Dr Inna is MiLi’s medical consultant. If you have a question about beauty or health issue please address your question to: Ask Doctor Inna© at doctorinna@milibeautyandhealth.com.

Dr. Inna will try to answer as many questions as she can. She is sorry but she cannot offer individual diagnoses or offer treatment advice over the Internet. Individuals are encouraged to discuss their personal health questions and concerns with their own health practitioner.

Those questions that were most frequently asked are answered below:

1. How do I lose weight?
2. How I decide which multivitamin to purchase?
3. I noticed MiLi does not offer time-release vitamins or minerals. Is there a reason?
4. Can I safely use "sugar free" products like Saccharin or NutraSweet?
5. I keep hearing about Omega-3 fatty acids, why should they be important to me?
6. Is percentage of body fat important to my health?
7. Why should I be concerned about high triglycerides?
8. I have been hearing the terms glycemic index and glycemic load. Are they the same thing or are they different?
9. I have no idea what is considered moderate use of alcohol - can you help?
10. How much water should I drink daily?
11. Are organic fruits and vegetables better for you?

How do I lose weight?
The number one way to lose weight is to reduce your calories by following a healthy eating plan like "My Pyramid Plan" MyPyramid.gov developed by the United States Department of Agriculture, increasing your physical activity, watching your portion size, and changing your lifestyle. "Fad" diets may help you lose weight, but the vast majority of "weight losers" find that they cannot maintain the diet and gain the weight right back.

How I decide which multivitamin to purchase?
Did you know that a vitamin supplement qualifies as a multivitamin if it contains two vitamins? There is no hard evidence that most healthy adults need to take a multivitamin.  In addition, the quality of brands with the same ingredients varies greatly. My recommendation is to consult your nutritionist before taking a multivitamin. If you still want an answer from me, I would recommend that you NOT buy any multivitamin the offers more than 100% of the Dietary Value for each ingredient. I also do not recommend that you take time release vitamins, as some vitamins or minerals may not be properly absorbed. Lastly, you should only buy vitamins with "USP" (U.S. Pharmacopeia) on the label.

I noticed MiLi does not offer time-release vitamins or minerals. Is there a reason?
MiLi does not offer its products in a time release form because if you take sufficient vitamins and minerals "time release" is not necessary. In addition, time release formulas are more costly, and some vitamins or minerals may not be properly absorbed. Many timed release supplements also contain coatings that prevent the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins.

Can I safely use "sugar free" products like Saccharin or NutraSweet?
Generally, the answer is yes. However, let me offer some cautions. "Sugar free products" tend to be equated with low calories- While you may be saving the calories from sugar, you may actually be increasing your calories by eating more food or by eating high calorie food because it is "sugar free." There is also a lingering question about the "long term" effects of some sugar substitutes.

I keep hearing about Omega-3 fatty acids, why should they be important to me?
Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fatty acids that are essential nutrients for health. Omega-3 fatty acids are a family of polyunsaturated fatty acids that we get from foods since or supplements since our bodies cannot make them. "Oily fish" like salmon or herring are good sources of Omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids are believed to helpful in controlling blood pressure, protecting against heart attacks, reducing the risk of atherosclerosis, and lowering bad cholesterol and triglycerides. Some doctors even recommend omega-3 fatty acids for numerous normal body functions, such as controlling blood clotting and building cell membranes in the brain. Omega-3 fatty acids are also associated with many health benefits, including protection against heart disease and possibly stroke. There is also some research indicating Omega-3 fatty acids my help to reduce depression.

Is percentage of body fat important to my health?
The answer in most cases is yes. There is a body mass index (BMI), which is a measurement that determines if you are at an appropriate weight for your height by estimating your body fat. Though BMI is generally a reliable approximation of body fat, it does not always tell the whole picture--you should discuss your BMI with a licensed clinician or your personal physician.

Why should I be concerned about high triglycerides?
Triglycerides are a form of fat in the blood and fat cells that may increase you risk of heart disease and strokes. People with high triglycerides often have a high total cholesterol--high LDL (bad) cholesterol and a low HDL (good) cholesterol. What generally is believed to lead to an increase in triglycerides are overeating, saturated fats, and consumption of large quantities of alcohol,. To lower or keep your triglycerides you should consider increasing your physical activity, drinking alcohol in moderation, and if you smoke- stop.

I have been hearing the terms glycemic index and glycemic load. Are they the same thing or are they different?
A good question related to two confusing terms Glycemic index and Glycemic load. Many people look at how many carbohydrates are in a food item and assume that they all impact blood sugar in the same way. That is not accurate; the Glycemic index (GI) indicates how rapidly a certain food increases blood sugar after eating. For instance, most fruit and vegetables (except potatoes), and wholegrains are considered low on the GI and release glucose slowly.  Corn flakes, baked potatoes, candy, honey, and white bread are considered high on the GI and release glucose more rapidly. If you were suffering from low blood sugar, you would probably want to choose a food with a high GI to raise your glucose. If your blood sugar is high you would want to choose foods with a low GI or avoid carbohydrates altogether until your blood sugar drops.

Glycemic load (GL), on the other hand, is a ranking system for carbohydrate content in food portions based on their glycemic index (GI) and the portion size. It calculates the glycemic index of a food multiplied by the carbohydrate content of the food. There are exceptions, but for most foods if a food has a high GI it will also have a high (GL).
One caveat, use the GI or GL as a guide and remember that both are estimates and that their accuracy may be impacted by many factors such as the ripeness of a fruit, the processing of a grain, or the variety of the product.

I have no idea what is considered moderate use of alcohol- can you help?
You are rightfully confused; there is no set standard for what is considered one serving of alcohol. However, probably the best guidelines are those offered by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). For most adults the guidelines are: up to two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women and older people

• One drink equals one 12-ounce bottle of beer or wine cooler
• One 5-ounce glass of wine
• 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits such as scotch or vodka

How much water should I drink daily?
There is much disagreement related to your question, I tend to go with the general recommendation of the Institute of Medicine that "the vast majority of healthy people adequately meet their daily hydration needs by letting thirst be their guide."  For those that want a more definitive recommendation, I recommend that women consume approximately 2 liters (approx 68 ounces) of total water - from all beverages and foods, and men consume an average of approximately 3 liters (approximately 102 ounces daily) of total water. If you are confused about the percentage of water derived from food, the Institute of Medicine estimates that 20% of water intake is derived from food.

Are organic fruits and vegetables better for you?
The government is working to better define the definition of what constitutes an organically grown fruit or vegetable. However, "organic fruits and vegetables" may limit your exposure to herbicides and pesticides. I do not believe, however, that there is any hard evidence to conclude that higher cost organic fruits and vegetables are any more nutritional than conventional produce.

This information is designed to help adults make informed decisions related their health and beauty questions and is intended to be used for informational general purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the MiLi Site!