Elizabeth Ricanati, M.D.

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iVillage Healthy Living Expert

Elizabeth Ricanati, M.D., is the founding medical director of Lifestyle 180, an innovative Cleveland Clinic program aimed at treating and reversing chronic disease. This evidence-based program focuses on the whys and hows of nutrition, exercise and stress management. She and her team work with patients to apply the principles of healthy living on a daily basis. Dr. Ricanati is board-certified in internal medicine and also a credentialed clinician for The North American Menopause Society (NAMS).

Visit Dr. Ricanati at 360-5.com

ASK ELIZABETH RICANATI, M.D.

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Q:

Is it normal to lose sex drive during menopause?

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Not necessarily. We all define for ourselves what happens within our relationships and what we consider “healthy” and “normal”...

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What are the differences among various methods of birth control?

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Happy 50th anniversary to the pill, which made its debut in May 1960. Since that time, oral contraception has become the No. 1 form of birth control i...

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How can I get my body and mind ready for menopause?

A:

There are definitely things you can start doing right now. The average age for menopause, when a woman’s periods stop altogether, is 51. Perimen...

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What can I add to my diet to lessen PMS?

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We can thank the monthly drop in estrogen and progesterone right before our periods for all those fun symptoms associated with premenstrual syndrome, ...

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Q:

What is the ideal intake of cholesterol to lower levels

A:

Cholesterol is a soft, fat-like, waxy substance found only in animal products (think steak, butter, ice cream). People are sometimes surprised to lear...

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Q:

Are cleanses a good way to flush out toxins or start a diet?

A:

Colon cleansing (also known as a colonic, colonic irrigation and colon hydrotherapy) is as old as the ancient Greeks. Essentially, the process of colo...

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Q:

What should I look for in a multivitamin?

A:

I think it's important to point out first what you shouldn't look for in a multivitamin—namely, don't expect it to substitute for a diet rich in...

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Q:

Will drinking help or hurt my health?

A:

It depends! (How's that for clarifying things?) That's because drinking alcohol can lower your risk of some diseases and increase your risk of others....

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Q:

Sometimes I get heart palpitations, but then they go away. Is it a symptom of heart disease or something else?

A:

Heart palpitations — which typically last for a few seconds and can feel like a rapid, fluttering or flip-flopping heartbeat — are a reall...

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Q:

I exercise for a half hour most days, eat well and am not overweight. But my doctor said I have elevated LDL (bad) cholesterol. How can that be, and what can I do to lower it?

A:

First off, it’s important to consider more than low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels when assessing your cholesterol health. Total cholesterol m...

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Q:

Can your diet affect your stress level? If so, what foods/drinks would you recommend I include in my daily diet?

A:

A diet high in saturated fat, salt and sugar can definitely increase your stress level. Eating highly processed foods (think fast food, frozen meals, ...

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Q:

Breast cancer runs in my family. At what age should I start getting mammograms, and how often?

A:

We all know someone with breast cancer, be it a friend, colleague or family member. The good news is that screening is easy and readily available, and...

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Q:

Can Diet, Exercise and Yoga Help with Depression?

A:

Believe it or not, our bodies and brains actually communicate with each other. So what you do for one affects the other. This is good news! Mood sympt...

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I Need Help Focusing As I Try to Quit Smoking

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Congratulations! Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your overall wellness. By quitting smoking, you will soon notice that you c...

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What Foods Should I Avoid to Lower My High Cholesterol?

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High cholesterol levels can clog your arteries and put you at risk for heart disease and metabolic syndrome, a precursor to diabetes and cardiovascula...

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