It’s simple advice: an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Though this version of the old proverb dates back to 1922, modern studies back it up. Eating an apple a day has been linked with lower levels of “bad” cholesterol and lower risk of stroke. But wait – what about recent studies showing that some brands of apple juice contain arsenic, a known poison? If you switched to brown rice years ago, because whole grains are more nutritious, what do you make of the news that brown rice may be a significant source of arsenic? Fish eaters who pay attention to the latest news stories about eating fish also have decisions to weigh:  which fish contain the oils linked to better cardiovascular health – and which ones are high in mercury, which poses a risk to our health? What do scientists say about those food stories in the news? How do you make decisions on food choices that are healthy for your family? This is your turn to ask!

Discussion Leaders: Celia Chen, Research Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Principal Investigator, Project 2 and Research Translation Core Toxic Metals Superfund Research Program, Dartmouth; Mary Saucier Choate, M.S., R.D.N., L.D., Food and Nutrition Educator, The Co-op Food Stores of Hanover and Lebanon, NH and White River Junction, VT; Todd Warczak, PhD Candidate, Department of Biological Science, Dartmouth