As The Ingredient Guru, I often get asked to “take a look” at a variety of products, especially if they have good buzzwords on the label.Recently I was given a bottle of Zeal by Zurvita*. The person who gave it to me wanted my opinion; she was very excited about the product and takes it […]
Continue ReadingSour flavors have piqued our collective interest, on par with the spice craze. This consumer trend toward tangy flavors seems to have less to do with competitive one-upsmanship (as with spicy foods) and more to do with a movement toward wellness, artisanal foods, and ethnic cuisines. More and more people are reaching for greek yogurt, […]
Continue ReadingSpicy heat is an interesting flavor to consider since it is not typically included among the five generally-recognized tastes – sweet, salt, bitter, sour, and umami. These five sensations are experienced when receptors on the surface of the tongue become activated by food, triggering nerve fibers that run to the brain to signal a specific […]
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New day, new year, new word. Each year I pick a word of the year. One word that I use to help me pay attention to my goals and to give me a touchpoint to refer to throughout the year. It sounds simple but it’s harder than you think to pick just one word. To […]
Continue ReadingYou’ve likely never heard of Senomyx, a biotech flavor engineering company that works with many major corporations from Kraft Foods and Nestle to Coca-Cola and PepsiCo. This flavoring manufacturer has stated in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission: [quote]The goals of our high potency sweetener program are to allow for the reduction of calories in packaged […]
Continue ReadingKim Kardashian recently had her second child. A new child is such a treasure and I’m sincerely happy for her; I wish her and her family all the best. I was dismayed however to read, just a short while after all of the announcements about the baby, headlines about her plans to lose ’60 pounds […]
Continue ReadingThere is nothing better than the taste of biting into a fresh, homegrown tomato, juicy and full of flavor. Or is there? For decades, commercial food manufacturers have been trying to improve upon nature’s ability to provide us with enticing flavors in our diet. The “natural flavor” additives discussed previously are just one facet of this […]
Continue ReadingWill eating a gluten free diet make you healthier? Not necessarily. While eating gluten free is necessary for those suffering from celiac disease, for the majority of people who don’t suffer from gluten intolerance it’s not necessary to go out of your way to avoid it. However doing a gluten elimination diet can help to […]
Continue ReadingIf asked about the connotation of the word “natural,” descriptors like “healthy,” “fresh,” “made without chemicals” or “made in nature” come to mind. According to the Environmental Working Group, “natural flavor” is the fourth most common ingredient listed for processed food, but do we really know what this term means? Here’s a short video that […]
Continue ReadingBen & Jerry’s New Flavor for Climate AdvocacyBen & Jerry’s is concerned about climate change. So they’ve created a new flavor in partnership with New Belgium Brewing. Ice cream and beer. They’re both called Salted Caramel Brown-ie (Brownie) Ale. Profits from the sales of these products will go to Protect Our Winters, a climate advocacy […]
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I am not a doctor. The information on this website should not be considered medical advice and is not intended to treat, diagnose, prevent or cure any conditions, physical or otherwise. Information provided on this website has not been reviewed or approved by any federal, state, or local agency or healthcare group. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not represent any particular individual or professional group. © 2006-2024 Mira Dessy & The Ingredient Guru. All rights reserved.
