DEAR DR. BLONZ: I've been wondering about the connection between cellulite and whole-food juicing. I am not overweight, and my concern is whether my juicing might be causing the cellulite in my upper thighs and lower gut area. I juice produce, mainly carrots and cucumbers, averaging about 12 ounces per serving. I eat a balanced diet and I exercise, but I heard that cellulite is caused by sugars, and I want to know if my intake of natural sugars might have caused it. -- S.F., San Diego

DEAR S.F.: "Cellulite," a non-medical term used to describe the lumpy, orange-peel-textured skin that develops around the hips and thighs in some people, was popularized more than 40 years ago by author Nicole Ronsard. Cellulite was all the rage back then, with books, diets, devices, exercise equipment and unique routines claiming success at controlling it.

While many dislike its appearance, there is nothing dangerous about cellulite, which develops when the connective tissue attached to the skin and underlying muscles tightens over areas where fatty deposits can then protrude.

There may be a genetic tendency toward cellulite, and both men and women can develop it. But, because men tend to have naturally thicker skin (hold your comments, please!), with fat cells arranged differently, cellulite tends to be more noticeable in women. One commonly held belief is that exercising specific muscles or losing excess fat will decrease the lumpiness. This may have some intuitive logic, but not everyone with cellulite is out of shape or needs to lose weight. (Read more about cellulite at b.link/6resx274.)

Vegetable juices -- especially those made fresh -- are a great way to add nutrients to the diet, and they provide wonderful flavor and aromas. I enjoy them. A cup of carrot juice contains 94 calories and 22 grams of carbohydrates and is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals, including carotenoid antioxidants, which are a proven health asset. Cucumbers are a great source of potassium, magnesium, silicon and its own family of phytochemicals.

Don't be misled by fears that all food calories turn to fat, especially those from your juicing ingredients. Our bodies are designed to not waste anything that can be stored for later use. Fat forms when absorbed energy (calories) enters the system when there's already sufficient energy on hand. Because we eat only for short periods during the 24-hour day, there will always be times when we absorb more calories than we need at that moment. The human body evolved to be efficient at shifting energy around and changing its forms as needed.

One suggestion I have is to drink your juice slowly, as part of a meal, which will regulate your digestion and reduce the possibility of overeating. Slower eating can temper the rate of sugars and other digestible carbohydrates, raising your blood sugar level and stimulating insulin release.

Send questions to: "On Nutrition," Ed Blonz, c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO, 64106. Send email inquiries to questions@blonz.com. Due to the volume of mail, personal replies cannot be provided.

DEAR DR. BLONZ: At dinner the other day, we discussed the U.S. tradition of serving the salad before the main course vs. the European tradition of serving the salad following the entree. We wonder if there are any health benefits or concerns based on when the salad is served. -- K.H., Livermore, California

DEAR K.H.: The order of the salad with the meal comes down to cultural customs and personal preferences. The European tradition varies by region, but the logic of the salad at the end of the meal stems from the belief that the fiber in salad supports digestion by moving things along. This isn't necessarily accurate, as there is considerable mixing in the stomach and elsewhere during digestion.

The benefits from a meal come down to what, and how much, is consumed. I was raised to start with the salad, which is perfectly acceptable. As an adult, I now favor my salad at the end of the meal. This concept of appetizer, side and main course followed by the salad makes more intuitive sense to me. I eat what I want of the main dish while saving room for the salad -- filling up on healthful greens. Healthful eating, of course, can be achieved with any serving order.

A point to consider is that it takes about 20 minutes before your brain realizes you are being fed. There is also a delay in the signal that indicates when you've had enough. Gobbling down a meal quickly can result in too much food being consumed -- there is a saying that goes, "If you eat until you feel full, you've likely had too much."

Eating more slowly and eating smaller portions -- especially of calorie-dense items -- can get satisfaction signals on track and reduce the chance of overeating. Putting down the fork periodically and participating in social interactions can also help. The salad at the end of the meal fits well with this paradigm. Enjoy!

DEAR DR. BLONZ: We are ready to grow more sweet potatoes in our backyard. I had an appointment with an orthopedist regarding ongoing knee pain, which was after I had my favorite sweet potato dish for several days in a row. During the exam, he looked at my skin tone and asked if I had been eating a lot of carrots, to which I responded no. I didn't make the connection with sweet potatoes until later. Besides color, what do these two foods have in common? -- N.K., Anderson, North Carolina

DEAR N.K.: The orange color of carrots and sweet potatoes comes from beta carotene, an antioxidant substance used by the body to form vitamin A. Carotenoids, of which the beta version is most well known, are a family of health-promoting substances. One cup of carrots or sweet potatoes provides a good source of vitamins A, C and E, along with B vitamins, several minerals and dietary fiber. Both of these foods are examples of why it's best to get our nutrients in their whole-food context rather than from dietary supplements. (Read more on the benefits of carotenoids at b.link/gdn3jt4k.)

Both sweet potatoes and carrots are great additions to the diet, and growing the sweets yourself makes them a special treat.

Send questions to: "On Nutrition," Ed Blonz, c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO, 64106. Send email inquiries to questions@blonz.com. Due to the volume of mail, personal replies cannot be provided.

DEAR DR. BLONZ: I take several prescription pills and supplements every day. I have no difficulty swallowing them without any water or other liquid. I have read that one should always use some water when taking pills, but is there any harm in not doing so? -- R.M., San Ramon, California

DEAR R.M.: Questions about prescribed medicines should be discussed with the health professionals doing the prescribing, and you can speak with your pharmacist when you pick up your meds. Because complete information is essential for your care, those making decisions about treatments involving your health should know everything you take -- including dietary supplements. Be upfront about any "fad" diets, including intermittent fasting and ketogenic eating, which can impact health conditions and how the body handles medications. (More on food-medicine interactions at b.link/n7vfspfg.)

There is concern as to whether medications and dietary supplements should be taken simultaneously. The human body will treat certain compounds as foreign substances. Usually handled by the liver, there are metabolic pathways to deactivate and eliminate them. Multiple substances relying on the same pathway can impact the process, which explains why certain medications should not be taken together. Certain foods can react with or prevent the absorption of medications in the GI tract. (Find online drug interaction checkers at b.link/jhjpw348 and b.link/quwac8.)

Multi-pill swallowing without water may have worked for you, but it poses unnecessary risks. Any distraction during the act of swallowing -- such as a sudden noise -- can increase the dangers. The biggest risk is a pill getting stuck in the throat or inadvertently inhaled into the lungs. A pill lodged in the throat can irritate and damage tissue and cause heartburn and chest pain (pill-induced esophagitis); certain medications and supplements present the most danger. It is even more serious if a pill gets inhaled, as this can cause choking/aspiration, coughing, pain and tissue damage -- even leading to pneumonia. (Check the article on aspiration at b.link/j8s5qlqf.)

Understand that the substances you are taking are concentrates that rely on body fluids to dissolve and allow their contents to pass through the intestinal wall before becoming part of your water-based systems. Without water to surround them on their way in and down the throat, pills can get lodged, or end up where they don't belong. Use care so that any pills prescribed for your treatment do not end up harming you.

You asked about taking many pills at the same time. Some patients have difficulty taking even one! Such readers should check out these tips for swallowing pills at b.link/i75xdabz.

Send questions to: "On Nutrition," Ed Blonz, c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO, 64106. Send email inquiries to questions@blonz.com. Due to the volume of mail, personal replies cannot be provided.