| The free time “lockdown” has brought to households across the nation have many spending more time at home, on their phones, and on social media, looking up new diets or recipes to stay healthy. However, certain foods and ingredients that are trending on social media as “healthy” can be extremely misleading and even harmful. New York-based Board-certified internist, Dr. Sunitha D. Posina, has listed some of the most well-known ‘health foods’ and how they might not always live up to the hype.
- Hard seltzer
Hard-seltzers have grown in popularity as a ‘good choice’ for health-conscious consumers with low carbohydrate and calorie content. But in reality, a refreshing alcoholic drink that’s lighter in calories and feels less filling may make it easier to imbibe more.
No matter the calorie count, overconsumption of alcohol and binge drinking has a long list of long-term health effects.
- Plant-based alternatives to meat
While some can be higher in certain vitamins and minerals than animal meat (they’re added during processing), they can also be higher in sodium and carbohydrates.
However, not all meats are made the same. Always check the nutritional label to avoid being misled into buying a product you think is better for you than meat.
- Celery as a miracle vegetable
Despite what social media says about the ‘miracle juice’, there isn’t any evidence to support the end-all-be-all claims (prevent cancer, lowers cholesterol, prevent digestive disorders, help lose weight, and promote clear skin) influencers and celebrities made.
Celery juice is virtually void of fiber, which is what helps make people feel full and aids weight loss, thanks to the juicing process. While drinking the juice doesn’t do any harm per se, it’s not the magical detoxifier, and cleanser everyone thinks it is.
- Gluten-free when you don’t need to be
To imitate the flavor and texture of wheat gluten, companies will use corn, oat, and rice flours, which aren’t necessarily healthier for you.
Suppose you don’t have celiac disease or gluten sensitivity. In that case, you might end up with nutritional deficiencies as fortified bread, whole wheat and cereals are a significant source of B vitamins and fiber.
Other common health trends Dr. Posina can but is not limited to comment on:
- Weight loss teas
- The Keto Diet
- Gluten-free
- Vegan
- Smoothie Bowls
- Juicing
- The Pegan diet
- Drinking turpentine for the common cold
- Activated charcoal products
- ‘Diet’ ice cream (ie. Halo Top)
- Raw food diets
About Dr. Posina:
Dr. Sunitha D. Posina, M.D. is a renowned board-certified physician in Internal Medicine in Stony Brook, New York. Dr. Posina was born in a small town in India before moving to the Tri-State area at a young age. An early love for science, skincare, and philanthropy fueled her determination to study medicine. Initially, Dr. Posina began her undergraduate studies at Rutgers University in Biology and Economics prior to starting her medical training at the PSI Med School in the heart of Southern India. Her medical training in India gave her an opportunity to learn about the potential synergistic benefits of combining eastern therapies with western medicine. As such, subsequent to her medical training, she pursued her post-graduate training in Internal Medicine at Stony Brook University Hospital, the largest academic medical center in Long Island, New York.
In addition to her extensive training in internal medicine, Dr. Posina has completed multiple dermatology rotations treating patients with hyperpigmentation, acne, hair loss, and vitiligo. She is also certified in anti-aging therapies such as stem-cell therapy, integrative weight loss training, aesthetic procedures such as platelet-rich plasma therapy, advanced hair restoration therapy, personalized medical-grade chemical peels, designing medical-grade facials, skin-rejuvenating laser therapies, and Intravenous Vitamin infusions.
Due to her extensive exposure to community medical outreach nationally and internationally, she has a command of socio-economic barriers that affect vulnerable populations that are at higher risk for chronic diseases. Dr. Posina has also been a strong advocate for community education on chronic illnesses that plague our society such as obesity, diabetes, and hypertension.
Dr. Posina is an experienced internist, specialized in the management of acutely-ill hospitalized patients at several medical centers in the Northeast. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, she worked on the frontlines by taking care of critically ill patients with coronavirus in New York, the nation’s first epicenter.
The much-awaited launch of her extensively researched skincare line is a fusion of traditional eastern medicine with modern science. The product line is an amalgamation of love, purity, and science with maximum efficacy. Dr. Posina considers herself “the beauty internist” due to her knowledge of anti-aging, and her love of all things beauty-related as well as her extensive background in Internal Medicine. She places an emphasis on keeping her patients youthful-looking and feeling by treating them from the inside out so they are not simply “visually youthful” but internally as well. |
