Doctor Column

‘Quit Now’ Tips From Former Smokers

Smoking is the leading cause of preventable deaths in the United States. According to Center for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, “Cigarette smoking is responsible for more than 480,000 premature deaths per year in the United States, including more than 41,000 deaths resulting from second hand smoke exposure. This is about 1,300 every day.”

“What’s It All About?” — Calories, Weight Loss, Basal Metabolic Rate

As gasoline fuels cars, calories fuel our bodies. A calorie measures the energy in the food we eat. Today, it seems everyone is counting calories. The human body requires a minimum amount of premium fuel (good calories) to keep the engines of its organs running smoothly. That is to say, the interactions of foods and digestion provide the vital energy needed by the heart, kidneys, lungs and other systems to function well.