Dr. Susan Mitchell, Nutrition Expert

I’m always excited to hear current evidence-based nutrition news on chocolate’s potential health benefits. Let's talk about some.

Are you pregnant? Hoping to get pregnant? Have a friend who just found out she’s pregnant? My guest on the Straight Talk about Eating Smart podcast this week is registered dietitian Tara Gidus. She is the nutrition advisor for American Baby magazine and currently appears biweekly as the “Diet Diva” on the national morning television show, The Daily Buzz.

Think about this…heart disease is the number one killer of women. Yet women often receive less care by the medical community for their hearts than men do. At the same time women are typically more concerned about the health of others and are often too busy and stressed to take care of themselves.

Are your kids always asking for a snack? What snacks do they beg for? Is it for foods that were once considered to be treats?

What do you have planned? Whether it’s a small party or a blockbuster, everyone looks forward to the food. But do you have to walk away feeling like a football?

I just returned from a trip to California and can you hear what came with me? A chest cold along with laryngitis. Did you know that according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) up to 20% of Americans will likely get the flu every year? When you feel achy all over and feverish, your food selections can help fortify your immune system and ramp down some of your cold and flu symptoms.

I like the beginning of a New Year. For me, it’s a time to review and renew. I’m one of those who likes to take an up close and personal look at my life, where I’m going and what needs to be tweaked…and believe me…there’s always a lot of tweaking to be done.

Is your holiday to-do list over…whelming? Would you like to entertain family and friends but don’t know where you’d find the time to plan and prepare? Do you feel sleep deprived and more likely to say bah-humbug than Merry Christmas? Well, help is here.

One of my most popular blog and podcast topics is gluten-free. Do you have questions too? I’m thrilled to have as my podcast guest this week registered dietitian and a leading international expert on celiac disease and the gluten-free diet, Shelley Case.

Did you read the fake fish story? An article in Consumer Reports (December 2011) discusses the purchasing and testing of 190 pieces of seafood from retail stores and restaurants throughout New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

Have you heard the term pre-diabetes? It’s used to describe above-normal blood sugar levels that are not quite elevated enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. Here’s the kicker: unless lifestyle changes are made such as weight loss, tweaks to the diet and more exercise, pre-diabetes typically progresses to diabetes.

Can you believe it? The holiday season is about to begin. What’s on your holiday menu? Have you started thinking about it? What about those party foods you’ll need to prepare? This year, try adding a variety of spices to your recipes.

Do you get drink coffee everyday or get your caffeine thru other sources? Maybe a combination of both! You don’t want to miss this latest study.

Do you know the word probiotics? Maybe you’ve heard the terms healthy bacteria or friendlybacteria. So, how important are Probiotics to your health?

The other morning I wanted to stay in bed so I kept hitting the snooze button. Then I had to really hurry and make myself a quick breakfast. Without it, my energy level is that of a slug and my brain remains in neutral. Sound familiar?