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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How to Eat Healthy During the Holidays
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Portion Distortion: How to Plan Healthy Meals
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Ask an Expert
Joyce Giammattei, DrPH,RD, CDE
Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation
Is there anything that can be done to lower my fasting blood sugar? I can control my postprandial blood sugar by limiting carbs during a meal, but my fasting blood sugar has been rising over the last year and it seems to be beyond my control.
Blood sugar levels tend to rise in the morning for some people with diabetes. This is in response to the natural hormonal changes occurring in the early morning hours.In addition, the liver releases glucose dur... continue reading about Is there anything that can be done to lower my fasting blood sugar? I can control my postprandial blood sugar by limiting carbs during a meal, but my fasting blood sugar has been rising over the last year and it seems to be beyond my control.
Toni J. Brayer, M.D.
Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation
What are the health risks from not drinking water? My husband is terribly addicted to soda and any other drink that is not plain water. He drinks about a 1/2 cup of plain water a day.
There is truly an epidemic of soft drink consumption in our country, and your husband needs to cut down or cut out his substitution of soft drinks for healthy beverages. The fact that your husband is drinking s... continue reading about What are the health risks from not drinking water? My husband is terribly addicted to soda and any other drink that is not plain water. He drinks about a 1/2 cup of plain water a day.
Ask the Expert Team
Sutter Health
Does salt raise blood pressure?
In excess, yes. The numbers:1 gram (1,000 mg) sodium = 2.5 gram of salt = 1 teaspoon of table saltHarmful = more than 5-6 grams, and probably less than 1.5 grams a dayAmerican Heart Association recommendation =... continue reading about Does salt raise blood pressure?
Steven Machtinger, M.D.
Mills-Peninsula Medical Group
How can I know if I have a lagging reaction to a specific food?
When we're talking about reactions to food, most people think any reaction must be allergic in origin. Not true. There are many reasons why one may have an adverse reaction to a food. A few examples: coffee may... continue reading about How can I know if I have a lagging reaction to a specific food?
Ravin Agah, M.D., Ph.D.
Palo Alto Medical Foundation
Is it safe to take a low-dose iron supplement if you're not anemic? My teenage daughter is a distance runner, and her coach recommends them for girls on the cross country team.
Generally it is not recommended to take low-dose iron if you're not anemic. Excessive iron can be deposited in the liver and can cause problems. Runners often get "runners anemia" which is why some coaches reco... continue reading about Is it safe to take a low-dose iron supplement if you're not anemic? My teenage daughter is a distance runner, and her coach recommends them for girls on the cross country team.
Rodman S. Rogers, M.D.
SPMF San Francisco HMO Network
I was recently diagnosed with a kidney stone, but my doctor thinks it will pass on its own without treatment. What is a kidney stone, and is there anything I can do to prevent getting them again?
Kidney stones form in several ways but typically start as crystals that form in concentrated urine. So one thing everyone can do to help prevent stones is to drink extra liquids (to produce 2.5 liters of urine ... continue reading about I was recently diagnosed with a kidney stone, but my doctor thinks it will pass on its own without treatment. What is a kidney stone, and is there anything I can do to prevent getting them again?
Pam Noonan, MS, RN, CDE
Sutter Gould Medical Foundation
My husband has Type 2 diabetes. He heard that tomatoes have too much sugar in them, however, most recipes for diabetics contain tomatoes or tomato products. How do tomatoes fit into a diabetic diet?
Tomatoes often get a bad rap for having “too much sugar.” I hear this myth often in my diabetes education practice. Carrots are another vegetable that seems to suffer the same reputation. Tomatoes a... continue reading about My husband has Type 2 diabetes. He heard that tomatoes have too much sugar in them, however, most recipes for diabetics contain tomatoes or tomato products. How do tomatoes fit into a diabetic diet?
Junaid H. Khan, M.D., FACC, FACS
Eden Medical Center
Can antioxidants help prevent a heart attack?
Research into the role of antioxidants in heart disease has been going on for a long period of time. To date there is no definitive evidence that antioxidant or vitamin supplements reduce the incidence of, or m... continue reading about Can antioxidants help prevent a heart attack?
Deborah Kurzrock, R.D.
Mills-Peninsula Medical Center
How can I get enough calcium when I am lactose intolerant?
It is possible to get enough calcium in your diet without milk products, although it is more difficult. For absorption, calcium relies on other vitamins and minerals, so it is important to eat a balanced nutrit... continue reading about How can I get enough calcium when I am lactose intolerant?
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