How Much Can You Trust the Yuka App?

Recipe: Seasonal Swiss Chard with Currants, Pine Nuts & Tahini Drizzle

Supported by these incredible, celebrated & brilliant women: Dr. Rosa Keller PhD RD Nutrition Science, Dr. Ricki Pollycove Holistic OBGYN, Dr. Mandy Carrol Murphy MPH RD, and Dr. Claire Packer, OBGYN Resident

Open this in Substack to comment, like and message me. 🙂 

*This newsletter is not intended to be medical advice.

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Hi gals,

How are you feeling as the weather is getting cooler? I personally find it exciting to cuddle up in a comfy sweater and enjoy a warm cup of tea with a slice of persimmon bread, like I had for breakfast this morning (paired with a dollop of creamy Greek yogurt). I’ve been diving into some fascinating conversations around health apps lately, and today, we’re tackling one in particular: the Yuka app. But first:

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• What I’m Reading: Therapy Notes - a powerful easy way to learn a lot about our mental health, especially during our 30’s/40’s and growing a family! 

• What I’m Listening To: Zoe Podcast: Is Dairy Good or Bad for You?

• What I’m Cooking: Beth’s Pizza Bowls - simple and so comforting

• What Else Is Making Me Happy: Discovering hidden samples in songs! For example, did you know Daft Punk’s Face to Face includes a snippet from Kenny Loggins’ Christopher Robin? Go listen—can you catch it? 🎶👂

• What My Goal of the Week Is: Continue my PT exercises — how often does your doctor tell you to do something and you don’t end up doing it?

Any of these resonate with you? What’s your goal of the week? Comment below or let me know in the chat! 👇🏼

Quick idea for the holidays! 🎊

Planning a celebration with a group around the country, or your remote team at work? Why not level it up with a virtual gourmet cooking class or cocktail/mocktail party? We’ll ship all the goodies straight to everyone’s doorsteps.🎁 It’s festive, fun, and a little healthier too. ✨ Check out our mouthwatering holiday party menu here!
Reach out for deets: Hello@AnjaLee.co

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Jump to Recipe: Seasonal Swiss Chard with Currants, Pine Nuts & Tahini Drizzle

Photo cred: America’s Test Kitchen

Debunking the Yuka App: A Balanced Perspective

Have you heard of the Yuka app? It’s a European tool designed to help users make healthier food choices. 

My Father In Law excitedly showed it to me a few weeks ago. I still regret my auto-reaction of being skeptical of the product, when he was just trying to be helpful to me and to his own eating decisions. I’ve thought a lot about it since then. Thanks for sharing, Tom!

So…a tool for making healthier choices - sounds great, right? Sure, but as someone who loves diving into the details of our health, I couldn’t help but notice its strengths and its flaws. So let’s chat about it.

The Yuka app uses a Nutri-Score system that breaks down food ratings based on:

• 60% nutritional value (e.g., protein, fiber, fat content)

• 30% additives (flagging harmful substances like emulsifiers or artificial sweeteners)

• 10% organic certification (rewarding organic over conventional options).

While the app can be helpful in some ways, it doesn’t always align with our ultimate goal: Long-term metabolic and hormonal health. Here’s the breakdown & what this means for you: