Dr. Gourmet Newsletter:
February 26, 2007

Chef Tim Says...

I have so much enjoyed baking this year. Over the first few months of 2007 Dr. Gourmet recipes have been focused on baked goods -- mostly muffins and quick breads. The challenge of balancing great flavor and texture with a healthy, high fiber, lower calorie muffin or bread has been fun and tasty. I have learned a few tips and I wanted to share them with you.

Tip #1 - Don’t be afraid of whole grains in your baked goods. Using a ratio of about 1/3 whole wheat flour with 2/3 all-purpose flour boosts the fiber content by about 2 grams in an average serving. Baking Tips

Featured Recipe: Date Nut Bread

Dates are so good for you. The combination of the fiber from the whole wheat flour, wheat germ and dates gives you over 15% of the recommended fiber needed for a day. All in a subtle, tasty, comforting bread. Date Nut Bread

Ask Dr. Gourmet

Is it possible to increase certain things like Vitamin E, A and C so that you can lower the dose of Coumadin needed? Of course you would have to be monitored by your doctor, but is it possible to use Garlic or some natural ways to thin your blood so you would not have to take so much Coumadin?

I'm a registered nurse and my cousin has to take 30 pills every day, including 10mg of Coumadin. She is asking me if there is any way she could be weaned off of some of the medicine. ...Besides lowering her intake of Vitamin K what else can she do to thin her blood?

Dr. Gourmet Says...

I don't know of any research that supports using vitamins or other supplements to reduce the dose of Coumadin® (warfarin). I am not sure how to have your cousin weaned off of any of her medications but often a visit with her doctor to discuss this subject and / or consolidation of some pills is helpful.

There are no clinically proven methods to help "thin" her blood other than the medications recommended by her physician.