The Blackfoot Valley's News Source Since 1980
The Blackfoot Valley's News Source Since 1980
Sorted by date Results 51 - 75 of 80
Dear Readers, Food allergies are on the rise in the United States, and it is estimated that as many as 8 percent of children suffer from at least one food allergy. A food allergy is when your body’s immune system responds to a certain food as harmful and has a reaction. These reactions can range from itchy skin, vomiting, or diarrhea to trouble breathing, wheezing, or anaphylaxis, which is life-threatening. Although it is uncertain why food allergies have increased, one t...
Dear Dietitian, I have recently lost twenty pounds, and I've been exercising to keep the weight off. My problem is I sometimes eat at night out of boredom. I know I need to break this bad habit, but I keep doing it over and over again. Help!! Thank you, Julie Dear Julie, Eating out of boredom can lead to unnecessary calories and of course, eventual weight gain. The goal is to be healthy, and if our bodies are well-nourished, we will be less tempted to eat when we are not...
Dear Readers, Today I am writing about a topic near to my heart: nutrition and cancer, or more pointedly, nutrition myths and cancer. My clinical experience included twelve years of oncology nutrition, in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Good nutrition can help prevent some types of cancer, and not surprisingly, it is the same diet that helps prevent other diseases, such as heart disease and stroke. You’ve heard it before and read it in this column: Eat lots of f...
Dear Dietitian, My cousin tells me she is taking fish oil supplements to help her with depression. Do you know of any studies on this topic? Thank you, Andrea Dear Andrea, Omega-3 fatty acids, or simply omega-3s, have received a considerable amount of attention from the healthcare field and the general public. There are several omega-3s, and two in particular have been studied, DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (Eicosapentaenoic acid), which are found in fish, especially...
Dear Dietitian, My husband was recently in the hospital and diagnosed with congestive heart failure. He has been instructed to follow a 1500 mg sodium diet. He's trying, but it's very difficult. I'm afraid he will get frustrated and give up. Any words of wisdom? Signed, Deborah Dear Deborah, A new diagnosis can be overwhelming and often brings about the need for a lifestyle change. For readers who are not familiar with congestive heart failure (CHF), it's a chronic condition...
Dear Dietitian, My friend is always on the latest health kick, so now she is taking probiotics every day and swears she feels so much better. She keeps bugging me to take them too, but I priced them at the drugstore, and they are expensive. Are they worth it? Sharon Dear Sharon, Probiotics are a popular health trend with sales of $1.4 billion in the United States in 2014. Since then, sales have nearly doubled, racking up $2.4 billion in 2018. Everyone wants to be healthy, espe...
Dear Dietitian, My husband was just diagnosed with prediabetes. We were given a sheet of paper with information on this, but it left us with many questions. Does he need a special diet? Will he have full-blown diabetes in a few years? We need more information, please. Suzanne Dear Suzanne, A new diagnosis can be overwhelming, and often leaves us with many questions. You are wise to seek information. Prediabetes is when your blood sugars are high, but not high enough to be...
Dear Dietitian, I just read an article that said eating a high fiber diet helps prevent colon cancer, but other articles on this topic have said the opposite. This is frustrating and confusing! Can you help clear things up? Joe Dear Joe, Scientific studies are often confusing because the results are different. Before something becomes clear in science, it has to be tested several times in different cultures in different parts of the world. It must also be tested on men and...
Dear Readers, A few months ago, I wrote about the 2018 Escherichia Coli (E. Coli) outbreaks related to Romaine lettuce. The contaminated lettuce was eventually traced to farms in California and Arizona. Due to these outbreaks, 272 people became ill, 121 were hospitalized, and 5 people died. Recently, there have been voluntary recalls for possible E. Coli contamination, but this time with cauliflower, red leaf lettuce, and green leaf lettuce. None of the recalled produce...
Dear Readers, Now that the holidays are over and it's back to our normal routine, some of us may resolve to eat healthier in 2019. Many of us have overindulged in certain foods and have picked up a few pounds during the holiday season. For me, it was fudge and my great-grandmother's oatmeal cookies. When I finally mustered the courage to step on the scale, it unsympathetically revealed a four-pound weight gain. I'm hoping two of those pounds are just water. . . maybe? Not to...
Dear Readers, Chances are many of you who are reading this are taking some type of herbal supplement. Be it ginseng for better energy, saw palmetto for prostate health, or echinacea to boost the immune system, many are turning to natural remedies for their health. It is important to realize that just because something is natural, does not mean it is good for you. Many herbal supplements interact with other medications, so it is important to talk to your health care provider...
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 Dear Shirley, We have always heard, "Breakfast is the most important meal of the day." However, recent studies have challenged this age-old standard. Some studies have found that people who skip breakfast do not overcompensate for this and overeat later in the day. Other studies sho...
Dear Readers, The holiday season is upon us, times of glad tidings, holiday parties, and family gatherings. When we gather to celebrate, there is often food available that we don’t normally eat. It’s great food, and why not partake, it’s the holidays; we’re supposed to eat more. If you are one of the lucky ones who can eat through the holidays, not gain a pound, and then get back into your healthy routine come January 2nd, my hat is off to you. For some of us, it’s just not...
Dear Dietitian, I have been eating healthier and drinking more water. I've heard that we need 8 glasses of water a day, but I don't enjoy plain water, and I have a hard time getting that much in. Do you have any suggestions? Signed, Laura Dear Laura, Good for you for your health change! The answer to how much water we need each day is not exact because it varies according to age, weight, and activity level. The good news is there is more than one way to meet your fluid needs....
Dear Dietitian, I have recently lost about 20 pounds, but the problem is I cannot seem to lose weight around my midsection. What foods can I eat to lose belly fat? Signed, Maria Dear Maria, Oh! That stubborn belly fat! I know it all too well. While researching this topic, I found several sites on the internet with claims that certain foods will burn belly fat. The problem is it is a MYTH that any food will burn fat on a specific area on your body. Food is fuel for your body...
Dear Readers, Chances are many of you who are reading this are taking some type of herbal supplement. Be it ginseng for better energy, saw palmetto for prostate health, or echinacea to boost the immune system, many are turning to natural remedies for their health. It is important to realize that just because something is natural, does not mean it is good for you. Many herbal supplements interact with other medications, so it is important to talk to your health care provider...
Dear Dietitian, These days I am traveling a lot for work and eating out once, sometimes twice a day. How do I make healthy food choices? Sincerely, Chris Dear Chris, Traveling for business is often hectic and leaves little time for meal planning. The key to success is to plan ahead. Try to stay on your regular eating pattern as much as possible. Use these tips for a healthier experience: Eat three meals a day and have healthy snacks available when you need them. Things like...
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 term was trademarked by Dan Buettner who identified these five regions of the world: Sardinia, Italy; the community of Seventh-Day Adventists in Loma Linda, California; Ikaria, Greece; Okinawa, Japan; and Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula. The Mediterranean diet (MeDiet) is a type of...
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 formation, molecules are arranged on opposite sides of the carbon: carbon double bond. Trans fats, which are unsaturated, are found in small amounts in animal products. The big offender has been artificial trans fats, like shortening, which contained partially hydrogenated oils. The...
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 food manufacturers are finding themselves in hot water for labeling their foods as "natural" when maybe they're not so natural after all. Food companies are cashing in on the "natural" perception, as consumers often believe these products are better for them and are willing to pay...
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 and overwhelming. Once we have a better understanding of the condition, things seem more manageable, and we begin to have direction. This may take a little time. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of health conditions that increases the risk of cardiovascular disease (heart disease an...
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. What gives? Signed, Laura Dear Laura, You're right; for years dietitians and physicians have warned against consuming full-fat dairy products. Skim milk and low-fat yogurt, right? Well, maybe not. In a recent study of 3,000 people age 65 or older, Otto et al. found no link between...
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 weight? Sincerely, Judy Dear Judy, Intermittent fasting (IF) is the one of the latest fads in weight loss. This is a type of weight-loss plan where one eats during certain times, then fasts for so many hours. There are always diets that claim to have the magical formula for weight...
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 Dear Shirley, We have always heard, "Breakfast is the most important meal of the day." However, recent studies have challenged this age-old standard. Some studies have found that people who skip breakfast do not overcompensate for this and overeat later in the day. Other studies sho...
Dear Dietitian, Why are nutrition studies so confusing? One day we hear a certain food is good for us; then the next thing we know, the same thing may cause cancer. It's very frustrating! George D. Dear George, Good question. I am always skeptical when I read a new nutrition study. Take fish oil supplements, for example, which contain omega-3-fatty acids. At first, studies showed that omega-3s did everything from preventing cancer to heart disease. After further research, a sp...
