3 . Cordero is the farm manager at Ollin Farms, not far from Boulder, Colorado. The locally grown vegetables on the farm aren’t just pretty. “We play an important role in public health nutrition programs,” says Cordero’s dad, Mark Guttridge, who started this farm with his wife, Kena, 17 years ago.

At a meeting with about a dozen local farmers, two state representatives, and the Colorado officials of agriculture, Guttridge explains how Boulder county has made creative investments in his farm that could be spread to the state or even national level. Before the meeting, Guttridge shows them one of those investments.

A dozen sheep, which Guttridge raises for wool, feed on root vegetables like radishes that have been leftover for them. “So these guys are out fertilizing the vegetable field,” Guttridge laughs. “They’ll be out here a couple more weeks, and then we’ll get our next summer vegetables planted right there.” Around the field is a special moveable type of fencing that Ollin Farms bought using financial aid from the Boulder County Sustainability Office. It allows them to move the sheep from one field to another, fertilizing as they go. The goal of these investments is “really building up our soil health,” he explains. “That relates directly to the nutrient quality of the food-healthy soil grows healthy food.”

The county also makes an effort to get that healthy food out to different communities to boost public health. That’s where the Boulder County Public Health department comes in. It created a coupon program to give discounts to people buying fruits and vegetables from Ollin Farms. Nutrition incentive programs, like those public health fruit and vegetable coupons, are spreading all over the country, and most are funded through the federal farm bill. Amy Yaroch, executive director at the Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition, says “It’s a trip le win. It’s basically good for the consumers who live in that particular community because they’re getting the healthy food, it’s good for the farmer, and then it’s good for the economy.”

5 . That rapidly expanding market has been built around seltzer water − a product favored by celebrities and influencers alike. Despite its growing popularity, seltzer water has some known disadvantages and plenty of advantages that consumers might want to be aware of.

Seltzer water, also called sparking water(气泡水) or bubbly water, “is created when carbon dioxide bubbles are added to still water,” says Jamie Bering, MD, a gastroenterologist at Mayo Clinic in Arizona. Indeed, it’s the injection of that carbon dioxide gas under pressure “that causes the bubbles and fizzy quality of seltzer water,” explain Jen Messer, a nutrition consultant at Jen Messer Nutrition. 

Though seltzer water is just as hydrating(补水) as regular water, it does have some advantages and disadvantages different than drinking tap water alone. Messer says that sparking water can be “more interesting, appealing and enjoyable than plain water” especially so because it often comes in “a wide variety of flavors.” 33 , “which makes seltzer water a good choice for those looking to reduce their calorie intake or avoid added sugars.” In this way, sparking water can also be a great way to transition away from soda. “Seltzer water can be used as a healthier alternative to drinking soda,” says Bering.

Lisa Young, a professor of nutrition at New York University, says that some people who drink the bubbly liquid “have also found that drinking seltzer water can also provide temporary relief from indigestion(消化不良).” 

But seltzer water has some disadvantages as well. For instance, Messer agrees that many people have reported that seltzer water can help with indigestion, but “interestingly, other individuals have found that seltzer water actually causes stomach discomfort such as bloating or gas.”

And Messer says the liquid isn’t great for anyone trying to reduce sodium(钠) in their diets. “Your favorite can of seltzer water may have 100 or 200 milligrams of sodium, which doesn’t seem like much, but it can really add up,” she says. That’s especially worth keeping in mind for people watching their blood pressure. 

Young says that because seltzer water is also acidic, “high consumption may affect the teeth over time.” In fact, not only can such acidity cause tooth decay, but people who drink a lot of seltzer water may also not be getting as much decay-preventing fluoride(氟化物) as people who drink tap water since fluoride is added to most supplies of drinking water in America.

8 . Taking vitamin pills in high doses(剂量) can significantly increase the risk of cataracts(白内障), a study has shown.

Scientists found that consuming large amounts of vitamin C made individuals 20 percent more likely to develop the condition, which is a leading cause of blindness. And regularly taking high-dose vitamin E tablets increased the chance of cataracts forming by 60 percent. The dangers are even greater for the elderly, with those over 65 nearly doubling their chances of damaging their vision if they took these vitamins every day.

Researchers from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm monitored 31,000 volunteers aged between 45 and 79. Nearly 3,000 of them went on to need treatment for their eyes. The Swedish team discovered a strong link between those who developed cataracts and those who took high doses of vitamins C and E.

It was originally thought that the two vitamins would protect against cataracts because they are powerful antioxidants(脱氧化剂). It was supposed that they would fight the process of oxidation(氧化), which destroys cells in much the same way as rust(锈) rots a car. However, it it now believed that, in large quantities, vitamin C may actually cause oxidation by upsetting the natural balance of proteins in the eye.

The human body does not make or store vitamin C, and gets its supply from fruit and vegetables. It only needs 40 mg a day to keep cells healthy and promote healing. Vitamin E helps maintain the structure of cells and is found in food items such as nuts and seeds. Aman needs just 4 mg a day and a woman should have 3 mg. But tablets containing up to a hundred times this amount are also available in UK health food shops. Researchers stressed that the dangers will only be caused if the vitamins are taken in very large amounts. These were defined as 1,000 mg of vitamin C and 100 mg of vitamin E a day.

However, Professor Yit Yang, from the Royal College of Ophthalmologists in Australia, said, “It is not possible to establish from this study that vitamin C caused cataracts, as there may be other factors(因素) that were not accounted for.”

9 . Risks at Your Table

Some of the “everyday foods” we eat hide some unhealthy features, which most people ignore. We take a look at some of the health risks being served to you!

Energy Drinks

You’re tired and you still have to face a physical or mental stress, so what a better friend than an energy drink to overcome the effort? However, most energy drinks contain chemicals that are harmful if taken in quantities, with effects that are similar to the ones from several other illegal drugs, smoking and alcohol consumption.

White Bread

White bread is poorer in fiber and protein than other bread alternatives. Fiber helps our body to understand when it has eaten enough. The sense of fullness is important if we don’t want an extra-consumption of calories.

Breakfast Cereals

Breakfast cereals(麦片) fill out lots of shelves in every supermarket you get inside. They’re one of the favorite foods for our first meal of the day, because they’re simply delicious. What many people are not aware of is that these products are loaded with GM(转基因) organisms which affect our immune system. If you really can’t separate yourselves from breakfast cereals, maybe you could start considering some organic breakfast cereal alternatives.

Fat-Free Foods

Fat-free foods may look like the gold mine for a perfectly balanced and satisfying diet, but the reality is widely different. Fats are essential for many body functions and for its healthy development. A fat-cut is not advisable, especially when your workouts are regular. Plus, fat-free foods are usually high in processed sugar.