This is definitely one of those topics that only gets more confusing the more you read. So, you need to have a philosophy about it and fit each new bit of information into your overall framework. That way, you're not constantly reeling from 'no carbs' to 'low fat' to 'grapefruits only' to whatever is in. Among physicians, there isn't any consensus about what is best for you. The only thing we can probably agree on is that no one diet suits everyone. In this section, over time, we hope to provide enough helpful information so you can make healthful decisions on your own.
In a nutshell, my philosophy is that fruits, vegetables, and whole grains should make up most of your intake. Lean protein such as fish, chicken, turkey or tofu, nuts, lentils. and beans should comprise the rest. The most important to me is eating 'whole foods' as they come out of the ground and limiting processed foods as much as possible. The food industry has studied and perfected combining the most tempting, and at times addictive, combinations of fat, salt, and sugar in restaurant and supermarket offerings. They know how to keep you coming back for more.
Varying what you eat can keep your meals interesting. I aim to include 'superfoods' such as spinach, tomatoes, pumpkin, blueberries, and hemp seed, which I think are delicious. Experiment with foods that contain antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E, lycopene (think tomatoes), and beta-carotene (pumpkin and carrots). These and many others are beneficial when eaten in 'whole foods' but not when taken in pill form.
Of course, not one nutrition plan suits everyone, since food preferences or intolerance and medical issues must be considered.
But for the majority of people, if you eat whole foods and nourish your body and soul with a wholesome variety of nutritious foods, your mind and body will thank you. Often, people don't realize that fatigue, insomnia, depression, and other issues are closely tied to what we eat. In our posts in this section, we'll provide some practical information and keep you posted on the latest and greatest in nutrition news. Send us your questions!
Giving more than Thanks on Thanksgiving
HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY! Early this morning, many members in my bootcamp and I gathered at Dr. Rebecca Katz’s home for the Turkey Chase event in Bethesda, Maryland to raise funds for local charities. This Turkey Chase of 6.2 miles or 10K run is taking place everywhere, and many local charity organizations…
Whose Life Is It Anyway?
Each physician went into his specialty for a reason. Some of us, like me as an obstetrician, want to see the beginning of life while others do not mind dealing with the end of life. I knew I didn’t want to be a pediatrician shortly after my third year rotation in the Children’s hospital in…
Across the Bay Bridge 10K
Last Sunday, Dr. Marsha Seidelman, Dr. Mimi Nguyen (an orthodontist), my husband David, and I ran the Across the Bay Bridge 10K event. As you know, the Bay Bridge connects Annapolis to the Maryland Eastern Shore area, crossing the Chesapeake Bay. The Bay Bridge walk has been an annual event for decades (with occasional years…
Featured move – 3rd sit-up – the reverse lift
Today’s featured move is a reverse lift. It targets the lower abdomen - the transverse abdominis muscle. Lie on the mat, lift your legs, knees together and flexed gently. Your arms are down at your sides. As you tighten/contract the lower abdominal muscles lift the hips slightly off the floor, pause, and then slowly lower…
The Road Less Travelled
I just finished another on-call weekend, the second to the last weekend I will have to be on-call this year. It turned out to be among the “most brutal” on-call weekends I can remember from recent years. I worked from 7A.M. on Friday morning to 3P.M. on Sunday when I got to leave the hospital…
Fall Prevention: Some Quick Tips
Falling is a significant cause of injury and death in older individuals. This article elaborates on risk factors for falls and steps that should be taken to reduce those risks. Between thirty to forty percent of people over 65 and more than fifty percent over the age of 80 fall each year. [i] Many factors contribute…
Apologies for recent technical difficulties
We had some technical difficulties this week. In case you missed the latest posts, we had one about Headaches and one about the Sisterhood of the Lady Docs. Last Saturday, Linda posted a review on a Hopkins neurologist, Dr. David Buchholz’s Heal Your Headaches: The 1-2-3 Approach to Taking Charge of Your Pain. The next day,…
Featured Move: Oblique Twist Situp
Now that you’ve mastered good technique for the basic sit-up, this second move will focus on the oblique abdominals, the muscles on both sides of your abdomen. Lie on a firm surface. Drop both knees to one side, place your hands behind your head, with your elbows out to the sides. Keep your chin slightly tilted…
An Evening Gathering of the Lady Docs
Last Sunday, our boot camp had our second annual get together. During this past year, we had a few fun gatherings such as an evening at the Washington Post’s “Top Docs” event, an afternoon cooking with Joe Yonan, the vegetarian chef and chief editor of the Washington Post’s Food and Travel section, watching the documentary…
Featured Move: The Basic Sit-Up
This is the first of several demos of different varieties of sit-ups. When used together and done properly, they’ll help strengthen the core by working the many muscles from the abdominal to the pelvic region. The first is a modified sit-up which targets the rectus abdominus, the long muscles running vertically along your midline. Start by lying…