In this episode we talk about acne, which is a common skin disorder characterized by inflammation of plugged pilosebaceous units. We explore underlying mechanisms of acne in connection to food, and we talk about which foods may or may not affect your risk of getting acne. Resources Meixiong J, Ricco C, Vasavda C, Ho BK. Diet and acne: A systematic …

Today we discuss food allergies! We cover symptoms of food allergies, how to re-introduce foods into a child's diet, and new therapies in the realm of food allergies Resources Peters RL, Krawiec M, Koplin JJ, Santos AF. Update on food allergy. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2021;32-647-657. https://doi.org/10.1111/pai.13443 Onyimba F, Crowe SE, Johnson S…

In this episode we cover green tea, discussing whether the evidence points to any truth behind its purported health benefits. Highlights include studies on green tea and blood pressure, inflammation, cancer mortality, and more. Enjoy! References: Xu, R., Yang, K., Ding, J., & Chen, G. (2020). Effect of green tea supplementation on blood pressure: A…

In this episode we interview Phil Anjum, a member of the Bite Sized Medicine crew and The Ohio State University College of Medicine Class of 2022. Phil earned his bachelor's in biomolecular science and film at University of Michigan and plans to pursue primary care after graduation from medical school. During the interview, we talk about Phil's con…

In this episode we discuss intermittent fasting in further detail. Highlights from this episode include a review of metabolism and insulin sensitivity, a breakdown of a recent New England Journal of Medicine article reviewing The Effects of Intermittent Fasting on Health, Aging, and Disease, and the effects of caloric restriction on your health. He…

In this episode we discuss different types of protein intake, the advantages and disadvantages of high protein diets, and the optimal amount of protein consumption for different age groups. As always, consult a dietitian to find healthy, affordable, and easy ways to incorporate a wide variety of protein sources, especially if you have other chronic…

Today, we will be discussing saturated fats. Did you know that the term “saturated fat” is actually a category containing fats of many carbon lengths? Articles/references Elsevier. "Not all saturated fats are equal when it comes to heart health: Cardiovascular risk of diets rich in saturated fats found in meats and the benefits of plant-based and d…

In this episode we interview Dan Sosh, who is currently a medical student at the Ohio State University College of Medicine, Class of 2022. Dan earned his bachelor's in food science and technology at Ohio State and plans to pursue dermatology after graduation from medical school. During the interview, we talk about the journey to medicine, intersect…

In this episode we discuss dietary supplements, an industry that was worth over 123 billion dollars in 2019, and we discuss examples such as St John's Wart and L-Tryptophan. References https://pubmed-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov.proxy.lib.ohio-state.edu/29300341/ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S024886631401114X?via%3Dihub https://systematicr…

Today we discuss coconut oil: the benefits, risks, and usages of the popular food trend that has seemingly taken the wellness world by storm within the past few years. References: Abbasi J. Coconut Oil’s Health Halo a Mirage, Clinical Trials Suggest. JAMA. 2020;323(16):1540–1541. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.5186 Clegg, M. They say coconut oil can aid wei…

Tune in for a special episode with one of the founders of Bite-Sized Medicine, Katie Petro! She is finishing up her degree in dietetics and provided the nutrition expertise to support the early episodes. Hear her perspective on working with medical students and sharing resources to create the episodes that started the podcast.…

Controversy is everywhere when it comes to meat intake in general, particularly processed meats and red meats. Let us review the evidence and quality/bias of study concerns that may help physicians make more reliable recommendations. Resources: Eat Less Red Meat, Scientists Said. Now Some Believe That Was Bad Advice. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09…

Learn the effects of grilling and carcinogens according to most recent evidence. Resources: https://www.aicr.org/press/press-releases/2019/cancer-experts-issue-warning-on-grilling-safety.html

A review of the research on frequency of consumption and quality of snack foods with respect to its effect on overall health. Resources: Adv Nutr. 2018 Mar 1;9(2):86-98. doi: 10.1093/advances/nmx003. Snacking Recommendations Worldwide: A Scoping Review. Potter M1, Vlassopoulos A1, Lehmann U1. Meals and snacking, diet quality and energy balance “Wha…

A run through of the evidence, theory, and effect of common fad diets. Resources: Agaston, Arthur. The South Beach Diet: The Delicious, Doctor-Designed, Foolproof Plan for Fast and Healthy Weight Loss. Rodale, 2003. Atkins, Robert C. "Dr. Atkins' diet revolution; the high calorie way to stay thin forever." (1972). Cordain, Loren. The paleo diet: lo…

Which foods play a role in cognitive function and how can we be sure to eat to protect our brains? We will review the evidence on what foods seem to promote brain function and the understanding behind why they are helpful! Resources: Geijselaers et al. “Glucose regulation, cognition, and brain MRI in type 2 diabetes: a systematic review.” Lancet Di…

Enjoy some of the back-story on Bite-Sized Medicine's origins and the meaningful impact it has made on one of the podcast's founders, Dr. Kelsey Sicker.

In this episode we focus on optimizing the body's ability to regulate inflammation and cope with stress. We also touch on some foods that are associated with increased risk of certain cancers. Resources: Bennett, Jeanette Marie, et al. "Inflammation, nature’s way to efficiently respond to all types of challenges: Implications for understanding and …

A quick dive into what it means for a product to be labeled "organic" and what impact, if any, eating organic has on our health. Articles/references https://www.ewg.org/consumer-guides#.W4LwY-hKjIU https://www.ccof.org/organic https://www.ccof.org/policy-advocacy/national-organic-program-nop-national-organic-standards-board-nosb…

In this episode we explore gluten, Celiac disease, and the evidence behind utilizing gluten-free diets as a weight loss tool. Articles/references: Aziz, I., Dwivedi, K., & Sanders, D. S. (2016). From coeliac disease to noncoeliac gluten sensitivity; should everyone be gluten free? Current Opinion in Gastroenterology,32(2), 120-127. doi:10.1097/mog.…

The ketogenic diet has been prescribed medically as a regimen for children with refractory seizures. It has since gained popularity recently as a weight loss strategy. This diet is important to understand because of its effect on overall body physiology in order to best counsel patients, especially as patients may be bringing it up more frequently …

Dietary changes are commonly recommended for patients with hypertension or at risk for developing it. So what does the research say about specific changes to make and how does this translate to real life and the foods that we eat? Articles/references: Sacks, F. M., MD et al. (2001). EFFECTS ON BLOOD PRESSURE OF REDUCED DIETARY SODIUM AND THE DIETAR…

There is a lot of nitty gritty in dietary modifications recommended for patients with diabetes. In this episode, we make it simple, realistic, and high yield for practitioners to better motivate real dietary changes for their patients. Resources: MacLeod, Janice, et al. "Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Nutrition practice guideline for type 1 and…

An up-and-coming fad diet that has rapidly gained interest. What do we know about it and how can we advise patients that have questions? References: Patterson, R. E., Laughlin, G. A., LaCroix, A. Z., Hartman, S. J., Natarajan, L., Senger, C. M., ... & Gallo, L. C. (2015). Intermittent fasting and human metabolic health. Journal of the Academy of Nu…

Vegetarian diets are often pursued for health benefits. What makes a vegetarian diet healthy and how can we best guide patients to avoid complications and maximize the health benefits of plant-based diets (vegetarian or not)? Articles/references: https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1nlanoRGbtgvI42GTyxJhBXUi8Id80IbB https://www.nutritioncarem…

Cholesterol is hot and controversial topic for both patients and providers. How can we understand the evidence to better partner with patients trying to make healthy choices that maximize benefits on serum cholesterol? Articles/references: Grundy, Scott M. "Does dietary cholesterol matter?." Current atherosclerosis reports 18.11 (2016): 68. Bos, M.…

Although easy to overlook, beverage consumption (specifically, sugar sweetened beverages) can have profound effects on a person's health. Here, we discuss how to advise patients and what the research says as far as beverage consumption for all ages. Articles/references Uptodate- dietary recommendations for toddlers kids The effect of increased beve…

What is an effective way to begin conversations about diet and nutrition discussions in a health care setting? This episode serves as a foundation for future podcasts, including important general concepts to keep in mind for all nutrition counseling. Articles/references: Claire P. Kelley, PsyDa, *, Geena Sbrocco, MS, RDb,c , Tracy Sbrocco, PhDa, Be…