My buddy Al sent this response to a recent column on vitamin C:

“You wrote, ‘unlike most animals, our human bodies do not have the ability to manufacture vitamin C.’ Well, I am a party animal!! Do I have the ability to make a little of my own?

“Seriously now, I have 1,000 mg packets (of vitamin C) and it reads ‘for daily support.’ ...Read more

We’re never too old to learn. That’s why I appreciated the kind letter from Professor Emeritus Bob Hutkins from the Department of Food Science and Technology at the University of Nebraska.

“Thank you for your informative columns that I read regularly in the Lincoln Journal Star. The probiotics quiz was spot on except for the question ...Read more

We’ve just arrived for our yearly visit to the great state of Texas. After three days of travel, our horses and dogs are happy to be here too.

Before we left home, I packed our live-in trailer with as many groceries as would fit into our small refrigerator and limited cabinet space. No need for anything that requires an oven. Don’t have one...Read more

One regret I have is not being able to meet Linus Pauling, the biochemist best known in nutrition circles for his views on vitamin C. In the last years of his life, he resided just down the road from us. He may not have wanted a visit from a stranger, but I wish I had at least tried.

If the name doesn’t ring a bell, Pauling was a Nobel Prize ...Read more

When I was a kid, I would watch my mom in the kitchen. Every once in a while as she cut up potatoes, she’d pop a raw piece in her mouth. She’d do the same with raw meat — to test the seasoning, I suppose — before placing a meatloaf in the oven.

Don’t do that, say food safety experts. To my knowledge, mom never got sick from these ...Read more

Several years ago, a patient asked me what she could eat to treat hypothyroidism — a medical condition characterized by abnormally low levels of thyroid hormones.

She was correct to be concerned. The small thyroid gland housed in the front of our necks manufactures hormones that control important bodily functions including breathing, heart ...Read more

Along with starting a few resolutions for the new year, I checked my mailbag. Joyce M. writes, “I enjoyed your column on cranberries in the Dallas Morning News. Several of the health benefits were new to me, but I was educated on cranberry production by elderly Wisconsin relatives who worked on the farms.

“For years I have bought extra ...Read more

A few weeks ago, I had coffee with a friend who used to share an office with me where we both worked as dietitians. I asked if she’d been busy.

“Not really,” she said. “No one wants to talk about nutrition or weight loss during the holidays. But it will definitely pick up after Jan. 1!”

So true. The new year is when we get to start ...Read more

I visited our local library last week and was surprised to see a cheerful sign at the door that invited patrons in for “Books and Brews!” Not brews that may first come to mind. These were various teas and coffees lovingly prepared by librarians (another reason why I love our small town) for those of us who like to nestle with our computers ...Read more

There is truly something extra special about this season. Thinking about loved ones near and far. Wrapping gifts. Hoping you remembered what you need at the grocery store.

It’s interesting how eggnog hits the shelves in November and disappears the day after New Years. It’s what grocers call a “seasonal” item. Take a look at eggnog’s ...Read more

“Can you get these year-round?” my husband asked over breakfast. He was referring to the fresh cranberries I used for my cranberry sauce at Thanksgiving. We have happily discovered the leftovers make a yummy topping to our morning oatmeal.

Come to think of it, the only time I find fresh cranberries in our local grocery store is in November ...Read more

Yikes, the year is almost over and my inbox still holds some unanswered questions from readers.

Dave P. from Tucson writes: “I’ve read that in order to derive the full nutritional value from mushrooms, they should be nuked in the microwave for two to three minutes. Is this true, and are there other vegetables that should be cooked in any ...Read more