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!
The Week of Doing Nothing
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A Physician’s Personal Weight Management Journey
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Push-Ups: Upper Body and Core Strength Using Your Own Body Weight
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Dr. Mary Marovich on NPR with Kojo Nnamdi
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Brief Announcement – Dr. Mary Marovich on NPR
Our very own Dr. Mary Marovich, was interviewed today, Monday August 25, 2014, on NPR by Kojo Nnamdi about the future of medical trials. Did you know that only 3% of people who are invited to enroll in studies for medications or vaccines actually agree to participate? Did you ever wonder what people are told…
Change Makes a Difference
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Finding Iris Chang: Friendship, Ambition and the Loss of an Extraordinary Mind by Paula Kamen, published by Da Capo Press, 2007
This book review is many months in the making and was scheduled to be published this week when the sad news about Robin Williams broke. My reaction to the death of Williams reminded me of my reaction when I first read about Iris Chang, another genius who is the subject of this book and who…
Perspective in Times of Turmoil
I thought the last three weeks were horrendous at work. I had little time to exercise except for the weekends that I was not on call. I skipped lunch many times at the office. Instead, my assistant Roxanne and I would have a bite of a snack on and off while entering our patients’ data…
Exercising Outside the Box
A few weeks ago I was asked if I wanted to participate in a Hockey Moms hockey program. Believe it or not, there were no criteria for inclusion. I gave it some thought, and though I have only ever skated on figure skates (a long time ago I might add) and I’m not really a…