My Wife the Dietitian

Today is our third episode of "Ask the Pharmacist" with Dr. Dean Elbe, and our listeners have a few questions for Dean. What happens if I eat my breakfast with coffee and take my thyroid medication (synthroid) at the same time? Do dairy products interfere with my antibiotics? Join us to find out! Be sure to check out Dr. Dean Elbe's website and helpful resource Drug Nutrition Interac...

Pomegranates - a festive, colourful fruit that you may see around the Christmas season with their brightly coloured seeds. Pomegranates are tasty, have high fibre benefits, and have been researched extensively. Studied for cancer prevention, erectile dysfunction, heart health, and many other conditions, pomegranates are loaded with powerful antioxidants and polyphenols to help mop up free radicals...

A listener asks "What is choline, why do we need it, what foods have it, and do I have to eat it everyday?" Sandra and Rob discuss this essential nutrient (choline). What it is, why we need it, what happens if your diet is deficient in choline, and health issues that may arise from not getting enough. We talk about recommended amounts that people need in their daily intake and discuss th...

So many of Sandra's clients and people who she talks to, start their day with a bagel and cream cheese. They seek dietitian support for help with energy crashes and bloating, plus digestive issues and cravings later in the day. Are these factors related......the bagel for breakfast and issues with energy and digestion later in the day? With three decades of helping patients and clients with th...

Are you feeling ' backed up '? Well, tune in to listen to our invigorating discussion with gut health expert, Andrea Hardy RD, owner of Ignite Nutrition and author of 'Backed Up' a digestive health e-book. Andrea is also a passionate public speaker and was a featured presenter on Ted Talks. Andrea helps set the record straight when it comes to myths and misinformation about bloatin...

What is the best fruit for constipation? This is a question from a listener and a good one! There are many fruits, vegetables and other fibre-rich foods that are helpful for constipation, but, there is one that stands out above the rest. Today we discuss......the kiwi. Episodes mentioned include: Nutrition Nuggets 116. Constipation - Best and Worst Foods https://youtu.be/rBN10-683_o?si=VySX1JcU-y2...

Here's a fun little quiz from a few years back. See how you do! Improving dietary intake with healthy foods can set you up for success when it comes to preventing chronic conditions, managing disease, maintaining a strong immune system and running on plenty of energy most days. Sandra puts Rob to the test to see how much he has learned and what he remembers about the seven pillars of healthy e...

Here's a good one from a few years ago. Enjoy!! Why are dark orange vegetables so important for our health? Sandra quizzed Rob about the seven keys to elevating your nutrition on a recent episode and we delve deeper into the question about which dark orange vegetables (and fruits) to choose. It's pumpkin season and we discuss a variety of options in the squash family and other beta-caroten...

With the month of November, comes Movember, a cause to raise awareness of men's health issues. That's why there's so many mustaches and facial hair around these days !:) Today, we narrow our discussion on a topic that is close to Sandra' s heart, prostate cancer. One of her favourite roles while working at our local cancer clinic was facilitating nutrition groups for men with prostate cancer who w...

Do you stand up while eating? This is something that many people routinely do, as they rush through their meal or snack. Sips, gulps, slurps and chugs.....many of the modern ways of eating in our overscheduled and rushed lifestyle. Rob and Sandra discuss the ripple effects on health, when we don't pause and take time to eat. Episodes mentioned include: Ep 198 Beat the Bloat https://youtu.be/aps_So...

Why is it not healthy to be skinny fat - if weight is within normal range (acceptable body mass index aka BMI) Sandra and Rob discuss what the term "skinny fat" really means and it's not a drink at Starbucks :) We talk about some of the consequences of using the scale to determine health, instead of other health indicators. Resources: Nutrition Nuggets 38. What is Metabolic Syndrome...

**This is an episode from earlier this year that we thought would be worthy of another listen. Enjoy! ** Perhaps, you've nailed your healthy breakfast most days, and dinners are working well, but lunch.....lunch, that midday meal, is still a struggle to take a break and stop working to eat something more substantial than a few crackers and hummus. To help with preventing late day cravings and...

Is it important to use balance-type exercise? Why is it important and what types should I do? These are some questions that we recently received from a listener. Why is balance and flexibility important and what can you do to improve your ability to have good balance? Sandra and Rob discuss the various health benefits, plus, some movements to practice for balance. Episodes mentioned include: Ep 13...

What's a convenient, easy way to cook a lot of vegetables, plus get your protein cooked over high heat? Sandra and Rob discuss stir frying, a tasty and nutritious method of cooking your meal. References: 5 Ways to Add More Veggies to Your Diet Nutrition Nuggets 87. https://youtu.be/s85YuJhtd44?si=d5ioBijMrpRhpFp9 Freezer Staples Nutrition Nuggets 110. https://youtu.be/hcXMZcgJCYQ?si=Kkw9b3DxVn...

Today, we have dietitian Andres Ayesta from Planos Nutrition back in the studio to discuss the eye opening results of his own dietary experiment with the Carnivore diet. He describes his body composition (dexa scan), blood work, feelings of energy, strength and cognitive clarity, and why he had to stop this diet abruptly. Andres openly describes the positive and negative aspects of his experience...

What is an easy and convenient way to get a lot of good food cooked at once and satisfy all of the vegetable ratio of the dinner plate (or bowl) for the family? Tune in today, as Sandra and Rob discuss sheet pan meals and how they can be a great addition to your weekly menu. Episodes mentioned include: Nutrition Nuggets 72. Why Are Greens So Important? https://youtu.be/Hio4uTJsi8E?si=P1KiguxyqaUbo...

As a parent (or grandparent) of young kids, do you often wonder how to foster more curiosity in the kids about the world around them? Or find activities that reduce that default daily screen time? Easy ways to explore nature, the garden, parks and beaches, plus getting kids to be excited about life and experiences.....that's what we're discussing today. Thought provoking and entertaining,...

What is your ultimate comfort food? For many people, mac and cheese, also known as Kraft Dinner, or KD for short (in Canada), is one of those comfort foods. Comfort food means happy childhood memories, possibly a favourite dish your parents or grandparents made for you, and comfort foods are usually tied to your emotions with feel good memories from the past. Today, Rob and Sandra banter about mac...

So many people feel bloated and their stomach feels like an inflated balloon. Rob and Sandra discuss common symptoms of bloating, why it happens, some simple fixes for occasional bloating, and we go deeper into other factors that may indicate the need to do a diet overhaul.  Episodes mentioned, include: Ep 116. Constipation - Foods To Help https://youtu.be/rBN10-683_o?si=NdpwwGmCIIZjpoMq Ep 108. I...

"Should I eat high protein pasta?" Great question from a listener! These pastas are different than regular durum wheat pasta. Rob and Sandra compare nutritional considerations, taste, texture and other aspects of these newly emerging pasta products on the market. Episodes mentioned include: Ep 122. Health Benefits of Resistant Starch https://youtu.be/6S8TcEP3Xwk?si=hwcS04L8UQTcJgt0 Ep 14...

A listener asks, "my dad was recently diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Is there a diet he should be on?" There's a lot to discuss with this question. What is Parkinson's, what are some of the causes, will a certain diet help with symptoms and what are some of the common symptoms? Episodes and resources mentioned include: Ep 116. Constipation - Best and Worst Foods https://...

A listener wants clarification about using oils, how much, and if it's healthy to add fats to her food. Rob and Sandra discuss the qualities of cooking with oil or not , plus the pros and cons for health and taste. References: Episode 23. Fats, Grease and Oil - Lubricate your skin from within https://youtu.be/otQdbY-s_vo?si=Agf_jPxhMgF61hZ0 Nutrition Nuggets 133. Is Olive Oil Better Than Butte...

How do parents navigate picky eating behaviour at the family dinner table? How can the rest of the family eat a diverse diet, if one person has a food allergy or intolerance? What does the impact of parents dieting or restricting their own food intake have on the child's own body image, and relationship with food? These are a few of the topics that we delve in to and discuss with Dana Dose, RD...

Why does roasted food taste so much better? Today, we discuss roasted carrot and potato soup that Sandra made with all of the bags of carrots and potatoes she had to use up from Rob's shopping excursion. We talk about how roasting food really elevates the flavour of the vegetable and brings out the taste of the caramelization. Resources: Nutrition Nuggets 5 - Potatoes, Spuds and Taters https:/...

What have you heard about Magnesium? Is it good for health? Two listener questions came through about this mineral. 1. Does magnesium help with sleep? 2. Is it safe to take magnesium supplements daily? Rob and Sandra discuss what magnesium does in the body, where to find it in food, who may be at risk for deficiency and what some options are for gentle, absorbable magnesium supplements to help wit...