“14 Reasons to Eat More Pasta!”

 

IT’S PART OF A GOOD DIET: Pasta is made from grain, one of the basic food groups in a healthy diet that also can include vegetables, fruits, fish, and poultry. It’s a good source of energy and can give you fiber, too, if it’s made from whole grain. That can help with stomach problems and may help lower cholesterol. Try some tagliatelle with wild mushrooms and truffle oil.

IT MAKES YOU LESS ‘HANGRY’: It's filling, which means it can curb your desire for food for a long time. That’ll make you less likely to get snippy or grumpy -- you know, “hangry.” Try a round pasta called orecchiette with sausage and broccoli rabe, a traditional Italian dish with a red chili kick.

IT’S AFFORDABLE: The basic ingredients are simple and cheap: flour, water, salt, and maybe some eggs. Whether you make your own or buy it at the store, pasta is a great way to feed the family without breaking the bank. Try a traditional spaghetti Bolognese -- the meat simmers in milk and then wine. 

IT’S VERSATILE: You can serve it as a starter, a side dish, or the main event. How about a pasta salad with mozzarella, sun-dried tomatoes, and olives? It’s tangy and delicious, and you don’t have to make it at the last minute. 

IT’S EASY TO MAKE: Keep some fresh angel hair pasta in the freezer for quick meals. Once the pot of water boils, you’re pretty much done: Because it’s so thin, the pasta cooks in seconds. Toss it in a pan with some olive oil, black pepper, and pecorino cheese for a traditional Roman dish: angel hair cacio e pepe.

THERE ARE A MILLION SHAPES: OK, not literally a million, but you get the idea: bow ties, shells, ribbons, tubes, bowls, and ravioli that hold fillings from butternut squash to wild boar and more. This opens endless possibilities for dinner, even if you have just a few minutes. For something unusual, try some rigatoni with eggplant puree. 

IT MAY HELP PREVENT CANCER: Whole-grain pasta can give you all sorts of health benefits. It has several things that can help protect you against certain kinds of cancer, especially stomach and colon cancer. For a special treat, try spaghetti carbonara with whole-grain pasta. But don’t make this rich dish a regular meal. It's made with bacon, butter, egg yolks, and Parmesan cheese. It’s like mac and cheese for grown-ups. With bacon!

IT CAN HELP YOU LOSE WEIGHT: Pasta has gotten a bad rap because of its carbohydrates. But research shows that carbs don’t keep you from losing weight -- as long as you don’t overdo it. In fact, in one study, people who ate pasta as part of a Mediterranean diet had a lower body mass index (BMI) -- a measure of your body fat based on your height and weight -- than those who didn’t. They also had less belly fat (which is worse than other fat). Fresh-cut tomatoes with garlic and basil and a touch of olive oil work well on any pasta for a healthy meal.

IT DOESN’T HAVE MUCH SALT: Too much of this mineral can play a role in heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and other health problems. Pasta is low in it, but that won’t matter if you add it back in the sauce. Spicy penne arrabiata has plenty of punchy flavor without any salt.

IT’S LOW IN FAT: Pasta has just over half a gram of fat per serving. Of course, all that goes out the window if you drench your noodles in butter, cheese, and olive oil. A simple farfalle -- “bow tie” pasta -- with marinara and basil makes a healthy, light, and satisfying meal. But keep that sprinkling of Parmesan to a minimum. 

IT HELPS KEEP BLOOD SUGAR IN CHECK: The glycemic index (GI) is a measure of how fast sugar gets into your bloodstream. Healthy diets that include foods with a low GI may help prevent diabetes and obesity, and pasta has a low GI. Try some tortellini en brodo: It has a delicious ground meat filling, and the broth will fill you up with fewer calories.

IT HAS A LONG SHELF LIFE: You’re unlikely to waste it, whether it’s dried and packaged from the supermarket shelf or fresh-frozen in your freezer. It keeps for months either way. So, the next time you get a craving for spaghetti and meatballs, the main ingredient will be waiting for you.

IT CAN BE GLUTEN-FREE: Demand has spawned a new category of pastas made from corn, rice, and even quinoa. For an exotic take, try gluten-free linguine pescatore, an Italian dish made with a mix of seafood that can include mussels, clams, calamari, shrimp, and fish in a tomato sauce. No Parmesan, though -- Italians typically keep their fish and cheese separate.

YOU CAN EAT IT FOR DESSERT: Kugel -- a simple baked noodle dish made with sour cream, cinnamon, raisins, and sugar -- originated in Eastern Europe and is one of the great comfort foods of all time. Use it as a sweet side dish or serve it as dessert -- it’s just as delicious either way.

MEDICALLY REVIEWED BY: Christine Mikstas, RD, LD on September 11, 2020

 

SOURCES:

 

National Institutes of Health

New York Times

Harvard School of Public Health

USDA Nutrient Database

Foodnetwork.com

Italianbellavita.com

ABC: “The Chew.”

Recipetips.com

Italian Food Forever

LiveScience.com: “The Dish on Pasta: Maligned Food Actually a Healthy Carb.”

Toriavey.com

TuscanTraveler.com

PBS Food

Much Love, Dr.Shermaine, #InformativeRead #PleaseShare #HealthyBodySoulAndSpirit #IWantYou2LiveWell #FeelFree2SignUpAndFollow

The Goal is to Always Make You Aware of What Concerns Your Body, Soul and Spirit, So You Can Have Open, Honest and Frequent Discussions With Your Physicians and Counselors. You Can’t Treat or Cure What You Don’t Know is Sick.
 
"It's Not Selfish to Love Yourself, Take Care of Yourself and to Make Your Happiness a Priority. It's a Necessity." (Mandy Hale)

"Self-Care is Not Selfish. You Cannot Serve From an Empty Vessel." (Eleanor Brown)

The contents of the WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine Sites, such as text, graphics, images, and other material contained on the WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine Sites ("Content") are for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine Sites!

If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately. WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on the Sites. Reliance on any information provided by WebMD, WebMD employees, others appearing on the Site at the invitation of WebMD, and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine or other visitors to the Sites is solely at your own risk.  

“Could You Be Eating These Foods Wrong?”

How Matters, Too: Yes, eating healthy means choosing the right foods, but that's only part of it. For example, the skin of many fruits and veggies (or just under it) is where a lot of the vitamins and minerals are, so when you peel it off, you're missing out. Find out what you can do to get the most nutritional value out of what you put in your mouth.

Broccoli: Steam it. That's the best cooking method if you want to get the most bang per bite. Boiling, microwaving, and stir-frying all break down more vitamin C, chlorophyll, proteins, and other nutrients. And the shorter the cooking time, the more nutrients you save. To add flavor, dress up steamed broccoli with a little olive oil, sea salt, and lemon juice.

Potatoes: When cooled to room temperature or chilled in potato salad, they'll have more "resistant starches," which take longer to digest. These help keep your gut healthy and may lower your chances of obesity, colon cancer, and diabetes. 

Eggs: In just around 75 calories, one egg gives you about 6 grams of high-quality protein, all nine of the essential amino acids your body needs, and lots of vitamin D (which is hard to get from food). But all that goodness gets offset when you cook it in fat and add a pile of pancakes dripping in butter and syrup with a side of bacon and hash browns. Try your egg poached with some sautéed spinach, or hard-boiled on whole-grain toast. 

Water: Bottled water is fine for staying hydrated, but it probably doesn't have enough of one important ingredient to keep teeth strong and help prevent tooth decay: fluoride. The stuff from your tap usually does. Almost all dental and public health organizations support adding the mineral to public drinking water. The CDC calls it a top-10 achievement for public health in the 20th century.

Cabbage: Turn it into sauerkraut or kimchi. Fermented foods like this, made when bacteria feed on sugars in the vegetable, have natural probiotics that nourish the bacteria in your gut. They may help protect against cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes. (But if you're concerned about heart health or high blood pressure, sauerkraut has more sodium than raw cabbage.)

Fruit: Better to chew your fruit and drink water when you're thirsty, especially if you're already overweight or have diabetes. Even 100% pure juice loses nutrition when it's processed. Juice also doesn't have the fiber that gives you a feeling of fullness and slows the absorption of sugar into your system. Regular sugar spikes from fruit juice can lead to health problems like diabetes, obesity, and liver damage.

Canned Veggies: You don't want to cook them twice. Canning is a surprisingly good way to keep the nutrition and freshness in your veggies, but they do get cooked in the process. So, after you take them out, you only need to heat them long enough to warm up again. Longer than that can damage flavor, texture, and nutrients.

Red Meat: It's a great source of protein, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B12, niacin, zinc, and iron. The problem is that it can also be loaded with saturated fat, which should only make up a small part of your diet. Choose lean cuts, and trim all the fat you can see off your meat before you cook it.

Coffee: Along with the caffeine boost you get, its antioxidants help protect your cells. It can be a low-calorie choice instead of sugar-sweetened soft drinks -- but only if you avoid the syrup, sugar, and cream added to some coffees. Stick with the basic brew, and pass on the "double-caramel-frappe-mocha-latte-chino" served in a bucket-sized cup.

Pasta: Overcooked pasta gets mushy and has a higher glycemic index (GI), which means your body absorbs the carbs faster. Slightly springy "al dente" pasta tastes better and is better for you. Drain it soon after it loses the outer crunch, even if there's still a trace of darker yellow inside. The type of pasta will affect its cook time. Start testing for doneness before the earliest time recommended on the package.

Tomatoes: The powerful antioxidant lycopene found in tomatoes helps protect against cancer, heart disease, stroke, and other problems. And it's easier to get from cooked (think canned tomatoes and long-simmered sauces) rather than raw fruits. However, you eat them, add a little olive oil: The fat helps your body absorb the phytonutrient.

Cantaloupe: Even though you aren't going to eat the rind of this melon, you should give it a good scrub with a produce brush before you slice into it. You want to get rid of dirt and bacteria that could be trapped in the rough skin, so you don't spread germs onto the flesh as you cut. Unlike other fruits, there's not enough natural acid to kill them off. Keep whole cantaloupe as well as the pieces in the fridge.

Red Wine: The idea that it can help protect your health appears to be true -- in moderation. More than a drink a day for women, two for men, sends the effects in the other direction, though. Heavy drinking can damage the liver and heart, harm an unborn child, and make you more likely to get some kinds of cancer.

Reviewed by: Christine Mikstas, RD, LD on January 09, 2018

Sources:

Advances in Nutrition: "Resistant starch: promise for improving human health," "White Potatoes, Human Health, and Dietary Guidance."
American Diabetes Association: "Glycemic Index and Diabetes."
American Journal of Public Health: "Reducing Childhood Obesity by Eliminating 100% Fruit Juice."
Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition: "Lean meat and heart health."
CDC: "Community Water Fluoridation," "Alcohol and Public Health: Frequently Asked Questions."
Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry: "Resistant Starch Regulates Gut Microbiota: Structure, Biochemistry and Cell Signalling."
Cleveland Clinic: "What You Need to Know About Protein," "Recipe: Poached Eggs with Spinach and Red Pepper Pesto."
Cook's Info: "Al Dente."
EatRight.org: "How to Get the Most Flavor and Nutrients."
Frontiers in Bioscience: "Health benefits of wine and alcohol from neuroprotection to heart health."
Frontiers in Microbiology: "Functional Properties of Microorganisms in Fermented Foods."
Harvard Health Publishing: "Eggs and your health," "Glycemic index and glycemic load for 100+ foods."
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health: "Carbohydrates and Blood Sugar," "Fats and Cholesterol," "Other Healthy Beverage Options," "Alcohol: Balancing Risks and Benefits."
Heart Insight: "How Meat-eaters Can Reduce Saturated Fat in Their Diet."
International Journal of Angiology: "Polyphenols are medicine: Is it time to prescribe red wine for our patients?"
Journal of Zhejiang University: "Effects of different cooking methods on health-promoting compounds of broccoli."
Mayo Clinic: "Is tap water as safe as bottled water?"
National Foundation for Cancer Research: "Tasty Tomatoes: Anti-Cancer Attributes & A Healthy Recipe."
University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension, Food Safety & Health: "Safety of Cantaloupe."
USDA National Nutrient Database: "Basic Report: 01129, Egg, whole, cooked, hard-boiled."

Much Love, Dr.Shermaine #InformativeRead #PleaseShare #HealthyBodySoulAndSpirit #IWantYou2LiveWell

The Goal is to Always Make You Aware of What Concerns Your Body, Soul and Spirit, So You Can Have Open, Honest and Frequent Discussions With Your Physicians and Counselors. You Can’t Treat or Cure What You Don’t Know is Sick.

"It's Not Selfish to Love Yourself, Take Care of Yourself and to Make Your Happiness a Priority. It's a Necessity." (Mandy Hale)

"Self-Care is Not Selfish. You Cannot Serve From an Empty Vessel." (Eleanor Brown)

The contents of the WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine Sites, such as text, graphics, images, and other material contained on the WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine Sites ("Content") are for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine Sites!

If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately. WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on the Sites. Reliance on any information provided by WebMD, WebMD employees, others appearing on the Site at the invitation of WebMD, and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine or other visitors to the Sites is solely at your own risk. 

“Foods You Can’t Stop Eating…But Should!”

Pizza: Sometimes you just gotta have it. But that doesn’t mean you have to have the deep-dish with a thick crust (with loads of carbs), extra cheese, and four kinds of meat (tons of calories and saturated fat). Go for a thin-crust veggie version, light on the cheese. Order a salad to help fill you up and add nutrients without extra calories.

Potato Chips: You never can eat only one. And the fat, salt, and carbs add up. For a crunchy treat with a little more health appeal, try nuts. Their nutrients help your cells work, and their good fats keep you full and satisfied. Just keep an eye on portion size -- they have fats, too. You could also pop some popcorn. It’s high in fiber and low in calories -- as long as you watch the butter. Either one will satisfy hunger better than potato chips.

Pasta: If you crave it, but want to cut down on the carbs, skip the flour-based noodles and use spaghetti squash instead. It’s great with a simple tomato sauce. You’ll cut calories and carbs by half -- or more -- compared with the same dish that has pasta. Add some lean ground beef or turkey breast if you want something a little heartier.

Dip: Whether it’s made with sour cream, cream cheese, or stuff that just looks like cheese, it’s hard to say no to this fatty party fare. Next time you have a shindig, switch to hummus. You’ll slash the fat and add protein from the chickpeas. While you’re at it, trade those less-than-healthy chips for all-you-can-eat veggies like bell pepper, broccoli, carrots, cucumbers, and celery.

Cereal: Many are loaded with simple carbs and sugars. Try oatmeal instead. The fiber helps fill you up and slows the absorption of calories into your bloodstream. That keeps your energy steady. It may even help you eat fewer calories over the course of the day.

Chocolate: A typical candy bar is full of sugar, unhealthy fats, and preservatives. If you want the sweet stuff, go for some dark chocolate. It can lower blood pressure, improve blood flow to your brain and heart, and protect cells from damage. Look for a plain bar with a cocoa content of 70% to 85%. Skip fillers like nuts and fruit, and don’t eat more than 1 ounce a day.

French Fries: Skip the deep-fried version and bake them instead. You’ll save calories: A small order of fast-food fries has 230 calories, but a whole medium baked potato has 130-140 calories. Check the grocery store for frozen fries you can pop into the oven. Just be careful what you put on them -- sour cream, butter, or ketchup can add lots of calories and fat.

Doughnuts: They come in sets of a dozen for a reason, right? Wrong. These nutrient-free sugar bombs are custom-made to pile on pounds and leave you hungry for more. If you want a breakfast that will keep you going all day, try eggs or cottage cheese. They’re both nutritious, satisfying, and full of protein that will give you an even supply of energy for a longer chunk of time. 

White Bread: It has very little fiber to slow the release of sugar into your blood and expand to make you feel full. It’s also missing the nutrients that help your body work the way it should and make you feel more satisfied. Look for a package that lists whole grain or whole wheat as the first ingredient.

Ice Cream: You start off thinking you’ll just have a spoonful and wind up eating the whole carton. That’s a lot of fat, sugar, and calories. If you want to splurge on something cool and creamy, switch to sorbet or fat-free frozen yogurt. You might even try a carton of plain Greek yogurt with some berries and nuts. You’ll get calcium along with protein, plus fiber and other nutrients from the add-ons.

Smoothies: They’re fine as a treat from time to time, but it’s better to eat your fruits and veggies whole. The problem with mashing them up in a smoothie is that blender-smashed food -- even fruits and veggies -- simply won’t satisfy you as well as if you eat them whole. Plus, it’s easy to eat too much too quickly. Calories and carbs, from fruit especially, can add up quickly. 

Ketchup: It’s mostly tomatoes right? Well, yes -- and sugar. Lots of sugar. Four grams in every tablespoon to be exact. If you want something tomato-y, make some homemade tomato salsa. You can add a bit of cayenne pepper for a spicy little kick.

Muffins: If you want to have cake for breakfast, just do it. Calling it a muffin won’t make it any better for you. It’s full of refined white flour, sugar, and fat -- which packs in the calories but doesn’t help your hunger. Try a whole grain English muffin with peanut butter instead. You’ll get complex carbs -- which absorb more slowly -- less sugar, and lots of protein.

White Rice: It breaks down into sugar and gets into your blood too quickly. But there are things you can do to help. First, pick the right type. Basmati, for example, has a lower glycemic index (GI) -- it breaks down into sugar more slowly. Second, don’t overcook it, which can raise GI. Special rice cookers can help. And as with potatoes, more “resistant starches” -- that are good for your gut and slow digestion -- will form as the rice cools.

Cookies: Don’t get caught with your hand in the cookie jar. The carbs, sugar, saturated fat, and extra ingredients you get from processed treats don’t do you any favors. For a snack that will soothe your sweet tooth and give you a protein boost to boot, try graham crackers with a dab of peanut butter.

Reviewed by: Michael W. Smith, MD on September 20, 2017

Fast Food Nutrition: “Little Caesars Deep! Deep! Dish Pepperoni Pizza Nutrition Facts,” Taco Bell Nacho Cheese Dip Nutrition Facts.” 
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: “Carbohydrate Counting for People With Diabetes,” “Give Your Teen’s Favorite Foods a Do-It-Yourself Makeover.” 
USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference Release 28: “Basic Report: 09507, Fruit juice smoothie, Naked Juice, Mighty Mango,” “Basic Report: 18140, Cake, yellow, commercially prepared, with chocolate frosting, in-store bakery,” “Basic Report: 18274, Muffins, blueberry, commercially prepared (Includes mini-muffins),” “Basic Report: 19411, Snacks, potato chips, plain, salted.”

Obesity Society: “Walnut consumption increases satiation but has no effect on insulin resistance on the metabolic profile over a 4-day period.” 
European Journal of Nutrition: “A mid-morning snack of almonds generates satiety and appropriate adjustment of subsequent food intake in healthy women.” 
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition: “A review of the effects of nuts on appetite, food intake, metabolism and body weight.” 
Nutrition Journal: “Popcorn is more satiating than potato chips in normal-weight adults.” 
American Diabetes Association: “Glycemic Index and Diabetes,” “Spaghetti Squash with Light Marinara Sauce.” 
U.S. Department of Agriculture: Household USDA Foods Fact Sheet: “Spaghetti, Enriched, Dry.” 
The Dash Diet Eating Plan: “Spaghetti Squash.”
Daisy Brand Sour Cream: “Ingredients.” 
Kraft: “Philadelphia Original Cream Cheese 8 Oz. Box.” 
USDA: What’s Cooking?: “Hummus.” 
Kellogg’s Froot Loops cereal: “Nutrition Facts.” 
Appetite: “Dietary fibres in the regulation of appetite and food intake. Importance of viscosity,” “The satiating effects of eggs or cottage cheese are similar in healthy subjects despite differences in postprandial kinetics.” 
Journal of the American College of Nutrition: “Instant Oatmeal Increases Satiety and Reduces Energy Intake Compared to a Ready-to-Eat Oat-Based Breakfast Cereal: A Randomized Crossover Trial.” 
Snickers: “Nutritional Information.” 
Cleveland Clinic: “Dark, Milk or White -- Which Chocolate Is Best for Your Heart?” “Heart Healthy Benefits of Chocolate.” 
McDonald’s: “The crisp, craveable fan favorite. World Famous Fries.” 
University of California: Berkeley Wellness: “Don’t Drop the Potato.” 
Ore-Ida: “Country Style French Fries.” 
Krispy Kreme: “Product Name: Original Glazed Donut.

Nemours TeensHealth: “Which bread is better: whole wheat or whole grain?” “Why is whole grain bread healthier than white bread?” 
USDA Branded Food Products Database: “Full Report (All Nutrients): 45008824, Ben & Jerry’s, Chubby Hubby, Vanilla Malt Ice Cream With Fudge & Peanut Buttery Swirls, UPC 076820199125,” “Full Report (All Nutrients): 45114504, Ben & Jerry’s, Salted Caramel Core, UPC 076840363957,” “Full Report (All Nutrients): 45129864, Red Gold 20 oz Ketchup Upside Down Bottle, Unprepared, GTIN: 00072940115212.” 
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute: “Your Guide to a Healthy Heart.” 
Calcified tissue International: “Effects of Dairy Products Consumption on Health: Benefits and Beliefs -- A Commentary from the Belgian Bone Club and the European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases.” 
International Journal of Molecular Sciences: “Bioactive Compounds and Antioxidant Activity in Different Types of Berries.” 
Advances in Nutrition: “Health Benefits of Fruits and Vegetables.” 
Smoothie King: “Nutrition Information.” 
American Heart Association: “Healthier Condiments.” 
Harvard Health Publications: “A healthy breakfast may protect against heart disease.” 
International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition: “Glycaemic index of some commercially available rice and rice products in Great Britain.” 
American Diabetes Association: “Glycemic Index and Diabetes.” 
The British Journal of Nutrition: “A systematic review of the influence of rice characteristics and processing methods on postprandial glycaemic and insulinaemic responses.” 
Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition: “Effect of variety and cooking method on resistant starch content of white rice and subsequent postprandial glucose response and appetite in humans.” 
ChooseMyPlate.gov: “Added sugars and saturated fats: know your limits.” 
DiabetesCare.net: “Healthy Snacks for People with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes.”

Much Love, Dr.Shermaine #InformativeRead #PleaseShare #HealthyBodySoulAndSpirit #IWantYou2Live

The Goal is to Always Make You Aware of What Concerns Your Body, Soul and Spirit, So You Can Have Open, Honest and Frequent Discussions With Your Physicians and Counselors. You Can’t Treat or Cure What You Don’t Know is Sick.

"It's Not Selfish to Love Yourself, Take Care of Yourself and to Make Your Happiness a Priority. It's a Necessity." (Mandy Hale)

"Self-Care is Not Selfish. You Cannot Serve From an Empty Vessel." (Eleanor Brown)

The contents of the WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine Sites, such as text, graphics, images, and other material contained on the WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine Sites ("Content") are for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine Sites!

If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately. WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on the Sites. Reliance on any information provided by WebMD, WebMD employees, others appearing on the Site at the invitation of WebMD, and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine or other visitors to the Sites is solely at your own risk.