Debriefing the buzzwords

What do they really mean?

BY DONNA HOKE

During a recent group conversation about health and fitness, it came up that there are so many words thrown about when it comes to food—all of which impart the idea that such an adjective is “good,” without really explaining what the adjective really means. Here are a few that came up in conversation, and quick descriptions of what they mean, how and why they’re “good,” and how significant this qualifier is to the food you eat.

Arcade & Attica Railroad

278 Main Street, Arcade, NY 14009

WWII Weekend

Jul 22 & 23 at 1pm

Ale on the Rails at

Whiskey on Wheels

Aug 26 at 5pm

The Great Train Robbery

Sep 23 & 24 at 1pm

BUY TICKETS: (585) 492-3100 • aarailroad.com

Superfood: There is no FDAapproved list of superfoods (though you can find one on Wikipedia). There aren’t even any minimum standards that a food has to meet to become a superfood. And that’s because “superfood” is a marketing term, and not any kind of official label. Does that mean you shouldn’t eat the trendy foods associated with that label—kale, quinoa, goji berries, wheatgrass? Of course not; they’re all foods with nutritional qualities that earn them places in a healthful diet (after all, nobody is ever going to call ice cream a superfood), but they aren’t miracle fixes for anything and they’re not going to convert your poor diet to a good one. Nutritionists will certainly recommend them to you for their vitamin, mineral, and phytochemical content, but they’ll eschew the label, and also encourage variety that includes even common fruits and vegetables like apples and green beans.

Probiotics: These are living microscopic organisms in the form of “good” bacteria or yeast that are thought to be beneficial to health, especially of the digestive and intestinal varieties. Though most research indicates that they are good for you, the general word is that research has not nearly caught up to the marketing efforts promoting probiotics. If you have digestive issues, talk to your doctor about which probiotics might help you; in the meantime, you can’t go wrong continuing to eat foods that naturally deliver probiotics to your system—yogurt, dark chocolate, pickles, miso soup, and olives among them.

Gluten-free: Simply put, gluten is a protein complex found in wheat, rye, and barley, which means it turns up in a lot of foods, including beer. As such, on its own, it doesn’t deserve a bad rap any more than fat does. It isn’t fat, and eating a balanced diet won’t make you fat, but every time somebody believes either one of those things and picks up a product marked “gluten-free!” the marketing industry says cha-ching. (Note: Yes, there are people with celiac disease and gluten sensitivities who should avoid gluten, but that isn’t where most of the industry’s income is coming from.)

Antioxidants: In a healthful diet, antioxidants have always been present, doing their job in counteracting free radicals that can cause cell damage. Guess where you can find a lot of them? In superfoods. Guess what you should be eating more of? Fruits and vegetables. You can also get antioxidants naturally in nuts, fish, whole grains, beans, and tea.

Organic: Organic doesn’t mean healthful, but to see the label slapped on everything from ice cream to cereal, it’s clear that food marketers have decided to lead consumers in that direction (see gluten-free above). The truth is that organic foods can still contain high levels of fat, sugar, and sodium, because when it comes to food, organic only means that foods or ingredients have been produced by organic farming, a regulated (in a number of countries, including ours; Google to see exactly what organic means in the US) practice that emphasizes ecological balance, recycling, biodiversity, and avoidance of certain pesticides, industrial solvents, synthetic additives, and chemical fertilizers. Each year, you’ll find a new list of The Dirty Dozen, which names the foods that are best purchased in organic varieties because of pesticide residues. This year, the list includes apples, strawberries, grapes, celery, peaches, spinach, sweet bell peppers, imported nectarines, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, imported snap peas, and potatoes (Source: Environmental Working Group (EWG)’s Shoppers’ Guide to Pesticides in Produce). Plenty of nutritionists also advocate organic meats, especially beef, to avoid added hormones, antibiotics, genetically modified feed, and other drugs.

In short, none of the above things are bad food choices but, in and of themselves, they will not make a healthful diet. And on the flip side, eating a healthful diet will take care of all of these things for you. FY

Donna Hoke is Managing Editor of Forever Young.

Weekends On Weck

Weekends are special on the BIG WECK! During BIG WECK weekends, you’ll hear great shows like Breakfast with the Beatles with JP on Sundays 10 a.m.-11 a.m., the BIG WECK Polka Show with Ronnie D on Sundays 8 a.m.-10 a.m., and Senior Matters with Buffalo Broadcast Hall of Famer, Joe Chille.

You’ll also find plenty of theme weekends, chances to win prizes, and the styles of legendary national DJs like Steve Goddard and the “real” Don Steele, playing the pioneers of rock ’n’ roll from the 50s, 60s, and early 70s.

Remember, you can listen to the BIG WECK everywhere. Listen on the radio by turning your dial to 1230 AM, 102.9 FM, 100.1 FM, or 100.5 FM. Download our free mobile app on your smart phone or tablet, connect to your Bluetooth device, stream at bigweck.com, or simply ask Alexa to “Open WECK!”

As always, thanks for reading, and thanks for listening to the BIG WECK—Buffalo’s Oldies Station.

Buddy Shula Owner /CEO

Through July Where There’s A Will, There’s A Play

The hour-long production features scenes from Shakespeare’s most famous works. Check the website for a location near you. Seating not provided; bring blankets or chairs.

Picnics welcome!

(shakespeareindelawarepark.org, 856-4533)

July 9

Opening reception of Lenore and More

The Weavers’ Guild of Buffalo hosts an exhibition of its members’ works, including handwoven household textiles, wall décor, wearables, and accessories. Meet featured artist Lenore Tetkowski, who recently turned 100 years old, and whose fiber career has spanned decades. Enjoy demonstrations and refreshments.

Buffalo Arts Studio

(1243 Delaware Avenue; 839-1922)

July 8-9 Taste of Buffalo

The largest two-day food festival in the United States celebrates its fortieth birthday! Enjoy delicious food from Buffalo restaurants and food trucks, local wine, craft beer, live music, and demonstrations on the culinary stage. Food and beverage tickets can be purchased at one of three ticket tents or presale at participating Tops Markets locations through 5:00 p.m. on the Sunday of the festival.

tasteofbuffalo.com

July 29 FREE Garden Walk Buffalo

America’s largest garden tour is back! Selfguided, it includes hundreds of gardens throughout the city, from Parkside to downtown. Check the website for maps and special instructions.

10 a.m.-4 p.m.

gardenwalkbuffalo.com