1.  I crave carbohydrates, what should I eat to help me to lose weight? You crave carbohydrates because you have high serotonin production that may improve mood. To promote satiety, and decrease the craving for starchy foods, have a protein-based snack. 2.  Are carbohydrates making me fat? Consuming carbohydrates will increase your blood sugar level, temporarily. This is a normal response to eating. An elevation in blood sugar will cause your pancreas to release more insulin into your blood stream. This, too, is normal. The insulin will help to bring blood sugar back into a normal range. By eating carbohydrates you will not become fat. I have educated my clients that their aerobic activity level will result in how much carbohydrate they may eat in a given day. 3.  I have heart problems, should I be a vegetarian? To be a vegetarian depends heavily on the level of your Coronary Artery Disease, which needs to be evaluated by your cardiologist. It is important to decrease your saturated fat intake (butter, margarine, creamy salad dressings, etc.) and adding more of the healthy fats into your diet monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats into your diet. This will decrease many weight and cholesterol levels and in opening blocked arteries. 4. Can herbs have an effect on various medications that I am taking? Always let your physician be aware of the herbal remedies that you are taking, since they can have an effect on the absorption of various medications. 5. Is it necessary to have a diet containing carbohydrates, protein, and fat? One must have a diet that contains carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Amounts vary for each individual, based on age, activity, bone size and weight. Carbohydrates are necessary as they are the main source of energy. Protein is important for growth and repair of every cell. Fat is necessary to have in our diet because it helps us to feel full and stop eating. 6. Can I still eat red meat while following heart healthy guidelines? Red meat can be implemented into a heart healthy diet twice per week. Recommended lean cuts include: “loin” or “round” or ground beef that is 90 or 95 % lean. For a more detailed response please read my article: “Can Read Meat be incorporated into a Heart Healthy Diet?” 7. I crave salt, what would be a good snack to eat? Theories for increased cravings for salty foods in women (especially 2 weeks prior to their periods) could be effected by the female hormone estrogen on the andiuretic hormones, vasopressin and aldosterone, which cause fluid retention. To reprogram taste buds research has shown to snack on crunchy non-salty foods (jicama, bell peppers, carrots), as well as drink an ice glass of water, wait 15 minutes for the craving to subside. 8. What can I do nutritionally to improve chronic fatigue syndrome? There are no clearly defined dietary guidelines for the prevention of chronic fatigue syndrome. Preliminary evidence shows that serotonin levels might be too high in (CFS suffers). Reducing the carbohydrate intake and increasing protein intake may help rebalance brain chemistry. It is also important to get plenty of rest and not skip food for caffeine, which can make one feel more exhausted. 9. What happens to my blood sugar if I consume caffeine? Blood sugar levels rise in the first hour, followed by a drop in glucose to be low levels. 10. What happens to my metabolism and blood sugar when I skip a meal? Skipping a meal, or meals, over time results in developing chronically slow metabolisms. This may also result in eating larger unbalanced meals and eating more. Also, blood sugar levels drop slowly and if the meal is breakfast it may only partially rise to normal levels if food intake is delayed too long. I encourage clients to eat smaller meals more often, to keep metabolisms burning their food efficiently. This can also result in eating slower and you may surprise yourself by eating less! 11. Why do I hear that I should mix protein and carbohydrates? Having this mixture can stabilize blood sugar for 3-4 hours, adding good fat (mono & poly-unsaturated) and helping sustain blood sugar longer.