Archives

DEAR DR. BLONZ: I have cereal for breakfast most days, adding a tablespoon of ground flaxseeds to help add omega-3 fats to my diet. I have my own grinder and buy the seeds in bulk at my local market. ... more

DEAR DR. BLONZ: You recently wrote about imitation crab, or surimi, and I am curious about its nutritional value relative to the real thing. Even though it is made from fish, I wonder how much nutriti... more

DEAR DR. BLONZ: Most fresh potatoes are not sold right out of the field, but are stored first -- sometimes for many months. Do they lose their nutritional value in storage? -- S.G., via email... more

DEAR DR. BLONZ: When cooking beans, will adding ginger to the water reduce the amount of intestinal gas from eating them? Where does the gas come from? If using this technique, how much ginger would b... more

DEAR DR. BLONZ: I want an explanation for the post-meal sensation of tiredness long associated with Thanksgiving. Is it the turkey, or isn’t it? Last year, we had a hearty mealtime discussion about th... more

DEAR DR. BLONZ: I keep reading and seeing videos about the benefits of colon cleansing, speaking of it in the most glowing, essential-for-good-health terms. I cannot imagine this is something that you... more

DEAR DR. BLONZ: You have written about different methods of cooking and how they affect a food’s nutrients, but can you talk about how boiling, roasting, microwaving and frying compare? -- K.B., Las V... more

DEAR DR. BLONZ: Are corn chips, bean chips or any of the other types of fried vegetable chips any better for you than plain potato chips? There is a definite split on the answer in my group of friends... more

DEAR DR. BLONZ: I am concerned about the dark circles under my eyes. They seem to run in my family, and I wonder if there are any vitamins, minerals or herbs I can take that might help. -- D.C., Tucso... more

DEAR DR. BLONZ: Aluminum cookware has been rumored to be associated with some health problems. We have been using a set of premium hard-anodized aluminum pans, but some friends who were over for a mea... more

DEAR DR. BLONZ: Please comment about the concept of the cold/ice water diet. It is a means of losing weight that takes advantage of the energy used to bring the cold water up to body temperature. I ha... more

DEAR DR. BLONZ: I want your help in settling a cholesterol discussion involving chicken. Does removing the skin from chicken before you eat it get rid of the cholesterol? Also, I grill chicken with th... more

DEAR DR. BLONZ: I have a question about calories in carbohydrates, protein and fat. After a meal, do we gain weight or fat immediately, or does this happen overnight? I’ve never seen a good answer to ... more

DEAR DR. BLONZ: Is there an issue with taking a fish oil supplement while on Coumadin? I require that medication to adjust the way my blood clots, and have been on it for many years. Will fish oil int... more

DEAR DR. BLONZ: Are some calcium supplements better than others? I had been using oyster shell calcium, but read there are risks of a contaminant. Is this form safe? -- B.B., Milwaukee, Wisconsin... more

DEAR DR. BLONZ: Does the fact that muscle weighs more than fat explain the annoying fact that I tend to gain weight when I exercise? -- S.M., Hayward, California... more

DEAR DR. BLONZ: You tend to go negative about products sold through network marketing. In my view, if a particular product has health benefits, these marketing programs allow people to join a company,... more

DEAR DR. BLONZ: Do carbonated beverages, such as soda water, interfere with the absorption of calcium or other vitamins and minerals? -- S.F., Berkeley, California... more

DEAR DR. BLONZ: There is a chelation dietary supplement product that I am interested in to help lower my risk of heart disease. I now take a statin for this same purpose. Is oral chelation effective? ... more

DEAR DR. BLONZ: I have a follow-up suggestion to the recent column on storing bread in the freezer. Like the previous letter-writer, I live alone, and I like to cook and freeze leftovers in single-ser... more

DEAR DR. BLONZ: I am at a conference about food and cookware, and one chef was leading a discussion on the topic of eating meat. She said that most of the meat we eat is muscle -- for example, steak i... more

DEAR DR. BLONZ: I live by myself and find it difficult to use up an entire loaf of bread before it dries out and becomes stale. I have tried storing bread in the refrigerator, but it never tastes the ... more

DEAR DR. BLONZ: As you reflect on nutrition globally, and then look back at the U.S. dietary standards, do you believe there are any universal truths in the field of nutrition? What do you see in the ... more

DEAR DR. BLONZ: You often make reference to the “Nutrition Facts” label on packaged foods. Who in the government comes up with the data, and are all foods tested? How reliable are these figures? Why i... more

DEAR DR. BLONZ: Do I need to be concerned about taking calcium supplements if I am also taking a calcium channel blocker? If so, how do you manage osteoporosis when on this medication? -- P.T., Phoeni... more

Dear Dr. Blonz: I am hoping you will answer these questions about vitamins and minerals. Is it OK to take water- and fat-soluble vitamins at the same time? Should vitamin C be taken with foods that co... more

DEAR DR. BLONZ: Are bacteria used to make buttermilk, somewhat in the same way as yogurt? Is this what gives it the sour taste? If so, is it as good for your intestinal flora as yogurt? -- S.E., El Ca... more

DEAR DR. BLONZ: I believe I heard, at some point in my schooling, that rinsing and draining canned vegetables reduces their sodium content as much as 25 to 30 percent. I have searched through everythi... more