The medical world always has a new answers to old questions. We are given recommendations to get a certain amount of fruits and vegetables daily to stay healthy. But it is hard to get them in. That is until we decided that we could just shove them all in a JUICER.

Is juicing healthy? We know that drinking too much fruit juice is not healthy for you. Fruit juice is packed with simple sugars. They refer to athletes that are taking steroids as being juiced. Also probable not that good for you.

But juicing can be a healthy alternative. It is basically meal replacement. We can add a little kale, broccoli, strawberries and apples and there you go. You have a nutritious meal replacement. Diet companies have been selling “healthy” meal replacements forever. If you make the decision to replace breakfast and/or lunch it could very well be a good replacement. If you prepare yourself a juice for breakfast that is full of veggies than it is absolutely a better alternative to a breakfast sandwich or donut.

Can one live off of juicing alone? Maybe. But who wants to. We do not get all the fiber and nutrients when we grind down certain veggies into juice. Also too much fruit added can actually make a drink very high in sugar. I like to eat. Food has texture. Veggies have texture.

Being healthy with eating is all about routine. Use meal prep. Stay in a regimen. If you want to juice make it a part of your health conscious. Kale smoothies are delicious but allow the vegetables to be eaten in their normal state at times.

The Doc is In

Let’s all admit it your kids birthday party is terrible. We have a bunch of kids run around Bounce U or some other similar type venue for an hour followed by crappy pizza. We go because we want little Johnny to make friends though. We wander around chatting hoping to find someone to chat with that will not make you feel like a bad parent. What they do not usually have is booze.

There are slides and trampolines and ball pits. Here is the bad news. They did a study in ball pits in a physical therapy practice. What did it find? A lot. It found 31 bacterial species and one species of yeast. Enough stuff to give you pink eye, UTI, upper respiratory infections and even bloodstream infections.

Yet if you invite. We will come. I will allow my kids to jump around the dirt, drool and feces that is lurking.

Not at my house. Not for our party. My kids get a pool party. And open bar. Kid’s parties are terrible. But they do not have to be.

I am focused on not spreading germs. Most times. I wash my hands all day long. I give out vaccines. I cover my mouth when I cough. And I make out with my wife less when I have a cold sore. But I have a flaw. I am a double dipper. If you have blue cheese or BBQ sauce or veggie dip. I will double dip every time. I cannot control it. So if you see me coming hold your salsa.
The Doc is In

If you want to live a healthy life you need to laugh. Laugh every day. Studies have shown that daily laughter may improve overall health. Laughter may stimulate your organs and increase your intake of oxygen. It helps modulate your endorphins and expel the negative energy. Laughter may increase your bodies production of your own endorphins. And it may even improve your immune system over time. Make sure you have funny friends. Or even a funny doctor. You could be lucky enough that your deacon makes you laugh. Watch more stand up or Seinfeld. You should also not smoke or eat at McDonald’s or do heroin. But do not forget that laughter is the best medicine. Unless you have a urinary tract infection. Then antibiotics are the best medicine.

The Doc is In

Before becoming a physician doorknobs did not mean much. We use them to open rooms. But as a physician we use them to leave a room. Doorknobs often make us think of entering. Entering a world or a home or somewhere you have never been before. In my job it means so much more.

I spend my days trying to listen to patients. Get a complete history. Then examine. Followed by the creation of hopefully a thoughtful assessment and plan. All of this mixed in with clicking and pointing on a computer. Then the visit ends and on to the next patient. Most times I try and complete my note before I leave the room. Until I reach for the doorknob.

As my hand firmly grips the doorknob to leave often there is one last complaint. Often it is a more worrisome complaint than anything we had discussed during the visit. Why did it wait until I was leaving? Do I now have to sit back down and start over? How far behind am I currently?

But do not worry. Either way I will get comfy again and make sure that nothing important gets missed. But please to patients of the world when doctors say “what brings you in for a visit today?” Let me have it. Do not wait until I can hear the wheezing of a patient in the next room to pull me back in.

Yet it goes differently when men have a question as I finally have my hand on the doorknob. I already know your questions. No – We do not have any Viagra samples. Yes – I will send a prescription over to your pharmacy. Maybe – Will it be covered? No – I have not had any recent patients with erections lasting longer than 4 hours.

Doorknobs are dangerous. Whether you are culturing whatever virus/bacteria live on the ones in my office or if as a physician you rush out as a final question is being asked.

The Doc is In