It's easy to get answers about health and nutrition! Just send your question by email to [email protected] and Dr. Harlan will respond to selected questions of general interest. Answers will be posted in the Ask Dr. Gourmet newsletter (sign up now!) and archived in the Ask Dr. Gourmet section of the website.
Please note that the Ask Dr. Gourmet feature is restricted to questions regarding food and nutrition. Due to the many questions we receive, not all questions may be answered. For more specific questions about your individual health, please contact your doctor. About Timothy S. Harlan, MD, FACP, CCMS | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy
Are there low-salt chili powders?
Are
foods saltier
now than they used to be?
Does salting
eggplant add sodium to recipes?
Are
there salt substitutes that are safe
for those with diabetes and high blood
pressure?
If I wash
canned canned beans and vegetables
am I washing off some of the salt?
Can we get our recommended
daily supply of sodium from the vegetables
we eat?
Are salt
substitutes a good alternative for
those on a low-sodium diet?
Is sushi a low
salt food?
For those on Coumadin, shouldn't salt
substitutes be avoided because of the
high levels of potassium?
Doesn't sea salt have a higher concentration
of potassium
chloride than regular salt?
Does sea
salt have less sodium in it than regular
salt?
Which types
of salts have the least sodium?
Is peanut oil good for you?
Will rice bran oil really reduce cholesterol, and is it good for you?
Does olive
oil lose its health benefits when it is heated?
What Can I Substitute for Sesame
Oil and Peanuts in Asian Foods?
Is it better to use butter or a spread?
Which are better for you: polyunsaturated
or monounsaturated oils?
Can I substitute sesame
oil for sesame
seeds?
Is this email
about butter vs. margarine true or is it an urban myth?
What type
of cooking should olive
oil be used for?
If I eat flax seeds will I get the
same benefits as flax
seed oil?
What can I substitute for peanut
or sesame oil in Asian recipes?
What are the smoke
points of various oils?
Is palm
oil safe to eat?
Which cooking
oil should I use?
What oil should I use for
fondue?
Is olive oil appropriate for high-temperature
uses?
Is quark
cheese better for my cholesterol than
mozzarella?
What is the cholesterol
content of goat cheese?
I'm lactose intolerant, but I
can eat goat cheese. Why?
What can I use in
place of Gorgonzola cheese? (See also...)
Is Parmigiano-Reggiano suitable
for vegetarians?
Why does swiss
cheese have holes in it?
Is there a substitute
for goat cheese?
Is balsamic vinegar gluten-free?
What is the Alcohol Content of
Vinegar? What Should I Use
Instead of Vinegar?
How long should I keep White
Wine Vinegar?
Can I reuse
the juice from pickled onions to pickle something else?
What
is the percentage of alcohol
in Balsamic Wine Vinegar?
Does balsamic vinegar contain
lead?
Is there a rating system for balsamic
vinegar?
How long can I keep balsamic
vinegar?
Is this thickened
balsamic vinegar safe
to eat?
Are you aware that Amy's meals contain alcohol?
What
is the alcohol content of vinegar?
What
is the percentage of alcohol in Balsamic
Wine Vinegar?
Does having a glass
of wine every night affect weight loss?
Is drinking grape
juice as good for you as red wine?
Is all of the alcohol
cooked out of your chicken piccata
sauce?
Does fruit lose its fiber when I process it in a blender to make a fruit smoothie?
Is seltzer water bad for you?
If I don't drink my freshly-blended juices
right away will the nutrients be lost?
Would a hot
chocolate mix offer the same
benefits as hot cocoa?
My Starbucks
addiction is hampering my
weight loss. What can I do?
What is the ORAC
value of a cup of coffee?
Are there as many antioxidants
in decaffeinated coffee as there are
in caffeinated coffee?
What do you think of Lipton's diet
green or white flavored teas?
Is Red
Bull safe?
Is there cornstarch in 1%
milk?
Are calorie-free
water flavorings okay to drink in my
water?
Does V-8 count as a serving
of vegetables?
How much CO2 is
in Pepsi, 7-Up and Mountain Dew?
Is microwaving a good way to cook fish and shellfish?
Is tilapia (the fish) good for diabetics?
What can I substitute
for fish and shellfish, if I am allergic to them?
Can you eat too much fish?
Do the Benefits of Eating
Fish and Shellfish Outweigh the Risks
of Mercury and Gulf Oil Contamination?
Is it ok to eat tuna
and salmon sashimi when you have hypertension,
gout and arthritis?
Will eating spicy tuna rolls (sushi) help
lower cholesterol?
What are the benefits/non-benefits of the tilapia
fish?
What is the difference between pink
canned salmon and red canned salmon?
How do you cook spaghetti squash?
Is corn a starch or a vegetable?
Is the green layer under the skin of my yellow potatoes harmful?
Will eating fruit on an empty stomach make my hair turn grey or make me bloated?
Are there vegetables or fruits that have no calories?
Is it true that the polyphenols in blueberries block fat storage and that dairy interferes with polyphenols?
Does fruit lose its fiber when I process it in a blender to make a fruit smoothie?
Which is better, kale or spinach?
Do nightshade plants, like eggplants, tomatoes, and peppers, cause inflammation?
Will Honeybells
(tangelos) interact with medications like
grapefruit does?
If I don't drink my freshly-blended juices
right away will
the nutrients be lost?
Why does eating
spinach make my tongue
and teeth feel funny?
Can I eat fruit on an empty stomach?
Does washing remove
the pesticides from foods?
Does my peach
pit jelly contain cyanide?
Can I eat all
the fruits and vegetables I want and
still lose weight?
Are there rules for when and how you
should eat fruit or drink water?
Are canned cranberries, like
the kind used on turkey, bad for you, fat wise?
Is it true that I should avoid eating
fruit for thirty minutes before or after a meal?
Should fruit only be eaten on an
empty stomach?
Is it okay to put peas and corn on my
salad?
What can I do with really large zucchini?
Does grapefruit really interact
with medications?
Where can I find edamame?
Can I freeze celery?
Are these two
week old mushrooms safe
to eat?
How can I tell that these
mushrooms are safe to eat?
How can I know these mushrooms are
safe to eat?
Does eating nuts cause a high LDL cholesterol score?
What Can I Substitute for Sesame
Oil and Peanuts in Asian Foods?
What can I use to substitute for pine
nuts?
Are nuts a good source of vitamins?
Are dry
roasted peanuts actually fried?
Is there a nutritional difference between dry
roasted and toasted nuts?
What is the
difference between dry roasted and oven roasted nuts?
What can I substitute
for fish and shellfish, if I am allergic
to them?
Are shellfish
included in 'eating more fish'?
I've heard that you should avoid
shrimp because they are "bottom feeders." Is
that true?
Where can I find "chemical
free" scallops?
Do kidney beans contain Omega 3
fatty acids?
Does our body process agave differently than sugar?
Is High Fructose Corn Syrup dangerous
to your health?
Is agave nectar better for diabetics than sugar?
How does cane
sugar with 0 calories and 4g of sugar fit into
the sugar list?
Can you substitute brown sugar for refined sugar?
Is brown sugar better
for you than
white sugar?
Is xylitol safe?
Should I avoid High Fructose Corn Syrup?
What is your opinion of stevia
and the Truvia brand blended stevia?
Does your body process
honey differently than sugar?
How concerned should we be about processed
sugars in our food?
Can I take cherry
fruit extract while on Coumadin (warfarin)?
Will green tea
capsules help me improve my blood sugar levels?
Should I purchase this chocolate anti-inflammatory product,
Xocai?
Does Acai berry contain tyramine?
What do you think of Mangosteen
products like Xango?
Will acai
berry interact with Tegretol?
What
is PGX, PolyGlycopleX, or Miracle Noodles?
What
is 'modified food starch'?
What is root parsley?
Are Saifun
noodles (cellophane noodles) a carb or a vegetable?
What is tapioca?
What is "food
starch"?
What is Swiss
Chard?
What is "Hot
Sauce"?
What's the difference between Sorbet,
Sherbet, and Ice Cream?
What is "orzo"?
What does "Nicoise" mean?
For the Chicken Pot Pie recipe, is "chicken
stock" really chicken broth or
water that chicken is cooked in?
What is a baron
of beef?
Is it safe to eat thyme stems?
Is the nutrition information on this oatmeal packet correct?
Is turkey better for you than pork?
Why would this sticker be on my Kraft mac and cheese?
Are Alessi brand packaged side dishes good for you?
Why would unpopped popcorn have more calories than popped popcorn?
Should I be concerned about the amount of arsenic in brown rice?
Will heat destroy the good bacteria in yogurt?
Will all the cornsilk come off together if you remove the end of the corn after grilling?
Does eating spicy foods have benefits, like weight loss?
Is Macaroni & Cheese healthy?
Is it safe to eat fertilized eggs?
Many foods in your recipes are not available near me. Suggestions?
Does microwaving reduce nutrients in food?
Are Smart Taste pastas as good for you as whole wheat pasta?
Doesn't liver contain toxins, making it bad for you?
If I saute ground beef and
pour off the fat, how much fat am I removing?
Is my boyfriend eating too much processed meats?
How much dark
chocolate should a person eat in one day?
Since I have a-fib, should
I avoid chocolate since it contains caffeine?
What can I use in recipes in place of coconut
milk, which is so high in
saturated fat?
What is the recommended
amount of oatmeal we should eat per day?
Which is better for you - rolled oats or steel cut oats?
Are Morning Star vegetarian
products good for you?
Are Smart Balance
Products Really a Healthy Choice?
Is Parboiled Rice as
Good For You as Brown Rice?
What is the Alcohol Content of
Vinegar? What Should I Use
Instead of Vinegar?
Do grits have any nutritional value?
Is bison (buffalo) better for
you than other red meats?
Where can I find a healthy jam recipe?
Does MSG (monosodium glutamate) cause weight gain?
Why does corn have calories and popcorn does not?
Is this email
about butter vs. margarine true or is it an urban myth?
Can I reuse
the juice from pickled onions to pickle something else?
Do kidney
beans contain Omega 3 fatty acids?
Which potato should I
use for
what type of recipe?
Why haven't you mentioned Quinoa?
How long should I keep
chipotles in adobo?
Does cooking
vegetables cause them
to lose their nutrients?
Do nuts help prevent
metabolic syndrome?
Are meats such as goat,
venison or buffalo good
substitutes for beef?
Is ground turkey
better for you than
ground beef?
Is
our food less nutritious today than it was years ago?
Are Saifun
noodles (cellophane noodles) a carb
or a vegetable?
What do you consider to be the best meal
replacement bar?
Am I eating too
much oatmeal?
Why is there such a discrepancy
in the calorie content of dried versus
canned black beans?
What do you think of Lipton's diet
green or white flavored teas?
Is hummus a
good snack?
What's the nutrition information
for this meal from Outback
Steakhouse?
Where can you purchase this no
salt chicken broth?
Do you have any suggestions for sources
of sprouts?
Is popcorn a
good snack?
Does oatmeal contain
purines?
Which form of oats is better for
me: cooked
oatmeal or granola?
Is there a difference in calories
if I cook
my oatmeal less?
Which is worse for me--margarine
or mayonnaise?
How do I make
rock candy syrup?
What soup would
you suggest with this menu for a dinner party?
How do you calculate
calories in a marinade?