Q: You keep telling us to pay attention to the nutrition labels, but the truth is, they don't make a lot of sense sometimes. Could you give a tour of how to read it all please? - Casey P., Columbia, Missouri
A: Nutrition labels can be confusing, so let's start at the top.
- First, it lets you know how many servings are in the product, how big each serving size is, and how many calories it contains. Rarely does the serving size bear much resemblance to what you dish up on a plate. One example is a frozen macaroni and cheese (which we think you should skip altogether). Its serving size of 1 cup is far less than what most people eat in a sitting, so instead of getting the 330 calories the label proudly displays, there's a good chance you'll take in 600 or more. So beware!
n Then there's the mysterious percent of Daily Value. DV is based on the assumption that you eat 2,000 calories daily. The label then lets you know what percent of needed intake of a nutrient one serving provides. For example, if it says "Vitamin D 10%," that means that for someone eating 2,000 calories a day, one serving will provide 1/10 of the needed intake.
n A bit more helpful are the quantities provided in one serving: For example, that listing for vitamin D also says a serving contains 20 mcg. Unfortunately, not everyone needs 20 mcg a day; need is determined with a blood test and influenced by sex, age and health.
n We're happy that added sugar is on the label. It's a gut biome-destroying, inflammation-promoting, insulin-resistance-causing no-no. However, the label may indicate you're getting just a bit of your DV - but we say there is no daily value to added sugar; you should always avoid it.
The labels can be helpful, but you need to do some homework too and learn about the nutrients your body needs and the healthiest way to get them every day. For guidance check out "System OZ: 4-Week Meal Plan and Shopping Guide" at Doctor.Oz.com.
Q: I have chronic pain all over and no one has been able to figure out why? What kind of doctor should I see, and what should they look for? - Shamika G., Atlanta
A: We're sorry that you have to contend with the discomfort and frustration of not being treated effectively. Certain conditions are hard to diagnose, and certain kinds of pain are tricky to treat.
For example, chronic pain can be an indication of fibromyalgia. Unfortunately, there's no test to detect it. These days, it is considered a neurologic syndrome that triggers pain and tenderness that can come and go, and move around your body. It presents as a collection of symptoms, such as pain in various joints and muscles, migraine, and problems with the stomach, that all fall under the same umbrella. A diagnosis is made by considering all relevant symptoms, not just by adding up the number of tender spots on your body that are identified during one examination.
Rheumatologists have traditionally treated fibromyalgia, but you may also want to see a neurologist and a pain-management specialist. There are very effective alternatives to opioids for managing pain - from meditation and diet changes to cognitive behavioral therapy, NSAIDs, exercise therapy, stress-management programs and nerve blocks. And other kinds of medication may address your particular array of symptoms.
It is also possible that you have had an injury or disease that caused long-lasting changes in your sensitivity to pain. Again, a pain-management specialist may be the best option for reducing and managing the pain.
If your pain continues and doctors dismiss it as psychosomatic or simply untreatable, there is one last option. The federally funded Undiagnosed Disease Network, with 12 clinical centers across the country, may be where you can find a solution. Read about it and apply to become a patient at https://commonfund.nih.gov/diseases.
Mehmet Oz, M.D. is host of "The Dr. Oz Show," and Mike Roizen, M.D. is Chief Wellness Officer Emeritus at Cleveland Clinic. To live your healthiest, tune into "The Dr. Oz Show" or visit sharecare.com.
(c)2021 Michael Roizen, M.D.
and Mehmet Oz, M.D.
King Features Syndicate