What to Eat on an Empty Stomach

Q. My mother-in law sent me an e-mail supposedly written by a doctor about how and when to eat fruit. It says you should always eat fruit on an empty stomach to avoid gas and bloating and not to drink a cold drink after eating because it solidifies the oils in the stomach and slows down digestion. How true is this? -- Angela, St. George, Utah

A. It's just plumb nuts. We found a copy of this e-mail at www.snopes.com, where Internet rumors like this are debunked. Not only is the e-mail incorrect, we're disappointed that people would think a doctor would write: "Graying hair, balding, nervous outburst, and dark circles under the eyes -- all these will not happen if you take fruits on an empty stomach."

And let's be clear: Not only does drinking cold water after eating not solidify oil in the stomach, it doesn't cause cancer, either, as a more recent iteration of this misinformed missive suggests. The original article on which this e-mail is believed to be based is on the Web site of a Singaporean chef and cookbook author who is neither a doctor nor a dietitian. Her recipes look luscious, and she gets some things right -- like recommending that eating whole fruits is better for you than drinking juices -- but her medical expertise seems quite a few grapes short of a bunch. Which, by the way, you can eat anytime, followed by a great big glass of ice water.

Q. I'm 44, had a second child a year ago, and I've lost all my baby weight. At 5'1", I weigh about 133 pounds but still have a big stomach. I've dieted, work out hard with cardio sculpt three times a week, and advanced Pilates three times a week. I wanted a tummy tuck, but the doctor said no, because the fat is in the omentum, which can't be sucked out. How do I reduce omental fat? -- Paige, Little Rock, AR

A. You're already on your way to paring down your omentum -- the cushion of tissue that hangs from the stomach to the pelvis. The reason your doc can't liposuction it out is that it's not padding you from underneath your skin -- it's deeper than that, where it damages far more than how your figure looks in jeans. Omental fat is closer to your organs than other body fat, so they look to it for energy. The fat it releases goes to your liver, and from there to your arteries, where it's linked to increased lousy LDL cholesterol, and even worse, low HDL, high triglycerides, and inflammation-causing chemicals. The more omental fat you have, the less of an anti-inflammatory, antistress chemical called adiponectin you produce. All this is bad news for your heart. Exercise will help, but excess food is likely the main culprit pumping your omentum. A healthy diet rich in vegetables, fruit, 100% whole grains, and good fats (omega-3 fats) and light on sugary and processed foods will, with some portion control, also help stop the omentum momentum.

Q. Sometimes my skin turns a dark blue between my nose and mouth. I usually feel tired when this happens. I have heart problems -- could that be the cause? -- Alice, Hamilton, Ontario

A. It could be, and this warrants a visit to your doctor, pronto. What you're describing sounds like cyanosis, a symptom that indicates your blood is not being oxygenated enough. When your blood is saturated with oxygen from your lungs it's bright red. When oxygen is diminished, your blood is bluish-red and can make your skin look blue. (In dark-skinned people, it's more noticeable in the tissue of the lips, the gums, and around the eyes.)

Heart disease, particularly congestive heart failure, can cause cyanosis because the heart muscle is too weak to pump enough blood to the body's other organs, including the lungs, where it gets oxygenated. Other conditions can cause it: a hemoglobin abnormality that is sometimes genetic but more often caused by anesthetics; some antibiotics; exposure to benzene and nitrates; lung disease; blood clots in the lungs; severe pneumonia; and certain toxins (such as cyanide), to name a few. As they say in TV doctor dramas, get your blood oxygen measured -- stat.