Nutrition

What your doctor isn’t telling you — but should be

When Vivian Breton, 28, went for her annual exam at her primary-care doctor’s office recently, she had a whole list of questions she wanted to ask.
“I was finally able to be scheduled for a checkup and was eager to go over some health concerns,” says the Gramercy Park resident. “But when I got home, I realized I forgot to discuss a ton of important things because I was rushed in and out so quickly.”
The lack of time with patients, says Dr. Eugenia Gianos, an assistant professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center, “is a huge issue in health care right now. The amount of time that quality counseling requires is not allowed for within the current system.”
Some of the most crucial things physicians often don’t have time to talk about relate to diet and nutrition. Here, local doctors share what they would tell you about healthy eating, if only they had the time.

Go easy on the protein

“People focus on decreasing the amount of carbs they intake and think that they can only eat proteins,” says Dr. Luciano Pastori of SOP Medical in Corona, Queens. He says they should “maintain the right proportion of carbs, including fruits and vegetables (50 to 60 percent), fat (20 percent) and protein (30 percent), but not exceed 2,000 calories a day . . . If you eat 3,000 [calories of protein] a day . . . you will gain weight.”

Alamy

Get pickled

“Incorporate probiotic foods into your diet every single day,” says Dr. Chloe Godwin of Mohawk Village Medical in Noho. “Probiotics not only help with digestion but with immune-system regulation, and can act as your body’s natural antibiotics.” Yogurt, sauerkraut (pictured), pickles and kombucha beverages are all easy options.

Steam and poach

“Grilling, frying and roasting [foods at high heat] creates sticky sugar byproducts that clog your arteries,” says Dr. Jamé Heskett, a family physician based on the Upper East Side. These substances, known as advanced glycation end products (AGEs), are associated with aging, inflammation, diabetes and other diseases. When foods are cooked with gentler methods, such as steaming or poaching, these harmful substances do not form.

Try the elimination diet

If you’re not feeling you’re best, a food sensitivity could be too blame, says Gianos. She recommends eliminating foods like soy, dairy, eggs, gluten and wheat, then introducing them back into your diet one by one to see if you notice any health improvements. For many, she says, “this has led to improvements in their inflammatory symptoms, digestive symptoms, weight loss and energy.”