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!
October Health Pearls
October Health News 1. Primary Care Utilization and Colorectal Cancer Incidence and Mortality Among Medicare Beneficiaries, Annals of Internal Medicine, 2013; 159(7): 437-445. Senior citizens who see a primary care physician more often (5-10 visits over an 11 year period versus 0-1 visits during the same period) are less likely to develop colorectal cancer and less likely…
How can we aim to be GREAT?
I’m at a national pulmonary meeting in Chicago. I know you don’t want the details of the lectures I’ve been to for the past 4 days, but there is one talk you would have enjoyed. Each year, for the opening session, a non-medical person is invited who can energize the attendees and provide some inspiration….
A feast at the Corcoran with Joe Yonan
Thu had just posted a great recipe for caramelized cauliflower from a beautiful cookbook, The New Jewish Table, by Todd Gray, notable chef of Equinox restaurant in Washington, DC – right in our backyard – when I received an unbelievable invitation from the Corcoran Museum. Todd Gray would be preparing his usual brunch one Sunday…
Think Pink, Breast Cancer Screening: MRI or Mammogram?
“ Think Pink. “ Pink is everywhere in October, from the White House to NFL primetime, during breast cancer awareness month. For many of us, breast cancer is very personal and we have seen the toll it takes on our loved ones. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women, and currently the…
We’re back — after some technical difficulties
Please check out our articles that were posted during our recent technical difficulties. There’s Thu’s beautiful tribute to her mom on what would have been her 80th birthday. She reflected on the memories of cooking with her mother, and how wonderful it is to have her 90 year-old father still writing sentimental poems paired with music and…
Joint Range of Motion – Muscular Flexibility! Fitness series part 1
For quite some time I have been asking Dr. Tran to come see what I do first hand. She finally took me up on my offer! With Dr. Seidelman as witness and photographer, Dr. Tran underwent a Clinical Fitness Assessment. A comprehensive Clinical Fitness Assessment is designed to provide critical information for developing effective personalized…
Helping your children identify and cope with stress
From the moment we become parents, we do everything we can to protect our children both physically and emotionally. We teach them not to touch the hot stove, to look both ways before they cross the street, how to ask for help when they need it. As they get older, those physical risks may seem…
Happy Birthday, Ma!
Today is a very important day for my family. My mother would have turned 80. She would have had a big birthday party with most of her children and grandchildren getting together to celebrate it with her. Instead, we took my father and two brothers and their families to dinner tonight to think of our…
What is EXTRA in extra virgin olive oil? Olive oil and the Mediterranean diet
Last week, my son told me about an NPR program regarding the Mediterranean diet and the benefits of polyphenols in extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) that he listened to on his way home from work. Within an hour, Thu emailed me to say we needed to write about this NPR story she just heard. Having…
Check out our many new postings
If you depend on our emails to let you know about new postings, you might think we’ve been hanging out, enjoying the beautiful weather here in Maryland. It turns out, we’ve just been having technical difficulties! Here are links to some of the articles from the past week. I’ll send the links to others tomorrow….