The last couple of articles warned about the dangers of sugar and artificial sweeteners.  I’ve presented lots of “bad news”, but it's the truth.  There is another truth of course – we all live in the real world, sugar is a part of it, and most of us enjoy a treat.  Part of my purpose is to educate and inform.  So, given that sugar is part of everyone’s life, I’d like to share with you what I believe your best options are.

Dear Pharmacist,

I need to lose weight, about 100 pounds to be honest. I’m addicted to fast food and I hate to exercise.  I take lovastatin (Mevacor) for high cholesterol; I take Alli and phentermine to lose weight.  What supplements can I take along with these?

--H.R. Hallandale, Florida

Q: On a message board that I often visit to swap diet stories, a woman was raving about how resveratrol helped her get rid of her last 20 pounds and made her skin look so much younger. Is that really possible?

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) has long had a prominent spot on the list of dietary no-no's, at least among the health conscious. By definition, MSG is simply processed free glutamic acid combined with sodium to form monosodium glutamate. But it is the glutamic acid component of MSG that is the neurotransmitter that causes nerves to fire, and that is what creates problems for many who consume it.

Nearly everyone‘s heard of the grapefruit diet. It‘s a short-term approach to weight loss (low carb, healthy proteins) with one unique feature. For 12 days you‘re supposed to eat a serving of grapefruit with every meal. It appears that by adding grapefruit to a protein-based meal, your metabolism gets kicked into overdrive.

This diet‘s a quick fix and it‘s really for those folks looking to drop a few pounds quickly. But I‘ve always had a hunch that there‘s something worthwhile about this diet just waiting to be discovered. Sure -- grapefruit is healthy. It‘s packed with vitamins. But why does adding it to your diet seem to spur on weight loss?

Despite the risks, the popularity of bariatric surgery is still growing. These procedures are typical of our quick-fix culture, and I've been against them for years.

Don't get me wrong: being eighty or a hundred pounds overweight is a serious health concern, but it's by no means a health issue that's correctable ONLY by surgery.

At one time, bariatric surgery was considered an extreme medical last resort, fit only for patients who were morbidly obese. These days, however, it seems as if people with fifty or eighty pounds to lose are going under the knife.

For some time now, news has been out that the Mediterranean diet leads to longer life. In case you've missed the buzz, the diet traditionally includes lots of vegetables, grains, beans, nuts, fruits and fish, but very little meat or dairy.

Olive oil replaces other fats, and red wine in moderation is the beverage of choice. Study after study confirms the benefits of following this regimen.

Dear Dr. Mirkin,

Are artificial sweeteners a good alternative for weight loss?