Ask the Expert - Nutrition

We all know that a nutritious diet and regular exercise can help us lead healthier lives. There are still, however, a lot of questions about proper nutrition.

These are Ask the Expert columns written by Banner Health physicians, nurses, and general health care providers.

Healthy Living

• Lactose Inolerance Featuring Mary Ellen Dirlam, MD, PhD
• Health choices while eating out Featuring Lillian Swatek, RD, CDE, CSO
• Am I drinking too much coffee? Featuring Melissa Paton
• Fats Featuring Kristine Haggarty
• Trans fats: Good or Bad? Featuring: Brianne Holmes
• Why are trans fats bad for you? Featuring: Jacklyn Diefenbach
• The benefits of fiber Featuring Michele Grim
• Fiber in my diet Featuring Kristine Haggarty
• Is gluten-free good for you? Featuring Jacklyn Diefenbach
• Can what I eat affect my medications? Featuring Frank LoVecchio, D.O.
• Metabolism Featuring Jacklyn Diefenbach
• What kind of health problems does obesity cause? Featuring John DeBarros, MD
• Can drinking milk combat osteoporisis Featuring Lucia Magat-Gregorio, MD
• Is one soda a day bad for you? Featuring Joselyn Jedick, D.O.
• How much salt is too much? Featuring Roger Bryne, D.O.
• Limiting salt in my diet Featuring Heather Metell, Anne Lougher
• Reduce salt to prevent heart failure  Featuring Kristine Brubaker 

 Weight control

• Weight Loss Featuring: John Monroe, MD
• Counting calories and weight loss Featuring Christy Judd, D.O.
• What is the best diet? Featuring: Brian Hawkins, MD
• HCG Hormone Featuring: Elijah Poulos
• Are over-the-counter weight-loss drugs safe? Featuring Frank LoVecchio, D.O.
• How to have a healthy Thanksgiving Featuring: Jacklyn Diefenbach

 Supplements

• Creatine supplements for athletic performance Featuring Frank LoVecchio, D.O.
• The value of energy drinks Featuring Stanley Wen, MD
• Folic acid and Alzheimer's Featuring: Ryan Rawlings, MD
• What are the benefits of taking multivitamins Featuring Frank LoVecchio, D.O.
• Should I take vitamins? Featuring Mary Martin

 Food safety

• How long does it take to develop food poisoning? Featuring LeeAnn Denny, MD
• Avoiding food poisoning Featuring Joseph WInchell, D.O.
  What does "organic'' really mean? Featuring: Linda Schaeffer
• Salmonella and peanuts Featuring: Mary Ann Yahl
• The five-second rule Featuring John Po, MD