Doctor Jacq's Blog
Making the Healthier Choice the Easier ChoiceYou Can Always Count on Food: Raisins as Sports Nutrition Chews
Young athletes are constantly striving to have that extra “edge,” and they often turn to commercial products in order to achieve their training and competition goals. Kids and teens turn to sports drinks, protein powders, chews and gels (there’s even...
read moreFood Rules: Words to Live By
Last week I made A Case for Moderation, and I gave you my “Food Philosophy,” if you will. Today, I want to share some simple “Food Rules” from one of my favorite authors, Michael Pollan. In “Food Rules, an eater’s manual” you find simple food...
read moreFish and The Mercury Dilemma
We have heard about the health benefits of fish and we know they are packed with nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins and lean protein. But what about the mercury? What exactly is it and how does it affect you? Which fish have the...
read moreNavigating the Fast Food World: Finding What’s Best
You know I’m a big proponent of eating more home made meals; you can control sodium, sugar, fat and quality of ingredients as well as portions. But let’s face it, we all have very busy lives; we don’t even have time to sit down at a restaurant…from school...
read moreDoes Your Child Need More Fiber? Yes! Learn Why and How
We all try hard to feed our families the best food we possibly can. We know about complex carbohydrates, lean proteins, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals. But what about Fiber? How much do kids need? Why is it important? How do you add fiber to your...
read moreHigh School Athletes and Performance Enhancing Drugs (Part 1)
In recent years I’ve seen more and more teens admitted to the hospital due to the side effects of Ergogenic drugs. You may have never heard the name, but they are substances used to enhance athletic performance, such as the ever present steroids. Teens...
read moreReturn-to-Play After Mono; “Doc, When Can I Play?”
Jason is a sixteen year old high school football player admitted to the hospital with fever, sore throat and dehydration and diagnosed with mono. The first thing I hear on the day of discharge from most young athletes is “When can I go back to play?”...
read moreWater Safety: How To Protect Your Competitive Swimmer from Chlorine
Summer is fast approaching and thousands of kids and their parents will become regulars at the local pool. But did you know chronic exposure to chlorine can harm lungs and cause or exacerbate asthma? Children absorb chlorine more readily than...
read moreMeasles: What Every Parent Needs to Know
We are living in the midst of a measles epidemic here in California, with more than 59 cases of measles reported in our state alone since the end of 2014 and 42 cases directly linked to an initial exposure at Disneyland and California Adventure. Parents...
read moreHow to Shop Smart for Fruits and Veggies
At least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables are recommended daily, but shopping for these items (especially organic or not in season produce) can be pricy…How to shop smart for fruits and veggies you ask? Let’s take a look at some tips for smart shopping,...
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