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Q: Can chewing gum help
you lose weight?
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A: While it may help some people, don’t count
on it as a major weight loss strategy. Studies suggest that chewing
gum can burn about 11 calories an hour. So, theoretically, if
you chewed gum 11 hours a day, you might lose an extra pound
a month. The bigger benefit, however, comes when chewing gum
serves as a replacement for overeating. Gum may help those who
tend to eat out of boredom or anxiety. It can also stand in for
dessert, providing a pleasant, sweet taste after a meal. But
remember: If you chew a lot of sugar-containing gum, the calories
can quickly add up at 7 to 10 calories per stick. In addition,
the constant sugar bath is not good for your teeth. Sugarless
gum is a far better choice. If you find that chewing gum helps
in your efforts to establish healthy eating habits, great. But
don’t fall for unsubstantiated advertising claims that special
"weight management gum" with added ingredients can
lead to superior weigh loss results.
Q: Does ginger promote
digestive health?
A: The health benefits of ginger have long been promoted
in traditional Asian medicine, but not all of the health claims
are supported by solid research. Although ginger does seem to
reduce pregnancy-related nausea, it does not necessarily relieve
nausea from motion sickness or cancer chemotherapy. Claims that
it counteracts diarrhea and constipation may be true, but again,
there is little scientific evidence. Ginger seems safe when taken
in small amounts, with only a few occasional side effects such
as gas, bloating and heartburn. |
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Q: Does diet have any
effect on psoriasis?
A: Psoriasis (sore-eye-ah-sis) is a skin disease that
features itchy patches of thick, reddened, scaly skin. Susceptibility
to psoriasis is inherited, but several factors can influence
its development, including stress and infection. These factors
can also affect when symptoms come and go. Diet may also help
decrease symptoms. Because psoriasis is linked to inflammation,
eating a diet rich in foods that combat inflammation is helpful.
Including plenty of vegetables, fruits, whole grains and beans,
which supply a wide range of antioxidant vitamins and phytochemicals,
may be beneficial. Adding sources of omega-3 fat in the diet
can also help suppress inflammation. Choose fish high in omega-3
fat (such as salmon, trout and albacore tuna) at least twice
a week and enjoy plant sources of omega-3s as well, like walnuts,
flaxseed and canola oil. Avoiding certain foods may also help.
Some people who suffer from psoriasis are intolerant to gluten,
a protein found in wheat, rye and barley. Symptoms may improve
in these people if they follow a gluten-free diet. Others may
find help from vitamin D, which promotes immune function and
regulation of cell growth. Vitamin D is sometimes an ingredient
in skin creams that are used as a part of treatment, and some
scientists suggest that getting adequate vitamin D may help even
prevent psoriasis. Finally, some forms of psoriasis that are
common among overweight men and women have shown improvement
when these people cut calorie consumption to achieve a 5 to 10
percent weight loss. |
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