Joy Erdile, MSc, RD

Note: This article was originally posted on July 14, 2022, and was completely updated and reposted on November 3, 2025. Introduction When people have blood tests to “check their thyroid,” the test that is performed is a TSH test. TSH is a pituitary hormone, not a thyroid hormone. Provincial guidelines have established that even if … Read more

Introduction I never planned to write a low-carb bread book, but it came about due to both interest and need.  Beginning in September 2021, I started experimenting with low-carb breads not made from nut flour. By mid-December, I was finally successful and posted the recipe for Low Carb High Protein Yeast Bread, and it turned … Read more

Introduction I have been wanting to write an article about constipation and the role of fiber for a while, but yesterday I saw a cartoon drawn by Glenn McCoy that was the final motivation. (posted with written permission from Glenn McCoy) The old song “All I Want for Christmas (is my two front teeth)” may … Read more

Introduction Meat prices have gone crazy and many people are wondering how to eat well on a budget. Steaks and chops are familiar, but they aren’t the only source of protein — or even the best sources. Comparative Protein Density in Animal Sources A rib steak is only 60% protein but skipjack tuna is 92% … Read more

Introduction The idea that there is a specific food that acts as the “off switch” for appetite is very compelling. Who hasn’t eaten more food than they planned or wanted? Whether it was too much of the same food or too much of a variety of foods, we often eat until we are stuffed. Wouldn’t … Read more

Introduction As a Dietitian who supports people with food addiction, I was recently asked to speak at a food addiction summit. The evening before speaking, I was given a list of the questions I would be asked. The first one was “How has food addiction impacted your life? How old were you”? The opening question … Read more

Introduction For as long as I can remember, type 2 diabetes has been called a chronic, progressive disease and people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes have been taught that (1) the disease will persist (i.e. is chronic), (2) will only get worse (i.e. is progressive), (3) that medication to manage the disease is inevitable, and … Read more

Introduction A new consensus report from an expert panel made up of representatives from the American Diabetes Association (ADA), European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), and Diabetes UK [1,2,3] has proposed a standard definition for remission of type 2 diabetes. This article outlines the different factors involved in that definition, as well as … Read more

Introduction Green tea which is high in the catechin EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) has been associated in two meta-analyses with a reduction in body weight and body fat — especially abdominal fat [1,2] and matcha powder is especially high in EGCG. Catechin Concentration in Matcha Catechins make up ~30% of green tea’s dry weight and while … Read more

Introduction This morning, I posted on social media about the extreme heat wave that the Vancouver area will be having over the weekend, with temperatures hitting as high as 40°C or higher, which is almost 105°F. One of the people that follows me on social media mentioned the risk of leaving clear water bottles in … Read more

Introduction This week, the weather forecast for the Vancouver area is for hot and hotter, so I thought it would be good to revisit a wonderful summer drink that I enjoy to help cool off and replace fluids. This week’s weather forecast – hot and hotter (from the Weather Network) Most people know that when … Read more

Introduction The human body can use carbohydrate, fat, or protein to generate energy, only carbohydrate and fat are major fuel sources. Protein’s role in the diet is mainly to provide amino acids needed by the body to make its own proteins, for structure and function. How the Body Generates Energy During digestion, carbohydrates, fats, and … Read more

Introduction There continues to be a reliance on LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) as the main means to assess cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, despite the fact that apolipoproteinB (apoB) has been found to be a much better predictor. This article looks at why total LDL cholesterol is inadequate to assess cardiovascular risk, what apoB is, and why … Read more

Introduction FODMAP is an acronym for fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols which are the types of carbohydrate that are fermented by the microorganisms that live in our intestines know as the ”microbiome“, resulting in increased gas production (methane), abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea or constipation, or sometimes a combination of both. The carbohydrate fermented by … Read more

Note: This article was originally posted on August 13, 2023, and was updated and reposted on November 25, 2025. Introduction In the interest of time, many people throw a cup or more of fruit, some green veggies, and maybe some protein powder into a blender to make a smoothie for breakfast. But most people don’t … Read more

Introduction A therapeutic diet is used to treat a medical condition, and when prescribed by a Physician and implemented by a Dietitian, it is referred to as Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) [1]. Therapeutic ketogenic diets are a form of medical nutrition therapy using a specific ratio of fat to protein plus carbohydrate. These diets are … Read more

Introduction People on social media argue about which is the “best diet” for humans — vegan or carnivore? Low carb or keto? Vegetarian or vegan? I avoid these “diet wars” largely because I don’t believe there is a “best” diet for everybody. Some diets are preferable over others for a variety of reasons, including religious … Read more

[NOTE: This is a combination Science Made Simple article and editorial, expressing my opinion.] This past Wednesday March 24, 2021, Dr. James Muecke, a South Australia ophthalmologist who was the 2020 Australian of the Year, posted on Facebook that Diabetes Australia reworded their webpage from ”Type 2 diabetes is a progressive condition” to ”Type 2 … Read more

Introduction In November 2018, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) released a Position Statement [1] which identified four separate disease stages associated with an abnormal glucose response, including Type 2 Diabetes: Stage 1: Insulin Resistance Stage 2: Prediabetes Stage 3: Type 2 Diabetes Stage 4: Vascular Complications — including retinopathy, nephropathy and neuropathy The … Read more

Introduction More than half of middle-aged people have a hiatal hernia (sometimes referred to as a “hiatus hernia“), but most people are only diagnosed when their symptoms become problematic, or inadvertently when having medical tests for something else. A hiatal hernia is where part of the stomach bulges up through the space (called a “hiatus”, … Read more

Introduction When people come to me because they think they may be allergic to certain foods, the first thing I ask is if they have an allergy to any trees or grasses. This may seem like a strange question, but some people who are allergic to tree or grass pollen may have symptoms when eating … Read more