Let’s Talk Health and Nutrition with Dr. H

  There are several nutrition myths that get in the way of making necessary lifelong dietary and behavior changes. This post seeks to examine those myths and to present factual and/or evidence-based refutations for each scenario. Myth 1:  Special Detoxification Diets are needed so that toxins can be removed from the body: The body has its own detoxification systems by way of the liver and kidneys.  When these are functioning optimally and not diseased, toxins are eliminated and excreted effectively. The key is to have a well-balanced, varied and adequate diet that contains rich sources of fiber and to keep the body adequately hydrated to support the body's natural detoxification system. Myth 2: All Carbs are bad: Like Proteins and Fats, Carbohydrates are sources of energy for the body.  In fact, under normal conditions, carbohydrates are a preferred energy source.  Carbohydrates are also needed to help spare breakdown of proteins.  The key is to k...

                                                                Part of maintaining a healthy diet is the ability to make good and informed choices when shopping at the grocery store.  This is facilitated by the ability to read and interpret food labels very carefully.  In this post, I am providing 8 tips for doing just that with the hopes that we will all make better and more informed choices when we do food shopping. Beneficial Tips for Reading Food Labels: 1. Examine the Nutrient Content: Carefully look at the quantities of nutrients such as carbohydrates and breakdown of fiber and sugars contained.  Also, check for fat content and the associated amounts of saturated fat, cholesterol and any trans fats.  Review protein content and also look for micronutrients such as sodium.       ...