Derrick W. Spell, MD, FACP

2020 was a difficult year for all of us. Our usual daily routines were disrupted thanks to the coronavirus. We spent more time at home...

Patients and family members often ask me for dietary advice. They frequently inquire about my personal dietary preferences and beliefs. ...

I grew up on a small, rural farm in the 1970’s and 80’s. My family raised cattle along with other traditional farm animals. Meat,...

Growing up in a Methodist family, we didn’t really observe Lent. However, I am quite familiar with the concept of Lent since I live in...

Coronavirus, or COVID-19, has spread to more than 100 countries over the last several weeks. The World Health Organization categorized...

Many overweight people try to lose weight at the beginning of each year. A new year frequently means another fad diet. A current,...

Today we know that obesity increases the risk of developing heart disease. You are more likely to have long-term complications from...

In Dan Buettner’s book The Blue Zones Solution, he describes five regions in our world that have extraordinary lifespans. Experts...

Today, most communities have a variety of local ethnic eateries. Since most of them are not large chain restaurants, nutritional...

One of the most important skills to learn for effective weight management is proper dining at restaurants. Eating out is never the...

The 2019 holiday season is here! It is time to celebrate with holiday parties and family events. Unfortunately, these gatherings can be...

I recently saw a new patient who asked a lot of questions about fruit. She had been convinced by her friends that she should not eat...

Most Americans eat large quantities of simple, refined carbs (sugars) and small amounts of complex carbs and fiber. In fact, over half...

The American College of Sports Medicine recommends exercising a minimum of three times per week to facilitate weight loss. If possible,...

The numerous advantages of regular exercise are irrefutable. The first question for most people includes how to get started and what...

Exercise has been recommended by doctors for thousands of years. Hippocrates was the first documented physician to recommend exercise as...

What is a protein? The word protein comes from the Greek word proteios meaning "of prime importance." Proteins are complex molecules...

There are additional protein contributions from plants that we did not discuss in the previous blog. For instance, the so-called...

My newest pet peeve is restaurants that ask if you’d like to add “a protein” to your meal. Protein is a macronutrient, not a food item! ...

Carbohydrates, or carbs, have been ridiculed for decades. Recent trendy diets that advocate “low-carb” eating include the Atkins Diet,...