Can it get to a point where chocolate is dangerous? And if so, how much would be “too much”? – L.K, via e-mail Dorit Adler, chief clinical dietitian at Hadassah University Medical Center in Jerusalem’s Ein Kerem answers: Dark chocolate can be part of a balanced diet and is beneficial because of its antioxidants and other protective components. Milk chocolate is much less desirable from the health aspect. Chocolate does contain saturated fats and sugars, which are harmful and whose consumption should be reduced. So I recommend that you regard chocolate as a precious substance; it is best to choose high-quality chocolate, but in small amounts. Up to 40 grams a day is OK as long as it doesn’t cause weight gain. Consult your family doctor to see if you have risk factors. If you do, see a clinical dietitian.I am a 67-year-old woman who has been suffering from muscle cramps in my legs for at least 10 years, and it is progressively getting worse and worse. It started off just at night while I was sleeping, and I would wake up suddenly with excruciating pain down my le. It also happens when I am sitting; now it is once or twice daily, and it lasts as long as 30 minutes. I had an EMG test and was told it was coming from my back. I take vitamin E, magnesium citrate and tonic water, which my family doctor suggested, but it doesn’t help at all. My previous doctor gave me quinine tablets and they helped, but my current physician refuses to prescribe them, as they could affect my heart. What can I do?– H.J., Lower Galilee.Prof. Meir Leibergall, chief of orthopedics at Hadassah University Medical Center in Jerusalem’s Ein Kerem, answers:It does seem as if the problem is not simple, as you have already tried all conventional treatment for this problem. It may be that there is, nevertheless, a neurological or vascular problem. I can’t say anything more without examining you. You should go to two specialists in these two fields to find the cause of the problem.
My one-year-old daughter is very picky and fussy with her food – eating very slowly, refusing to eat many types of food – and thus is somewhat underweight. Do you have any advice for dealing with this problem?– N.B., Yavne Tal Kon-Sadeh, a pediatric clinical dietitian at Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer, replies:Most infants start to eat solid foods at around six months, but every child has his or her own pace. There is no use getting stressed, as that will not help you or her. It takes about 15 exposures to a new type of food until a child gets used to the taste and learns to like it. So don’t give up if she refuses something that is good for her. Keep trying every few days. The more variety of tastes to which she is exposed, the less likely she will turn into a choosy child.Don’t push her to eat a specific type of food. At around nine months old, a baby understands he or she is an independent individual and looks for a bit of independence. One of the ways is through food. Let her eat the foods she is able to eat, whether a single teaspoon or 10. Don’t force frequent meals on her. If meals are at regular times every day and not too frequent, she will be hungry and more likely to want to eat. At least one daily family meal, in which all members eat together, is recommended. Children learn a lot from seeing others eat and are more likely to accept what parents eat and taste new things when sitting with the family. Make eating a pleasant social experience.Since most children at this age either breast feed or drink formula or milk and eat some pureed vegetables and fruits, they don’t need a lot of additional liquids such as water. Giving her too much water can fill her stomach at the expense of solid food. Natural juices are commonly thought of as being healthful, but they contain sugar and thus often constitute a replacement for food but do not promote development and growth. Avoid making your child “addicted” to sweet drinks, even natural juices. Don’t feed your daughter while watching TV, reading her a story or playing, as this confuses the child about food and games, and she learns not to understand the difference. The most important thing is patience. In the end, all children learn to eat.Rx for Readers welcomes queries from readers about medical problems. Experts will answer those we find most interesting. Write Rx for Readers, The Jerusalem Post, POB 81, Jerusalem 91000, fax your question to Judy Siegel-Itzkovich at (02) 538- 9527, or e-mail it to jsiegel@jpost.com, giving your initials, age and place of residence.