Archives

DEAR DR. BLONZ: A friend of my daughter's has celiac disease and she will be coming for a holiday dinner. My question is: Do oats have to be eliminated from celiac diets, or is wheat the only problem?... more

DEAR DR. BLONZ: I would like an explanation of the connection between Type 2 diabetes and obesity. After annual tests, I was told that I was a borderline diabetic. I am only slightly overweight, nothi... more

DEAR DR. BLONZ: I am interested in adding more fiber to my cereal and thought bran flakes would be a good choice -- a key reason being the economy of them when purchased in large quantities. We now ad... more

Dear Dr. Blonz, I have a couple of questions about cheese. You have said positive things about cheese in the past, but could you please explain why cheese is good for you? The reason I'm asking is bec... more

DEAR DR. BLONZ: Is it not advised to drink water or a water-based beverage during the 30 minutes after eating? This was explained to me as having a negative effect on digestive enzymes and their abili... more

DEAR READERS: I have received a number of wonderful responses to my Oct. 29 column on arthritic pain. Here are three that I felt were definitely worth sharing.... more

DEAR DR. BLONZ: I have some questions regarding rice oil and peanut oil. I like to use them for cooking because of their health benefits and flavors. I know that peanut oil has to be stored in the ref... more

DEAR DR. BLONZ: Is it safe to put raw chicken in a slow cooker and cook it on low for 8 hours or so? My husband thinks it is, but I am very hesitant and afraid it will be full of bad bacteria. -- S.G.... more

DEAR DR. BLONZ: I am 77 with arthritis, and tend to have pain all over in my body. I live by myself and do not eat very well. Could my poor diet be contributing to my pain? Is there any type of test t... more

DEAR DR. BLONZ: There is a memory supplement being promoted by a doctor (at least it is someone with Dr. before their name). There are positive testimonials from people, and many seem to have started ... more

DEAR DR. BLONZ: I keep receiving information about oxygenated water and wanted to know your thoughts on this. Could you send me the straight scoop? -- O.S., San Diego... more

DEAR DR. BLONZ: Lean ground beef costs quite a bit more than regular. The fat drains out when you cook it anyway, so is it worth it, health-wise, to buy the more expensive type? -- C.S., Kansas City, ... more

DEAR DR. BLONZ: What do you think about the safety of wood versus plastic cutting boards? I heard that wood dissolves bacteria when I was a student, but now I see many people using plastic cutting boa... more

DEAR DR. BLONZ: Can eating carpaccio be considered safe? I know that it is made from raw meat or fish. The particular product I recently ate was veal dressed with salt, garlic and pepper, than quick-f... more

DEAR DR. BLONZ: I just read a book that says by blending fruit into a smoothie, you are not getting the benefits of the fruit's insoluble fiber because the blender completely destroys it. The book als... more

DEAR DR. BLONZ: Should there be any concerns about eating baked potato peelings? I wash and prick holes in my potatoes, then put them in a sandwich bag with a little water and cook them in the microwa... more

DEAR DR. BLONZ: My hairstylist recommended I get a biotin supplement to help strengthen my hair. I would like some insight as to whether this makes sense, and if so, why I hadn't heard of this until n... more

DEAR DR. BLONZ: I have a question about eating oatmeal uncooked. I've been doing it lately, mainly due to time constraints, but also to avoid the heat of cooking because the air conditioning in our ho... more

DEAR DR. BLONZ: My husband was on a steroid (prednisone) for a number of years. He is now off of it, but it has had an apparent effect on his bones, causing osteopenia. Some calcium products advertise... more

DEAR DR. BLONZ: There have been a number of articles lately questioning the wisdom of taking vitamin and mineral supplements. And although it seems to be at cross-purposes, I have also read about the ... more

DEAR DR. BLONZ: Does vegetable oil mellow or otherwise improve with age? We have a number of bottles that we received as gifts but they have been sitting on the shelf for about a year and a half. They... more

DEAR DR. BLONZ: Is it dangerous to eat an entire apple, including the seeds? One of my friends does this all the time, but I know there is cyanide in apple seeds. I have mentioned it and he said he ha... more

DEAR DR. BLONZ: As part of a long-term effort to lose weight, we are making small changes in the foods we eat at our house. One change is to lower -- but not eliminate -- our carbohydrate intake: main... more

DEAR DR. BLONZ: I was told by my optometrist that the irritation in my eyes is due to a condition known as blepharitis, and that I should be taking flax oil to provide the omega-3 fats that can help t... more

DEAR DR. BLONZ: I wanted to know what you think about the frequently hyped health-promoting qualities of juicing, and about juicing machines in general. Do you get more nutrition from using a juicer t... more

DEAR DR. BLONZ: There has been no clear clinical evidence that food causes behavioral issues in children. I am interested in your thoughts on this issue. -- R.D., Los Angeles... more

DEAR DR. BLONZ: I recently went on a detox/cleansing diet routine, complete with a drink and pills, that was recommended by my close friend. I was able to drop almost 10 pounds in a few days. It was i... more

DEAR DR. BLONZ: Other than price, what is the difference between organic sugar made from evaporated cane juice, and regular granulated sugar? Are both products stripped of their nutrients, and if cons... more