Blueberries. Fish. Soy. Broccoli. Whole Wheat Bread. The Mediterranean Diet. Vegetarian Diets. The Paleolithic Diet. The Atkins Diet. Big Macs. Whoppers. Supersized fries. Krispy Kreme Donuts. Organic. Local. Sustainable.

People have been eating food for as long as….well, for as long as there have been people. Scientists have been studying foods and their impact on health for a long time too, although not as long as there have been people. The variety of foods and food-like substances available for consumption has increased more in the last 50 years than in the last 50 million years. It is frustrating that nutrition scientists and related health professionals aren’t more helpful with clear advice and guidance as to how to navigate among all these choices.

It can’t be all that hard to study it, can it? After all, it’s just food. Christopher Gardner, an associate professor of medicine at StanfordUniversity, with a PhD in Nutrition Science from UC Berkeley, has been studying foods and their relationships to human health by conducting NIH-funded nutrition trials for the past decade. He doesn’t have all the answers. In fact, he doesn’t even have all the questions. But he is prepared to share the insights of his last 10 years studying nutrition and health.

About Down to a Science:
Down to a Science is a casual forum where leading scientists discuss their research with the public at a local cafe. After a short presentation from a scientist, we have Q&A leading to a dialogue. Speakers come prepared to get you involved in the discussion. DtaS features a blog with information about each topic. All this in an fun and easy atmosphere. You have never experienced Science like this!