Question #1
Hi Dr John. In the last two yrs, I have become a person that only eats healthy. How many carbs should a person have a day? Tanya

Carbohydrates in our diet have a long history, where some say they are evil and need to be avoided and others that they are necessary and need to be included. But carbs come in different varieties. The beneficial ones come from good sources including fruits, vegetables and even yogurt. Others come from what can be considered bad sources. These include sugars and refined carbohydrates. Experts go back and forth on how many carbs are needed in our daily diet but most recommendations center on 45 to 65 percent of our total calories. For most of us that means around 225 to 350 grams of carbs per day for a healthy diet.

Question #2
When is the best time to get flu shot I'm a male 54 years old. the month of Oct, Nov has been the time in past

The overall answer is right now. The flu vaccine changes every year because the flu virus itself changes every year. This means that last years vaccine won't fully protect you against this year's new virus. That's the reason you need the shot every year. Like every other year though, this year's vaccine will protect you against the most common strains of Type A and B flu. Since it's hard to predict when the flu will strike and since it takes 2 weeks for your immune system to build up protection after the vaccine the earlier you get it the better. Both the shot and the nasal spray will protect you from this year's virus all flu season long so getting it as early as possible will offer you the most protection. The current recommendation from the CDC is for everyone 6 months old and older to get the vaccine this year.

Question #3
I'm thinking about taking green tea extracts as a vitamin supplement and want to know what side effects, if any, they might have and would that outweigh the benefits. Bob

Green tea extract comes directly from the leaves used in green tea. Green tea has been touted as having many benefits and although some are unsubstantiated it does improve mental alertness, helps with stomach and digestive issues and can help alleviate headaches among other things. For the most part green tea and green tea extract are considered safe but some have reported getting an upset stomach, especially if taking heavy doses. In rare cases it can cause liver issues in some and it may interfere with iron absorption from food in others which could be an issue in those with low iron levels. Green tea does contain caffeine so too much of it can cause the same issue that too much caffeine causes. This mainly means headaches, irritability, tremors and heart palpitations. It can also interfere with the way the body processes certain medications, mainly because of the caffeine in green tea, so checking with your doctor to make sure it won't cause a medication issue is an important step. But for the most part green tea, and green tea extracts are both safe and a healthy addition to your daily routine.

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