Blackfoot Valley Dispatch - The Blackfoot Valley's News Source Since 1980

Dear Dietitian, What makes "blue zone diets" like the Mediterranean diet so healthy? Sincerely, Chris Dear Chris, Blue zones are areas of the world where people live much longer than average. The...

On June 16, 1805, Captain Clark of the Corps of Discovery – with an extremely ill Sacajawea accompanying him – halted below the confluence of Belt Creek and the Missouri River ("portage creek,"...

One afternoon, back in the 1990's, an old friend and I were philosophizing. The question came up as to what technological development of the 20th century had, or will have, the deepest effect on...

Robert Frost wrote that one time he came upon the owner of the land next to his. The man was building a fence in the woods, where there was no actual need for one. When Frost asked him why, the fellow...

When the Missouri River puts Cascade behind, it looks out toward the sunset and the distant Rocky Mountain Front, the range of mountains that gave Montana its label "Land of the Shining Mountains."...

Winter lies too long in country towns; bangs on until it is stale and shabby, old and sullen. Willa Silbert Cather 1873 – 1947 The consistently warm weather in Brazil spoiled me. It took about a...

Dear Readers, We've all heard of trans fats by now, but what are they and what effect do they have on the body? "Trans" is a chemistry term that refers to the arrangement of molecules. In a trans...

Dear Readers, What images come to mind when you think of a natural food? An apple freshly picked from a tree? A loaf of bread fresh out of the oven? Fresh green beans right out of the garden? Some...

Every fall, about 2,000 years ago, the Celts celebrated a festival they called Shahmain (show-in). As the centuries passed, some Roman and Catholic Church activities were blended in with the Celts'...

Dear Dietitian, My husband has just been diagnosed with metabolic syndrome. We are both overwhelmed and need advice about what to do. Signed, Beth Dear Beth, A new diagnosis can often be frightening a...

Dear Dietitian, I recently read an article that said we should eat whole-fat dairy products like whole milk and yogurt. We've always heard that we should choose low-fat or fat-free dairy products....

Almost immediately upon departing the Three Forks area, the newly formed Missouri is neatly tucked into a mini-gorge. Then, only 16 miles from its inception, the Toston Reservoir and Dam decelerate...

Dear Dietitian, A close friend of mine has recently lost thirty pounds on an intermittent fasting diet. It reminds me of crash diets that were once popular. Is intermittent fasting a good way to lose...

On Aug. 12, 1805, Meriwether Lewis penned in his journals, "the road was still plain, I therefore did not dispare of shortly finding a passage over the mountains and of tasting the waters of the...

I have the propensity to make decisions with little forethought, then when things fall apart, cast around for help to get out of the situation I created. My siblings have always come through,...

Dear Dietitian, I am trying to lose weight, so I often skip breakfast. My husband insists that this is not good for me and actually works against my efforts to lose weight. What do you say? Shirley De...

Here in western Montana most ranches are what's called "cow/calf" operations. The owners maintain a herd of cows and sell the offspring at about six months of age, the calf crops go to feedlots, most...