Last month we discussed the craving for sugar which seems ubiquitous among us. This month I’d like to focus on another commonly hidden ingredient. Like sugar, this ingredient is also vital to life and health, but when consumed in high amounts, can hinder your well-being. This nutrient is a mineral vital to control of fluid …
Dr. Pettit’s Tip for Healthy Living: A Nitty Gritty Look at Salt Read More »
Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down. Why do we love sugar? Some of our love for sugar is learned, and some of our preference depends on exposure during developmental years. However, humans also have a deeply set evolutionary reason to favor the tastes of foods with sugar, salt, and fat. The …
Dr. Pettit’s Tips for Healthy Living: Why We Love Sugar Read More »
This month, I want to respond to a recent news release which has created quite the stir in the dental hygiene world. I’m referring to the Associated Press release of a report stating that flossing has no proven benefits. In case you have been wondering where we stand on flossing, let me be clear. Flossing …
Dr. Pettit’s Tips for Healthy Living: The Deal with Flossing Read More »
As a feature of the MedCenter TMJ newsletter, we want to include a short and practical tip of the month for optimizing nutrition. An important element of healthy living is healthy eating. We have said before, we are what we eat. In the heat of this summer, it is important to remember, we are also …
Dr. Pettit’s Tip for Healthy Living: We Are What We Drink! Read More »
As a feature in the Med Center TMJ newsletter,we include a short and practical tip of the month for optimizing nutrition. Research has shown over the last 45 years that a healthy diet—notably one rich in fruits and vegetables— together with regular physical activity, can prevent and treat many age-related diseases. As a whole, the …
The summer is here and many of us have a change in schedule. This will affect where and what we choose to eat. A critical part of our general health is our dental health. The foods we choose and how we eat them can have a lasting effect on our teeth and gums. This month …
Dr. Pettit’s Tip for Healthy Living: Snacking This Summer Read More »
My parents came to visit Houston last month and we had a wonderful time. My dad is a fanatic for gardening. He helped us pick out some fruit trees, and we planted a few in our back yard. One in particular I am looking forward to enjoying is our new avocado tree. This month, I …
I recently highlighted some updates to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. One of these updates is that eggs are now a recommended protein food, which is a change from the past. Let’s take a look at why eggs can be such a great source of nutrition. Eggs have been avoided for years due to concerns …
Texas has fantastic grapefruit! And lately we’ve had a lot of delicious grapefruit available at our markets. Dr. Auvenshine and I have been eating a grapefruit every day for the past few weeks. I thought I’d take some time to highlight the benefits of this tasty fruit in this month’s newsletter. A core benefit of …
Dr. Pettit’s Tips for Healthy Living: Grapefruit Powerhouse Read More »
The New Year likely came with new resolutions! I hope nutrition made your list. The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services released an update to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.* I want to highlight some of the changes for you. For the first time, the new guidelines target added …
Dr. Pettit’s Tips for Healthy Living: Update to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans Read More »