Watching Dr Oz 3/12/12: Fast Health Fixes, 5 Foods for Better Sleep, Are Sugar Substitutes Safe?, Food Flavor Boosters, Remedies for Sweat

The Dr. Oz Show

Airdate: March 12, 2012

What's Your Problem? Fast Fixes for the Health Issues That Drive You Crazy

• Viewers ask embarrassing health questions
• Not enough sleep? 5 food for a better night's sleep
• Dr. Oz explores the safety of artificial sugar substitutes
• Can ramen burn fat? This recipe from Chef Samuelsson just might!
• Dr. Oz has a confession: he sweats a lot and shares three sweat remedies

Are you afraid to talk to your doctor? Silly? Serious? Embarrassed? No health question should go unasked. Dr. Oz searched coast-to-coast for questions about the health issues that drive you crazy. He says you'll learn something today.

How well do you sleep? Sleeping pills have side effects but Dr. Oz shares 5 foods that can help bring on the ZZZ's.

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Dr. Oz: What's Your Problem?

As always, no question is too embarrassing, too silly, or too personal to ask. Dr. Oz sought out the most embarrassing healthy questions about issues that are driving viewers crazy.

Dr. Oz What's Your Problem?: Body Acne

Lynne from Buffalo, NY shared that she has acne on her butt and the back of her legs. It's embarrassing and painful, she says. She was brave enough to share a photo of her back side which was covered with acne, broken, red skin that indeed looked painful. Diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis, she wonders if there's any treatment that can help her.

Dr. Oz explained that any inflammation in the body can cause a flare-up of acne on any part of the body. He showed a demonstration of how inflammation can cause the skin to swell and rise because the body wants to push that inflammation out. Acne pops up in these areas.

Consulting with dermatologists, Dr. Oz said the best way to treat acne on the body is the same way you would treat acne on the face. He what Dr. Oz recommends using products with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. Cotton underwear would be best to prevent acne on the back side. Shapewear, workout shorts, or yoga pants could make the problem worse.

Dr. Oz also recommends supporting acne prone skin from the inside out with his anti-inflammatory Blemishing Busting Bite:

1 cup whole grain cereal

¼ cup walnuts

2 mini dark chocolate bars, melted or 3 tbsp of dark chocolate chips, melted

Melt the chocolate and drizzle over the cereal and nuts.

Click here for the Blemish Busting Bite recipe from DoctorOz.com.

Dr. Oz What's Your Problem? Vaginal Discharge

Tanja shared that she has been experiencing consistent vaginal discharge that does not respond to the medications prescribed by her doctor.

Dr. Oz showed tissue samples of different types of discharge.

Thin, milky white discharge – Dr. Oz says this discharge is indicative of bacterial vaginosis that can be treated with antibiotics and Vitamin D and is a sign that the system is off. Bacterial vaginosis is not a sexually transmitted illness.

White, small curd-like sticky discharge – Caused by a yeast infection, Dr. Oz says it can be treated with over-the-counter yeast infection products, yogurt, or medications. A yeast infection is not sexually transmitted.

Pea green, foamy discharge – This is a sexually transmitted illness called trichonomiasis which is treated with antibiotics or zinc. Dr. Oz explained that this is the most common sexually transmitted illness and the easiest to treat.

Other considerations with regard to vaginal discharge: use unscented tampons, wear cotton underwear, do not wear underwear to bed.

Dr. Oz What's Your Problem? Cold Sores

Lauren, from Hawaii, gets cold sores every couple of months and she knows they are caused by stress or sun exposure. A tingling sensation tells her a cold sore is developing.

Dr. Oz shared a saying from the medical community: a tingle is a sign not to mingle. He recommends using over-the-counter Abreva to reduce the healing time of cold sores as well as Lysine, 1,000mg daily, to reduce cold sore outbreaks.

Dr. Oz What's Your Problem? Loud Stomach

Lynette, from South Carolina, says her stomach makes embarrassing loud noises all day. She says the sounds come when she's not hungry and when she doesn't need to go to bathroom.

Dr. Oz placed his stethoscope and loud drumming sound was could be heard from her stomach. He showed an animation of what is going on in her digestive system to cause those sounds. Spasms of the stomach that sound like a drum will happen when the stomach is trying to tell it's empty and wants to be filled.

A different sound will come through when the intestines are trying to process and push through a food that didn't agree. The two sounds are different messages that sound different. The key is figuring out which sound is associated with which message.

When the stomach is empty, reach for healthy foods that can fill and satisfy the digestive system – healthy fat and fiber. Dr. Oz recommended eating a dozen hazel nuts.

Dr. Oz What's Your Problem? Not Enough Sleep

Dr. Oz explained that recent research shows people who take sleeping pills have a greater risk of cancer. People taking 18 sleeping pills in a year have a three fold increase in death.

There are other methods to support sleep. Today Dr. Pina Logiudice, ND, Co-Medical Director of Inner Source Health, joined Dr. Oz to share 5 foods to help get a good night's sleep.

Dr. Oz Food for Sleep #1: Pumpkin Seed Powder

Dr. Logiudice recommends eating pumpkin seed powder before bed to support sleep. Pumpkin seed powder is high tryptophan; in fact it has more tryptophan than a glass of whole milk. Mix the pumpkin seed powder with applesauce because it tastes good that way, she says. Dr. Logiudice says to always eat pumpkin seed powder with a carbohydrate for optimum absorption and utilization by the brain.

[Pumpkin seed powder can be purchased as powder or buy the hulled seeds and grind in a blender for the freshest product.]

Dr. Oz Food for Sleep #2: Montomrency Tart Cherry Juice

Montomrency tart cherry juice is 10 times higher in melatonin than regular cherry juice, says Dr. Logiudice.

[Click here to find a list of brands that make Montomrency Tart Cherry Juice. It's available nation-wide but if your local store doesn't carry it there are many companies that sell it online.

Dr. Oz Food for Sleep #3: Pulque

Pulque is an alcoholic beverage made from the agave cactus. The drink is popular in Mexico [and slowly making its way into the United States]. Dr. Oz tried it and said, yeah, it's interesting; tastes more powerful then beer. When Dr. Logiudice doesn't want to advocate for alcohol for bed she says the high tryptophan content of pulque makes it somewhat medicinal. She cautions to separate the drinking of pulque from sleep by a few hours. Dr. Logiudice says pulque is available in grocery stores.

[This may be one of those not-so-readily-available-Dr.-Oz-recommendations. I searched and searched online and came up a pulque product name Nectar del Razo imported into the US by Boulder Imports. There's no website for the importer and I couldn't find a source that showed where it's available for purchase. The good doctor said it is in grocery stores. Well, maybe in New York City but I have a feeling it may be harder to find elsewhere. If anyone has an inkling to find it and try it I would love to hear about it.

Click here for an entertaining article from The Washington Post about this ancient drink of the Aztecs.]

Dr. Oz Food for Sleep #4: Scottish Oatmeal

The Latin name for oats is Avena sativa. Dr. Logiudice explains that oatmeal is a nervine that helps the nerves to relax. Oatmeal is high in melatonin and tryptophan. Scottish oatmeal is more fine, more like a porridge. Dr. Logiudice recommends eating ½ – 1 cup at night before bed. [Perhaps about an hour before bed to allow time for digestion.]

Dr. Oz Food for Sleep #5: Dandelion Greens

The liver metabolizes hormones and when sleep is interrupted by hormonal imbalances, Dr. Logiudice recommends supporting the liver by eating dandelion greens with dinner.

[Fresh dandelion greens can be found in the produce section of supermarkets. The availability of the greens may be more seasonal. Dandelion greens can easily be grown in the home or apartment garden in the ground or in a pot.]

Dr. Logiudice recommends these foods to be eaten 30 to 60 minutes before bed. Leaving pulque to the side, Dr. Logiudice's favorite tip is Scottish oatmeal because it relaxes the nervous system.

[Need more suggestions for a better sleep? Check out these links from recent episodes of The Dr. Oz Show:

1/23/12: Four Step Plan to Better Sleep

2/13/12: Supercharge Your Sleep

3/2/12: Simple Sleep Tips]

Dr. Oz: What's Your Problem? Sugar Substitutes

Too much sugar is not good but neither are sugar substitutes, says Dr. Oz. So why are so many people using it? Sugar substitutes are found in soda, come in little packets to add to our drinks, and are hidden in many packaged foods.

Dr. Oz explained that studies show sugar substitutes – many of them are artificial sweeteners - can lead to weight gain and may pose health risks. Are sugar substitutes safe?

Keri Peterson, MD, Medical Contributor to Women's Health Magazine, discussed three top sugar substitutes in little packets and their health implications.

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Dr. Oz Sugar Substitute #1: Aspartame

In the blue packet we have aspartame which, says. Dr. Peterson, is the most common artificial sweetener. Aspartame is 200 times sweeter than sugar.

Dr. Oz Sugar Substitute #2: Saccharine

Dressed in a pink packet, saccharine is 300 times sweeter. Dr. Peterson says saccharine was created by a scientist in 1870 while trying to develop a food preservative. She also explained that saccharine used to be sneaked into foods as a cheap sweetener.

Dr. Oz Sugar Substitute #3: Sucralose

In yellow: sucralose at 600 times sweeter than sugar. Sucralose was invented around 1976 and approved by the FDA in 1998. Dr. Logiudice explained that sucralose is made from altered sugar so that it goes through the body unmetabolized.

Dr. Oz What's Your Problem: Are Sugar Substitutes Safe?

There are many concerns over the safety of artificial sweeteners used as sugar substitutes. Many questions have been raised about a connection between the use of artificial sweetener and cancer risks.

Dr. Oz: Artificial Sweetners Linked to Cancer

Dr. Logiudice explained that there is no evidence that artificial sweeteners cause cancer in people. Years ago, there was a study that showed that in animal studies there was a link between the use of saccharine and cancer. In 2000, the FDA removed artificial sweeteners from its list of cancer causing ingredients.

Dr. Oz: Artificial Sweeteners Cause Neurological Damage

Again, no evidence here for neurological or brain damage, says Dr. Logiudice.

Dr. Oz: Artificial Sweeteners Make You Fat

Well, this one is true, says Dr. Oz. Yes, says Dr. Logiudice, artificial sweeteners can cause people to gain weight. This one is counter intuitive; people tend to turn to artificial sweeteners as a substitute for sugar in the hopes to support weight-loss. The problem becomes that when people crave sugar but eat a sugar-free food they don't feel satisfied and end up eating more calories over-all then if they reached for a sugar-based food.

[Earlier this season, Dr. Oz conducted a survey to see how much people would eat if given a cake made with sugar or if given a cake make with artificial sweeteners. Click here to read the post from 10/4/11: Bad Eating Habits Making You Fat.]

Dr. Oz Healthy Sugar Substitute Options

Dr. Oz Healthy Substitute #1: Stevia

Dr. Oz recommends using stevia to sweeten your coffee – and it comes in a green packet! Stevia is an herb that contains no calories. [Stevia is 300 times sweeter than sugar and comes in packets of powder, liquid, and flavored liquid such as lemon or chocolate or grape.]

Dr. Oz Healthy Substitute #2: 50/50 Soda

If you can't give up your diet soda, Dr. Oz has an idea to make it a little better. Fill a cup half way with diet soda and use seltzer water for the other half. Dr. Logiudice says it tastes good and has a greater water content with the seltzer water.

Dr. Oz Healthy Substitute #3: Bulk Up Your Cereal

Dr. Oz doesn't mind if you add artificial sweeteners to your cereal but would like it better if along with you people add chia seeds or flax seed to provide something more satisfying to the body. [Healthy fat and fiber from the seeds will support blood sugar balancing and keeps you feeling full longer.]

To summarize, Dr. Oz says to look at food labels to find these three artificial ingredients: saccharine, sucralose, and aspartame. It's better to have them lower on the label.

[Call me a nay-sayer, conservative, granola-loving, vegetable-eating, natural-food-store-lover, but I'm not convinced of the safety of artificial sweeteners or any artificial ingredient. That's just my opinion. I would prefer to stick with whole foods and food-based sweeteners instead of highly processed sweeteners that may or may not be safe. But that's just me.

Oh wait, other folks have reservations about the use of artificial sweeteners as well. NaturalNews.com just posted this article discussing the dangers of artificial sweeteners, including over 8,000 side-effect complaints lodged with the FDA against Aspartame. It's an interesting read from one side of the issue.]

Dr. Oz What's Your Problem? Low-Calorie Flavor Boosters

Terri Trespicio, healthy living expert shares low-calorie flavor boosters that can help keep the flavor while cutting the calories.

Dr. Oz Low Calorie Booster #1: So Delicious Coconut Creamer

Skip the higher calorie dairy creamer and go for So Delicious Coconut Creamer. Ms. Trespicio says naturally sweet So Delicious has all the flavor with fewer calories and it provides healthy fats.

Cost: about $3.00

The numbers:

Dairy creamer: 50 calories. So Delicious Coconut Creamer: 10 calories.

Over the course of a year if you make this swap daily, Dr. Oz says you can lose 12 pounds.

Dr. Oz Low Calorie Booster #2: Sun-Dried Tomato Paste

Replace ketchup with full-flavor sun-dried tomato paste, says Ms. Trespicio. Ketchup can contain sugar, sodium, preservatives and many folks use too much. Use about ¼ teaspoon of sun-dried tomato paste straight from the tube; it packs four times the flavor as ketchup.

The numbers:

Ketchup averages about 30 calories per serving. Sun-dried tomato paste contains about 12 calories.

Swapping ketchup for sun-dried tomato paste a few times a week over a year can save 3 pounds.

Dr. Oz Low Calorie Booster #3: Roasted Garlic

Substitute butter with roasted garlic. Roast the garlic and spread on bread instead of butter.

[Click here for a roasted garlic recipe from AllRecipe.com.]

The numbers:

Butter runs about 100 calories per serving. Roasted garlic only 9 calories.

Swap out butter on your bread a few times a week over a year and you'll save 5 pounds.

Dr. Oz Low Calorie Booster #4: Salad Dressing

The biggest weight-loss trap fall into is salad dressing. You think you're eating healthy by going for a salad but when it comes time to dress it, people add calorie rich dressing. Salad dressing may contain as much as 10 times more calories than the salad.

Ms. Trespicio recommends mixing a small amount of miso paste with vinegar and a little lemon juice. Top off a salad with this rich, full-body, earthy flavored dressing. Miso is a probiotic, loving food that benefits the digestive tract.

The numbers:

Dressing contain on average 180 calories, or more. Miso dressing will average 20 calories.

Swap high calorie dressing for low-cal miso dressing a few times a week and over a year, says Dr. Oz, you could lose as much as 13 pounds.

Dr. Oz: Fat Burning Ramen Meal

Dr. Oz shared that he was surprised that a meal of ramen noodles can burn fat. College students live on them in; how can they burn away fat? Chef, and restaurant owner, Marcus Samuelsson shows Dr. Oz how to make a healthy ramen meal.

You can decide how much fat goes in meal, says Chef Samuelsson. He starts by using curry powder, red onion, and garlic are used to season the salmon and flavor the noodles instead of the spice packet. Veggies are cooked with the noodles along with miso and more spices. Chef Samuelsson says you can

turn simple things into an affordable, flavorful food without adding fat.

Coming in at less than 475 calories per serving with lots of flavor and fat-burning spice, this could be the new ramen of the college student diet.

Click here for the full Seared Salmon Ramen recipe from DoctorOz.com.

Dr. Oz Bonus Tips! How Dr. Oz Solved His Embarrassing Health Concern

Dr. Oz is an excessive sweater, he confesses. Sweat glands are highly concentrated in three places on the body: the face, arm pits, and the feet. He has a sweat remedy for each area.

Dr. Oz: Sweat Remedy for the Face

Using a cotton ball, apply witch hazel to the face. Witch hazel is an astringent and can shrink blood vessels as well as clean the skin.

Dr. Oz: Sweat Remedy for the Arm Pits

Apply a mixture of aloe vera and tea tree oil to the arm pits, says Dr. Oz. Aloe vera with help to keep the odor down and tea tree will deal with the odor causing bacteria.

Dr. Oz: Sweat Remedy for the Feet

Scrub the feet with a paste of baking soda and lemon juice. The combination will clean and deoderize the feet.

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