Technology
Calorie counting apps: how they work and where they go wrong
A calorie counter looks like a calculator, and people expect calculator-like precision from it.
Blog
Every article takes a claim you have already heard about food and follows the mechanism behind it — what actually happens in the body, what the research supports, and where the claim stops being true.
Technology
Fitness trackers and calorie expenditure: why they measure heart rate but estimate calories
On a tracker screen, three numbers look equally reliable: heart rate, steps, and "calories burned.
Technology
Smart scales: what bioimpedance actually measures
Smart scales display body fat percentage, water percentage, muscle mass, bone mass, and "metabolic age.
Technology
Glucose monitoring without diabetes: what the sensor on your arm shows
A coin-sized sensor on the shoulder and a blood sugar graph on a phone are no longer exclusive to diabetes: people without a diagnosis are using them to "understand their reaction to food.
Technology
DNA test "tailored to your genome": what is known about nutrition based on genes
The promise sounds convincing: a saliva sample, two weeks of waiting, and a diet tailored to your heredity.
Technology
Microbiome tests: why two samples give different answers
An at-home microbiome test looks like a standard lab analysis: a test tube, a laboratory, and a report with percentages and a list of foods.
Technology
Pocket food scanners: what a beam of light can detect
A device the size of a keychain is held up to an apple, and sugar, protein, and calorie content appear on the screen.
Technology
AI nutritionist and nutrition chatbots: what can you trust
Asking a chatbot about your diet has become easier than making an appointment with a specialist, and the answer comes detailed, polite, and structured.
Technology
Plant-based and cultivated meat: what is in their composition
A pea-based patty and a beef patty look the same and sit side-by-side on the shelf, but they are different products in terms of composition.
This article is for general information. It is not medical advice, a diagnosis, or a prescription for treatment or a diet, and it does not replace a consultation with your doctor. If you have a health condition, are pregnant, take medication, or follow a diet prescribed to you, decisions about food belong with your doctor.
Figures from regulations, guidelines and studies are given as they stood when this article was prepared and may since have changed; check them against the primary sources. This article is not advertising, an offer, or individual advice, and neither the author nor the site owner is responsible for decisions taken on the basis of it.