Patients come in to see me every week who are trying to seek better paths for their nutrition and physical health, and there’s a new focus on cutting out sugar. This makes sense, especially when you consider that the suggested amount of sugar we’re supposed to eat every day is about 25 grams for women and 36 grams for men, but the average American consumes about 89 grams per day. That’s a lot, isn’t it?! In fact, most sodas contain about 39 grams of sugar. The question I hear the most regarding sugar is whether it’s better to cut sugar out completely or simply reduce the amount of it.      

Vitamin D has been quite the media star lately. Recent studies have tied vitamin D deficiency to an increased risk of Alzheimer’s, depression, heart health and cancer. Other research suggests a possible link between vitamin D and weight loss. By now, you may be thinking of vitamin D as some sort of wonder vitamin. But before you dash out on a supplement run, here’s a note of caution: More research is needed before the link between vitamin D and these conditions is fully known.

I say this without trying to downplay the importance of vitamin D because the fact is, vitamin D does have proven health benefits.

Vitamin B12 is a workhorse. It’s a big player in keeping your brain, immune system, metabolism, and nerve and blood cells clicking on all cylinders. 

Low levels of this important nutrient can set you up for a host of problems, ranging from minor to serious. 

The tricky thing about vitamin B12 is that our bodies can’t make it and it’s not always easy to get enough from food alone. Although it’s found in most animal-based foods, such as meat, poultry, shellfish, eggs and dairy products, many people need to take supplements to reach optimum levels.

While there is a lot of good information regarding breast cancer, there’s also misinformation that continues to be spread about this potentially life-threatening disease. Here are five common myths regarding breast cancer and the real truth about each one.

While there have been varying stories over the years on the benefits of drinking milk, scientific research has found that milk contains a host of nutrients that are good for you and a necessary part of a balanced diet. But not everyone agrees that milk needs to be pasteurized to be safe.

While cases of necrotizing fasciitis, commonly called flesh-eating bacteria, are considered rare, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that there are between 650-850 patients with this infection worldwide each year. Despite being rare, a Beaumont woman visiting Galveston was diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis last month and has undergone amputations of her hands and feet. Another patient who contracted the infection in the Gulf waters in Florida died earlier this summer. With the recent reports of low water quality in Galveston and people making last-minute summer vacation trips to beaches all along the Gulf of Mexico, it’s important to keep in mind how to potentially avoid this infection and what to do if you get it. 

Now that school is out and we’re easing our way into summer, there’s a good chance travel plans are in your future. Whether you’re staying in Texas or traveling to Malaysia, give yourself and your family peace of mind. Being well prepared for your trip means more than remembering to take your walking shoes and camera. It’s even more important to be medically prepared for anything that your vacation throws at you while you’re away. Children are especially susceptible to illness when traveling, so make sure your pediatrician is aware if they are leaving the country. 

Being down with an illness is tough. Missing work, juggling parenting responsibilities or making up for missed school time can be difficult and frustrating.  Many times, patients take their health into their own hands by either taking medication that wasn’t prescribed, or not following instructions for prescribed medication. Neither scenario is without potential consequences, especially when antibiotics are involved. Misuse or overuse of antibiotics can lead to antibiotic resistance, rendering it less effective against combatting infection.