Providence Nutrition Services
Forms & Information
Q: “I ate a cheeseburger the day before I gave blood for a physical. Even though I fasted for 12 hours before I gave blood, could the cheeseburger have elevated my cholesterol? I am 22 and am only a few pounds overweight. My total cholesterol is 180; HDL is 37; LDL is 119; triglycerides are 121. What do you suggest I do to lower my numbers?”
If you smoke, one of the most important steps you can take to improve your health is to quit smoking. Providence Health & Services supports you in this effort. The resources below can help you stop smoking for good.
Please complete the following form if you are interested in scheduling any of the following nutrition services:
- Special diet counseling
- Weight management
- Nutrition counseling for children with special health care needs
- Medical nutrition therapy
From the experts
In part 1 of Going against the grain, we explained three reasons to go gluten free, and three reasons not to. If you are considering going gluten free because you think it’s a good way to lose weight, to eat healthier or to diagnose your own symptoms, read part 1 to learn why this might not be such a good idea.
Ideally, half of every plate you put in front of your children should be filled with vegetables and fruits.
Under-nutrition among older adults is a big problem – much bigger than most people realize.
Q: “I am 57 years old and have just been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. I have always tried to eat healthfully and stay in shape, especially because I had gestational diabetes, but I am about 10 or 15 pounds overweight. Did I make myself sick? What should I do now?”
Q: “Since my doctor told me to limit my sodium, I’ve started reading food labels. Now I’m shocked to see how much salt is in the foods that my kids eat. Should I be watching their sodium, too?”
Q: Can berries really help to reduce my cholesterol?
Answer provided by Maureen Sprague and Kelly Chambers, clinical dietitians, Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital.
Q: Years ago, I switched from butter to margarine to reduce my cholesterol intake. Now I hear that margarine contains something even worse than cholesterol – trans fat – so I’m thinking about switching back to butter. Weighing the pros and cons, which one really is the healthier choice: butter or margarine?
Q: Health experts tell us to eat lots of fruits and veggies, but can a person eat too much fruit? On an average day, I eat about 2-1/2 cups of grapes, two apples, two pears and, at dinner, two servings of vegetables. I’m trying to lose a little weight and am worried that fruit may be deceptively high in calories and sugar.
“My doctor says that if I don’t lose weight, I could be at risk for the same kind of liver damage that alcoholics develop. Is this true? I’m overweight and diabetic, but I’ve never been a drinker.”
Q: Is the amount of carbohydrates recommended by the current USDA Food Guide Pyramid too high? It seems like more and more evidence is showing that many carbs contribute to obesity and other health problems.
Answer from Terese Scollard, R.D., L.D., M.B.A., Regional Clinical Nutrition Manager:
Q: How important is it to watch calories if I want to lose weight? It seems most diet plans today focus on total fat intake, or the total amount of protein vs. carbohydrates. Do I still need to pay attention to calories?
Q: “My teenage kids and their friends are all into ‘energy drinks’ like Red Bull and Rockstar. They like how these drinks make them feel ‘up’ – but is there a downside?”
Q: First, fat was bad. Then some fat was good and some was bad. Now we’ve got trans fats to worry about. It’s getting so complicated! Please explain the differences between fats and what I need to know about them.
Q: First, it was “five a day.” Then the Dietary Guidelines changed to “4 to 13 servings per day.” I’m confused — how many fruits and vegetables should I be eating?
Answer provided by Terese Scollard, MBA, R.D., L.D., regional clinical nutrition manager for Providence Nutrition Services:
Q: “My 11-year-old son is very active and eats healthy foods, but is still heavy. Will he grow out of the fat, or is there something we can or should do now? Kids tease him, and he’s very sensitive about being heavier than his friends.”
Answer provided by Connie Warner, M.S., R.D., pediatric dietitian, Providence Neurodevelopmental Center for Children:
Q: “Controlling my weight was a piece of cake in my 20s and 30s, but not anymore. Why does it seem so much harder now that I’m 50-something? Is there anything I can do to fight the middle-age spread, or is this a battle that all women my age are destined to lose?”
Q: The weather has been so bad, I’ve basically been a couch potato. Now that the weather’s improving, I want to get out this weekend and get active. How should I begin an exercise program?
Q: “How many of my daily calories should come from beverages? I realize that the calories in my daily lattes and occasional sodas, sports drinks and beers add up, but are there any actual guidelines on what, and how much, we’re supposed to drink every day?”
Q: Several of my friends, including one who works in the health field, have sworn off bread as if it were the root of all evil. Even whole-grain bread, which I thought was a great choice, is off limits, according to them. I love bread. Is it really that bad for me?
Answer provided by Terese Scollard, M.B.A., R.D., L.D., regional clinical nutrition manager for Providence Nutrition Services
Q: "What's all the buzz about coconut oil? Can it really help you lose weight, fight heart disease and do all the other things people are claiming? And what about coconut water – is there any benefit to drinking it?"
Q: “I have always carried extra weight, and have always dieted. Even though I lost around 40 pounds in my early 20s, I’m still carrying around 10 or 12 extra pounds. I rarely eat fatty foods or junk, but I have a low metabolism and I hate exercising. Do you have any advice to help me lose those last few pounds for good?”
Answer provided by Valerie Edwards, M.S., R.D., L.D., clinical dietitian, Providence Portland Medical Center, and Michelle Guitteau, M.D., director of ambulatory education, Providence Portland Medical Center:
Q: “Every January, I get super motivated to go on a diet and lose weight. I make radical changes in my diet, lose a few pounds and feel great about it – but a few months later, I’m right back to my old ways – and my old weight. What dietary changes can I make this year to get results that last?”
Q: “I am cursed with a slow metabolism, so I burn calories slowly and gain weight easily. What can I do to rev up my metabolism?”
Answer provided by Valerie Edwards, M.S., R.D., L.D., clinical dietitian, Providence Portland Medical Center, and Michelle Guitteau, M.D., director of ambulatory education, Providence Portland Medical Center:
Q: "Proponents of the Paleo diet claim that we'd all be healthier if we went back to eating like cavemen. Is there any truth to that?"
Q: What role do proteins and carbohydrates play in the diet? Should I be avoiding carbohydrates altogether if I’m trying to lose weight?
Everyone gets motivated to get more active when the summer sun comes out. Before you get started, make sure you’re setting yourself up for success and preventing injury by considering these tips from our experts.
Q: “I think I follow a pretty healthy diet, but I must be doing something wrong, because my weight keeps creeping upward. What dietary mistakes most often lead to weight gain?”
Answer provided by Valerie Edwards, M.S., R.D., L.D., clinical dietitian, Providence Portland Medical Center, and Michelle Guitteau, M.D., director of ambulatory education, Providence Portland Medical Center:
Q: "This year, for once, I do not want to gain weight over the holidays. Can you offer some realistic advice that will still allow me to enjoy the season?"
Answer provided by Valerie Edwards, M.S., R.D., L.D., clinical dietitian, Providence Portland Medical Center, and Michelle Guitteau, M.D., director of ambulatory education, Providence Portland Medical Center:
Slathering on sunscreen every two hours will keep your skin protected from the sun’s harmful rays, but taking care of your skin is, well, more than skin deep.
One of the keys to avoiding heart disease could be sitting right on your dinner plate. Throughout February, Providence experts will dish out great advice on how to protect your heart – join them at our Get the Dish on Heart Health forums. Here is a quick taste of what you’ll learn from cardiologist Alicia Ross, M.D., and dietitian Kimra Hawk, RD, LD.
Sauté asparagus over high heat with some cooking spray, then add a splash of lemon juice. Add some sliced almonds and serve with brown rice. (Note: to reduce calories, use fewer almonds.)
Let’s get to work on that New Year’s resolution, shall we? According to Time magazine, losing weight tops the list of resolutions made – and broken – each year. We’re not going to talk about the broken part, though. I’m here to help you succeed.
The digital marketplace now offers an abundance of health and diet management tools, from websites to monitor your weight to smart phone apps that allow you to take a picture of your food and get an instant calorie count.
Sitting on top of the “hot” list of today’s diet fads is the gluten-free diet. People with certain medical conditions have very good reasons to avoid gluten, the gluey, chewy protein found in wheat, kamut, spelt, rye, barley, triticale and malt. But there are equally good reasons not to go gluten free if you don’t have to.
This month, your resolution is to make water your main beverage.
Much has been written about the harmful effects of stress on the heart, the immune system, the digestive system, the reproductive system, the lungs, the muscles – even the skin. But if you ask me, the most devastating effect is the toll that stress takes on your mood and quality of life.
If you’re looking for an easy way to improve your health, your weight and your diet, make a resolution this month to turn over a new leaf.
Here it comes – the time of year when we trade our regular jeans for that slightly larger, looser pair, so we can comfortably enjoy all the holiday feasts that the season serves up.
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