning! How TOTALLY SCARY about aspartame in milk--and thanks for the other link about aspartame--I'd always wondered why exactly it's so bad for you. Also, the calorie article was really interesting. It's making me consider trying out a raw food diet for a few weeks...I've been wanting to try, so maybe I will!
themuffinmyth
Glad you enjoyed all the links this week! It's funny, the calorie article made me think the exact opposite thing - although I do eat raw food about 50% of the time.
Cammy
Agreed on the hilarious bad words and healthy foods, too funny. My hubby was busting a gut at the, well, you know what cancer he doesn't want.
That's so brutal about milk, hopefully it won't come to pass, and definitely not under our lovely Canadian higher standard for milk.
themuffinmyth
Yup, so hilarious! Make sure he eats those tomatoes, you know why!
And yeah, I really hope that doesn't come to pass. Where I live, where you live, or where anyone lives. Leave milk alone!
Christine
Those were ALL great! I can't say I like swearing, per se, but after that bedtime story from Samuel L. Jackson some time ago, I hear his voice when reading those lines and totally cracked up. I am SO confused about natural and artificial sugars. We have had a recent T2 diabetes diagnosis in our home, and as I look to modify or choose recipes, I don't even know where to begin anymore. I recently bought a magazine of recipes for diabetes and it all seemed so contrary to 'clean eating' I was surprised. Then I was told hose publications and institutions are all owned by 'big food industry' that made sense. I wont buy that again. But now Im not sure where to look and who to trust. Information overload! Thank you for your work! It is one place I lean on for good information and fair discussion.
themuffinmyth
Hi Christine! Sorry to hear about the recent diagnosis in your home. That's tough. There is indeed a lot of conflicting information out there and it can be hard to know what to trust. I know that for many years diabetics were advised to stick with artificial (calorie free) sweeteners, but recent evidence suggests that those, too, can trigger an insulin reaction. I think it's pretty hard to go wrong with clean eating, which will probably mean a fairly significant lifestyle change. People often use artificial sweeteners in an attempt to keep their diets the same as they always were, much like many vegetarians rely heavily on 'fake meat' products in the beginnings. I'm just guessing, but I suspect there are a good number of clean eating diabetic food blogs out there. Take a look around and see what you can come up with, and I'll ask around and see if there are any resources I can come up with for you 🙂
Christine
Thanks! We eat fairly clean, but it is the carbs that gets super confusing as we try to make our own, with real ingredients, rather than buy. And having kids in the house, there is certainly some substitution as you allude. But even within what is "natural" it is deep water to wade- Agave -'Yes. Wait, no.' Maple syrup- only dark, honey, stevia, coconut sugar etc etc and on and on. Frankly given processing discussions, I am no longer sure what is natural and what is artificial anymore! There are plenty of sites out there- just hard to know who you can trust to vet and accurately present information. That is why I like your site. I'll appreciate any help you can offer re sweetners/sugar.
Leanne
The dairy industry-- terrible! Not terribly surprising, but still really disappointing
That food and cussing site made my day. I'm totally going to talk like Samuel L. Jackson the next time I slice am avocado.
themuffinmyth
I know, it's sad. Please don't put crap in our milk. Milk *is* an ingredient, it shouldn't contain ingredients.
And I'm with you. Like I said, I have no idea who made that, but I salute them. It totally made my week.