EAT HEALTHY, EVEN WHEN YOU’RE OUT

WITH DR. TARUN MULLICK

Don’t forget the charm and great service of local restaurants as you consider where to take visiting relatives to eat.

These restaurants are always thankful for your support.

I chose to visit Lupita’s Cocina this month. This touted Mexican spot is located right in downtown

Campton Hills, serving tasty food and handcrafted drinks with a wide variety. Kind service is the restaurant’s brand.

I started with the queso con camarones, which is melted Chihuahua and Monterrey cheese, sauteed with shiitake and crimini mushrooms. To watch my waist, I just ate it alone with a fork — the cheese just melts in your mouth. Of course, this keeps up the protein and fat with only a few carbs. I had heard about these pastor tacos, so I dove into the pork marinated in adobo sauce. Topped with avocado tomatillo salsa, the zing you get kicks it up a few notches. And who doesn’t love a little grilled pineapple as a topper? Bright and light! A bit of cilantro and grilled red onion just send this dish over the top. Delicious! They say a taco diet is a great one for watching those carbs. It’s hard to gain much weight, and you get a nice blend of vegetables, protein, fat and minimal carbs. You also get texture and taste, especially at Lupita’s Cocina!

U S L L B T T A Y F O N L O S P Y C O O C H A E T L E L E T H S R I E E N C G N

ANSWERS: Bulls, Fatty, Colonoscopy, Telehealth, Screening

 Dr. Tarun Mullick is a specialist trained at Johns Hopkins and Cleveland Clinic in Gastroenterology and Endoscopy based in Geneva. Connect with him at www.mullickmd.com or by phone at 630-232-2025.

It is my honor and privilege to serve the community and readership of this publication. Our practice’s focus is to care for patients, to help them and tailor their care individually with current therapies.

A: One of the worst parts of the pandemic has been patients not getting their screenings. Unfortunately, that puts patients at higher risk for other issues that are preventable. Absolutely, please go get your screenings done like colonoscopy. Other issues are important too — breast cancer for women, prostate cancer for men, cholesterol and hypertension screens with primary care doctors, among others.

A: NASH is Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis. This is a liver disease where the fat deposits in the liver and turns to scar over time, causing liver cirrhosis. It is truly a rising concern in the world now. If you are concerned, get screened with some liver tests; if elevated, then go to the gastroenterologist. We help several with that problem.

A: Yes, we offer telehealth. This means you can get treatment without leaving your home. We will only bring you in for necessary tests, and you can choose locations away from hospitals, which likely have more serious COVID-19 patients. It’s safer to go to smaller practices and centers away like ours. In general, it appears telehealth is here to stay for years to come. It presents an alternative. And, for those, who don’t like waits — we call you. Thus, you can continue to do whatever you need to in the meanwhile.

A: Yes, the data suggest that the effects of proper screening and surveillance work well. The key is to get it done and with appropriate follow-up. Don't neglect. And if you have family history, start at 45. And if you have any symptoms, then prior.

A: Yes, recently a study was done that demonstrated a significant increase in colon cancer for current 27-year-olds compared to a 27-year-old from 40 years ago. This prompted the change of the guidelines for men and women to get screened with a colonoscopy at age 45 rather than 50.

MEDICAL - AUTO - HOME - VET (PETS) LOSE WEIGHT NOW!

Facility Fees are significantly lower. Cost of health care is going up. Pay less for your test. We are JCAHO certified. Met your Deductible?? Get in before year end. Save on your deductible. Pay LESS. Heartburn, Diarrhea, Constipation, Liver Disease, Pancreatitis, Abdominal Pain, Colitis, Crohns/ Ulcerative Colitis, Gallbladder, Rectal Bleeding We have quality doctors and team on staff to serve you well. Its our honor to take care of you. AMERICAN COLONOSCOPY AND ENDOSCOPY CENTER

It affects men and women BOTH and is the second leading cause of cancer deaths. It is VERY important to get this screening done - colon cancer is beatable and treatable if caught early enough through colon screening. HEARTBURN PATIENTS PLEASE COME TO GET EVALUATED FOR PRECANCEROUS

BARRETT’S; ESOPHAGEAL CANCER HAS INCREASED IN THE PAST 4 DECADES.

*Some restrictions may apply. Available while supply lasts.

Dear Jane: Great question. Colon cancer can affect anyone, regardless of family history. Everyone over age 45 should get a colonoscopy. If you have family history you should start at age 40 or 10 to 15 years before the youngest relative with a problem. Screening helps reduce risk.

Dear Kristen: Yes, food intolerances to lactose, sucrose and fructose are common, so you may need to avoid those. We have tests in the office for that. The symptoms of IBS and food allergies are often similar, so testing for food allergies is reasonable. We can test for that, too. We have helped many patients diagnosed with food allergies, so it’s not all IBS.