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Q. Does pineapple help stop indigestion?
THE QUESTION IN FULL Q. My husband suffers indigestion. A friend suggested he eat fresh pineapple before or after each meal. Since he's been on the pineapple he no longer has the problem. Is this an...
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Q. My family has a history of bowel cancer. Should I be eating more fibre?
The question in full: Q. As my family has a history of bowel cancer, should I be eating more fibre? Does the way I cook food affect its fibre content? AuthorCatherine Saxelby
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Q. Can I eat cruciferous vegetables if I've had my thyroid removed OR am...
A: It is not necessary to eliminate cruciferous vegetables from your diet but rather, to limit intake so that it falls into a reasonable range. In fact, these veges are incredibly nutritious for all...
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Eat to beat iron-deficiency anaemia
If you're tired all the time with little energy, it's worth paying a visit to your doctor for a blood test to check whether you have iron-deficiency anaemia. Lack of energy, poor stamina, pale skin,...
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Q. I have diabetes - why is it OK for me now to have sugar?
The question in full Q. I've had type 2 diabetes for 15 years. When I was first diagnosed I was told no sugar was permitted and I had to use sweetener. Now why is it now OK for me to have sugar?...
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Q. I'm on a gluten-free diet. Does maltodextrin contain gluten?
A. Yes. It may contain small fragments of protein particles related to gluten. Maltodextrin is a starch which is used as a thickener or texture modifying agent in foods such as pasta sauces, soups,...
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5 heart-friendly foods for busy women
We all know about the risks of breast cancer. It attracts enormous publicity – think of all those pink products and celebrity survivors such as Olivia Newton-John and Kylie Minogue! With all that...
View ArticleQ. Is a Candida diet really worth the hard work?
Question in full: Q. To eliminate Candida, I’ve been told eat a yeast-free diet and cut out sugar, refined carbohydrate and foods that grow mould? I’m finding it really hard – is it worth it? A....
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Make your own liquid breakfast
Liquid breakfasts – things you sip straight out of the pack – are all the rage. For busy people flying out the door, it’s the ultimate in a quick meal replacement. Nothing to mix or chop or toast,...
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Q. How can I manage on a salt-free diet?
Q. My doctor's just ordered a virtually salt-free diet which I'm finding is a challenge! It seems anything with flavour has way more than 120mg per 100 grams, the limit to which I have to keep under....
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5 easy swaps to make your kitchen heart-friendly
Troubled by high cholesterol? Or has your doctor said you need to get your cholesterol down? Before you start on medication, try my five easy swaps that will work painlessly with your body’s...
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Q. Which foods should someone with coeliac disease avoid?
Q. I have recently been diagnosed with coeliac disease. Could you tell me which specific foods to avoid? A. Coeliac disease (pronounced seel-ee-ack) is the result of a permanent intolerance to gluten....
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Q. Are fish oil capsules safe if I'm allergic to fish? If not, how do I get...
THE QUESTION IN FULL Q. I avoid seafood as I have an allergy to fish. So how would I increase my intake of omega-3 fats? Are fish oil capsules safe for me? AuthorCatherine Saxelby
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A day’s eating plan to lower your cholesterol
Eating for a healthy heart doesn’t have to be hours of hard work. You can use supermarket foods and mix and match these easily available items with fresh to come up with a day’s eating plan that’s...
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Q. I have recently become vegetarian. What should I watch for so I don't miss...
A. If you have only recently started cooking vegetarian meals and looking for meatless swaps, here's how to avoid the 3 most common nutrition pitfalls. AuthorCatherine Saxelby
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A day’s eating plan to lower your man’s cholesterol
With Father's Day, I thought it's appropriate to dedicate a post to men's nutrition. According to a recent newspaper article in the Good Food supplement of the Sydney Morning Herald, men like to eat...
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Q. I am pregnant and have read a warning for pregnant women about Listeria....
A. In recent times, there have been several updates on the food-poisoning bacteria Listeria. This is important for: Pregnant women and their unborn baby People whose immune systems cannot fight off...
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5 reasons why you must get enough calcium
Everyone knows we need calcium to build strong, dense bones in our younger years so we can prevent the crippling bone disease, osteoporosis, later in life. Osteoporosis literally means 'porous bones'....
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Q. What diet help is there for gout?
The question in full: Q. I am having problems with gout, especially in my big toe. Is gout a food related problem? If so, what can I do about it? AuthorCatherine Saxelby
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Q. I have been diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome. How do I reduce my...
A. To reduce your fibre intake, aim to eat low-fibre versions of breads, grains and cereals such as white bread - not wholemeal or grainy white rice - not brown puffed rice - not whole wheat cereals...
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Q: If nuts are high in fat why do I keep hearing they're good for my heart?
A. Nuts are no longer considered just a salty party nibble like potato crisps and corn chips. Yes they're high in fat but are nutrient-dense foods that are important in a healthy diet. They have a...
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Q. How useful are zinc lozenges for stopping colds?
A. The cure for the common cold remains elusive, however that doesn't stop the list of ‘cures' from growing longer each winter. To date, this list has included tea with lemon and honey, garlic,...
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Q. Are there any hangover cures that actually work?
A. Everyone has their own hangover remedy - from effervescent B vitamins to greasy food the morning after - but there is little research to show that any actually work. Truely. However any thing that...
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Q. Which cheeses should I avoid to steer clear of Listeria?
THE QUESTION IN DETAIL Q. I am pregnant and wonder how do I know which cheeses are okay to eat? Help! A. Whilst rare, Listeria is a real concern during pregnancy. Listeria (technically Listeria...
View ArticleQ. Do psyllium husks lower cholesterol?
A. Yes. The outer husks from the seeds of Psyllium (Plantago ovato) are effective at lowering both the total cholesterol and the 'bad' LDL-cholesterol, as it's very concentrated in soluble fibre (with...
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Q. I’ve heard my 20 something, backpacking children speak of the BRAT diet...
The BRAT diet was originally used to treat diarrhoea in children. However it is now recommended that it should only be used for 24 hours and children should resume their normal diet after this period...
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Eat to beat traveller’s diarrhoea
When you’re on a busy trip with a tight schedule, you can’t afford to be ill. Whether it’s a holiday or a business trip, there’s nothing worse than being sick in a strange hotel or landing back home...
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Eat to beat heartburn
UPDATED INFORMATION Indigestion and/or heartburn is a weekly occurrence for about one in five of us. It’s that burning, painful and uncomfortable feeling we get at the top of the abdomen after eating....
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Huge portions of junk food - the 7 worst culprits
Nutritionists know that portion sizes have increased over the past 20 years. What’s more they are contributing to our obesity crisis. However, it’s not just the amount, but the type, that’s the...
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Healthy eating for active ageing
Australians are living longer – at the age of 65, women can expect to live another 22 years and men another 19 years. Once over 65, serious illnesses such as high blood pressure, heart disease and...
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Eat to beat anxiety, depression and other mental problems
In April 2016, I attended an NSA symposium in Sydney where I heard a detailed presentation by Professor Felice Jacka entitled Diet and Mental Health: Results from the first randomised control trial to...
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Do you have Metabolic Syndrome (Syndrome X)? What you need to know.
Made popular by many diet books, the Metabolic Syndrome (or Syndrome X) is a term we are hearing more about as it accompanies our 'obeso-genic' lifestyle . Our modern way of life where we don't move...
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Eat to beat cholesterol
When your doctor tells you that your blood cholesterol levels are too high, it can be a bit of shock. Often, you’ll be advised to go on medication called statins. These will reduce your cholesterol...
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What is a clear diet? Why do you need one? And how do you eat for it?
A clear diet is needed to cleanse the bowel (colon or end of the digestive tract), usually in preparation for a colonoscopy, abdominal x-ray, bowel surgery, bowel evacuation of any sort, and...
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Eat to beat high blood pressure
Blood pressure is known to rise as we grow older. However, high blood pressure (medically known as hypertension) is a silent condition that can go undetected for years until it suddenly causes a...
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Eat to beat gluten intolerance and coeliac disease (Part 1)
People with coeliac disease or dermatitis herpetiformis, or those with an intolerance to gluten have to be extra careful of what they eat. If you are just avoiding gluten for reasons of digestion...
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Eat to beat gluten intolerance and coeliac disease (Part 2)
Part 1 of this post dealt with which foods to avoid and gave the options for substituting other foods. Part 2 provides those with gluten intolerance or coeliac disease a meal plan to follow....
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Eat to beat MSG and glutamate sensitivity
Are you glutamate-sensitive? Difficult, as it’s impossible to avoid ALL glutamates. They’re natural components of a wide number of foods, but you can avoid big doses (which most likely will trigger...
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Eat to beat Poly Cystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
PCOS is a hormonal imbalance thought to affect 10 per cent of the female population. Its symptoms can be both distressing and unpleasant but they can be alleviated through diet. Take a look…...
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Eat to beat Macular Degeneration and maintain your eye health
Macular degeneration, also known as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), is the name given to a group of eye diseases that cause progressive loss of central vision, leaving the peripheral or side...
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Full-fat dairy – the Heart Foundation’s new position
In 2019, the Heart Foundation of Australia changed its stand against the fat in dairy. Instead of prohibiting all full-fat foods like milk, yoghurt and cheese, it would appear that the Foundation has...
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Q. Do all types of salt contain sodium? Is any one healthier than another?
THE QUESTION IN FULL Q. We have been advised not to add salt to our food as my husband has high blood pressure. Do all types of salt contain sodium and is any one type of salt healthier than the...
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Eat to boost your immune system - 4 nutrients that help
By now we all know the symptoms of a COVID-19 infection. Fever, a dry cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, and sometimes aches and pains. However, as winter rolls around the annual cold and flu...
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Food allergy or intolerance? Here’s a handy hint.
If you’re allergic to one of the allergens that have to be declared on food labels or have a particular food intolerance then you’re probably an avid reader of the fine print on food labels. However,...
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Eat to beat fatty liver disease
Within the next decade, fatty liver disease will become the leading cause of cirrhosis, liver cancer and liver transplants. So, what is it? How do you get it? And most importantly, what can you do to...
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Eat to beat the menopause
Menopause – those years which mark the end of a woman’s reproductive life and when a woman’s hormones cease can be a blessing or a curse. Around 80 per cent of women experience the unpleasant symptoms...
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The hidden sources of sodium in medicines and additives
When we’re trying to reduce our sodium intake we need to be aware that sodium is also found in medicines and additives as well as in many of our foods. These sources can all contribute to excess salt....
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Eat to beat flatulence
Flatulence, commonly referred to as ‘breaking wind’, ‘passing wind’ or ‘farting’, is caused by gas in the bowel (large intestine). Ordinarily, the intestines produce about 500–2,000 mL of gas, which...
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The truth about lecithin
What IS lecithin, I hear you ask. A popular “health food” supplement, lecithin is a type of fat called a phospholipid, which has phosphorus as a key ingredient. It is made in the body by the liver as...
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The truth behind coconut oil
Many “health gurus” tout the benefits of coconut oil. Just type the term into any search engine and you’ll be flooded with articles claiming it controls sugar cravings, is good for your heart,...
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