Resolve to Ignore Bogus Health Risks in 2008
"Americans shouldn't waste their time or energy on avoiding phantom health risks."
By Ruth Kava, Ph.D., R.D.
Publish Date : Monday, December 24, 2007
Americans can improve and safeguard their health and wellbeing by following twelve lifestyle pointers presented by the American Council on Science and Health (ACSH). ACSH, a consortium of over 300 physicians and scientists urges Americans to focus their efforts on things that matter -- such as maintaining a healthy body weight and not smoking -- rather than the countless pieces of nonsensical or trivial health advice that fill the news.  Read Full >>

Industry Funding Doesn't Influence Our Reports (from Nature)
By Ruth Kava, Ph.D., R.D.
Publish Date : Thursday, November 4, 2004
This letter in Nature 432, 15 (November 4, 2004) was a response to one from Consumers Union employees that criticized a symposium on organic foods organized by ACSH Advisor and Rutgers professor Joseph Rosen.  ACSH Nutrition Director Dr. Ruth Kava was one of the presenters at the symposium.  As usual, the critics couldn't fault the science, so they attacked ACSH's funding...  Read Full >>

30 Day McDiet: Results Are In (from TechCentralStation)
By Ruth Kava, Ph.D., R.D.
Publish Date : Thursday, September 9, 2004
Over the past few months I've written several short commentaries on Morgan Spurlock's movie, "Super Size Me" -- the documentary about how Mr. Spurlock ate (or rather overate) at McDonald's for 30 days and gained upwards of 25 pounds. I mentioned a couple of people who also ate at McDonald's restaurants for 30 days, with very different results -- Ms. Soso Whaley and Mr. Chazz Weaver. Both of these folks managed, on their strictly fast food diets, to lose weight and improve some of their   Read Full >>

Not Another Dietary Pyramid Scheme, Please (from Wall Street Journal)
By Ruth Kava, Ph.D., R.D.
Publish Date : Thursday, August 5, 2004
The following letter to the editor appeared in the August 5, 2004 Wall Street Journal:  The turmoil about the 2005 revision of the U.S. Dietary Guidelines and Food Pyramid, as reflected in your July 29 article "Food-Pyramid Frenzy -- Lobbyists Fight to Defend Sugar, Potatoes and Bread in Recommended U.S. Diet" suggests that the current pyramid doesn't provide clear direction for consumers...  Read Full >>

Food Choices (from the Orlando Sentinel)
By Ruth Kava, Ph.D., R.D.
Publish Date : Thursday, June 17, 2004

News Sentinel: "A Super Size Distortion"
By Ruth Kava, Ph.D., R.D.
Publish Date : Friday, June 4, 2004
Super Size Me was just plain gluttony, compounded by an intentional lack of physical activity.  Read Full >>

Exercise Needed, Not Just A Good Diet
By Ruth Kava, Ph.D., R.D.
Publish Date : Friday, May 21, 2004
An article calls movie director and actor Morgan Spurlock a glutton for punishment. (“Expose or con job? Film takes a bite out of McDonald's,” May 16.) But what he demonstrated in his movie, “Super Size Me,” was just plain gluttony, compounded by an intentional lack of physical activity.  Read Full >>

All Foods Fatten
By Ruth Kava, Ph.D., R.D.
Publish Date : Thursday, May 20, 2004
The article that ran in The Tribune titled "Exposé or con job? 'SuperSize Me' takes a bite out of McDonald's," calls director-star Morgan Spurlock a glutton for punishment. But what he demonstrated in his movie, "Super Size Me," was just plain gluttony, compounded by an intentional lack of physical activity.  Read Full >>

A Supersized Distortion
Mr. Spurlock is simply following an old Hollywood tradition — gaining weight to suit a movie role.
By Ruth Kava, Ph.D., R.D.
Publish Date : Tuesday, February 10, 2004
Morgan Spurlock wanted to be in a movie. And he was in a movie — one he made himself — which he then presented to the world at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival.  Read Full >>

Supplement Hazards?
By Ruth Kava, Ph.D., R.D.
Publish Date : Wednesday, March 21, 2001
Re: "Natural Hazards" (February 12, 2001)  Read Full >>