Heart Disease

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...

I have a question regarding brandy (liquor). How can brandy taste so sweet and not have any carbohydrates? Also, where do the calories come from, if brandy does not have any protein, carbohydrates or fat? Thanks. Brandy is made from distilled wine or fermented fruit juice and is aged in a barrel. Even though there...

I am a 20-year-old male and I am currently wondering what type of foods I can consume to help lower my bad cholesterol because I am constantly seeing commercials about this topic, and would love a legitimate answer! You would be young to have high cholesterol in your blood unless you have a genetic cause....

I am a daily coffee drinker but am wanting to replace that energy with something healthier. What are some foods I can add to my breakfast to give me energy for the day? Or what foods should I stay away from or add to my daily diet in order to feel more energized? Caffeine makes your...

I've always been overweight (10-15 pounds), so I try to eat as little fat as possible. However, I know that I need to eat some fat in order to get the essential fatty acids. I was just wondering if there was any way to tell if my diet is actually low in fat and...

What is your opinion of Dr. Dean Ornish's diet for reversing coronary heart disease? Is it possible to get too little fat in your diet? If so, what are the symptoms? First, talk to your doctor before starting any diet or exercise. Dr. Dean Ornish's diet incorporates whole plant-based foods (vegetarian) rather than processed foods (veggie...

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)...

Which margarine is lowest in cholesterol? My father died of a heart attack and my family has a lot of heart problems. I'm only 36 years old and I really like butter. Is it that important I use margarine because I don't use much butter at all on my food. Since I cannot recommend specific...

What is the recommended amount of caffeine for a person with a ventricular tachycardia? Caffeine is not recommended for people with a fast heart rhythm (tachycardia) that is focused in the lower heart (ventricles). Caffeine makes your heart beat harder which you don't need. Decaffeinated coffee, decaffeinated tea, and decaffeinated carbonated beverages may still contain 1...

It seems that when I drink coffee I get a headache. I could never understand this. I drink 2 cups per day (caffeinated) regular coffee. The headache starts hours after I drink the coffee or sometimes the next day. I would appreciate any input you would have concerning this problem. It certainly is a...