Research shows that asparagus, broccoli, carrots and a few other types of vegetables offer essential nutrients crucial for overall health and have potential cancer-fighting properties. In this article, we explore these vegetables in more detail and also look into differences between organic and non-organic cultivation of vegetables.

Licorice has been used traditionally for a wide range of conditions and was found beneficial due to its specific compound called glycyrrhizin. Today, studies have shown that licorice has potent antiviral and antibacterial properties and can also assist with healthy memory.

Food additives that are approved for human consumption require safety analysis and regulatory approval. However, GRAS (Generally Recognised as Safe) substances are considered safe for consumption based on a history of common use in food or scientific evidence, or consensus among experts. Also, they are only tested on animals and not humans. Does this process perhaps need revising?

Amino acids are an important part of a balanced diet. However, can eating too much of a good thing be bad? In this article we look at the health risks and side-effects of consuming more than the recommended amount of amino acids.

Some of the food additives that we can still find in New Zealand manufactured foods, have already been banned in other countries. This includes certain food colours and dyes, artificial sweeteners and flavouring agents. With a recent study saying that 69% of food products in our supermarkets are ultra-processed, there is a high probability that we are consuming these potentially harmful additives on a regular basis.