Although the articles have been written with the primary purpose of providing the layperson with an authoritative, reliable guide to the masses of information 'out there' on matters concerning nutrition and health, the subject material is taken to the very forefronts of scientific research and is therefore also likely to be of interest to scientists and health professionals. The articles are indeed for readers with a serious interest in nutrition and health – should you require condescending, dumbed-down messages, there are plenty of other places to look.

Thorough, detailed explanations and background information on many of the topics covered in these articles are given in Dr Burkitt's book Healthy Eating Through Informed Choice – all written in down-to-earth language and understandable by all, irrespective of scientific background.

Recent articles

• Why might the consumption of red meat and processed meat cause of cancer?: taking a look at the chemical and biological mechanisms behind the statisticians' risk factors.

• What is the role of ‘chance’ in the risk of cancer?: an explanation and comment on the headling-grabbing study published in January 2015.

• Debunking the Myths Surrounding Dietary Carbohydrate: Role in the Onset of Type 2 Diabetes : it is often claimed that all 'carbs' are bad for us, but this is simply not the case. There are crucial differences between how the body responds to simple sugars and to starch in the diet. These differences explain why sugar – but not starch – causes insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and other health problems.

• Glycemic index flawed: all that fattens is not told: a flaw in the calculation of the glycemic index (GI) means that the impact of many foods on blood glucose levels is underestimated. Furthermore, the GI ignores the impact of foods on blood fructose levels: the potentially harmful affects of this common sugar (a component of table sugar) are being overlooked by those using the index to select 'healthy' foods.

• Food labelling: are we in danger of tarring all fats with the same brush? : why traffic lights should be kept on roads but not food packaging.

• Two sides of the same coin: a discussion and analysis of a recent investigation into the health benefits of Mediterranean-style diets.

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