James Heffley, Ph.D.

Is there any meat that is safe from contamination by the “Mad Cow” disease agent, or is there any way to protect against it?

I’ve been hearing that fiber in the diet is not as important as we used to think. Is it really important, and if so what does it do?

My 3-year-old daughter likes to eat dog biscuits. I have been hiding them from her, but she occasionally finds them anyway and helps herself. Is there anything wrong with this?

Out of the blue my eight-month-old son has begun having seizures. We thought he was going to die, but thankfully, DilantinTM has stopped the seizures. What is causing this, and is there anything else I can do to control them?

Since my 4-year-old has been in preschool, she has constantly been afflicted by colds and other infections. It just seems like her immune system is stretched too far. She can’t swallow pills like my husband and I, but I want to build up her system. Where do I start?

A friend recently had the silver fillings in her teeth removed and replaced with ceramic fillings. Although it set her back over $2,000, she says she is feeling better already. Is this something I should do?

Now that I am pregnant, my mother-in-law is very concerned about the vitamin A in a multivitamin I have used for years. Am I endangering my baby?

When I picked up a prescription a few days ago, my pharmacist advised me not to use grapefruit juice while I was taking the medication. Why would that make any difference?

I don’t know how much vitamin C I should take. The government has one figure and books I have read have others. Who is right?

I am watching my grandfather fade away because he is losing his eyesight to macular degeneration. He was always the healthiest of my grandparents, but now he can’t drive or read, and he is too proud to take advantage of the services available for the blind. Is there any hope for a cure?

My mother does not admit to having a problem with alcohol, but it worries me a lot when I see how much she drinks. Her favorite drink is a margarita and she has one or two almost every day, along with some wine with meals, though I have never seen her actually drunk. Am I being overly anxious and should I just keep quiet?