These handouts and resources are very beneficial in my practice. Patients respond well to information handouts and I have provided them here for your convenience. Feel free to download them, make copies, and hand them out as you find them useful.
This colorful two-page handout describes the wide variety of free online resources available on DrGourmet.com (4.1MB PDF document) and includes two popular recipes. A great way to tell your patients about the site!
Cholesterol Basics
What cholesterol is, the difference between LDL and HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and guidelines for your patients. The handout reviews what is regarded to be "good results" in a cholesterol screening. Space is included for your patients to keep track of their results as they progress toward optimum over time. HTML or PDF
GERD Lifestyle Information
Weight loss, dietary factors and exercise are only a few of the tips that we
often discuss with patients to help control their acid reflux. This GERD handout
is a quick summary of tips that have been shown in research to be the most effective
lifestyle changes for reducing acid reflux symptoms. PDF
format.
Gout Information
The basics of gout -- what is it and and why does it happen?
The handout contains information on the foods that
can trigger flare-ups so your patients will know
what to avoid. Includes the purine content of many
food types. HTML or PDF
Iron Basics
Two handouts on the types of iron, recommended daily allowances,
and the iron content of various foods. Iron
Basics and Iron Content
of Selected Foods (from the USDA). PDF documents.
Mediterranean Diet Guide
This ten-page handout describes the nine tenets of the Mediterranean Diet in
detail and makes suggestions for simple ways to incorporate those tenets into
the diet. PDF format.
Warfarin (Coumadin®) Guides for Patients
Patients are often told to avoid Vitamin K, but it's tough
for them to know what foods contain Vitamin K. An
entire section of the Dr. Gourmet site is
devoted to the relative levels of Vitamin K in foods.
For downloading handouts, there are three PDF documents:
Brief : A short list of commonly-used foods with their relative Vitamin K
levels (Low, Medium, High)
Medium : A much longer list of foods, with their relative Vitamin K
levels (Low, Medium, High)
Extensive : The same longer list as the Medium document, but with exact
levels of Vitamin K in mcgs.
By Micrograms: The Extensive document but with the foods listed in
descending order by micrograms of Vitamin K.
See also The Dr. Gourmet Diet Plan for customized diet plans specifically designed to keep Vitamin K intake stable.
The Health of It All...
Taken from the sidebars included in
recipes, these short tidbits of information can
help you answer questions for your patients on everything
from Omega-3 Fats in fish to whether to cook chicken with the
skin on or not.
Food Diary
Asking patients to keep a food diary is one of the best methods
for helping them with weight loss. I will ask them
to keep a diary for several days to help me or the dietitian assess
their eating habits and help them to realize just what they are consuming. PDF document.
BMI Calculator
Many patients are not aware of this important measurement and how their Body Mass Index may place them at higher risk for a number of conditions. This PDF handout explains BMI
and its impact on health. An interactive
BMI calculator lets you calculate their BMI before printing the handout.
Waist to Hip Ratio (WHR) Calculator
We know how important WHR is in predicting future complications
in our patients. This
handout explains WHR and its impact on health. An
interactive WHR calculator lets you calculate their WHR before
printing the handout.
Diet and Weight Loss Myths
Patients often say things about eating healthy and losing
weight that are simply not true. Included in this handout
(PDF format) are many of the more common myths and
the truth behind them, including:
Myth: Skipping a meal is a good way to diet and lose weight.
Myth: Carbohydrates are bad for you.
Myth: Fats are bad for you.
Myth: Dairy products make you gain weight or help you lose weight.
Myth: Eating late at night or just before you go to bed makes you gain weight.
Myth: A slow metabolism prevents weight loss.
Risk Factors for Heart Disease
This list can help your patients see
the importance of cardiac risk factors. By reviewing these
in "black
and white," patients see
the impact of where they stand with respect to developing
coronary disease. PDF format.