Foods That Boost Your Mood
What you eat can reduce stress, increase focus and protect your mental health.
Easy Ways to Drink More Water and Less Sugar
Stay hydrated without sacrificing flavor with these tips on how to enjoy more water.
Breaking Your Caffeine Habit
It may feel like caffeine is unavoidable, but these tips can help you reduce or eliminate your caffeine intake.
Fiber in Your Diet: Why You Need It
Learn which foods to mix into your diet to boost soluble fiber and insoluble fiber.
Lower Cholesterol with Food
By cooking at home and monitoring portions, you can lower your cholesterol.
The Truth About Fasts and Cleanses
There are many misconceptions about fasts and cleanses – before starting one, check out what experts in the Sutter Health network have to say.
Nutrition Topics
Recipe Hub
Sutter Health's team of doctors and dietitians have come together to provide patients with tools to cook healthy and delicious meals.
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Ask an Expert
Astrin Damayanti, R.D.
Sutter Gould Medical Foundation
My daughter and I are vegans. We are knowledgeable and eat a very healthy diet. She is about 40 lbs overweight and I need to lose 10 lbs. She has significantly reduced her food quantity, but it's hard to get nutrition and diet at the same time. Any tips?
First off, great job for trying to improve your health and eating healthy! Weight loss is really comes down to calories in and calories out. Eating healthy is a good start but for weight loss, how many calories... continue reading about My daughter and I are vegans. We are knowledgeable and eat a very healthy diet. She is about 40 lbs overweight and I need to lose 10 lbs. She has significantly reduced her food quantity, but it's hard to get nutrition and diet at the same time. Any tips?
Toni J. Brayer, M.D.
Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation
My calcium level is high. What foods do I need to cut down on? What about dairy products, orange juice, fortified cereal and eggs, which I thought were good for me? I'm on Tamoxifen and have been through chemo. Does that contribute to high calcium?
The body regulates the blood calcium levels through complex mechanisms. Low calcium can be supplemented with vitamins and eating calcium-rich foods and dairy. High calcium, however is never from any specific fo... continue reading about My calcium level is high. What foods do I need to cut down on? What about dairy products, orange juice, fortified cereal and eggs, which I thought were good for me? I'm on Tamoxifen and have been through chemo. Does that contribute to high calcium?
Deborah Kurzrock, R.D.
Mills-Peninsula Medical Center
To reduce belly fat, I have read about diets that include using plant-based protein shakes or smoothies that are supposed to “melt away” belly fat. Is there any truth to this?
I wish I could say there was a magic formula to "melt away" any kind of fat, but it is not as simple as that advertisement. Nothing can selectively “melt away” belly fat. In a similar ad that I read... continue reading about To reduce belly fat, I have read about diets that include using plant-based protein shakes or smoothies that are supposed to “melt away” belly fat. Is there any truth to this?
Sue Hazeghazam, R.D.
Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento
Experts say not to skip meals because it slows metabolism down. We are also advised to exercise to burn fat. Now they say you can't just do aerobics, you need resistance training. I'm training with weights and all I'm doing is getting bigger.
You should try to do both types of exercise. Both have benefits. Aerobic exercise is helpful to improve circulation and to burn calories and, if done long enough, to also help burn fat stores. When you do resis... continue reading about Experts say not to skip meals because it slows metabolism down. We are also advised to exercise to burn fat. Now they say you can't just do aerobics, you need resistance training. I'm training with weights and all I'm doing is getting bigger.
Toni J. Brayer, M.D.
Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation
I read on your site that calcium supplements are not advisable as it contributes to heart disease, but calcium ingested in food doesn't. I'm reluctant to take supplemental calcium, but have continued to take Vitamin D on the days I'm not in the sun.
A number of studies have shown that supplemental calcium is linked to both heart attack and kidney stones in some people. For this reason, women are encouraged to get their calcium from food and dairy products ... continue reading about I read on your site that calcium supplements are not advisable as it contributes to heart disease, but calcium ingested in food doesn't. I'm reluctant to take supplemental calcium, but have continued to take Vitamin D on the days I'm not in the sun.
Sanjeev Tummala, M.D.
Palo Alto Medical Foundation
I have been diagnosed with a fatty liver. What causes this and can this condition be reversed?
A functioning liver is vital to human life. Your liver filters harmful substances out of your blood and converts the food you eat into nutrients your body uses. A liver with too much fat - over 5 to 10 percent ... continue reading about I have been diagnosed with a fatty liver. What causes this and can this condition be reversed?
Katerina P. Shetler, M.D.
Palo Alto Medical Foundation
Is the presence of lactose intolerance and/or irritable bowel syndrome typically associated with someone who may also be sensitive to gluten?
Thank you for this very interesting question. Patients with irritable bowel syndrome suffer from abdominal pain, abdominal bloating, loose bowel movements or constipation. Patients with lactose intolerance and ... continue reading about Is the presence of lactose intolerance and/or irritable bowel syndrome typically associated with someone who may also be sensitive to gluten?
Arfan Din, D.O.
Sutter Medical Foundation
Is it okay to take a joint pain supplement that contains glucosamine and scutellaria if I'm also taking prednisone?
In today's world we are learning more and more about interactions between medications, foods and supplements. It has been reported that grapefruit juice can interact with as many as 40 medications - some of whi... continue reading about Is it okay to take a joint pain supplement that contains glucosamine and scutellaria if I'm also taking prednisone?
Deborah Kurzrock, R.D.
Mills-Peninsula Medical Center
Is it healthy for children to be vegetarians or vegans? I am a vegetarian, but I have some concerns that my children (4 and 8) might not get enough nutrients.
According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, vegetarian and vegan diets can meet all nutrient needs for infants and children. Diets for infants and children should contain enough calories to support gro... continue reading about Is it healthy for children to be vegetarians or vegans? I am a vegetarian, but I have some concerns that my children (4 and 8) might not get enough nutrients.
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