Information and opinions on MyDietExercise from Patrika Tsai http://www.healthcentral.com/diet-exercise/c/56 en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/diet-exercise/ http://www.healthcentral.com/diet-exercise/c/56/26585/find-potassium Wed Apr 30 15:30:00 -0400 2008 Patrika Tsai Question: My doctor says that my leg cramps are from being low in potassium. Are there certain foods that have a lot of potassium? Can I eat too much potassium?   Potassium is a mineral that is important for the body to function properly. Potassium is the element 19 on the periodic table and is represented by the symbol "K." Almost all the potassium in the body is found inside the cells rather than outside in the body's fluids like... http://www.healthcentral.com/diet-exercise/c/56/26585/find-potassium http://www.healthcentral.com/diet-exercise/c/56/20921/surgery Thu Feb 28 17:56:00 -0500 2008 Patrika Tsai Despite the increased emphasis on healthy lifestyles with exercise and a balanced diet, many Americans continue to struggle with the problem of obesity. Some look for hope in the form of diet pills. When medications do not seem to be enough, others are turning to surgery to lose weight. Weight loss surgery or bariatric surgery is quickly becoming more popular every year thanks to "success" (and not so successful) stories that have... http://www.healthcentral.com/diet-exercise/c/56/20921/surgery http://www.healthcentral.com/diet-exercise/c/56/20142/food-eat-eat Thu Feb 07 12:03:00 -0500 2008 Patrika Tsai Imagine your throat closing up and having difficulty breathing from eating something as innocent as a homemade cookie. People who suffer from severe food allergies try to prepare for this very scenario. The number of people suffering from food allergies is rising. Food allergies are often seen in combination with asthma or eczema, which appear to run in families. One family member may have asthma while another has eczema and a third person has... http://www.healthcentral.com/diet-exercise/c/56/20142/food-eat-eat http://www.healthcentral.com/diet-exercise/c/56/17473/gluten Fri Dec 07 16:05:00 -0500 2007 Patrika Tsai Question: I have noticed that some food packages are labeled "gluten-free." What exactly is gluten, and why is it on the label? Answer: Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley. Most people have no problems eating gluten. However, gluten should be avoided by people who have an autoimmune condition known as celiac disease. In celiac disease, gluten prompts the body to produce antibodies that attack the small intestine.... http://www.healthcentral.com/diet-exercise/c/56/17473/gluten http://www.healthcentral.com/diet-exercise/c/56/16981/face-obesity Tue Nov 27 16:41:00 -0500 2007 Patrika Tsai Obesity is no longer limited to the United States or other developed countries. Rates of obesity are increasing among developing countries as well. In Thailand, for example, one study shows that as many as 18% of adolescents are overweight or at risk for overweight. While this percentage is still lower than the U.S. rate of 50%, Thailand and other developing countries are catching up as they adopt a Western lifestyle. Suprising... http://www.healthcentral.com/diet-exercise/c/56/16981/face-obesity http://www.healthcentral.com/diet-exercise/c/56/16094/qa-lactose Thu Nov 08 17:11:00 -0500 2007 Patrika Tsai Question: I have been told that I may have lactose intolerance. Does that mean I have to give up milk? Answer: Lactose intolerance means that the body does not produce enough enzymes to digest lactose which is a sugar found in dairy products. People who are lactose intolerant produce little or no lactase. Lactase is an enzyme that breaks lactose down into smaller sugars that are absorbed by the body in the small intestine. Any lactose that... http://www.healthcentral.com/diet-exercise/c/56/16094/qa-lactose http://www.healthcentral.com/diet-exercise/c/56/15575/lowdown Mon Oct 29 16:25:00 -0400 2007 Patrika Tsai What is Anorexia?  Anorexia nervosa (AN) is an eating disorder in which individuals attempt to lose weight through diet control and/or excessive physical activity. These individuals may appear to be extremely thin or even emaciated; however, milder forms are often undiagnosed by health care professionals. AN is defined as refusal to maintain body weight at or above 85% of expected body weight. It often starts in the teenage years... http://www.healthcentral.com/diet-exercise/c/56/15575/lowdown http://www.healthcentral.com/diet-exercise/c/56/10515/mom-dad Mon Jun 18 11:44:00 -0400 2007 Patrika Tsai We often blame our parents for the problems we face whether it is how they raised us or what genes they passed along to us.  As the U.S. population becomes more overweight or obese, many of us wonder whether the weight problems came from Mom and Dad or the calorie-laden environment where we live.  There is now certainly public debate about the importance of the environment versus genetics in the obesity epidemic.    Some... http://www.healthcentral.com/diet-exercise/c/56/10515/mom-dad http://www.healthcentral.com/diet-exercise/c/56/9409/workout-day Fri May 11 10:44:00 -0400 2007 Patrika Tsai Question: Is it bad to do the same workout every day? Dr. Tsai: First of all, you are to be commended if you are doing a workout every day. It is not necessarily bad to do the same thing daily. However, varying your exercise regimen has several advantages. Many people become bored and less motivated with the same workout. Changing your routine may keep you more interested in exercise and enthusiastic about staying active. When you... http://www.healthcentral.com/diet-exercise/c/56/9409/workout-day http://www.healthcentral.com/diet-exercise/c/56/9408/make-lose Fri May 11 10:41:00 -0400 2007 Patrika Tsai Question: I lost weight by running and have recently switched to swimming. Now I can't keep the weight on! Are there certain exercises that are more effective at weight loss than others?   Dr. Tsai: Some exercises may be more effective in helping you lose weight than others. The difference may lie in the intensity of the activity. The more intense the workout, the more calories burned and weight lost. Certain exercises may... http://www.healthcentral.com/diet-exercise/c/56/9408/make-lose