Healthy Eating

Do men need to take a calcium supplement?

DEAR DOCTOR K: Many years ago, my doctor told me that men, like women, should take calcium supplements. So I have been. Now I hear that it's a bad idea. What do you think?

DEAR READER: All of us -- patients and doctors -- wish we had all the answers, and that the answers never changed. Unfortunately, the way the human body works, and malfunctions, is very complicated. To understand it, we conduct research. But no study is perfect, and the answers sometimes change as larger and better studies are conducted.


DEAR DOCTOR K: You've written that fatty fish like salmon are a good source of omega-3 fats. Does it matter whether the salmon is farmed or wild?


Should I take antioxidants?

DEAR DOCTOR K: It seems like several years ago all my friends were taking antioxidant pills. Now I don't hear about antioxidants as much. Are they worth taking?

DEAR READER: Here's what we know, and here's what is still controversial. The cells of our body are full of chemicals interacting with other chemicals. In the process of getting the energy they need to survive and carry out their functions, cells naturally produce chemicals called "free radicals." Just as political free radicals can sometimes damage society, chemical free radicals can damage body tissues.

Is red wine good for heart health?

DEAR DOCTOR K: I've heard that drinking red wine, or any alcoholic beverage, in moderation is "heart-healthy." Is it true, and is red wine any healthier than other alcoholic beverages?

DEAR READER: There are many studies of the two questions you ask. As for the first question, most studies have found that moderate drinkers are less likely to develop Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. That's when moderate drinkers are compared either to non-drinkers or to heavy drinkers.

Does the Mediterranean diet improve brain health?



What can I do if my child is a picky eater?



What makes processed foods so bad for you?

DEAR DOCTOR K: Most nutrition advice starts with "avoid processed foods." What exactly are processed foods? Are they all bad for you?

DEAR READER: A processed food is any food that has been changed in some way from its original state. Processing includes canning, cooking, freezing, dehydration or milling. As you say, nutrition gurus often urge us to spurn processed foods. I spoke with Stacey Nelson, a registered dietitian and manager of clinical nutrition at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital. She noted that most food needs to go through some degree of processing in order to make it edible and digestible.

What diet can help with IBS?

DEAR DOCTOR K: I have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and I hear there is a diet to help that. Can you tell me about it?

DEAR READER: Unfortunately, IBS is pretty common. Symptoms include cramping, diarrhea, gas and bloating. But you are right: Research has identified certain foods that tend to trigger IBS, and avoiding these foods can help you reduce your symptoms.

What’s the difference between soluble fiber and insoluble fiber?

DEAR DOCTOR K: Everyone agrees that you benefit from fiber in your diet. But it seems some people prefer soluble fiber and some insoluble fiber. What's the difference, and which is best?

DEAR READER: Dietary fiber consists of the indigestible parts of plant foods. We need about 20 to 35 grams of fiber a day. As you note, there are two kinds of fiber. Soluble fiber dissolves in water; insoluble does not. Both are important for healthy digestion, and both can help prevent heart disease, obesity, diabetes, diverticulitis (an intestinal malady) and constipation.

Will my son grow out of his childhood obesity? I don’t want to make a big deal about his eating habits.

DEAR DOCTOR K: My 9-year-old son is very overweight. I don't want to make a big deal about his eating habits, because I assume he'll grow out of his obesity later in life, and because we already set so many rules for him to follow. Do you agree?

DEAR READER: I wish I could, but I can't. A child's eating habits, and weight, can adversely affect his or her health later in life. The healthy eating habits you set with young kids not only influence their eating habits later in life, they also influence the chemistry of your kids' bodies so they are less likely to get fat as adults. All the talk about childhood obesity is not just media hype.