posts

Don’t Make My Mistake of Almost Feeding Your Kids Bug-Infested Broccoli

December 15, 2017 By Dr. Ed McDonald 30 Comments

An aphid on my plate

Who knew bugs can hide out in broccoli?

I didn’t until I almost fed some to my kids. In some cultures eating bugs is a delicacy. In my house, eating bugs is something straight from one of the Nine Circles of Hell from Dante’s Inferno. Just letting the word ‘bug’ roll off your tongue is enough to send my wife and kids ducking for cover. Every time they see a bug, Mobb Deep’s “Shook Ones” starts playing in my mind.

That said, knowingly eating bugs is unconscionable in my household.

When I almost fed my kids bug-infested broccoli, I seriously thought I was going to need a GoFundMe page for alimony, child support, legal fees, and a change of identity. Thankfully, my kids didn’t actually eat the broccoli, but I still felt bad—mostly because I ATE some of the critter-filled broccoli and my wife was giving me a soul-shattering side eye. Before you all judge me, let me share my story and point out that bugs called aphids can commonly hang out in broccoli.

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7 Health Benefits of Eggs and A Recipe For Baked (Shirred) Eggs with Arugula and Sun-dried Tomatoes

December 10, 2017 By Dr. Ed McDonald 4 Comments

Shirred or baked eggs is one of my favorite ways to cook eggs. Since I’m writing about eggs, I know some of my vegan friends may disown me and brand me an ‘Eggs Benedict Arnold.’ I’m still an ardent supporter of vegetarian and flexitarian diets. These diets are great, but I’ve seen some vegetarians struggle with adequate protein intake.

Some plant-based diets are low in protein—Eggs may help

Just a couple of weeks ago in clinic, I saw a woman losing her hair months after switching over to a protein-deficient, plant-based diet. Eating enough protein was tough for her. She didn’t like eating a lot of beans due to bloating (see my bloating article) and she refused to eat tofu because she thinks it tastes like “dirty sponges soaked in swamp water.” I don’t entirely endorse her tofu opinion, but I get it.

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Is your non-stick skillet trying to kill you? Maybe.

November 26, 2017 By Dr. Ed McDonald 6 Comments

Ok, your non-stick skillet isn’t really trying to kill you, but that doesn’t mean it’s 100% safe either. Ever heard of ‘Teflon flu’? Probably not. I never did until I had it (#smh). If you use any non-stick cookware, you should be aware if it and a few other concerns associated with these common kitchen items. I’m not trying to scare you—just trying to keep you informed. Knowledge is power AND prevention. One of my patients and I both found out these risks the hard way; don’t let it happen to you. I can personally attest that there are some things you rather read about than experience. In this post, I breakdown the ‘non-sticky truth’ about the dangers of non-stick cookware by sharing our stories, highlighting some research studies, and giving a few tips for safer options.

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