You can eat where every you'd like to. Eat as much as you want. I cannot control that behavior. What I try and do, both with my own patients, and listeners of Your Health First, is to enlighten them to the hazards we all face regarding our health and wellness.
As a country, we eat out far too much. The portions are enormous. The salt (sodium) content is excessive, and the fat and calories of these meals is a leading cause of both adult and childhood obesity. Hypertension, cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes, kidney failure, and cancer are all complications of obesity. The cost to care for all of these people with make us all go broke. Obesity related care is expensive.
The Olive Garden has their nutritional information posted on their website. My family recently had the opportunity to dine there. They were all impressed with the lack of nutritious meals, and the contributions to the obesity problem this kind of a menu has. Reading it will both raise your blood pressure and make you sick. There is nothing healthy on the menu. As consumers, be aware of the salt, fat, and calorie content of the food you eat. Only then can we begin to put the brakes on obesity which is killing us all.
My podcast commentary from Your Health First is posted below.
Podcast: Olive Garden Commentary-Listen Here
I have been wondering if I should make an entry to the blog that discusses the radio program I host every Sunday, Your Health First, which is heard every Sunday at 7:00 p.m. on Clear Channels 740 KTRH. After some thought, I am sitting here now putting a few thoughts together.
For years, I have been a radio buff. Growing up in New York we listened to some of the greatest AM and FM stations in the country. In our home, the radio was always on, with my Mom especially tuning into the likes of Barry Gray and Bob Grant on the talk radio side, and 1010 WINS News for local and national news. Remember, this was long before the internet. When I lived abroad, and had a feeling of isolation, tuning into the radio at night allowed me to pick up the BBC World News, Voice of America, and scattered, hard to tune in, American AM stations. At times, listening to the radio was the best form of entertainment-at it served me just fine.
Wanting to be on the radio was something I never planned on. I was fine listening as much as I needed to. It was in March of 1989 that any idea of being on the radio was hatched. At the time, I was spending several weeks in Omaha, visiting University of Nebraska Medical Center, participating in a liver disease elective while still a medical resident based in New York City. Why I was there is a long story, but suffice to say it was a forever life changing experience. During my brief but meaningful tenure in Omaha, I met my great friend and colleague, Dr. Howard Monsour. We were driving to the hospital on a Saturday morning and tuned into the National Public Radio program "Car Talk". If you are not familiar with this program, which is still on every week, check it out. We were both struck by the humor and banter of the two brothers that host the program. The fun they were having on the air seemed pretty natural and honest. Howard and I both had the grandiose idea that we could easily one day host a program called "Liver Talk".
Fast forward five years - Howard and I are both in Houston on the faculty of University of Texas 
Medical School. Clinging to the idea of one day having our own program, we began to position ourselves as the goto guys for radio interviews when liver experts were required. It turned out that we were pretty good together on the air, and our interviews were well received. Could liver talk become a reality? Unfortunately, Howard and his family relocated to Stephenville, TX and the radio program pipe-dream seemed unrealistic now.
In 1999, I met Joe Martelle, an on-air radio veteran of 35 years, who was the morning host of the 
Oldies station in Houston. He and I hit it off immediately. I shared my not so secret interest in radio, and he agreed that there was a role for the sharing of medical information to the lay public in an effort to increase awareness . On April 19, 1999 I made my debut on his morning program, talking about health. That lasted several months, until Joe needed open heart surgery. He was off the air for several weeks, and later relocated to another radio market. We remained in touch and continued to talk radio and how to best create a health related radio program that would have popular appeal. Joe is now living with his wife Kim in Colorado, still a welcomed constructive critic to my efforts.
In 2004, my path crossed with Deb Keener, a sales person with Clear Channel Radio-Houston. I pitched the idea of a health program, and within several days, I was sitting in front of one of Clear Channels executives. He was curious with the idea of a new health program on the radio, and it was shortly thereafter that we started producing the "Radio Medical Minute", a weekly health update aired on several of the Houston Clear Channel stations. This was received well, and was the stepping stone for what later became "Your Health First". Since March 2005, "Your Health First" has aired live every Sunday afternoon. Starting on Clear Channels 950KPRC, the program has recently moved to Houston's New Station 740 KTRH, now airing at 7:00 p.m. Along the way, others have coached me on how to be a credible radio host. Mr. Dave Dillon, another lifelong radio professional, has been invaluable in the careful review of the program, pointing out the subtle features of radio programing required to make the program a success. He singlehandedly elevated the quality of the production many levels. Dave-you're a good man.
I have learned during these years that the general public is keenly interested in health and wellness. Each week I do my best to present logical information in an easy to understand format. I have no false hopes that this program will cure all the ills that we face, but it is a start. Each week I bring before the listeners some of the greatest physicians and health experts in the field of medicine and wellness, sharing their experience and wisdom. Changing poor health habits will take a generation. Obesity is a national concern, equal to the war on terrorism we are waging. Educating the public is vital, and Your Health First is making its small contribution to these efforts.
The program web site has a number of features to check out. Podcasts of past programs are available which can be downloaded on iTunes. I remain open to feedback for guests and topics-remember, your influence counts.
