health

Dear Readers,

Recently, a Harvard doctor referred to coconut oil as "pure poison," which set off a social media firestorm. What's all the fuss about?  Another doctor was quoted as saying coconut oil is safe to use in moderation. What, exactly,ismoderation?

Dear Dietitian

I have been using sea salt for most of my cooking. It's more natural than table salt, and I feel that it is a healthier alternative. But my husband challenges me on this point. What do you think? --Suzanne

Dear Suzanne

You can help your friend or family member by recognizing the signs of mental health problems and connecting them to professional help.

Talking to friends and family about mental health problems can be an opportunity to provide information, support, and guidance. Learning about mental health issues can lead to:

Dear Dietitian,

My four-year-old son, Alex, has suffered from epilepsy since shortly after birth. He is on medication, but still has as many as five seizures a week. I have been thinking about putting him on a ketogenic diet, as I have heard from other parents that it will reduce the number of seizures. Other parents have said the diet is very hard to stick to, and it didn't work for their child. What do you think?

Sharon

Dear Sharon,