Q: What can I take to reduce my cholesterol besides pills? I would much prefer something natural rather than the statin my doctor suggested. A: You probably could please your physician by taking red-yeast rice. This product contains naturally produced statins that have been shown to lower cholesterol (Nutrition, Metabolism, […]
Q: I read in your column that pickle juice can ease muscle cramps. I tried olive juice and found it much more consistently effective. The result is almost immediate. A: Many olives are sold in a brine solution of salt and vinegar. We suspect that these are common ingredients in […]
Q: I had been diagnosed with seborrheic dermatitis, and I also had dandruff. One day I read in a magazine that Greek yogurt could help. I decided to give it a try and shampooed with it, also applying it to my face. The next day the dermatitis was gone. I […]
Q: My husband’s blood pressure was creeping up when I read your article on drinking hibiscus tea to lower blood pressure. He has been drinking three cups of Tazo Passion tea with hibiscus every day since then, and his blood pressure has gone back to normal range! Thank you so […]
Q: I recently started adding flaxseed to my diet by sprinkling seeds on my breakfast cereal. A friend says that I won’t get health benefits unless I grind the seeds before consuming them. Is this true? I hate to add another step to my morning routine unless it’s needed. Besides, […]
A: The only way you will know whether your nutritional needs are being met by diet alone would be to have comprehensive testing. Doctors are not always aware of the contributors to potential deficiencies. For example, people taking medications like lisinopril for high blood pressure can be low in zinc. […]
Q: A few months ago, you published an inquiry by someone who used milk of magnesia to help with body odor. For the past year or so, I have been plagued by an obnoxious odor coming from one (only one!) armpit. The smell resembled the spice cumin. I tried many […]
Q: I’ve had Type 1 diabetes for 36 years, and for the past five years, I have cut back on carbs and processed foods. I had struggled for years trying to keep my blood sugar from going to extremes despite being on an insulin pump or multiple daily injections. When […]
Q: Ibuprofen is the pain reliever that always worked best for me. However, out of nowhere I began having episodes of atrial fibrillation. I underwent an ablation and was on the heart-rhythm-regulating medications flecainide and metoprolol. Nothing seemed to help until one day I read about research in Europe to […]
Q: Some time ago, a reader mentioned not wanting to use the microwave to heat cocoa. I frequently heat coffee, cocoa and other foods in my microwave. Should I be concerned about destroying nutrients when I use a microwave? A: So far as cocoa is concerned, you don’t need to […]