Everyday Health Hacker by Dr. Liza Leal

I'm Dr. Liza Leal, your everyday healthhacker and the Meridian Minute, and today we're talking about better sugar alternatives, hidden additives in sweeteners, and simple ways to support your health through nutrition.At Meridian Medical Dental Healthcare powered by Meridian Health Institute, we really believe in caring for the entire body — from head to toe — and that includes what we're putting inside our bodies every day.One of the most common questions I get from patients is:"Doc, what sweetener should I use? The pink packet? The blue packet? The green packet?"And honestly, it can get confusing because there are so many products on the market.What I usually tell patients is this:The less processed the sweetener, the better.Now, some artificial sweeteners have been controversial over the years. Certain studies have raised concerns about possible long-term metabolic effects, gut microbiome disruption, increased cravings, or other health concerns when consumed heavily over time. The research is still evolving, so I always encourage moderation and reading labels carefully.Two of my favorite alternatives are: Pure stevia Monk fruit The key word is PURE.A lot of commercial sweeteners marketed as "stevia" actually contain additives like: maltodextrin dextrose sucralose artificial flavorings Those additives may still affect blood sugar and insulin response, even if the front label says "zero sugar."So flip the package over and read the ingredients.Pure stevia leaf extract and monk fruit are popular because they generally do not spike blood sugar significantly, making them helpful for many people trying to improve metabolic health or reduce sugar intake.Now let's talk about why this matters.When we constantly spike our blood sugar with highly processed carbohydrates and sugars, our insulin levels rise. Over time, this can contribute to: weight gain inflammation fatigue insulin resistance metabolic dysfunction And many people notice that after a high-sugar meal or drink, they crash afterward and feel tired or sluggish.One sweetener people ask me about a lot is erythritol.Erythritol is a sugar alcohol commonly used in sugar-free products. It has very few calories and minimal impact on blood sugar for most people. However, some individuals may experience bloating or digestive discomfort, especially if they already struggle with IBS or sensitive digestion.Nutrition is never one-size-fits-all.Another thing I encourage patients to focus on is building a balanced breakfast instead of skipping meals entirely.Now, intermittent fasting can work well for some people, but many patients unintentionally under-eat during the day and then overeat later at night. So instead of focusing only on fasting, I encourage patients to prioritize stable blood sugar and adequate protein intake.Some easy breakfast ideas include: chia pudding with almond or coconut milk oatmeal with flaxseed and berries walnuts or pecans in moderation protein smoothies without added sugars I personally love chia pudding:Just add chia seeds to almond milk or coconut milk, let it sit overnight, then add berries, nuts, or cinnamon in the morning.Simple. Easy. Nutritious.And speaking of nuts — while nuts do not contain cholesterol, some are higher in fats and calories than others, so portion size still matters. But many nuts, especially walnuts and almonds, may actually support heart health when eaten appropriately.One of the biggest takeaways today is this:Your body does best with foods that are closer to nature and less processed.Read labels.Watch hidden sugars.Focus on protein and fiber.And remember — small consistent choices create long-term health.We'd love to hear from you in the comments:What are your favorite healthy sugar alternatives or breakfast hacks?And if you enjoyed today's episode, please subscribe, like, and share the Meridian Minute.We'll see you next time.

Chronic Pain is day in and day out, everyday a constant feeling of heart wrenching discomfort. Having lived in a wheel chair during my years as a medical student and resident, I too know what has to happen to overcome the chronic pain. We will discuss over the next episodes practical usable elements to help you Live Well even in the face of chronic pain.Thank you Meridian Medical Dental Healthcare powered by Meridian Health Institute, . Reach out to us @Everydayhealthhacker, @meridianhealthinstitute, email info@everydayhealthhacker.com and or call us at 281-265-6565, We want to be your resource of medical and dental information for you, your family and loved ones.Hosts Michael Herzing (@mikeherzing and @let'stalkwheels and Dr. Liza Leal @everydayhealthhacker

This past allergy season, we had several patients ask us about Vitamin D3 and if it is helpful in allergies and asthma. Join your Everday Health Hacker, Dr. Liza Leal and co- host Mike Herzing as we share medical and dental information as a resource for you and your family. Join us and subscribe. Follow us on Instagram @Everdayhealthhacker and @meridianhealthinstitute.

Join us and learn how to keep your bones healthy and your smile beautiful. Low T or Low Testosterone can cause many deleterios effects. Not just for men but also women. Strong bones also depend on testosterone.You can prevent this through many modalities and today we are going to talk about them.What labs should your doctor order and look at? Testosterone, DHEA, Estrogen, thyroid and more. We look forward to your comments and we hope you will subscribeYour Everyday Health Hacker is Liza Leal, M.D., Together we discuss topics from emails from around the world to help educate, inspire and be the resource for the latest medical dental topics. Write to us via email at info@everydayhealthhacker or call us at 281-265-6565 Meridian Medical Dental Healthcare (Dr. Duncan Foulds) powered by Meridian Health Institute in Sugar Land, Texas.Stay Tuned, Like, Comment and Subscribehttps://everydayhealthhacker.com

Thank you Meridian Medical Dental Healthcare powered by Meridian Health Institute, Eddie Vee with Vee Productions for his production of all our social media needs and videos. Reach out to us @Everydayhealthhacker, @meridianhealthinstitute, email info@everydayhealthhacker.com and or call us at 281-265-6565, We want to be your resource of medical and dental information for you, your family and loved ones.Hosts Michael Herzing (@mikeherzing and @let'stalkwheels and Dr. Liza Leal @everydayhealthhacker

Your Everyday Health Hacker is Liza Leal, M.D. and her patient co-host Mike Herzing of "Let's Talk Wheels" a nationally syndicated program. Together we discuss topics from emails from around the world to help educate, inspire and be the resource for the latest medical dental topics. Write to us via email at info@everydayhealthhacker or call us at 281-265-6565 Meridian Medical Dental Healthcare (Dr. Duncan Foulds) powered by Meridian Health Institute in Sugar Land, Texas.Stay Tuned, Like, Comment and Subscribehttps://everydayhealthhacker.com

Thank you for all the questions regarding osteoporosis, biphosphonates and protecting your teeth. In Part 6 of osteoporosis and biphosphonates we will discuss protecting your bones naturally and what you can do now to prevent osteoporosis. Mobility is life and we want to keep you moving with a beautiful intact smile.Biphosphonates for Osteoporosis are dangerous. The most serious side effect can be to loose all your teeth from osteonecrosis it can cause the bone to die. Originally biphosphonates like Boniva, Reclast, Fosamax just to name a few work to keep the "old" bone around. This can have an appearance of more bone on a bone density test, however, it is deceiving. Listen today to learn options to protect your bones and mobility and we will build on Part I learning prevention is key to healthy bones and a healthy smile. Keep a look out for part III and IV coming soon!Mobility is Life, so many patients share I hurt all over I must be getting old. No, it's inflammation and we need to halt the inflammation to better protect the one body we have. As a medical dental practice, we see new patients who were referred to us for teeth that are moving. While there can be multiple causes: infection, medication, poor hygiene, poor lifestyle and more we must educate that many medications prescribed by their doctor can be the cause. One being biphosphonates. Today we will discuss alternatives including weight bearing exercise, hormones and a medical dental approach to keep your bones healthy.Your Everyday Health Hacker is Liza Leal, M.D. and her patient co-host Mike Herzing of "Let's Talk Wheels" a nationally syndicated program. Together we discuss topics from emails from around the world to help educate, inspire and be the resource for the latest medical dental topics. Write to us via email at info@everydayhealthhacker or call us at 281-265-6565 Meridian Medical Dental Healthcare (Dr. Duncan Foulds) powered by Meridian Health Institute in Sugar Land, Texas.

Biphosphonates for Osteoporosis are dangerous. The most serious side effect can be to loose all your teeth from osteonecrosis it can cause the bone to die. Originally biphosphonates like Boniva, Reclast, Fosamax just to name a few work to keep the "old" bone around. This can have an appearance of more bone on a bone density test, however, it is deceiving. Listen today to learn options to protect your bones and mobility and we will build on Part I learning prevention is key to healthy bones and a healthy smile. Keep a look out for part III and IV coming soon!Your Everyday Health Hacker is Liza Leal, M.D. and her patient co-host Mike Herzing of "Let's Talk Wheels" a nationally syndicated program. Together we discuss topics from emails from around the world to help educate, inspire and be the resource for the latest medical dental topics. Write to us via email at info@everydayhealthhacker or call us at 281-265-6565 Meridian Medical Dental Healthcare (Dr. Duncan Foulds) powered by Meridian Health Institute in Sugar Land, Texas.Stay Tuned, Like, Comment and Subscribehttps://everydayhealthhacker.com@everydayhealthhacker IG and FB