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  • Crispbread with Spread and Vegetables

    Looking for easy grab and go lunch ideas? Here's a tasty suggestion by Ashlee Wright, a registered dietitian with Orlando Health. Crispbread/Pita

  • White Chicken Stew

    Optional toppings: salsa, chopped fresh cilantro, nonfat plain Greek yogurt

  • How to Diagnose GERD

    If you have a pain in your chest, you may wonder — is it your heart? Or could it be GERD? Gastroesophageal reflux disease is one of the most common conditions in the United States, affecting more than 20 million people. Some symptoms of GERD overlap with symptoms of a heart issue, so it is important to know the difference.

  • Pregnancy and Cravings

    We have all heard the stories of crazy cravings during pregnancy. One woman wants pickles and peanut butter, the other ice cream and potato chips. Cravings are perfectly normal during pregnancy, but you also want to keep in mind that you are nourishing your growing baby.

  • Should I Detox?

    Is it a good idea to “detox” or “cleanse?” Doing a detox or cleansing diet may mean fasting, taking supplements or juicing with the goal of slimming down, flushing the colon or removing toxins from the liver. Often, commercial products are promoted with exaggerated claims of health, weight loss and energy. The subject is not only confusing to consumers, but debated in the medical community. 

  • Buying Seasonal and Local Produce

    Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables is the foundation of a healthy diet, with a goal of at least five servings of fruits and vegetables every day. The easiest way to meet this goal is to fill half your plate with these foods at every meal.

  • The Sweet Truth About Sugar Substitutes

    Cakes, pies and cookies, oh my! Did you know that Americans consume 165 pounds of sugar each year? Along with this sweet habit comes an increased risk of diabetes, cancer, and obesity. In 2009, the American Heart Association recommended that women reduce their added sugar intake to less than six teaspoons (25 grams) per day, and men less than nine teaspoons (37 grams) per day. Just to put that in perspective, a 12-ounce can of regular soda contains about eight teaspoons of sugar. With these new recommendations, it’s no wonder sugar substitute use is on the rise. But how do you know which one is the safest for you and your family?

    Artificial sweeteners

    Artificial sweeteners are chemically manufactured molecules, which may be derived from naturally occurring substances (herbs or sugar itself), and added to sweetened foods and beverages in place of table sugar (sucrose). They are sometimes referred to as “intense sweeteners” as they can be thousands of times sweeter than sugar. Because of this, dextrose and/or maltodextrin (easily digested carbohydrates) are added to dilute the sweetness in food products.

  • Personal Prescriptions: Clinical trial explores new targets for treating advanced breast cancer

    Breast cancer is the most common cancer affecting women in the United States and worldwide. When diagnosed early, it has more than a 90% cure rate. Yet, even when breast cancer spreads outside the breast and becomes metastatic, women may survive many years on effective therapy. When deciding how to treat breast cancer, the breast profile, or “phenotype,” guides oncologists to select the treatment options most likely to control the cancer and maybe even get rid of it altogether.

    So how do we do that?

    Currently, we determine the phenotype by measurement of the presence or absence of Estrogen Receptor, Progesterone Receptor, and the Her2neu growth factor receptor on cancer cells.  Scientists are also studying other biologic features of cancer cells to look for new “targets” to improve therapy. For patients suffering from metastatic breast cancer that is Estrogen Receptor or Progesterone Receptor positive, our standard of care is to initiate estrogen-blocking or estrogen-lowering treatment called “endocrine therapy.” If the cancer is life threatening, or vital organ function is being compromised, then chemotherapy is often initiated first to get control of the cancer, followed by endocrine therapy.  Examples of endocrine therapy include tamoxifen, aromatase inhibitors, ovarian suppression, fulvestrant and a new drug on the market, everolimus.  In 2012, the FDA approved everolimus (a drug that blocks a critical pathway in cancer cells) after research and clinical trials showed a significant improvement in the response to the combination of exemestane plus everolimus, versus using exemestane alone. This drug is now used for women with advanced estrogen receptor positive breast cancer.

    A new clinical trial at UF Health Cancer Center at Orlando Health

    We have just started a new clinical trial (research study) at UF Health Cancer Center at Orlando Health that explores another target, the PI3K pathway. PI3K stands for phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase. This is an important enzyme in normal cells that regulates multiple functions of cells. It appears to play a critical role in the crossroads of the intricate molecular messaging that occurs in cancer cells. In this clinical trial, we are testing BKM120, an oral medication that targets the PI3K pathway. This trial will look at whether or not this oral medication, combined with fulvestrant (another cancer fighting medication), may help to combat a patient's cancer.

    Women are eligible for the trial if they:

    Are 18 years or older with a biopsy proven diagnosis of breast cancer and tumor tissue available for special studies. Have inoperable locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer Have Estrogen Receptor or Progesterone Receptor positive phenotype and are Her2neu receptor negative Are postmenopausal Have been treated with aromatase inhibitors (anastrazole, letrozole, or exemustane) and their disease has progressed or recurred Have adequate liver function, good control of blood sugar, and adequate heart function without irregular heart rhythm Have not received more than one type of chemotherapy for metastatic disease and do not have symptoms from central nervous system metastases Do not have significant psychiatric disorder, major depression, major anxiety, or thoughts of suicidePatients who choose to enter clinical trials are given complete information regarding the details of the trial, the safety issues, and the opportunity to withdraw from the trial at any time without consequences. The process of educating patients so that they can decide whether to participate is called the “informed consent process.” Federal guidelines spell out the process for entering patients on clinical trials, the FDA approves and receives reports about the trial, a Safety Committee monitors trial safety, and Institutional Review Boards oversee the protection of the rights and welfare of research patients.

    My Personal Prescription:

    If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer, ask your consultant about available clinical trials and your eligibility.

  • Reducing breast cancer risk with early diet changes

    The American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) estimates that 38 percent of all breast cancer cases in the U.S. could be prevented with simple changes to diet and exercise. We are also learning that adult breast health is largely determined during the adolescent years, when the breast tissue is developing and is most susceptible to nutritional and environmental influences. Research shows that the consumption of certain foods during the breast development process may actually change its physiology, thereby making it more or less inclined to developing cancer in the future. Although the mechanisms of action are not yet completely understood, clinical evidence has shown that there are a few basic dietary practices that appear to be protective in the development of breast cancer.

  • Foods to include in your diet this fall that pack a nutritious punch

    Many of us tend to think of fruits and vegetables as summer foods, and then forget about them as the fall and winter seasons approach. But did you know that some of the most nutrient-packed produce peaks during these seasons?

    Pumpkin

    What comes to mind when you hear the word “pumpkin?” Pie? Jack-o-lantern? Thanksgiving? Although a member of the squash family and treated as a vegetable, pumpkin is technically a fruit because it grows on a vine and contains seeds. Its vibrant orange-colored flesh is due to the significant amount of carotenoids, specifically lutein and beta- and alpha- carotene. Carotenoids are not only converted into vitamin A, which is critical for our eye and immune health, but also act as antioxidants by filtering ultraviolet rays that can cause damage to our eyes’ lens and retina. Just 1 cup of the pumpkin’s flesh can provide 250% of your daily value of vitamin A (organic canned pumpkin can provide even more, about 750% DV), along with vitamin C, vitamin E, riboflavin, potassium, and copper.