The Doc Replies

My son fasts one day every week as he claims it helps him lose weight. Is he doing his body any damage?

There are many popular diets at the moment that involve some degree of fasting. Often these involve consuming a very limited number of calories on the fast day rather than not eating anything at all. The best way to lose weight is to adopt a healthy lifestyle, eating less throughout the week, while increasing exercise levels. This is a much more sustainable way of both losing weight and keeping it off.

Can I wear a wig most of the day? I’ve undergone chemotherapy and wondered if I can wear a hairpiece most of the time.

As long as you follow the advice given to you when your hairpiece was fitted then you should be able to wear it for most of the day. Some patients will choose to only wear wigs for brief periods but others will use them for most of the day.

I’m due for an operation to remove a troublesome gall bladder. I’ve been told I’ll need to change my diet afterwards – what food will I need to avoid?

Patients who have gallstones are advised to avoid fat in their diet as this can cause pain. The gallbladder is used to store bile which helps digest food. Once the gallbladder has been removed, most patients are able to enjoy a normal diet.

My old dad uses a pot to stew his tea. The insides are dark black. Could he be doing himself harm?

Unlikely. It is however important to rinse the teapot to ensure any loose particles are removed from the side.