Several flavors of probiotic sodas on the shelf at the grocery store.

How Healthy are Prebiotic Sodas?

I smile every time I drive back from the beach and see a billboard near the turn to Greenville that tries to put a health halo on a favorite brand of cola.  The prebiotic cola was launched earlier this year into the U.S.  marketplace that already has more than 100 brands of prebiotic drinks. I […]

A photo of a lady looking at a plethora of red meat at a grocery store.

Limiting Red Meat Remains a Good Rule of Thumb

I am repeatedly asked by women whose husbands are prescribed a heart healthy diet if all meat is bad for you?  The men say they love red meat and want to ignore the doctor’s orders. They ask if they should switch to the “fake meats.”  I suggest they ask the doctor to clearly explain the risks […]

Shelves of bagged ultraprocessed foods at a grocery store.

Why I Eat Some “Ultraprocessed” Foods

We are seeing scary headlines about bad health effects from eating ultraprocessed foods (UPFs). Yet we still don’t have an agreed upon definition for UPFs so it’s hard to know how to advise consumers and patients. Researchers, regulators, and Registered Dietitian Nutritionists would love to better understand the risks and benefits of eating foods labeled […]

Woman using dieting app to track nutrition facts and calories in her food

Track Before You Change Your Diet

Whenever I hear someone say, “you need to eat more of…”, it brings back a memory of a time, years ago, when I was working with a young doctor who wanted to help his patients lose weight. I suggested he invite me into his visit with a patient so I could demonstrate what I would […]

Sliced multigrain bread on a cutting board.

Can You Build Resistant Starch by Chilling Carb? Does it Matter?

My younger patients spend a lot more time on social media than I do and seem to have become fascinated with cooling foods like rice or pasta or toasting or freezing bread to increase resistant starch. Why? Some are looking for ways to reduce blood sugar spikes or a strategy to manage their weight. Others […]

Analog alarm clock.

Does Intermittent Fasting Help You Lose Weight?

Yet another report of a new study on Intermittent Fasting (IF) has crossed my desk. IF (or time restricted feeding) is a dieting trend that includes dedicated periods of time when an individual consumes little to no calories and other times they eat as usual. Unless you raid the fridge during your sleeping hours, we […]

Cooked fish filet over lentils and sliced carrots.

Is There an Order in which I Should Eat My Food?

We have all read the litany of “tips’ to “maintain don’t gain’ during the holidays including focusing on mindful eating, staying active, and planning ahead. The recommendation to eat slowly, to allow your brain to register that you are full is asuggestion that is frequently made. Many of the tips, like “avoid grazing” are common […]