Obese man won’t diet

November 8, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: My 48-year-old husband of 12 years is obese. When we married he was a large man but not obese. This condition has affected our lives in many ways. How do we get information concerning options for him other than diet? He has high blood pressure and cholesterol that are both controlled by medication. I am at my wits’ end. Please help!

DEAR READER: Your note is very brief and doesn’t give me much to go on. Why are you interested in options other than diet? Is he already on a diet? Does he consume normal portions of healthful foods such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean meats and fish? Has he refused to make necessary modifications to his eating habits?
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Diet may be to blame for appetite, cough

November 1, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: My 14-year-old grandson for years has had a huge appetite and is never satisfied. Unfortunately, he grew up on fast food and his mother’s home cooking added to the problem, no matter how we urged her to cook healthier foods. He is about 40 pounds overweight. He was never a fast walker or runner, and therefore, doesn’t like sports.

Recently he developed a very deep “croopy” cough, especially in the morning. Doctors blame it on postnasal drip. He also has very bad breath and nothing seems to help. He also has occasional heartburn. I remember reading a letter to you from a woman who said her cough was cured by using Prevacid.
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More options for treating psoriasis

May 1, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: To the reader who wrote in to your column regarding her grandson’s psoriasis: Try a naturopathic doctor who focuses on diet. I went to a dermatologist for years with a horrible case of psoriasis. I have used steroidal creams, took cortisone injections (one time directly to the soles of my feet, one of my more painful experiences), and gave myself weekly shots in the abdomen. I even had an infusion treatment and countless “trial medications” in trying to reclaim normal skin that would not crack and bleed. When my dermatologist suggested I save my sperm and go in for light chemo, I went looking for other opinions.
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Inability to lose weight may not be due to diet and exercise

January 20, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I am a 63-year-old woman who is trying to lose 20 pounds. I’m 5 feet 7 inches and weigh 155 pounds. I feel I am at least 25 pounds overweight. I exercise daily and eat healthy fruits and vegetables, but no flour or sugar. I consume 1,200 calories each day and cannot lose a pound.

DEAR READER: It sounds as though you are doing all the right things. I recommend you visit your physician for some routine lab work and a review of your medical history to determine whether a thyroid condition, prescription medication or other medical disorder might be to blame. It might not be your fault at all, just an undiscovered anomaly.

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Reader learns about self on Gott diet

October 13, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I am a 72-year-old woman who has lived with a weight problem since puberty. My husband and I have been on the no-flour, no-sugar diet for the past 10 weeks. Although the weight loss is slow, there are some things I have learned about myself. First, after years of yo-yoing on Weight Watchers, including being a lecturer for them, I never learned how to keep it off. Secondly, I discovered that I have an addiction to flour and sugar products. I suffered withdrawal symptoms when I first gave them up. I don’t know why I didn’t know this before, but it is possible I didn’t want to face it. This program of eating is finally a way of life and not a diet. Thank you for helping me to become aware.
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Popcorn OK on Gott diet

October 12, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I started your diet six days ago. I have lost one pound and am thrilled. I wonder if I can eat popcorn as a snack while on your diet. I pop it in olive oil and don’t use butter.

DEAR READER: Congratulations on your initial success. A weight loss of about one pound per week is average and healthful while on my no-flour, no-sugar diet.
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When labels are misleading

February 9, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I have had great success with your no-flour, no-sugar diet. You have indicated that natural sugar from fruit is OK. I drink 100 percent cranberry juice, and the label states that the ingredients are 100 percent fruit juices from grapes, cranberries and apples (water, juice concentrates), natural flavors, ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and citric acid. The nutrition facts state the product contains 35 grams of sugar, which I assume is natural fruit sugar. I drink many glasses daily, but now wonder whether I have been inadvertently consuming added sugar and not natural fruit sugar.
DEAR READER: Natural fruit sugar, known as fructose, is an acceptable component to your diet, as long as your doctor has not indicated otherwise. The sugars listed on your nutrition facts label indicate the natural fruit sugar. If there were added sugar, known as sucrose, it would be listed on the ingredients panel. You are not consuming excess sucrose. [Read more...]

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Meat Not Necessary In A Proper Diet

April 2, 2009 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
Over the past several years you have occasionally written about proper diets. The one that sticks out in my memory is one from a lady who said she didn’t like meat and wanted to know if it was okay to leave it out of her diet. You told her that we really don’t need meat but I completely disagree with you.

Most nutritionists tell us we need to eat at least three ounces (about the size of a deck of cards) of meat a day. They reason that there are 21 amino acids (which are proteins) we need to ingest to remain healthy and some of them are found only in meat.

Nutritionists tell us that we should eat one serving of meat, two to three servings of vegetables, two to three servings of fruits, four servings of whole grains, two servings of dairy products and one serving of potatoes every day in order to get the nutrients our bodies need. [Read more...]

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Daily Column

April 4, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I am 75 years old. I don’t drink, smoke or eat anything white. I am 5’4” and weigh 172 but should weigh 130. I walk four hours a day.

I lost 21 pounds on the South Beach diet. How can I lose that last 40 pounds? My doctor says I MUST eat 1200 calories a day but I feel that is too much. I currently consume 800 calories a day in an attempt to lose the extra weight.

DEAR READER:
You are not taking in enough calories and I fear that you may actually be starving yourself and may be malnourished. Your diet may be detrimental to your health. This could be why you have stopped losing weight. Without proper nutrition your body will not properly metabolize what you do eat.

You should not be so concerned about your weight. At 75, it will not make much difference to your health. Stop the restrictive diet, consult with a nutritionist and get back to enjoying life.

To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Eating Disorders”. Other readers who would like copies should send a long, self-addressed, stamped envelope and $2 to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.

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Nutritious lunch of granola, cheese and fruit nothing to worry about

February 2, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: Please settle a very old argument I have with several of my family members and in-laws.

I am 52 years old, married with 2 daughters ages 25 and 19. I have a desk job so during the day I am not very active. I enjoy most sports but with a busy schedule don’t play much of anything anymore. Most of my physical activity comes from yard work and golfing (which I almost always walk).

The argument is about what I eat for lunch while at work. I usually carry-in four days a week and go out one day. When I bring lunch, it usually is seasonal fruits, cheese and nuts or granola. I drink water most days, but occasionally have a Pepsi. [Read more...]

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