Dr. Oz, Lisa Oz and Dr. Roizen take calls from listeners about their medical conditions, eating habits and other health concerns.
I was diagnosed with Graves' disease shortly after giving birth. How can I live as healthy as possible with the disease?
Graves' disease is an inflammatory disorder of the thyroid gland and can be treated effectively, Dr. Oz says. Dr. Roizen says iodine-rich foods, such as cruciferous vegetables, may interfere with a thyroid condition and that you should not overeat or skimp on those foods. "What you want is a stable level of all the vegetables that concentrate iodine [and] iodized salt—you just want a moderate amount," he says. "Don't go crazy anytime over anything containing iodine."
I binged on 50 pounds of blueberries in the past week and a half—can that harm me?
While blueberries are healthy, Dr. Roizen says 50 pounds of blueberries equals a lot of extra calories. Dr. Oz says there probably aren't any harmful side effects from eating so many berries, but the compulsive behavior of eating that much could be a sign of an eating disorder. "You never want to be so caught up in a food," Dr. Oz says. "If you feel compelled to eat a lot more food then you think you should eat, you should treat that," he says.
What is your opinion on herbal cleansing and juice-fasting programs?
Dr. Oz says the two detoxing organs in the body are the liver and the kidneys. He says a two-week detoxification program won't dramatically change either of these organs, but the juice-fasting can be good for your overall diet. "[Juice-fasting] allows you to take away the overwhelming taste influences on your mouth and allow your mouth to resettle itself and then begin to taste and appreciate more subtle flavors-the kind of flavors that are found in more natural foods," Dr. Oz says.
