Nutrition Notes by Leah 08/09
 By: Leah McGrath RD, LDN

Question: Can Ingles make me a diabetic birthday cake?  
 —  Gloria

Dear Gloria,
When you are diabetic, you have to count the carbohydrates. It would help to have a cake without the added sugar and fat in an icing, so you could ask for a plain cake and have it with a fruit topping. You could also just account for the carbohydrates in the icing and have a smaller piece. If you still want icing, you may be able to talk to your Ingles bakery and see if they could make you an icing that is sweetened with Splenda (sucralose) instead of sugar. I normally don’t advocate sugar-free cakes or desserts because often they contain sugar alcohols that cause digestive disorders.
 
Question: I don’t have a nutrition question. Rather, I have noticed your great haircut while seeing you on TV. I wondered what salon you go to, and who cuts your hair?
— Marcia

Dear Marcia,
THANKS! I’ll pass this on to my hairstylist and friend, Juliet Heatherly at Full Circle on Wall St. in downtown Asheville.
 
Question: I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease 1 ½ years ago. I have a hard time finding foods that will work for me. I have heard that sorbitol can be an irritant. Do you have any advice?
— Jody

Dear Jody,
I read on the National Digestive Diseases Web site the following:
People with Crohn’s disease often experience a decrease in appetite. In addition, Crohn’s disease is associated with diarrhea and poor absorption of necessary nutrients. No special diet has been proven effective for preventing or treating Crohn’s disease, but it is very important that people who have Crohn’s disease follow a nutritious diet and avoid any foods that seem to worsen symptoms. There are no consistent dietary rules to follow that will improve a person’s symptoms. People should take vitamin supplements only on their doctor’s advice.
I guess the bottom line is you have to find the foods and diet that work best for you. Avoiding sugar alcohols would mean avoiding food that is labeled “sugar-free” or “no sugar added” as these often contain sugar alcohols.
 
Question: The Gluten-free diet is new to me. I have a lot of issues with my stomach so a friend suggested trying the Gluten-free diet to see if it might help, but I am so lost in it all, I have no idea where to start. Any suggestions???
— Crystal

Dear Crystal,
The Gluten-free diet is not a fad diet or one that should be entered into on a whim. It is a very life altering diet that takes a serious commitment and can be very expensive. If you have issues with your stomach or digestion, I would strongly encourage you to go to a gastroenterologist with your symptoms and find one that will test you for Gluten intolerance/celiac disease. If you change your diet now to exclude gluten, it may actually make it difficult for you to be diagnosed correctly.

Question: I am a healthy 72-year old but have some minor back problems. I want to get into an exercise program but I am not sure what to do to get started. Can you help?
— Cora

Dear Cora,
I’m not a physical therapist or trainer. It would be best if you seek out a professional or someone with special training at a local gym or YMCA who is qualified to help you. Since you have back issues, you also might want to speak with your physician before starting any sort of exercise program.
 
Question: I recently attended a first grade party in the Buncombe county schools. The children were being served sodas. I immediately poured the soda out of my daughter’s cup and replaced it with water. The other children in the class and the teacher looked at me with dismay. One child asked why we were so mean to our daughter by not letting her have a soda. My children have never had a soft drink and only drink water, milk, and apple juice. Am I being too overprotective?
— Jennifer
 
Dear Jennifer,
It is not a question of you being “mean” in not wanting your child to have a soda. In my opinion, the teacher should not have assumed it was okay for every child to have a soda. Given the opportunity, most children will probably choose soda. That’s where an informed and caring parent comes into play. At that age, children don’t have the knowledge to make correct decisions about things like sugar amount or caffeine, and of course they don’t understand about all of the artificial products that are in soda. I don’t keep sodas in our home for all of those reasons. It is too late this year, but I would address this with the school next year and make sure your child’s teacher isn’t automatically offering kids sodas for parties.

If you have questions or comments about nutrition or healthy eating, call or e-mail me: 800.334.4936, 828.669.2941x470, or lmcgrath@ingles-markets.com.

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