Answers to Your Questions About Food, Nutrition and Health, from a Doctor and a Chef

It's easy to get answers about health and nutrition! Just send your question by email to askdrgourmet
@drgourmet.com and Dr. Harlan will respond to questions of general interest. Answers will be posted in the Ask Dr. Gourmet newsletter (sign up now!) and archived here 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. For more specific questions about your individual health, please contact your doctor. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy

Questions About Coumadin® (warfarin)

Dr. Harlan has answered hundreds of questions from readers about Coumadin (warfarin). Topics range from recipes for Coumadin users to the Vitamin K levels of various foods. The questions below are just a sample - read all of the questions submitted about Coumadin.

How much Vitamin K is in...?

How much Vitamin K is in roasted or pickled beets?
How much Vitamin K is in blueberries?
More Questions About the Amounts of Vitamin K in Foods

Foods and Coumadin (warfarin)

Is it okay to cook with garlic while on Coumadin (warfarin)?
Are juicers a good idea for those on Coumadin (warfarin)?
More Questions About Foods and Coumadin

Supplements, Vitamins, and Herbal Preparations

Should Coumadin (warfarin) users avoid MSG?
Is it safe to take Acai Advance with Coumadin (warfarin)?
Will drinking aloe vera juice interact with Coumadin (warfarin)?
Will Resveratrol interact with Coumadin (warfarin)?
More Questions About Supplements, Vitamins and Herbal Preparations

Menus and Recipes for Coumadin (warfarin) Users

Should Coumadin (warfarin) users avoid MSG?
I need menus for my father who is diabetic and on Coumadin (warfarin).
Is the Fat Flush Plan safe for Coumadin/warfarin users?
More Questions About Menus and Recipes for Coumadin Users

Questions About Specific Foods

Below are just a few of the questions you'll find answered on the subject of various foods. View the entire list of questions we've answered already!

Salt

Can sea salt or kosher salt be used in canning in place of regular salt?
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?
More Questions About Salt

Oils

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?

Cheese

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...)
More Questions About Cheese

Questions About Health

Sometimes your doctor can't answer your question about food and health. Find the answers here to questions about cancer, cholesterol, diabetes, pregnancy and more. Read all of the questions submitted about health conditions.

Cancer

Are edamame (soy beans) safe for breast cancer survivors?
How can I make food that is palatable for those on chemotherapy?
If I have had thyroid cancer, should I avoid iodine in my food?
More Questions About Food and Cancer

Gout / Kidney Stones

Can you clear up the controversy over what to eat for gout?
How should you eat if you have diabetes and gout?
How many milligrams of potassium would be acceptable in a recipe if you are trying to bring your potassium levels down?
More Questions About Gout / Kidney Stones

Timothy S. Harlan, M.D. tells you what to eat and when in order to eat healthier, lose weight, and keep it off - permanently!

With The Dr. Gourmet Diet Plan, you'll create a two-week custom meal plan including breakfast, lunch and dinner, for yourself or your entire family - even kids under 14! NO making separate meals. Online planner includes:

1. Automated shopping lists - Just print and shop for the next two weeks of meals.

2. Frozen meal options for lunch or dinner such as Lean Cuisine or Weight Watchers.

3. Easy, delicious recipes, with leftovers for lunches or later in the week.

4. Options for allergies and special diets, including:

Vegetarian (lacto-ovo) Low sodium
Lactose intolerance
Coumadin (warfarin) use
GERD / Acid Reflux
Gluten allergies (Celiac disease).
Diabetes: All meal plans are safe for type 2 diabetics because they are based on the Mediterranean Diet, which is known to be the best diet for type 2 diabetics.

5. Combine special needs if needed: low sodium and lactose intolerant? Coumadin and celiac disease? Just select the options and get your delicious meal plan!

Other Web sites charge you as much as $29.95 per month for this service, but Just Tell Me What to Eat: The Dr. Gourmet Diet Plan is completely free. (We don't even ask for your credit card information.)

Sign up for Just Tell Me What to Eat: The Dr. Gourmet Diet Plan now! »

Questions About Cooking

Have a question about cooking equipment, making ingredient substitutions, or other cooking quandaries? Browse the selection of questions below, or read all of the questions submitted about Cooking.

Cookware

Between brands, is there much difference in quality of cast iron skillets?
What do you like or dislike about the following cookware choices?
More Questions About Cookware

Food Safety

Do peach pits really contain cyanide?
Is it safe to eat from unopened jars of caviar that are five years old?
Should I throw this balsamic vinegar away?
Should I throw this chili away?
More Questions About Food Safety

Substitutes

What can I substitute for cilantro?
Is there another way for a vegetarian to get protein other than tofu and beans?
Can Splenda be used in canning in place of sugar?
More Questions About Substitutes

Weight Loss

Losing weight can be challenging. Dr. Gourmet gives answers to your questions about weight loss. Read all of the questions submitted about weight loss.

Diet Myths & Supplements

What do you think of Dr. Esselstyn's 'Heart Attack Proof' Diet?
Is it true that I should avoid eating fruit for thirty minutes before or after a meal?
Will these herbal supplements - Hoodia Gordonii Plus and Acai Berry - act as appetite suppressants?
More Questions About Diet Myths & Supplements

Exercise

Can you exercise if you have GERD / Acid Reflux?
What is a good breakfast for those dieting and exercising?
More Questions About Exercise

Miscellaneous

How can an underweight diabetic gain weight safely?
Where can I go to get my percentage of body fat measured and compared to my muscle mass?
More Miscellaneous Weight Loss Questions

Questions About The Dr. Gourmet Diet Plan

How many calories should I be eating for breakfast?
Can I substitute canned salmon, trout or sardines for the protein in my sandwich?
Can you help me understand the lunch options for The Dr. Gourmet Diet Plan?
Should I add snacks to The Dr. Gourmet Diet Plan?
How can I get a vegetarian diet without goat cheese and chicken stock?
How can I add diabetes to my Quality Calorie Diet profile?
More Questions About The Dr. Gourmet Diet Plan/ Real World Diet