Heart Disease

I have been hearing a lot about how dangerous trans fat is, but with no explanation of what it is. Is it the same as hydrogenated fat? Polyunsaturated oils that are hydrogenated can contain some trans fat, but it depends on the hydrogenation process that was used. Trans fat results when healthy polyunsaturated oil (soybean)...

In your section on caffeine, you recommend that to reduce intake to limit a cup of coffee to one a meal. Does caffeine affect the absorption of certain vitamins or minerals like iron? I could be way off, but I thought that it was better not to have caffeine with meals. Please set me straight...

My triglycerides are over 700. My cholesterol was normal. I have done everything to bring it under 700. I cut out sweets, sugar, and my Cokes to only 2 a day Is that still too many? I am 60 lb. overweight. I have cut fat percent to 15 grams a day and calories to 1700....

What tips food wise or otherwise for lowering high blood pressure might you have? If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure (bottom blood pressure number greater than 90 mm), you should be limiting foods high in sodium and lose weight. How much you should restrict sodium in foods you eat depends on what...

I eat a balanced diet except I concentrate on the fat content. If it's available in non-fat such as milk or cheese, that's what I buy and eat. My fat intake is typically between 5 and 10% of my calories. I do weight train and do cardio workouts three times a week. Is my...

Is it good to have mushrooms when I have a cholesterol level of about 254? I would be very obliged if you could kindly advise me on that. I am on a very strict diet now. My initial cholesterol LDL was about 268 and I have been able to lower it to 254. Please...

I am concerned about caffeine consumption during pregnancy . I would like to know how much caffeine is in chocolate products such as plain dark chocolate, chocolate ice cream and chocolate milk? Is there caffeine in other less obvious food items? Also, what is a safe amount of caffeine during pregnancy? Is there a...

You mentioned that caffeine was banned by the Olympic Committee. This is only on the order of a dose of several (I believe it is 1.6) grams. An 80-kilogram adult would only take a dose of around 400 milligrams (5 milligrams/kilogram of body weight). This also would have been taken roughly four hours prior...

I went in for a physical recently and was informed that my triglycerides were the highest the doctor had ever seen (875) and my cholesterol was at 308. All other aspects of the physical went well. I went again today for another blood lab after fasting from the evening the night before. I am 32...

I've been using a salt substitute, but it leaves a bitter aftertaste in my mouth. Can you recommend the best tasting salt substitute? Salt substitutes usually contain potassium chloride instead of sodium chloride as found in salt. The salt substitute makes you produce saliva much in the same way salt does. However, the potassium does...