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Dr. Brian Taschner

/Dr. Brian Taschner

About Dr. Brian Taschner

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So far Dr. Brian Taschner has created 80 blog entries.

Beet Chips

2019-06-15T18:10:13+00:00

Beet Chips Aren't we all constantly on the lookout for a healthy snack? And don't most of us love the crunch of a great potato chip? It's true, there's a rare person out there that "can only eat one". As we all know too well, potato or other snack chips are addictive, but completely devoid of nutritional value. They can pack on calories not only from the potatoes or other ingredients, but also from the oils that they are fried in. On a lazy weekend afternoon, I decided to explore making beet chips. I had purchased too many beets for my [...]

Beet Chips 2019-06-15T18:10:13+00:00

Hypertension: Home Blood Pressure Monitoring and Non-pharmacologic Treatment Measures

2019-05-21T00:13:21+00:00

The current guidelines from the American College of Cardiology recommend close home monitoring of blood pressure by patients. Why is this? We are reluctant to diagnose a patient with hypertension based on only one or two readings obtained during an office visit. So many factors can immediately influence blood pressure, including sleep, stress, diet, alcohol consumption, and timing of medications. As these factors vary day-to-day, so will the blood pressure. Ultimately, it is important that the average blood pressures are at goal, even if there are some high and low readings. In the office, we might see people with white coat [...]

Hypertension: Home Blood Pressure Monitoring and Non-pharmacologic Treatment Measures 2019-05-21T00:13:21+00:00

Diet and Breast Cancer

2019-05-16T10:35:56+00:00

Did you know that nearly 90% of breast cancer has little to do with your genetics. In fact, the majority of breast cancer is related to lifestyle choices. There are many dietary interventions that can reduce the chances of developing breast cancer and the risk of death or recurrence in those who have already been diagnosed. Check out this interview transcript from the 2019 Food Revolution Summit to learn more. What Everyone Needs To Know About Breast Cancer-Kristi Funk, MD Download To learn more about soy and breast cancer, check out Dr. Greger's videos, Should Women At High Risk for Breast [...]

Diet and Breast Cancer 2019-05-16T10:35:56+00:00

Coronary Artery Calcium Score

2019-05-11T22:44:05+00:00

In my cardiology practice, I encounter a fair number of young to middle-age patients who are interested in screening for cardiovascular disease. For some, it's just curiosity, while others are eager to explore their own health due to having a strong family history of heart attacks or strokes, or because they themselves have had one or more cardiac risk factors (smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure). One test that often comes up is a coronary artery calcium score. This test uses a CT scanner to detect calcium in the walls of the coronary arteries. There is a standardized scoring system [...]

Coronary Artery Calcium Score 2019-05-11T22:44:05+00:00

Jicama Mango Slaw

2019-04-25T00:35:44+00:00

Jicama Mango Slaw As the warmer summer months are quickly approaching (at least here, in sunny Florida), many of us start to crave lighter, healthier foods. And with Cinco de Mayo around the corner, there's no better time to introduce one of the lightest, most flavorful salads I love to eat: Jicama Mango Slaw! My first time enjoying a version of this delicious slaw occurred when it arrived as an accompaniment to my favorite vegan enchilada at a high-end Mexican restaurant. I was so enamored with the light crunch of the jicama, balanced with the tartness and acidity of citrus, and [...]

Jicama Mango Slaw 2019-04-25T00:35:44+00:00

Vegan Crab Cakes

2019-04-17T10:15:38+00:00

Vegan Crab Cakes Vegan "crabless" cakes are now available in the frozen section of most supermarkets due to the ingenuity of the Gardein food band. I had an opportunity to try these a few days ago, and have to say they were pretty darn tasty after having been crisped up for a few minutes in my air fryer. I have to admit I was impressed by the crispy texture and authentic "crab-like" flavor. While they are vegan, I still consider these to be a convenience fun food, as they are processed and contain quite a few ingredients that are difficult to [...]

Vegan Crab Cakes 2019-04-17T10:15:38+00:00

Mindful Eating

2019-04-13T12:39:31+00:00

I've recently been working on educational modules to help me to eventually become a certified member of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. One of these modules focused on the concept of mindfulness. What is mindfulness? Definitions vary slightly, but essentially convey the same concept. Mindfulness is simply a mental state of being aware and completely focused on the present moment. Most of us have busy lives, with every minute of the day being occupied by some aspect of work, family, television, or social media. Because of this, we often forget to live in the present. A particular aspect of mindfulness [...]

Mindful Eating 2019-04-13T12:39:31+00:00

Is it Okay to Eat Eggs?

2019-03-23T11:53:53+00:00

Whether or not consuming eggs or dietary cholesterol has an association with cardiovascular disease or death has been a debate for years. The 2015 updated dietary guidelines removed a previously-recommended limit of 300 mg of dietary cholesterol due to a lack of strong evidence. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association on March 19 rekindled discussion of this highly controversial topic (abstract below). Dietary cholesterol is only found in foods of animal origin, and is absent in plant based foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. The link to this abstract can be [...]

Is it Okay to Eat Eggs? 2019-03-23T11:53:53+00:00

Lemon Poppy Seed Almond Flour Bread

2019-03-10T13:16:10+00:00

Lemon Poppy Seed Almond Flour Bread I've been using the same recipe to make Seeded Almond Flour Bread for breakfast for well over 6 months now. And don't get me wrong, I still look forward to eating a slice most mornings of the week. I make a couple of loaves every few weeks, slice them up , and keep them in the the freezer. The slices are easy to grab on a busy morning, pop in the toaster, and top with homemade almond butter or Chocolate Hazelnut Spread. Last weekend I was perusing recipes in search of other fun almond flour [...]

Lemon Poppy Seed Almond Flour Bread 2019-03-10T13:16:10+00:00

Vegan Chocolate Hazelnut (Nutella) Spread

2019-05-11T20:41:17+00:00

Vegan Chocolate Hazelnut (Nutella) Spread Nutella (chocolate hazelnut spread) is a guilty pleasure for people around the world. In most European countries, it's not difficult to find a spot that makes fresh crepes filled with banana and Nutella. In the US, there are television commercials which tout Nutella as a healthy option for breakfast!! Personally, I had always enjoyed just eating it right off of the spoon. The problem with store-bought Nutella is that it's really not healthy. The top two ingredients are sugar and oil. For those who have transitioned to a healthier way of eating, Nutella can taste sickeningly [...]

Vegan Chocolate Hazelnut (Nutella) Spread 2019-05-11T20:41:17+00:00